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What visa options are available for a British national moving to Thailand with a Chinese spouse?

Thailand visa optionsLong-term visasED visaElite visaLTR visaNon-B visaWorking in ThailandFreelancing in ThailandChinese teachers in ThailandRetirement visaExpat living in Thailand
Nov 6, 2023
2 years ago
Max ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
What's up, everyone?

I'm looking for some advice about my particularly rare situation.

I am a British national, currently living in China with my Chinese wife.

We'd love to relocate to Thailand, but we want the security of having long-term visas, with no risk of future problems.

We know that ED visas are an option, but after speaking with friends who currently live in Thailand on ED visas, it doesn't sound as convenient as many make out.

I am a freelance strategic marketer and my wife is a Chinese language teacher.

Does anyone know exactly what visa options we have?

Is an ED visa really our best bet?

Advice would be much appreciated! Thanks.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A British national living in China is seeking advice about long-term visa options for relocating to Thailand with their Chinese wife. They are considering the Education (ED) visa but have heard mixed reviews about its convenience. Suggestions from the community include the Thai Elite visa as a more secure if expensive option, as well as exploring the possibilities of the LTR visa and Non-B visa if they secure jobs. Participants also noted that an education visa could be limited due to attendance requirements and may not be the best long-term solution. They also discussed age-based options, with retirement visas available for individuals over 50.
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Karel *********
I'd say ED visas are just fine, all you have to do is report at immigration every 90 days ( the way of reporting differs, however, in Phuket you drive up to the window on you scooter, give them the docs they want, they check them out you are fine to go). Seamless process.
2 years ago
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Max ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
My friends who are in Phuket now on ED visas are having a few issues with abrupt renewal fees at random times (earlier than the stated 90 days)... Is this usually dependant on the legitimacy of the school, or is this just Thailand being Thailand?
2 years ago
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Karel *********
@Max *****
 would be the school I assume. this
2 years ago
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Karel *********
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Max ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Elite visa for 5 years is around £20,000, right? A bit too much for me, considering I'm only looking at one year for now.
2 years ago
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Maximilian *******
I got elite visa for my Chinese wife
2 years ago
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David **********
Not a rare situation at all
2 years ago
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Cole *********
Elite visa bro it's expensive but worth it. Do a 5 year you can upgrade it later when you have more money.
2 years ago
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Sei *****
I'm a Japanese teacher but in Thailand so many schools are looking for a Chinese teacher and payed about 40 to 60 k. ajarn.com is the side
2 years ago
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Christine *******
Your wife should look for a job teaching Chinese in an international school. Then you could get a dependent visa, riding on her non-B visa.
2 years ago
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Jack ****************
Max if you only want a year or two education is very easy because it's all super corrupt. But because of THAT it can be difficult to switch to something else if you decide to stay forever.
2 years ago
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Robert ***********
If you get a Thai Language ED visa you better be ready to talk thai to the immigration guy when you leave or return to the country. I know of one guy who was "warned" that he better have a better grasp of the language next time. 🙂
2 years ago
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Max ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert **********
 What happens if you're just a "slow learner"? 😂
2 years ago
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Max ******
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Steve *******
Random advice: look into the Philippines, where you can live legally, practically forever, on a tourist visa.

As you were planning to work online on an ED visa in Thailand, which is illegal but with minimal risk of consequences, go do the same in the Philippines instead, where the visas will never be an issue.
2 years ago
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Martin **********
You not mention age. From 50 years old, retirement is best. Even if your wife is not 50, she can get a following spouse visa. If your wife want a job as teacher, then as said go for that. Indeed avoid ED visa. Gives problems often if you travel back into the country.
2 years ago
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Duncan *******
If your wife gets a job here, you can get a visa based on her employment.

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2 years ago
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Max ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
That would be ideal. Finding employment for a Chinese national could be difficult though!
2 years ago
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Max ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Superstar. Thank you.
2 years ago
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Duncan *******
@Max *****
 there is demand for Chinese teachers so she might be able to find something.

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2 years ago
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Duncan *******
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Zoe ******
ED visa is definitely not a good long term visa solution. Retirement visa if one of you is over 50. Or LTR if you meet the requirements. Elite is the easiest option but the most $$$.
2 years ago
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Daniel *****
Thai Elite visa if within your budget = least amount of problems
2 years ago
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Max ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I wish it were!
2 years ago
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Matthieu **********
@Max *****
 3 months ago it was only 1M baht for 20 years
2 years ago
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Daniel *****
@Max *****
 Me too. :)
2 years ago
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Daniel *****
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John **********
If you're under 50 then the most secure option for you is the elite visa but you can't work on it. The best option for you if you want to work is the LTR visa but it has pretty stiff requirements. If you want to set up a company in Thailand then I'd suggest looking at the smart visa
2 years ago
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Max ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Is the smart visa something that would need to be applied for after successfully setting up a Thai company? And is setting up a Thai company overly difficult or expensive? Thank you!
2 years ago
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John **********
@Max *****
 there's a variety of different smart visas and differing requirements. Suggest you have a browse on the smart visa web site

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2 years ago
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John **********
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John **********
ED visas are quite restrictive. You have to attend classes as required by the school, usually a minimum of two or three days a week. Extending them requires the school to report your attendance to immigration. You first need to pick the school you want to attend then get them to provide the paperwork to obtain the visa
2 years ago
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Chris ******
From your situation the elite visa is next but expensive…if you plan to work then with job offers you can get non b and work permits …. Otherwise I’m presuming you are under 50 , then could always set up

Your own company and have Thai staff on the books and get work permits for you both that way . Education visas are ok …. Can be issues if leaving and returning , also depends on how long you plan to live here for .
2 years ago
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Max ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris *******
 I think the elite visa would be too expensive for us. I don't necessarily plan to work, as all of my work is online and remote. We are both in our 30's. The option that you mentioned about setting up my own company and having Thai staff on the books, how does that work? We would plan to relocate to Thailand for at least 1 year, without any particular desire to leave/return. Thank you for your help!
2 years ago
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Max ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Useful info, thank you!
2 years ago
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John *******
@Max *****
 I have run several businesses in Thailand and it is not inexpensive, expect a setup cost between 20k and 50k THB and something like 125k to 150k THB per year to maintain it so that it can support a B visa. This visa type is a lot more paperwork than you might expect and there are still hurdles to jump through each year. I found this visa type to be fairly stressful at renewal time. The price for Elite recently jumped a lot, before that I'd tell people Elite is cheaper than a B visa on a per-year basis.
2 years ago
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John *******
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