What Are the Requirements for a Marriage Visa in Thailand if I Have a Foreign Marriage Certificate?

Nov 10, 2019
5 years ago
Steven *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tod Daniels thanks for re-posting your visa advice from a previous post. So I have decided that a renewal of my Non-O-A visa requires a medical insurance policy and a Non-O visa requires a border run every 90 days which I am not particularly in favor of. So now I have the option to change my O-A visa for a Marriage visa which would avoid the requirement of health insurance and border runs every 90 days.

So my question then is what are the requirements for a marriage visa having a marriage certificate from my home country to a Thai citizen and also having a Thai son age 24 living in Thailand? What paperwork will I need when making my application?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user seeks guidance on the requirements for converting their Non-O-A visa to a Marriage visa, having a foreign marriage certificate and a Thai son. They require details on the necessary paperwork and any specific procedures to follow.
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Tod *********
I messaged you about it
Steven *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Okay,
@Tod ********
thank you for that but can you tell me other than the certified copy of a marriage certificate and proof of having 800,000 baht in a Thai bank acct., which I have, what else do I need to apply for a 90 day Non-O based on marriage?
Tod *********
and again this turned into a pissing match of what people THINK it might be..

We are done.
Tod *********
In order to "break the chain" of having an O-A visa you need to leave the country and either come back on a 30 day visa exempt entry or a 60 day tourist visa

Then you would buy a 90 day Non-O from the immigration office IF your office will do the conversion

OR

you go to a thai consulate in another country and buy a 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage.

Then you come in get stamped in for 90 days and after that runs down you apply for a yearly extension of stay at your immigration office by meeting the financial requirements and providing the documentation they need.

Your FIRST step in doing this would be to see if your local immigration office issues in country 90 day Non-O visas based on someone having a 30 day visa exempt or tourist visa entry AND see what the requirements are for doing it
Tod *********
@Steven ********
, okay, lets get this sorted out. You CANNOT change your O-A visa to an O visa inside the country. Period, end of story.
Michael ********
Or just put some money in a Thai bank, get a NON O based of retirement over 50, and make a yearly extension of stay with no border runs ;)
Robert *******
Time to get things clear, the picture above is an example of a visa, you get/buy at a Thai Consulate or Embassy. The picture at the bottom is a stamp from your local Immigration Office and called like the text is line 2 Extension of Stay. They not only look different, they have different rules, regulations and requirements, like: a Visa (without -A or -X) only let you stay max 90 days inside the country and an Extension of Stay allows you to stay max 1 year in the country. We can name both a visa or a stamp or after a city in Thailand, your favorite bars what ever, but it is what it is and what ever name we like to give it, the original name and the rules regulations and requirements do not change.
David ************
Sorry for the off topic, but I'm reading a lot about Non O visas and 90 day border runs. I'm a Non-O holder (not retirement), based upon my Children / Family (not marriage) and I also have an insurance + WP + TM30. All I normally do is to get my yearly extension at Chaeng Whattana and make my 90 day Report there. Is the border run a new thing?
Darren *********
Robert *******
No, it is not a new thing, as the Non Immigrant O visa only allows you to stay 90 days inside Thailand, you have to leave the country before or on the last day as stamped in the Admitted until stamp you get when you enter this country. Or apply at your local Immigration Office for an Extension of Stay, like you did.
James ***********
Non-O still requires 90 day border runs??
Benjamin ******
Which "Non-O" visa?
Ron *******
All this swapping and changing around in order to avoid this new legislation is only going to end one way. That will be teers all round.

Watch this space.
James ********
@Ron ******
yes...I agree the other shoe may drop next year 😢
Darren *********
@Ron ******
my sentiments exactly 👍
Steven *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
Okay then since I do not have a re-entry permit I will leave before the expiry of my O-A and apply for a new Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage without the health insurance requirement since my O-A is no longer valid. ( I will check with Chiang Mai immigration to verify that they will not issue me a marriage visa without the health insurance off the back of my current O-A first). Other than the marriage certification which I will get in Bangkok what else do I need?
John *********
@Steven ********
Please let us know what CM immigration tells you about changing to a Non O visa based on marriage and the Insurance requirement. Thank you
Robert *******
please, if you visit the Immigration Office and do NOT mention the populair phrase marriage visa as this is nothing else than the Extension of Stay based on married with a Thai National if you visit Immigration or a Non Immigrant O visa based on being married to a Thai National if you visit a Thai Consulate. Use the correct name for what you want to ask, this to avoid confusions.
Robert *******
If your current Extension of Stay is valid until 5 Jan 2020 and you do NOT have a valid re-entry permit you can leave Thailand between today and 5 Jan 2020. IF you have a valid re-entry permit, you have to wait till after 5 Jan 2020 to apply for a new visa, meaning your leave on the 4th or the 5th of Jan.
Steven *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Robert Largas okay so you are saying that if my extension of stay is valid until Jan. 5 2020 I can get a re-entry permit and go to Vietnam and apply for a Non-Immigrant -O visa before or after the Jan. 5 expiry date? I can't, as you say, leave Thailand after the last day of permitted stay without having to pay for an overstay.
Robert *******
Only option you have: After the valid until or enter before date on your Non Immigrant O-A visa or if you have a valid Re-Entry Permit, on the last day of permitted up to ../../.. you leave Thailand or make sure you come back after this date and visit a Thai Consulate to apply for a NEW Non Immigrant O visa based on being married to a Thai National. As you do not like t make border runs, a singe entry will do. You get 90 days of stay on entry, and after 60 days you visit your local Immigration Office and apply for the 1 year Extension of Stay based on being married to a Thai National.
Darren *********
Here’s an idea, admins can confirm (or deny) you could apply for the 60 day visiting family extension when your Non O-A expires and then convert to a marriage extension?
Tod *********
The 60 day visit family wouldn't break the "chain of extensions" and they'd still go back to the original Non-O-A visa.

You have to start a new 'chain of extensions' from an O visa to get out of the insurance clause
Arve ****************
Well, the New regulations is about insurance i think, and not about converting visas.

So can't do any damage and go ask..

7 see George here also know about this..

I also know about 1 more that got his visa in Korat, but don't know him in person.

But he thank me for letting him know about the option..
Arve ****************
Robert Lagas Sorry, i had no visa ( visa exemption ).

Friend of me had non OA..

But was near 8 year ago.

When i Googles it now i see its only for TR and Visa exemption, and you will have to go to Bkk ( 15 days before)

So looks like it have changed.
Gregor **********
Immigration Supanburi just confirmed to a german and his Thai wife that he can convert using TM2 from 2018 Non-Imm-O/A to a Non-Imm-O based on marriage. Husband has however to meet the financial requirement at the date of the conversion. So actually in SOME immigrations they are willing to do it
Robert *******
No you can not as is is still the same extensions based on the same initial visa
Robert *******
If you apply for a VISA, that is correct. But you can not apply for a VISA of you already hold the Non Immigrant O-A visa at an Immigration Office
Steven *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
I was told I do not need the health insurance if applying for a visa based on Marriage.
@Tod ********
can you confirm this?
Tod *********
in order to get out of the mandatory insurance you cannot get ANY type of extension off originally holding an O-A visa, so assuming the immigration office would let you change the reason for your extension to one based on being over 50 to one based on being married to a thai because you were originally on an O-A visa ANY extension would need insurance too.
Darren *********
@Steven ********
he’s right Steve. New requirement. If you get your marriage extension off of the back of your O-A you will need medical insurance 😕
Robert *******
And did you ask the Immigration Office in Chang Mai that you can change from the Non Immigrant O-A visa into a Non Immigrant O visa (the difference is no -A) because as you just visit and apply for the Extension of Stay based on being married to a Thai National with basis your Non Immigrant O-A visa you still need the health insurance.
Robert *******
And where do you like to go to apply for the Non Immigrant O visa based on being married to a Thai National
Steven *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Rob Nicol I'm applying in Chiang Mai.
Steven *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Darren ********
I have a Canadian marriage certificate so probably the same requirement to go to Bangkok?.
Steven *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Darren ********
That's the least of my problems. I want to avoid leaving Thailand every 3 months and avoid paying for health insurance as laid out by the Immigration dept.
Darren *********
@Steven ********
you’ll need to show 400k baht in a Thai bank, or an income of 40k a month.
Darren *********
@Steven ********
the MFA wont legalise it until it’s certified (By the Canadian government) and translated. I assume it works in the same way.
Rob *******
It varies a bit from consulate to consulate, where are you applying?
Darren *********
Hi Steven, you will need to get your marriage certificate legalised in Thailand. It involves going to the embassy in Bangkok, getting it certified then getting translated. After that you will need to get it legalised by the MFA.
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