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Answered6 months ago

What are the requirements and process for applying for a Non-Immigrant O marriage visa from the UK?

Roger *********
asked Apr 15, 2026
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In February I entered Thailand on a 60 day visa exemption with the intention to marry my Thai fiancee in that time frame, which I did on March 19th.

I then went to the local Immigration office to change my status from Tourist to Spouse of a Thai National and get the 12 month Non Immigrant O visa.

I was told you cannot do this while you are in Thailand, you must leave the Kingdom and apply at a Thai Embassy in a foreign country, so I left and am now back in UK and will apply in due course via the London Embassy.

I am aware of what documents I need to produce online, it appears that I can submit my last 3 months UK bank statements as proof that I have a minimum income of 40,000Thb per month.

Has anyone in the group any recent experience of this with London/UK if so was it straight forward and hassle free, and how long did it take for the initial 90 day Non immigrant to be issued?

Greatly appreciate any feedback 🙏
Answer summary
The user shared their experience of applying for a Non-Immigrant O visa in Thailand after marrying a Thai citizen. Initially entering Thailand on a 60-day tourist visa, the user learned that they cannot change their visa status within Thailand and had to return to the UK to apply at the Thai Embassy. They discussed documentation needed, such as bank statements demonstrating a minimum income of 40,000 THB per month. Community responses revealed varied personal experiences, with advice on documentation, the length of the application process, and insights into potential challenges, including the necessity of holding a certain amount in a Thai bank account for visa extensions.
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Mick *********
Mick *********
90 day non O visa was really easy for me in uk. Took about an hour to complete the form online. I only had to show one bank statement as well as flight details, including an onward flight (which I didn’t use) and accommodation address plus a few other id documents like passport and proof of uk address. All done online with PDF attachments. It took about 10 days to receive the e visa. Once in Thailand I used an agent for the rest (retirement in my case) and before people start commenting You could have done it yourself in Thailand Up To Me. There was an option to apply for the retirement visa in uk so might be the same for the marriage visa. That would have been the cheaper option but I didn’t have the correct timeframe as my move was dependent on property investment. Good luck with it. It’ll be worth the bit of hassle.
Ray ******
Ray ******
Should have done the retierment visa a lot less hassle you want a marriage visa for what it's just a piece of paper which means absolutely nothing thai woman vs ferang in court if it goes wrong there will only ever be one winner in that one
Philip *********
Philip *********
He can still show show on his 1st extention that he has the funds to transfer 40,000 per month even if he just opened a Thai bank account . That what I did 8 year ago
Daniel *********
Daniel *********
So you got married and someone told you the marriage visa was easy?
Michael *******
Michael *******
You did not need to go back to uk🧐
Steve *********
Steve *********
I got a non o visa for 12 months in Thailand no problem at immigration office 🤷‍♂️
Richard ********
Richard ********
I received my marriage visa last month after about 5 months and lots of paperwork, pictures and such. I wasn't required to leave the country but you know that you need a thai bank account and 400,000 baht. Unless that monthly income is deposited directly into a thai bank it's irrelevant. I didn't use the 80,000 baht service, me and my wife navigated it ourselves but if you do use the service they have a work around for the money but you have to pay them interest and have a bank account with their bank. Good luck.
Jason *************
Jason *************
I wanted to do the same but i used an agent and stayed in thailand to do the process.
Thrilling*********
Thrilling*********
I got mine within 10 days of applying, make sure your docs are up to date. Multiple docs can be put together in a pdf format as you can only upload one doc at a time. Good luck. Check check and check again before submission to avoid delay. Once issued it doesnt start until you enter the kingdom so dont worry about issue dates when its granted.
Fred ********************
Fred ********************
there is many confusion between Non O and non OA

This is what I read on the site of the embassy.:

Non O you can apply for in Thailand but for Non OA you have to do that outsite Thailand:

Changing to Non-Immigrant O (In-Country)

If you entered Thailand on a Tourist Visa (TR) or a Visa Exemption stamp, you can apply to convert your status to a Non-O visa at a local immigration office.

The Process: This is typically a two-step process. First, you apply for the change of status (using Form TM.86 or TM.87), which grants an initial 90-day stay. In the final 30 days of that 90-day period, you then apply for a one-year extension.

Time Requirements: You must have at least 15–21 days remaining on your current entry stamp at the time of application.

Financial Requirements: For retirement, you must show 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account (or proof of monthly income of at least 65,000 THB). For marriage to a Thai national, the requirement is usually 400,000 THB in a Thai bank or 40,000 THB monthly income.

Fee: The official conversion fee is 2,000 THB.

About Non-Immigrant OA (Abroad Only)

The Non-OA (Long Stay) visa is designed specifically for retirement and is almost exclusively issued by Thai Embassies or Consulates in your home country.

Key Difference: Unlike the standard Non-O, the Non-OA requires you to submit a criminal background check and a medical certificate from your home country.

Insurance: The Non-OA has strict mandatory health insurance requirements (covering at least 3,000,000 THB or $100,000) that must be maintained for the duration of the visa.

In-Country Limitation: You cannot "switch" to a Non-OA once you are already in Thailand as a tourist; you would need to apply for the Non-O instead.

Thai Embassy and Consulate.
Roger *********
Roger *********
OP
Fred Naancome Wijnands Thanks Fred, very informative 👍
Reg ***********
Reg ***********
Fred Naancome Wijnands that's exactly how I acquired my non o visa ,but did have with one immigration officer who insisted I had to leave Thailand to apply for it ,fortunately I persevered and another io granted it ,it's down to the individual interpretation
Fred ********************
Fred ********************
Reg Wilkinson yeah that makes it all uncertain. They should all do the same thing
Mark ********
Mark ********
Fred Naancome Wijnands , thank you for a very clear description, it's one of the best I've read as includes the form numbers. I'm arriving on a 60 day tourist execution and already have the BKK account from a couple years ago. Fingers crossed I'll give all this a go myself this time...
Donald **********
Donald **********
Mark Bishop Don’t think Thailand have started executing tourists yet!
Fred ********************
Fred ********************
Mark Bishop very welcome, although it's not my story but from the site of the embassy... I am not that smart 🤣

Don't worry, it's all fine. As long as you have all the documents wright, nothing goes wrong.

Just think about: if you go for a Non OA...the documents they need from your government and the health statement must be original and must be stamped by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Good luck and a great stay in Thailand sir.
Roger *********
Roger *********
OP
Thanks for your advice 👍
Todd ********
Todd ********
Get an agent to walk you through this correctly
Richard ********
Richard ********
First and foremost I want to say that it's completely ridiculous to hire an agent, pay them 80,000 baht to do something that inevitably you will have to do yourself. Thai immigration hands out a worksheet telling you what you need to provide and the agent doesn't have any of these items unless the agent is your wife. Start with going to immigration ond obtaining the non immigration visa, grab the work sheet and start doing each item. You'll need photos of you standing with her family at her location and I mean the pictures better include a placard with the actual address attached to a stationary item preferably the house or the outer wall. She will have to get two neighbors (relatives) willing to meet with an immigration policeman at your location and give copies of their identification and a statement attesting that you have been living there. You will have to make a map showing the route from the immigration office to your stated location. Your foreign bank statements are irrelevant so dont waste time with those. You need to show a minimum of 400,000 baht in your thai bank account and you can never ever let that balance slip below the 400k or you will be denied so don't make a joint account with your wife under any circumstance or promises. There are many other hoops to jump through and those services can't do them for you so many up and use the 80k fee towards the 400k, remember their money has to be in your thai bank account 60 days before your marriage visa appointment, do not and say this with me, do not put your wife's name on your thai account, I don't care how much she beds and promises, don't do it. Even after you do all of these things and more, you will still have to do other things so pull your pa to up because it's an "E ticket" ride.
Todd ********
Todd ********
Richard Steven i can assure you it’s not 80.000b using an agent. My mate just converted his retirement visa to a marriage visa. More complicated and checked thoroughly for sham marriages. He paid 20k so where you got that number is surprising. Agents most certainly have the inside information and lists of to do things. Maybe you just have a beef about using agents. I get my retirement extentions thru an agent. Money is in bank. Get letter. Sign 3 places go for quick immigration photo pick up passport 3 days later. Jomitiem immigration is a hell hole no normal person should have to encounter.
Mark *********
Mark *********
If you have all the documents it should be straightforward.
John **********
John **********
Yes you can obtain the Non-O based on marriage by showing 40k per month income in the UK but be aware that if you want to apply for a 12 month extension of stay when you return to Thailand you will need to show 400k baht in a Thai bank account for 2 months before you can apply so opening that bank account should be your priority
Philip *********
Philip *********
@John *********
no he will not. He can still show on his 1st extention he has the funds to transfer
*****
into thailand he if he has just opened a Thai bank account and does not have 12 payments going into the bank
Roger *********
Roger *********
OP
@John *********
OK John so when the 400G has been in the Thai bank account for the 2 months, I have my 12 months visa extension, can I then withdraw the money from the bank?

I know 2 months before the 12 months is up it has to go back in the bank again to apply for another 12 months.
John **********
John **********
@Roger ********
When you apply for the extension based on marriage it goes under consideration for approx a month so I'd suggest waiting until that is over and you have the full 12 months extension stamped in your passport then you can withdraw it all. You need to bring it back up to 400k again 2 months before applying for the next extension. You may also be able to use 12 months of 40k baht transfers from overseas for that 2nd extension but you need to check with your immigration office first as an increasing number only allow that for income earned inside Thailand
Roger *********
Roger *********
OP
@John *********
You have made that very clear John and all the replies to my post have said the same thing about the overall procedure,, all I need now is a Go Fund Me to raise 400 Grand Thb lol 😆
Audrey ******
Audrey ******
Roger Scarlet when you go for your SECOND extension you should be able to use proof of monthly income as you will have had your Thai bank account week over a year at that point. You only need capital for FIRST extension as you won't have had Thai bank account long enough to show 12 monthly income deposits
Roger *********
Roger *********
OP
Audrey Gray So I can withdraw the 400G immediately after getting the first 12 months and return it to my Bruv who loaned it to me as I ain't got Jackshit 🤣
Roger *********
Roger *********
OP
@John *********
Thanks dude 🙏
Steven ********
Steven ********
Have done the 90 day non O based on marriage, with 3 months statements showing the required income through the UK Thai Consulate, for the last 10 years. I then extend this by 60 days each time while in Thailand. Latest one I did two weeks ago, took 5 days to come back. As you are a new applicant, it may take a little longer but no more than a couple of weeks. The online application process can seem a bit ‘clunky’ but is fairly easy to complete ( passport, recent photograph, wife’s ID card, document with a UK address, marriage certificate, address in Thailand, travel details etc.) Best of luck 😊
Andreas *********
Andreas *********
Steven Bungay so what you want to say is, you never applied for the 1-year extension of stay based on being married to a Thai wife. You want to stay (or hibernate) in Thailand for 5 months. You enter on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Married Visa, and before the 90 days admitted stay are up, you apply for the 60-days extension based on "family visit" for which you just need the marriage registry printout from the Amphur that shows your marriage is still alive and valid, and the company of your wife on the Immigration visit. Would have been cool if you had detailled it a bit further, but never mind, mai pen rai, thank you

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