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What is the best visa option for someone planning to marry and live in Thailand part-time?
Visa optionsMarriage visaNon-O visaRetirement visaImmigration adviceExpat life in ThailandVisa requirements for expatsVisa extension processThai immigration rules
May 19, 2024
2 years ago
Mark ******
ORIGINAL POSTERGood morning, great forum and some great support it seems.
I am getting married to my partner next year. She has no intention to leave Thailand(other than a holiday) due to her government job and the family home. I work in the UK and essentially travel over regularly to see my family there.
My questions to avoid the dribble of life .
What would be the best visa option . I have a good income in excess of 160k ฿ monthly and this covers me here Uk side and back in Thailand.
Has anyone else been In similar position. I do intend to move permanently probably in about 3/4 years latest.
Thank you in advance for any help.
Mark
🫰🏼
I am getting married to my partner next year. She has no intention to leave Thailand(other than a holiday) due to her government job and the family home. I work in the UK and essentially travel over regularly to see my family there.
My questions to avoid the dribble of life .
What would be the best visa option . I have a good income in excess of 160k ฿ monthly and this covers me here Uk side and back in Thailand.
Has anyone else been In similar position. I do intend to move permanently probably in about 3/4 years latest.
Thank you in advance for any help.
Mark
🫰🏼
TLDR : Answer Summary
Mark is seeking advice on the best visa option for marrying his Thai partner and splitting his time between Thailand and the UK. Despite his good income, he is unsure whether to apply for a marriage visa, retirement visa, or utilize a tourist visa. Several community members provided insights, highlighting the options available based on age and relationship status, and discussing the implications of recent changes in visa policies. There's some debate about the best course of action, with a recommendation to consider a long-term visa that allows for multiple entries, especially considering plans to move to Thailand permanently in a few years.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Thehoodyguy *************
Easy way is
I did mine and two others at Udon Thani immigration office paid the 2000 they did all three extension the whole process took less than 45 minutes if you need more than 90 days the you will need to do a border run for each 30 period you can do this six times (but can only extend once at an immigration office ) meaning technically you can stay in Thailand for a total of 260+ days as a tourist if you start with a 60 day visa. Hope this answers your question obviously if your over 50 their are various 12 month visas that you can apply for based on your income
*****
day tourist visa very easy to get a 60 day from the thai embassy all done online takes max 10 days then extend at a local immigration office fee 1900b if you do the paperwork yourself 2000 b if they do it for you will give you 88 days assuming you don’t wait until the last minute to extend I did mine and two others at Udon Thani immigration office paid the 2000 they did all three extension the whole process took less than 45 minutes if you need more than 90 days the you will need to do a border run for each 30 period you can do this six times (but can only extend once at an immigration office ) meaning technically you can stay in Thailand for a total of 260+ days as a tourist if you start with a 60 day visa. Hope this answers your question obviously if your over 50 their are various 12 month visas that you can apply for based on your income
Joseph *********
If yiu are eligible agree a retirement visa.
Mark ******
ORIGINAL POSTERJust going to add to this.
We are together a long time this is not a rush nor am I being hoaxed. I’m not so naive to fall into the same trap that some of the negative or self assuming responses by the above posters have been.
Thanks for the positives though much appreciated.
👌🏼
We are together a long time this is not a rush nor am I being hoaxed. I’m not so naive to fall into the same trap that some of the negative or self assuming responses by the above posters have been.
Thanks for the positives though much appreciated.
👌🏼
Christopher *************
@Mark *****
good luck to you then , people are negative unfortunately because we have seen many men hurt and litterally destroyed by some of the ladies , but lucky uou know what your doing.👍Les ***********
@Mark *****
All the best.Reply to
Les ***********
Reply
Christopher *************
Why are you getting married buddy ? Wait until you move here full time. Then if all good marry her then. I hope your not doing monthly contributions to her whilst uour in the uk. Be very careful many men have been caught out doing this later on !!!!
Chris *********************
@Christopher ************
why try to put him off Bangkok busker have you been done ,international singer my arseChristopher *************
@Chris ********************
you know nothing arse holeJohn *********
@Chris ********************
Beats "digital creator" ;-)Christopher *************
@John ********
your not even living in Thailand AHJohn *********
@Christopher ************
I live in Phayao you sad case.Christopher *************
@John ********
yer rite your a scammer your profile proves itChristopher *************
@John ********
what like your pipe cleaning lol 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣John *********
@Christopher ************
What is that gibberish?Reply to
John *********
Reply
Xjwhudkwhry ********
Yeah right, she says that now...
Cris ******
Can just do a marriage visa with multiple re entry's. Need 400k baht in a baht account. 2 months prior to visa. And that's really about it. I used an agent I can recommend and the process was extremely easy.
Greg ***********
@Cris *****
be aware please, that you cannot get a multi entry one-year Non-Imm-O family visa any more from the E-visa system of the Royal Thai Embassy London. They discontinued this type of visa by November last year. Only the 90-days single entry family Non-Imm-O visa remains as usual. You will need to get this sorted, best with a conversion from the visa to a "1-year extension of stay permit", for which you can buy a multi re-entry permit separatelyCris ******
@Greg **********
I dunno about London. But I just got my 1 year multi entry marriage visa last week....Greg ***********
. .and BOUGHT a multi re-entry permit for this "extended stay permit" for 3800.- THB
Greg ***********
@Cris *****
then you got a "1-year extension" of a stay permit based on marriage to a Thai wife, and not a "visa"Cris ******
@Greg **********
uh. Sure? I don't know haha. I can stay for a year? So what's the differenceGreg ***********
@Cris *****
ya can join the "Thai Visa Advice" group on Facebook. Robert Lagas is admin, and only recently fixed a topic at the top of the group, about these common mistakes being made with the wrong wording. Although he explains the "retirement visa", the option number 7 he mentions is relating to the "marriage visa" as well: the one year extension from out of the Non-Imm-O family visa is not a visa. It is a stay permit stampCris ******
@Greg **********
I'm part of the group. I'm not sure many people care if it's a "visa" or a permit stamp" or whatever. As long as you can stay here.Greg ***********
@Cris *****
if you are part of the group, then you clearly can see the topic Robert Lagas posted on top of the group. Which, by the way, contains one mistake he made. I already told him and I am waiting on him to correct it. The option 5 ( Non-Imm-O/X visa) also needs a Thai bank account, which he missed to mentionCris ******
@Greg **********
ahhh that heckin Robert Lagas!!! I'll message him right away as wellGreg ***********
@Cris *****
Chris, you are just confusing a visa with a stay permit. No worries, even Thai Immigration wrongly talks about "visa extensions", although they NEVER extend any visa. They just extend stay permits.Cris ******
@Greg **********
no. Your missing the point. I don't care if they called it a foreskin imprint. If I get to stay. I don't care. Haha.Greg ***********
@Cris *****
I already told him (yet with another profile!)Greg ***********
@Cris *****
the difference is just the correct wording. A one-year extension of stay, as the stamp in your passport will tell you when you have a look at it, is not a visa. You visa has long ago expiredCris ******
@Greg **********
ok. So that's like. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck. It's most likely a duck? So same same thenGreg ***********
@Cris *****
the "marriage visa" only gets you 90 days and it quacks like a duck telling you it is 90 days. The "1-year extension" gives you 365 days and it qucks like a goose quacking "365 days!" instead of the duck quacking "90 days!" . . .duck or goose . . different birdsCris ******
@Greg **********
well hold up Mr Avian professor. Are you saying my "permit stamp" I have to do a border jump every 90 days? Or check ins?Greg ***********
@Cris *****
AGAIN: with the old "multi entry Non-Imm-O family visa", you had to do the 90-days border runs. However with a "1-year extension of stay based on marriage", you do not have to do any border runs. You CAN exit and re-enter, but you need to buy a re-entry permit in order to keep the "1-year extended stay permit" alive. . You just need to do 90-days reports. And please be aware, that most Thai embassies and consulates world over, have discontinued handing out the "365-days multi entry Non-Imm-O family visa" by November last year.Cris ******
@Greg **********
ok. Well still don't understand your wording. But all I care about is I stay here for a year and have to do 90 day check ins. Which I have. Don't really care about what its name is.Greg ***********
@Cris *****
"check-ins" ??? You mean border bounces? Or do you mean 90-days reporting on Immigration. In case you are doing border bounces every 90 days, please be aware that you cannot get another multi entry 365-days Non-Imm-O family visa any more from any Thai embassy or consulate abroad, with only ONE exception, which is the consulate in SavannakhetCris ******
@Greg **********
no. I have a something that I go to immigration to do a 90 day check in at immigration for another 90 days. For 12 months. Then redo my paperwork. And start the process overGreg ***********
@Cris *****
well, you got a one-year extension of stay permit based on marriage with a Thai wife. You don't have a visa. That's exactly what the stamp in your passport says. It looks like this stamp:Cris ******
@Greg **********
Gregory Alexander I believe you.Reply to
Cris ******
Reply
Neil ******
Im 53 married but still do a similar thing as working in the uk and frequently commuting. I get a multiple entry visa non immigrant O based on marriage. Costs £200 a year but you are then free to come and go as you please. I dont know if this is the best way but im happy with it
Les ***********
@Neil *****
Very good advi ce.Greg ***********
@Neil *****
you can, however, get a multi entry 1-year Non-Imm-O marriage visa at the Thai consulate Savannakhet, if you ask them, and can show them 400.000.- THB in a Thai bank accountMark ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gr**
best way to get a bank account then please?Greg ***********
use an agent. In Pattaya it's F.S. Consulting Co. oder Mot's. They will open a Bangkok Bank account for you on ANY visa type. Costs around 5000.- THB
Reply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Greg ***********
no more multi entry spouse visa:
*************************************************************
Greg ***********
@Neil *****
be aware please, that you cannot get a multi entry one-year Non-Imm-O family visa any more from the E-visa system of the Royal Thai Embassy London. They discontinued this type of visa by November last year. Only the 90-days single entry family Non-Imm-O visa remains as usual. You will need to get this sorted, best with a conversion from the visa to a "1-year extension of stay permit", for which you can buy a multi re-entry permit separatelyNeil ******
@Greg **********
thanks for the update, my last one was from september last year so i will look into itGreg ***********
@Neil *****
good luck and it needs your attentionReply to
Greg ***********
Reply
David *******
If over 50 get a Non O ‘for Retirement’.
If under 50 get a Non O ‘for being married to a Thai’
If under 50 get a Non O ‘for being married to a Thai’
Sophie *********
Just get a visa exemption on arrival and extend for a while. Don't rush anything. Reappraise the situation down the line..
Henrik *****
60 day touristvisa is way better if staying more than 30 days.
Sophie *********
@Henrik ****
Also, a TV costs £150 and a flight to Da Nang costs under a hundred return so...Henrik *****
How do you get a price of £ 150, most countys a touristvisa it is around £ 30.
Reply to
Henrik *****
Reply
Sophie *********
@Henrik ****
It isn't for me as I don't want to be in the same place for 5 months and I absolutely hate the tourist visa application - I have had it in the past but now simply can't be arsed with it.Henrik *****
You get a way better immigration history, by fewer bordercrossing,
If you want to stay more than 60 days, you need to use time and money to go out of Thailand and back in again if on visa excempt.
Going to extend visa will cost you extra in transport to and from the Immigration, and that you may need to do twice, and you will spend a day doing it.
With touristvisa no need to cross borders for 90 days.
If you want to stay more than 60 days, you need to use time and money to go out of Thailand and back in again if on visa excempt.
Going to extend visa will cost you extra in transport to and from the Immigration, and that you may need to do twice, and you will spend a day doing it.
With touristvisa no need to cross borders for 90 days.
Reply to
Henrik *****
Reply
Robert ********
Fool and his money are soon married
Andreas *********
@Robert *******
Is it like that for you? But others won't be fools. Your comment is actually nothing but a fart.Les ***********
@Robert *******
What a obnoxious comment.John *********
@Robert *******
Yeah mate. Money is all there is to life.Reply to
John *********
Reply
Us *****
How about a marriage visa?
Stuart *********
You don’t mention your age. If you are over 50 that opens up a few more options.
Mark ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Stuart ********
thank youReply to
Mark ******
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