What are the requirements for a marriage visa in Thailand for a Canadian marrying a Thai national?

Don't believe google or the thai immigration websites. I have been given wrong answers from both. ie the thai website gave me an email address which was wrong, and it wasn't forwarded to the correct one. A form from the same thai website - i downloaded a 3mth extn form, went to Laos to find out the form had been replaced. I found the immigration office in Nakhon Phanom very helpful

Run away

You need to have money in a Thai bank to obtain either a Retirement or a Marrige Visa (extension of stay while in Thailand. A mariage visa requires less money in the bank but requires jumping through many hoops. A retirement visa is relatively simple. But to open a Thai bank account, you need to be on a long term visa. I recommend that prior to coming to Thailand, you obtain a 12 month Retirement Visa in your country.

Just make sure not 4 balls in bed before visa lmfao

I applied for affirmation from embassy (UK) January, then had an appointment in Bangkok 5 weeks later received copy of passport and affirmation, had documents translated and then legalized another week and went to local ampur with documents, photos together, one outside of house with house number in, submitted all to ampur and now have to wait minimum of 3 months to get married but can get married within 6 months of the date from legalization, have to go back to work and fly back July just to get married will then return home and then I need to apply for a non o 90 day (spouse) visa from UK then can apply for extension in Thailand with all the requirements needed

You have to paid lots money to families and their entire life support okay just simply thinking they asking lots money for marriage gold diamond okay

Get a Non-Immigrant "O" visa at the Thai Embassy/Consulate in Canada.

NOT an "O(A)" Visa !

If you haven't already set up a PROPER address (and NOT a back-alley, run down by-the-hour guesthouse) and a bank account in Thailand - then WTF are you doing getting married to a local "soon" ?

Deposit 400k into the bank account soonest. Preferably into a FIXED TERM savings account because those do NOT come with an ATM card and to withdraw the money YOU have to go to the bank with your bank book and passport.

That keeps the "wife you met in the bar last week" from cleaning out your account and disappearing the day after you are "married".

When the 90 day period of your Non-O visa is almost up, fill out a TM-7 Form (Extension of Temporary Stay in The Kingdom Application Form) and under "Reason for Extension" put "Marriage".

You will need a lot more paperwork of course, including photocopies of your passport (face page, page showing your last Entry Stamp, page showing your Visa) as well as a photocopy of your UPDATED bank book (updated within 1-3 days depending on weekends/holidays), a letter from your bank (the "Bank Letter" standard letter the bank will do for you for 100 baht).

You will also need "proof of residence" as in copies of utility bills in your name or a Thai driver's license or a rental agreement or a housebook (depending on your living arrangements).

And of course - a copy of your marriage license AND a "handdrawn map" showing the location of your residence - AND photos showing the two of you in the home.

(It used to be that one of the photos had to be of you and your wife sitting (clothed) on the bed for some reason as though that was proof you were actually married.)

What you SHOULD do is go to your local Immigration office YOURSELF and ASK THEM what all you need because different offices MAY have different requirements or rules about what is needed.

And do it WELL in advance so you have time to make the necessary arrangements.

I've known people who switch from a Non-O (retirement) to a Non-O (marriage) because they wanted to spend the 400k they could take out of the bank.

And then there were others who went the opposite way and switched FROM a marriage Extension to a Retirement Extension because it was far less paperwork and hassle.

But you should know all of that LONG BEFORE YOU GET MARRIED.

The only legal way to marry in Thailand is at the Amphur (registration office) Any ceremony at the village or temple is just a blessing and carries no legality. You will need a letter from your embassy confirming you are free to marry. A sin sod (dowry) is usually only paid by the groom if the bride has never married and does not have children. Older women with children are lucky to find a husband and should not demand a sin sod, so don't fall in that trap. Any assets you own before the marriage remain yours if you divorce, but you can list these at the Amphur if you do not want any issues in the future. I would suggest you apply for a non O visa based on retirement in Canada. This will give you 90 days in Thailand and you can open a Thai bank account with this type of visa. Chok dee

Retirement visa and don't trust or marry your new wife. Her and her family will abuse you, read the stories and believe it. You are just free baht and they will trick you to get even more...

I would suggest a non immigrant O retirement visa. It's less complicated and stays with you as long as you extend every year. A marriage visa is only as good as the marriage, any problems with the marriage and you separate, you lose your visa too. And as someone already mentioned be very careful of a village marriage, make sure it's a legally binding civil marriage. Good luck 🙏

Canadian website. Easy

Why don’t you scroll down and read some of this groups older posts, or better still use Google and find your local Thai embassy. Believe it or not, they will provide the answers you need on their website.

This question is asked in various forms at least 2 or 3 times a week.

Not to hard to do, is it?

As others have said get a retirement Visa, not only temporarily but permanently. You don't want to have your future ability to stay in Thailand dependent upon a moody female!

Way easier to get a retirement visa. You can always revert to a marriage visa later when you have the information and time to get the appropriate paperwork.

You may find it easier to just get a visa based on retirement. Not only can you get the visa before you come to Thailand, with a Non-O visa you can open a bank account and the annual extension of stay is much less hassle. It doesn't prevent you getting married, removes any timing worries and you can always change to a marriage visa later if you want

Strongly suggest that you get a retirement Visa instead much less Hoops to jump through

keep in mind the village wedding is not marriage. You will also need to register with the local Amphur, each seem to run their own little empire. Wife and I needed to attend with village head man, her parents, and some others. Prior to that needed to obtain certificate from my embassy that I was free to marry. Not difficult but a little time consuming.

To get the visa you also need to have 400k in a Thai bank for a period of time, you cannot get the bank account on a visa exempt entry, you will need a non-o from your home country to open an account.

In Thailand you follow the guide on the Canadian Website

Just come on a 60 day visa exempt but have your other paperwork for marriage with you . There's a few hoops with your embassy getting affirmation of freedom to marry and translation services . I did it all in a couple of days .