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What are the requirements and steps to apply for a Thai marriage visa without depositing 400,000 THB?
Thai marriage visaVisa application processMarriage license requirementsFinancial requirements for visasMultiple-entry visa optionsSavannakhet visa applicationExpat visa informationThailand immigration rules
Nov 12, 2018
7 years ago
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTERA friend has asked me how he can apply for a Thai marriage visa, once he has obtained his Thai marriage license. He does not wish to deposit the usual 400,000 THB into a Thai bank account for 2-3 months for 3 years and he has heard that there is a multiple entry 12-14 month visa upon proof of a Thai marriage license. Savannakeht, Laos was also mentioned as the place to go to apply for the visa.
What documents in total would he need and what are the walkthrough steps (visas needed)? Thank you and if you can provide me with answers, my friend would be grateful.
What documents in total would he need and what are the walkthrough steps (visas needed)? Thank you and if you can provide me with answers, my friend would be grateful.
TLDR : Answer Summary
To apply for a Thai marriage visa after obtaining a Thai marriage license, your friend will need several documents, including the marriage certificate, passport, and proof of residence. He mentioned not wanting to deposit 400,000 THB into a Thai bank account, which is usually a requirement for certain visa types. However, there are alternatives like applying for a multiple-entry visa based on the marriage license at a location such as Savannakhet, Laos, which allows for longer stays without the financial deposit. Specific steps include gathering necessary documents, visiting the appropriate Thai consulate or immigration office, and filling out the application forms.
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6/Gregor **********
It's complicated to explain regarding my situation not being an expat who lives in Thailand whole year round but only for half a year. I am still a resident of Germany and thus need german health insurance. For the time spent in Thailand I can but a very good coverage travel insurance valid for 6 months from German insurers for about 290.- Euros (as being 62 years of age). What I referred to is the fact that during 9 years before I bought this travel insurance for the first time, I never had an insurance for my stay in Thailand. As I was holding 800.000 THB in a Thai Bank I didn't feel the need to get one as I viewed the 800K being a good backup should a medical situation arise. I needed a few minor treatments in Thailand which I paid for in cash at private hospitals. So please do not compare my situation to that of an expat who lives in Thailand permanently - I do not recommend having no insurance at all. There are BUPA and AXA and other companies who offer such. Just seeing that some people choose to not buy any insuranceat all, to those I would recommend going the 400K/ 800K route so at least they have some backup money in a thai bank sitting ready in case medical emergency should arise
Bill **********
@Gregor *********
Could I please ask you where you purchased the insurance, looking at different companies and prices.Ivan ************
Alternately- the money only needs to be there for 3 months before the renewal. He could also transfer it right back out once he gets the renewal. So in that case it would only be 3 months lost. Transferring it back and forth like this isn't free but it's not necessarily that expensive either, perhaps best to just view it as part of the cost of the visa. Note the money does not need to be converted into THB for immigration, he can leave it in USD, EUR etc if he plans to send it back out again.
Ivan ************
He can still get 1.5-2% on the 400k on a Thai bank. It's not a huge amount but then neither is 400k and it's not like (risk free) savings interest rates are any higher in the West either.
Gregor **********
@Neil ***********
done & dustedGregor **********
myself i am based on retirement. I slepp well knowing that if anything serious happens, my medical costs are backed up by 8a minimum of 800,000 THB (actually it's more on my account)
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gregor *********
Please add me on FB Messenger as my friend will be interested in exchanging useful info. Thank you sir for your help.Gregor **********
I reckon the moderators are going to stop the thead soon because we are not discussing visa related topics any more. If you have any questons PM me directly in my FB account
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTERGregor Huettner Healthcare insurance can be bought, and paid into, with a fund left over at the end....
Gregor **********
i guess the trips cost him much more than any "lost" interest of money in a Thai Bank. Furthermore . . .this money is a good backup in case he needs medical emergency treatment . . most of all when he is living in Thailand without a proper healtcare insurance plan
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gregor *********
But the 400,000 put away, without return, is a big turn off. There has to be cheaper ways.Gregor **********
see what I am trying to say? He needs to spend money on flights and what else, every 90 days. An Extension of Stay based on being Married to a Thai comes cheaper in the long run
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTERGregor Huettner Great, so Laos cost is $50+ USD. Vietnam no cost for UK citizen for 15 day tourist visa, but still the cost of the flight (and a holiday. Yeah!)
My friend is happy to hear about his options :D
My friend is happy to hear about his options :D
Gregor **********
unless he is not planning an extended holiday in Laos, there's no reason to stay in Laos longer than 10 Minutes
Gregor **********
of course not. He could go to any border, park the car on the Thai side (they all have security parking in these places). Go with the flow, cross the border, check out of Thailand check into Laos, stay buy some banana in Laos, eat the banana, turn around in your heels and walk right back to Thailand. Well it will cost him the Laos Visa, but hey he is going to spend valuable capital
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gregor *********
But if a person only needed to cross the border to get the stamps and do the 90-day crossing, would you need the insurance? (NOTE: not needed in UAE-Oman crossing and back to UAE.Gregor **********
. .and once in Laos being an Aussie don't wonder why people are flashing their lights at you. You are driving on the wrong side 😂🤣
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gregor *********
I see. Similar to UAE-Oman border crossings. Only, you only need Omani insurance if you are going to stay. If simply doing a border run (still allowed there - but you pay for it through the nose in Oman), you park your car and get an in and out visa for Oman after you get a UAE out visa.Gregor **********
my pickup is in my own name and I crossed the border to Laos in my own Thai registered car many times already. You need the magenta book, a "TH" sticker on the back of the car and buy the insurance right t the border
Gregor **********
@Neil ***********
for Myanmar I do not know. For Laos the car needs a Magenta Passbook issued from the Department of Transportation from where the car is registered. This book enables you to cross the border to Laos. In Laos he has to buy an Insurance. Everything is fluid, a lot of people do thatNeil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gregor *********
Probably his wife would need to drive the car over the border and show her documents.Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gregor *********
Ok, that is fine, so one could do border crossing with a car over the Nong Khai or Mae Sai crossings. How about ownership of the car, if it is in his wife's name (in Thailand), but he has a Thai drivers' licence?Gregor **********
ASEAN is a multilateral regulation. Does not include Farang married to Thai. He still has his home countries passport and is treated as such
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gregor *********
He knows that Myanmar and Laos folk can come and go fairly freely (with a pass) as he has seen it happen (ASEAN countries?), but how about farang with a marriage visa and multiple entry? Thank you.Gregor **********
no, Thai cars are not allowed in Vietnam due to right hand steering & no valid drivers license. Can enter Laos and Cambodia but not yet Vietnam. Maybe sometime in the future
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gregor *********
Long bus rides are a pain, but a cheap flight to Vietnam is fine, or elsewhere. Can one drive in and out? He has a car, registered in Thailand. Living near a land border is a convenient solution.Gregor **********
i reckon after the third run he will be fed up with this scheme. However I can understand that not everybody has slack 400,000 Baht sitting somewhere
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gregor *********
Yes they can. Good planning and cheap flights are needed, or long bus rides to do the land border runs.Gregor **********
90-day runs cost money as well 😁. "Valuable" money
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Paul ********
Seriously, Ho Chi Minh can issue this visa without the necessary funds? Thanks.Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gregor *********
My friend would like to avoid that as it would tie up valuable capital. Vietnam visit visa is 15 days for a UK national, so, time for a holiday.Gregor **********
you can also apply for the Extension of stay based on being married to a Thai inside Thailand. This will give you a full year and save you from doing the 90 day border runs. However for this you need to meet the financial requirements
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Paul ********
Ok, thank you.Paul *********
You can get nearly 15 months out of a years multiple entry visa
You can then go apply for another as long as you’re still married
You can then go apply for another as long as you’re still married
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTERIs it then possible to redo this process again to get another 17 months (feasibly)?
Neil ************
ORIGINAL POSTERSuper. Thank you from my friend.
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Neil ************
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