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What are the pros and cons of the Marriage Non-O Visa in Thailand?
Marriage Non-O VisaVisa TypesThailand ImmigrationExpats in ThailandDTV VisaPros and Cons of Non-O VisaMarriage Visa Requirements
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion highlights various pros and cons of the Marriage Non-O Visa in Thailand, particularly in comparison to the DTV visa. Pros include lower financial requirements for bank deposits and a streamlined process with fewer paperwork hassles. However, cons focus on the obligation of marriage and recurring challenges during yearly renewals, along with personal anecdotes regarding tax implications and other experiences from expats.
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Jay ****
Depends if your spouse is thai or foreigner living in Thailand.
Ian ********
Con - a 30% loss of my Ozzy pension.
Art ************
@Ian *******
will you lose 30% due to that you get married and she takes it or somebody else is taking it because if somebody else is taking it you're a fool to allow it to happenElías ********
@Art ***********
it's because of laws, I'm sure. Not because of the wife.Reply to
Elías ********
Reply
Bent *************
Con: you have a wife!
Bil ******
You must be married
Neil ********
Pro. Less money required in the bank.
Con. It seems to be more painful each yearly renewal
Con. It seems to be more painful each yearly renewal
Dawn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Neil *******
not only in Thailand. Immigration here sometimes do that when you apply for your green card, too. They actually send their agents to your house to check your bedroom, your resident-to see if you’re really married. Many of my friends got ‘unexpected’ knocking at their doors, random times, to see if you are really living together. Yeah, not counting the interviews. Luckily, I never had to experience that kind of issues.Deeon ***************
@Neil *******
I thought I was the only one that felt that way. Every year you think it is going to be easier and they toss another curve ball. This year it was that my rental agreement with the owner did not specify an annual change in amount...even though the owner is our cousin and the amount was never an object. Many times we even left a figure off the contract. Suddenly, this is an issue. One time, it was that we didn't have a pic of us in our bedroom, another time, we had the same clothes on in the first and last pic. There's always something.Neil ********
@Deeon **************
and they have mountains of paperwork with all the same photos for years. Feel sorry for you
Deeon ***************
@Neil *******
been more than 10 years. Quite tiring. Most stressful time of the year is always visa renewal time.Reply to
Deeon ***************
Reply
Daniel ********
May I ask why the yearly renewal is painful? (I have my yearly renewal coming up soon and I just want to have an idea of what to expect lol)
Neil ********
@Daniel *******
I am not married but friends are. You have to take photos of being together in different rooms and outside the house. They seem to send you away if they don’t have enough evidence or when you renew again you haven’t taken the right picture.Reply to
Neil ********
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Frazer ************
As someone married to a Thai, I decided to go with the DTV visa instead of the Non-O marriage visa—and here’s why:
No Need to Deposit 400,000 Baht: With the DTV visa, I don’t have to put 400,000 baht in a Thai bank every year or keep it locked there for months at a time, just to keep my visa status.
Much Less Paperwork: The Marriage Visa (Non-O) comes with a ton of paperwork—house checks, immigration officers visiting for photos, endless forms and requirements. With the DTV visa, I only have to show 500k YHB of funds once, and that money can stay in my home country bank account. After I’ve provided proof, I can use those funds however I want, whether that’s for investments, crypto, or whatever else.
Tax Benefits: If you plan your stay right, you can spend 10–11 months in Thailand every rolling 12-month period, but never more than 6 months in a single calendar year. That way, you avoid becoming a tax resident in Thailand. As a Brit, I don’t end up a tax resident in the UK either, so it’s a win-win on tax for my online income.
Built-in Excuse for Travel: The DTV visa naturally requires a trip outside Thailand every 6 months, which means I get to tell my wife I “have to” take a short holiday twice a year!
Flexible with Banks and Payments: I already have Thai banking from when I held a Non-B visa, but if those accounts get closed due to stricter rules in the future, it’s not the end of the world. There are lots of options for payments and banking these days—a Thai account isn’t really essential anymore.
In Summary: Comparing Non-O (marriage) to DTV, DTV wins for me—less paperwork, fewer headaches, better tax situation, and no need to tie up my savings in a Thai bank. I’m happy sticking with this route for now, and who knows, maybe in a few years I’ll look at the Non-O again.
If you’re married to a Thai and don’t want the red tape and restrictions of the marriage visa, the DTV is definitely worth considering!
No Need to Deposit 400,000 Baht: With the DTV visa, I don’t have to put 400,000 baht in a Thai bank every year or keep it locked there for months at a time, just to keep my visa status.
Much Less Paperwork: The Marriage Visa (Non-O) comes with a ton of paperwork—house checks, immigration officers visiting for photos, endless forms and requirements. With the DTV visa, I only have to show 500k YHB of funds once, and that money can stay in my home country bank account. After I’ve provided proof, I can use those funds however I want, whether that’s for investments, crypto, or whatever else.
Tax Benefits: If you plan your stay right, you can spend 10–11 months in Thailand every rolling 12-month period, but never more than 6 months in a single calendar year. That way, you avoid becoming a tax resident in Thailand. As a Brit, I don’t end up a tax resident in the UK either, so it’s a win-win on tax for my online income.
Built-in Excuse for Travel: The DTV visa naturally requires a trip outside Thailand every 6 months, which means I get to tell my wife I “have to” take a short holiday twice a year!
Flexible with Banks and Payments: I already have Thai banking from when I held a Non-B visa, but if those accounts get closed due to stricter rules in the future, it’s not the end of the world. There are lots of options for payments and banking these days—a Thai account isn’t really essential anymore.
In Summary: Comparing Non-O (marriage) to DTV, DTV wins for me—less paperwork, fewer headaches, better tax situation, and no need to tie up my savings in a Thai bank. I’m happy sticking with this route for now, and who knows, maybe in a few years I’ll look at the Non-O again.
If you’re married to a Thai and don’t want the red tape and restrictions of the marriage visa, the DTV is definitely worth considering!
Wayne ********
@Frazer ***********
is being married to a Thai one of the categories that qualify you for a DTV Visa. Under what category did you apply for the DTV Visa?Ian **********
@Wayne *******
No, your marital status does not qualify you for a DTV. You need to be a digital nomad or sign up for a qualifying soft power course. muay thai, cooking etcReply to
Ian **********
Reply
John **********
@Frazer ***********
I fail to see how you can spend 10-11 months inside Thailand every rolling 12 month period and avoid being a Thai tax resident. If you spend 180 days or more inside Thailand in any calendar year you are automatically a tax resident. So if you spend 358 consecutive days in Thailand straddling 2 years (179×2), you would then have to remain outside of Thailand for the remainder of that 2nd year which would be 186 days.Greg ******
Have you stayed past the 180 day mark yet? Please post a positive result.
Chris *********
@Frazer ***********
if married in Canada 20 years ago and 2 children with thai citizen do you still have the house checkIan **********
@Chris ********
Yes, but not every time. I had house visits 4 times out of 5 extensions. I'm now on a DTV. I don't have to worry about immigration for 5 years :)Reply to
Ian **********
Reply
Aaron ***********
Oh, I didn’t realize you were restricted to being there only six months per year. I thought it was six months per visit and you could leave for a few days and come back? And you have the opportunity to extend that six months without leaving one time in the five year period.
Frazer ************
@Aaron **********
DTV is 6 months per visit not per year. Its also possible to extend within the country.Aaron ***********
With a DTV, do you need to fill out a digital arrival card every time?
Aaron ***********
Ok. I did have it correct then. I am waiting another month as I need the 500k baht balance in a checking account for 3 months before application time
Reply to
Aaron ***********
Reply
Dawn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Frazer ***********
he is over 60 and isn’t planning to leave Thailand. Not sure if he would like the fact that he has to leave every 6 months. Well, may be visiting surrounding countries. The banking part isn’t a problem, but more of which route is the easiest. I have dual citizenship and still have my family in Bangkok, therefore, staying isn’t a problem for me. Health insurance is also another thing that we will have to tackle, but right now, I am just thinking whether he’d be better off doing plain retirement or marriage visa.Frazer ************
@Dawn ******
yeah it’s not for everyone — these are just my personal reasons for choosing the DTV. If I wanted to stay in Thailand permanently without leaving each year, then a marriage or retirement visa would make more sense. If he can afford the retirement option, that’s definitely the way to go, since it doesn’t depend on another person’s emotions. Long term i will move onto a Marriage visa too, DTV is just a good option for me right now while i like to travel alot and want to avoid Tax where i can plus want to be able to invest the 400k that would need to be sitting in a bankDawn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Frazer ***********
since he’s not working, will he have to pay Thai taxes? He has enough for all type of visa. He does have pension and social security.Frazer ************
@Dawn ******
officially yes, on money he brings into Thailand. In reality not yet enforced so not something to really worry about yetDawn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Frazer ***********
thank youReply to
Dawn *******
Reply
John *********
I was doing marriage route but also a bit unsure….
Which DTV option have you chosen?
Which DTV option have you chosen?
Frazer ************
@John ********
Workcation, I run an Online businessJohn *********
I might try the same…. I got my 90 d NonO but now not 100% about 12 month ext. based on marriage. Will come home after 85 days then re-apply for DTV as my company are happy for me to work remote.
Reply to
John *********
Reply
Simon ************
@Frazer ***********
can I inbox you frazierFrazer ************
@Simon ***********
sureReply to
Frazer ************
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Jeff *********
@Frazer ***********
A google search tells me this about finances. Eligibility and requirementsFinancial: A minimum balance of 500,000 Thai Baht in a savings or checking account is required. Credit and investment accounts are not accepted. Some embassies may have higher requirements.
Frazer ************
@Jeff ********
yes but it can be in a UK account, doesnt need to be moved into Thailand.Reply to
Frazer ************
Reply
Elisabeth ********
@Frazer ***********
everything he said is true but missed one major downside. There is no path to citizenship or PR with DTVWayne ********
@Elisabeth *******
don’t know how true this is, but I have heard from many people that a Thai citizenship is extremely difficult to get, I’ve also been told that one of the requirements is that you must be able to read and Write Thai weather you are applying as a long-term resident or applying as a result of being married to a Thai. Both require the ability to read and write in Thai language.John *********
@Elisabeth *******
path to citizenship. Thai citizenship? You will be 100 years old when you get it if you start at age 20. There is no path to Thai citizenship for foreigners.
Elisabeth ********
@John ********
that’s not true at all.Reply to
Elisabeth ********
Reply
Frazer ************
@Elisabeth *******
Honestly, the only real downside for me is that the five years spent on a DTV visa don’t count towards the five years you need to apply for Thai citizenship. If I ever really had the opportunity, I’d even consider giving up my British citizenship to become Thai, even though dual citizenship isn’t an issue for British nationals or Thais. I know a good friend from the UK who managed to get Thai citizenship after living here for 20 years, so I know it’s possible—it’s just not an easy path.That said, citizenship isn’t a big deal for me in the long run. If anything, I’d want it just because I feel a genuine love and patriotic connection to Thailand—probably even more than my home country at this point. But I’m honestly not concerned about the perks like being able to own property in my own name or having access to every job. I run my online businesses and have no interest in taking jobs that are restricted for foreigners, and if I did ever want to invest in property here, I could do it through my Thai-registered company.
In reality, given how difficult citizenship is to get (even after five years on a non-immigrant visa you’re only just eligible to start the process, and that’s still a long road), it’s not something I’m losing sleep over. I’m still fairly young, so even if I do a few years on this DTV visa and then later switch to a non-immigrant visa, it’s not going to make a big difference. If I end up trying for citizenship 10, 15, or even 20 years from now, missing a couple of years at the start isn’t really going to matter much. In the end, for me, being able to live and work here happily is what really counts.
Reply to
Frazer ************
Reply
Bob ******
Con is marrying
Dawn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bob *****
debating whether I want to help him make things easier. I’ll just let him be and stay here in California. Not sure if I want to permanently move back.Reply to
Dawn *******
Reply
John *****
Con - youre married
Dawn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ****
so I should just let my bf do everything himself. Good for me, lol!Reply to
Dawn *******
Reply
T ****************
Cheaper than most others
Reply to
T ****************
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