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Answered8 months ago

What visa options are available for expats marrying a Thai citizen after holding an Elite visa?

Dave **********
asked Mar 6, 2026
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Hello all. I spend most of my time in Bangkok & have a Thai Elite visa (I won't go into why, but it absolutely made sense in my situation at the time - forget all the cars & fast track stuff).

I am 45 & am about to my marry my Thai fiancé/partner of six years. She is a doctor at a government hospital & has been for 12 years, not including the the three years of specialist training after university.

I have the means to obtain a Thai Elite visa, but I'd like to know what my options are prior to committing to this.

Kind thanks in advance 🙏
Answer summary
The original poster holds a Thai Elite visa and is about to marry their Thai fiancé, seeking advice on their visa options before committing to a new Thai Elite visa. Comments from the community suggest various strategies, such as applying for a Non-O visa after the marriage or extending the current Elite visa, while also discussing the costs and requirements associated with each option. Suggestions included considering a long-term resident visa or using a combination of short-term visas to avoid border runs.
55 repliesnewest first
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Jim *********
Jim *********
Why do you feel the need to mention your partner? It's irrelevant. Maybe she freelance on Soi Nana for all you know.
Russell ***********
Russell ***********
anymore worthless information you want to share about your partner ?
Colin *********
Colin *********
Dave Milligan,

I'm over twenty years older than yourself and have undergone some extremely stressful times for almost two years, yet I could understand your post without a problem (even though I've never been close to the 'sharpest tool in the toolbox' as the saying goes. Yes, your wording could perhaps have been slightly clearer regarding your Elite Visa and thoughts about getting another one, but I think if I could understand, most others should have.

As you're up to five years away from qualifying for a Non-O Visa based on being over 50 ('Retirement Visa'), once married, you can opt for the Non-O based on being married to a Thai. I have no idea about Elite Visas (or LTR's that a couple have suggested), but if you want to opt out of the Elite for whatever reason, and go for the lower cost Visa, then the 'Marriage Visa' might be the way to go, at least until you reach 50. Many will say that the requirements of the 'Marriage Visa' are more demanding than the 'Retirement Visa' but I've also been assured by some, that as long as you're organised and keep copies of documents that remain unchanged from year to year, the Marriage visa is fairly easy. That's the route I'll be going in the very near future, if everything works out for me (just waiting for one matter to be cleared up where I'm living right now).
Jack ********
Jack ********
Ask different people on Facebook until you get an answer that suits you
Daniel ***************
Daniel ***************
So, you're telling us your "fiancee" is not a hooker. Thanks for the update.
Ian ********
Ian ********
He needs to highlight the fact that he is marring a doctor. No relevance to what he is asking.
BronzeNec**********
BronzeNec**********
If you had simply said your elite is about the expire and you are weighing options there wouldn’t be any confusion, so no need to get all argumentative with others who find your post confusing.
Authenti*********
Authenti*********
I’m confused about the question. Jus to clarify :

OP has already got elite visa. But about to get married and wants to know what his options are prior to committing an elite visa again or he means prior to committing to the marriage

Update:

Oh I just read his response to others… probably expired visa (but he should say which elite visa he has … duration, to avoid confusion )
Sam *****
Sam *****
If money is not a big concern, I suggest going with a new elite 5year when the current one expires i.e. until you reach 50 and then retirement visa. Its always easier to manage renewals that way than spouse visa. May be i am suggesting it because i prefer the visa to be directly connected to me, that said many go for spouse visa regardless of the renewal paperwork
Frankie *******
Frankie *******
Does she work at a keon kheon hospital as a OBGYN. DR.
Karl *********
Karl *********
My 2 cents says stay with the Elite Visa if you can afford it. I have gone down the marriage and retirement visa paths and they are a lot of effort. With the Elite Visa you have people to help when you need it.
Sky *****
Sky *****
Is your fiancé's job relevant?
Dianne *****
Dianne *****
Sky Lar I suspect it was to shut down speculation about her being a bar girl or gold digger and all of the unwanted comments likely to accompany that assumption
Sky *****
Sky *****
Dianne Lee Maybe she worked in a bar to support herself through uni? I'm not making assumptions, but I mean medical uni is expensive!!
Jim *********
Jim *********
Colin Boyland nothing wrong with girls working as bargirls to provide for their family. Your post doesn't ring true. The Thai woman and sister are "poor farming people" and had enough money to send their children to University to study accountancy and qualify as a dentist. Do me a favour will you, where did they get the money?
Colin *********
Colin *********
Sky Lar you're not making assumptions, just insinuations and just being a rude ass! I know of a guy married to a Thai woman who's parents are poor farming people. This guys wife was able to study accountancy at University and was fully qualified before they met. She has a sister that is a fully qualified Dentist and has worked in Germany, and another sister, has also been studying at Uni. They're definitely not a family that has got their money from working as bargirls - they're not that kind of people. Sometimes it just takes hard work and determination on the part of parents and the family in general to achieve things.
Simon *******
Simon *******
Take a long serious look at the relatively new long term residence visa (LTR visa)
Dave **********
Dave **********
OP
Simon Adams I will. Kind thanks.
Marty *********
Marty *********
I’m sure someone will recommend a DTV. You can’t have a bank account on a DTV if that matters. I would find the 6 month border runs annoying.
Roger **********
Roger **********
Why is your Partners job or education relevant here?
Colin *********
Colin *********
Roger Cottrell I don't know if Dave Milligan has read a great deal of posts in groups like this, but if he has, like I have, he'll know that there are a lot of guys that like to ridicule other guys for marrying, or talking about marrying Thai women. That's probably because they've married Thai women and then the marriage has failed. I suspect that those guys don't tell the truth, or only a part of the truth and instead, shout it out to those online that don't know them personally, that it was all the woman's fault, just to make themselves feel better.

I suspect that Dave is stating facts about his fiancee, to highlight she has an independent, solid and stable career and doesn't need to rely on his money, unlike some who marry bargirls, who are far more likely to want the husband to fully support her and her family. That seems obvious to me, as does the question posed in the original post, which so many commenters just can't seem to understand.
Lucky ******
Lucky ******
Roger Cottrell why do you seems to be upset with that? He’s counting his achievements lol
Dave **********
Dave **********
OP
Marty Pollard thanks. Definitely not doing the border runs.
Michael ********
Michael ********
Marty Pollard plan a holiday every six months some great places to go for weekend
John **********
John **********
Once married you could get a 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage followed by a 12 month extension of stay assuming you have a Thai bank account but you would have to get yourself onto a tourist stamp first. Or you could apply outside of Thailand for the 90 day Non-O. Both would have to be after your current visa expires
Nico *************
Nico *************
@John *********
May I ask what happens if you're staying in Thailand on a marriage visa and your wife unfortunately passes before you? Are you then granted leave at the mercy of immigration and/or do you need to obtain a different visa?
John **********
John **********
@Nico ************
they allow you to remain for the duration of your existing extension but then you need to meet the requirements of a new reason for the next extension
Jan ******************
Jan ******************
You'll need a visa to fill the time gap until you get married and can apply for a Non-O visa based on marriage.

Thai privilege visa seems like an expensive option.
Dave **********
Dave **********
OP
Jan Kenneth Nesland thanks. I'll have a look. If extending my Elite means is the only option as to not having to leave the country every 90 days... it'll have to be it. Hopefully there is another option.
Jordi ********
Jordi ********
Dave Milligan You still have the elite visa? Whats the question really...? Get the non O marriage. It will save you a ton of money. You can always get married quick just on paper and do the ceremonial stuff later if that's important and you're running out of time. There are many ways to marry in Thailand😅. And congrats!
Jan ******************
Jan ******************
Dave Milligan Without getting personal, you mentioned that your current visa still runs for another 18 months and that you are about to marry your Thai fiancée. Depending on when the wedding actually takes place, you may only need a temporary overlap before you can apply for a Non O visa based on marriage and then obtain a yearly extension of stay inside Thailand. In that situation, committing to a five year Elite visa would likely be a very expensive solution to what is probably only a short transitional period.
Charles **********
Charles **********
You have an Elite visa and now you want one? 🤷🏼‍♂️
Dave **********
Dave **********
OP
Charles Arnestad seems you aren't aware an Elite Visa isn't permanent?
Yo***
Yo***
Dave Milligan So, you want another visa after your elite visa expired??? It is so hard for you to write this in your post???? or you think people can read your mind?? 🤣
Roger **********
Roger **********
Dave Milligan nothing in life is permanent including spouses. Apologies, had to chuck that in.
Charles **********
Charles **********
Dave Milligan so why don’t you specify a renewal to prevent the confusion?
Graham ******
Graham ******
Dave Milligan because that is what you are asking
Charles **********
Charles **********
Jan Kenneth Nesland good for you, you are in the minority 🤪
Jan ******************
Jan ******************
Charles Arnestad I got it instantly as Thai Privilege Visa (previously known as Elite Visa) is sold in 5, 10, 15 to 20+ year packages.
Charles **********
Charles **********
Dave Milligan given the number of people reacting to my comment I suspect that they agree with me rather than with you. Anyway, I don’t care, I have my LTR. Good Luck.
Steve ***********
Steve ***********
Dave Milligan sorry Dave, I was confused also
Dave **********
Dave **********
OP
Charles Arnestad why would I have to? They expire. It's pretty obvious that I'm looking for the solution after that.

If people need that spelt out to them 😬😬😬
Dave **********
Dave **********
OP
Charles Arnestad read it again. Or perhaps aren't familiar with the situation.
Yo***
Yo***
Dave Milligan you wrote, I have a elite visa. So why do you need another visa????🤣
Paul_D******
Paul_D******
Dave Milligan copy, paste
Charles **********
Charles **********
Dave Milligan yeah, it’s still wrong 🤪
Graham ******
Graham ******
Charles Arnestad exactly, conflicting information
Dave **********
Dave **********
OP
Graham Seal no, it isn't, you didn't read it properly or perhaps aren't familiar with the situation.
Yo***
Yo***
Dave Milligan & have a Thai Elite visa🤣this is what you wrote in your post. You have a thai elite visa. this means, you have a visa now. Or you will have a Thai elite visa? That complicated people here. 😂
Erwin *******
Erwin *******
Graham Seal learn to read and comprehend.
Graham ******
Graham ******
Dave Milligan so why not help people understand what you are asking when you post on a group?
Jan ******************
Jan ******************
Graham Seal Most likely because the current one is about to expire.

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