What is the process for extending a retirement visa in Thailand if my spouse's marriage certificate needs to be translated?

Visa Extension Retirement Visa Marriage Certificate Translation Thai Embassy Notary Services Immigration Process

Oct 1, 2017

7 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

The time is coming up to extend my visa based on retirement. My wife is not yet 50, so she piggybacks on my visa.

Once before when we presented our US marriage certificate, the immigration agent accepted my copy, but recommended getting a certified translation at (if I recall correctly) the Thai Embassy in Bangkok. Has anyone been through this process?

Thanks in advance!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The individual seeks to extend their retirement visa in Thailand, mentioning their wife relies on their visa status due to being under 50. They discuss past experiences with marriage certificate requirements during immigration procedures. Comments indicate that some expats have had success with notarized affidavits instead of original marriage certificates or translations. Others highlight that European marriage certificates require multiple certifications but do not necessarily need translation. Overall, detailed steps suggest visiting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand for certification of translations and notarized documents.

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Gene ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

- Just to close the loop on this... I completed a family affidavit (the marriage declaration section), got it notarized at the US Embassy in Bangkok, and that satisfied the Hua Hin Immigration Officer. They didn't care one whit about my original marriage cert from North Carolina, just the affidavit. Of course, I had all the other extension documentation in order even before.

I could have saved a trip to Bangkok if I had understood the marriage declaration requirement because I had to get the income affidavit done anyway. I could have covered both items with one trip and one appointment. A note for others, though: you can get more than one document notarized with one appointment, but the Embassy does charge a separate notary fee for each document.

The immigration office kept a copy of my notarized family affidavit for their file, but they returned the original. They said it will serve every purpose from now on.

7 years ago

Tod *********

Thanx for that update (y)

7 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Walter *******

Europeans have to get a European marriage certificate. This certificate (in about 10 languages, but not in Thai) then has to be certified by their Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then it needs to be certified by the Thai embassy/consulate in the home country. Finally it needs to be certified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So no need to get a translation of the certificate. I have been told that you only need to go through this process once. For your second renewal a recent certificate, but without all the certifications, should do the trick.

7 years ago

Gene ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

My wife is a native of Brazil, but is also here on her US passport. We presented a marriage cert copy in the US for our original O-A visas, and a couple of times here for residence registration. The translation was recommended by the agent in Hua Hin.

7 years ago

Gene ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

- Thanks for your advice! It's always a pleasure.

7 years ago

Tod *********

@Ge**

, they probably were indeed, ;)

but as laid back and as easy going as that office is AND the fact you've gotten previous extensions without the "suggested" translations I think you're fine using the english marriage certificate.

I think its totally unnecessary, but you do what you feel is the best course of action for your situation (y)

7 years ago

Gene ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I assumed that the guy on the other side of the desk was an immigration officer...I was at the Hua Hin Immigration Office just north of the palace.

7 years ago

Tod *********

ahh now you're talkin' what an "agent" or "paper-pusher" wanted and not what an immigration officer suggested.

7 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Janine ******

We recently had to go to the Ministry of Consular Affairs to certify things. There they have translation available as well. Then will probably ask you to certify both as well

7 years ago

Tod *********

Umm, there is NO thai embassy inside thailand ;) just like there's no US embassy inside the USA :O I think you're talkin' about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which certifies translations into thai :)

I have never seen an immigration office NOT accept a marriage certificate in english.

IF you really wanted to do it you go to any translation shop, get your original marriage certificate translated into thai and then certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Most translation services offer a price where they do a translation and get the certification stamp too, then mail the documents to you

7 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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Does an Aussie applying for a Thai visa extension based on marriage need to get his marriage certificate translated and certified for each extension?

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