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What are the options for staying in Thailand for 5 or 6 months at a time as a retiree married to a Thai national?

Thai Visa RulesNon-O VisaVisa ExtensionMarriage Visa ExtensionKor Ror 22Retirement VisaRe-Entry VisaExpat Visa Options
May 16, 2022
3 years ago
Dave *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
In retirement, my Thai wife and I plan to spend 50% of my time in Thailand and 50% of my time in Canada. From your posts, I believe I have two options (likely more) for staying in Thailand for 5 or 6 months at a time. First, I can get a multi exit re-entry Non O 90 day visa allowing me to stay for 90 days and then do a border run for another 90 day stay. Second, I can get a 90 day Non O and extend for a year based on marriage (in Canada) or retirement. My preference is for one of the extension processes. I'm assuming that I could leave Thailand for a 6 or 7 month period and return before my year runs out to renew the extension. Are there any pitfalls I should be aware of for each option? Any advantages? Any other options I should consider? I also noted some comments on a Kor Ror 22 in recent posts. My wife and I were not aware of this. On line searches don't mention the need for this to have a Marriage extension. Please let me know if it's something I should prepare for.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is exploring options for long-term stays in Thailand as a retiree married to a Thai citizen, mentioning the possibility of a multi-exit re-entry Non-O visa or obtaining a marriage extension. Comments suggest methods for obtaining and extending visas, including the use of income affidavits from the Canadian Embassy and noted the requirement for registering marriage in Thailand and obtaining the Kor Ror 22 form. Some also discuss the pros and cons of border runs versus applying for extensions, and the importance of maintaining sufficient funds in a Thai bank account for visa purposes.
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Daniel ***********
My wife, and I do the same. The VISA extension process is long, laborious, and antiquated....A real pain !!! I get a Non-0 multiple entry based on marriage good for 3 months. Then we take short, sometimes not so short, trip somewhere. Usually, diving in Bali, or the Philipines. Much, much easier, more fun, and no bank account requirements !!!!
3 years ago
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Daniel ***********
I should add that one of the Thai officials in Phang Nga told us as long as I have a multiple entry not to go through the trouble of a Non-O extension.
3 years ago
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Daniel ***********
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Gary *******
About 2 years ago I got the proof of income statement from Canadian Embassy, showed it to thai immigration Pattaya to get non o retirement visa in thailand and they said that was no longer accepted. has that changed?
3 years ago
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Gary *******
One other point. I f tou monthly pension isnt the required amount, can savings be used to make up for the deficiency?
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Gary ******
 you can use the "combination method where you have monthly income and banked money that totals 800K baht for the year.

SOME offices won't let people do it (although the rules state it is possible)
3 years ago
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Gary *******
Can a bank statement of savings work for proof of income?
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Gary ******
, you would bank the funds in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for the extension. Can't use overseas funds for either the in country Non-O visa or the year extension
3 years ago
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
@Gary ******
 totally false and the immigration office was feeding you a line of b/s.

Immigration offices have to accept the affidavit of income from abroad letter from ANY of the countries whose embassies issue it.

You should have appealed that with them
3 years ago
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Tod *********
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Dave *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sorry to add to this but I would like to ask about leaving to Canada and returning. I assume that I would simply ask for an Exit / Re-Entry Visa and that my extension would still be intact when I returned. No need to report every 90 days while out of country.
3 years ago
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Ellie *******
@Dave ********
, Right, you apply for a re-entry permit before you fly out from Thailand to keep your stamp alive. The re-entry permit has the same expiry date as your stamp. You need to do 90 days report only when you are staying in Thailand for more than 89days consecutively.
3 years ago
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Ellie *******
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Gareth *******
Or get a double entry tourist visa from your local embassy and extend twice with a border bounce inbetween.
3 years ago
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Gareth *******
Fair enough, i was only trying to point out that there were options other than non imm type visas. Which have less hoops to jump through
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Gareth ******
 no such thing as a double entry tourist visa

Those were canceled several ago when they came out with the 6 month Multi-Entry Tourist Visa. and the price difference between a single entry tourist visa (40USD and a 6 month METV 200USD) makes it prohibitive for them to use
3 years ago
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Tod *********
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Dave *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
That's great news. I will make sure I have it for my first extension and then follow whatever requirements Thai Immigration asks for. If I can use the Canadian Embassy affidavit, all the better.
3 years ago
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Joseph **********
@Dave ********
 Keep in mind that you will have to provide some proof of income in order for the Consulate to issue the letter for Immigration.
3 years ago
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Joseph **********
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Troy ************
I am from Toronto and at first did the 3 month visa from Canada but did not have all paperwork done so did a 2 month extension in Thailand and then left to Singapore then got another 3 month. Since then I just keep renewing my yearly visa. If you don't want to keep the money in the bank you can use the 3 month visa and in Thailand extend for 2 months without leaving. So if you intend to go back and forth this method would enable you not to have to leave Thailand for 5 months at a time. If you have the money in Thailand just do the yearly and you can come.and go back and forth with yearly renewals
3 years ago
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Ellie *******
@Troy ***********
, as Tod says, if you have enough pension or whatever for Canadian embassy in Thailand to issue an affidavit for you, you don’t have to have funds in Thailand for your 1-year extension.
3 years ago
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Troy ************
@Ellie ******
 I am married to Thai so only 400k for 2 months. Yes I agree if you can show monthly income better. I prefer yearly as less to worry about and when you do it once it gets easier. We always make extra copies and just reuse for the next year. Always in and out in about an hour or so.
3 years ago
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Troy ************
@Ellie ******
 That works also. Paying the 1900 baht once for a year visa is easiest and cheapest also.
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@Troy ***********
 it's actually neither. Getting the affadavit is also easy. And not having 800k tied in a bank means that making 5% annually on that money (40k) is far more financially advantageous. The real cost isn't the 1900 baht, it's losing the 40k baht in interest income (or potentially much higher if invested well). And you don;t have to pay for a trip to Singapore to waste time trudging to the consulate/embassy
3 years ago
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Todd *********
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Tod *********
either way will work

You can get the year-multi-Non-O from the thai consulate in Canada that gives you 90 days at a time

OR

come in on a single entry Non-O and get the year extension at the immigration office for 1900baht based on marriage to a thai

Because you're a Canuck, you can use the affidavit of income notary letter that the cananadian consulate here gives to meet the financial requirements. <- meaning you don't need to bank 400k baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you get the extension

If you were married in Canada you WILL need to get the marriage registered here at the local Amphur and get the Kor Ror 22 form issued from them (คร.๒๒). It's not tough to do, so once you get here on the 90 day Non-O visa have your wife start pounding the phone and calling local Amphurs (City Halls) you can get the Kor Ror 22 at any of them
3 years ago
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Stephen *********
@Tod ********
 just to add my experience .. make sure the thai embassy in Canada stamp your marriage certificate before coming to thailand ..
3 years ago
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Dave *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for the quick response. Awesome news for us and we look forward to our time in Thailand.
3 years ago
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Dave *********
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