What visa options are available to a UK citizen married to a Thai citizen for long-term stay in Thailand?

Getting an extension of stay in Thailand

To stay longer, you will need a one year extension of stay. FOR RETIREMENT:

1. Your passport and a copy of:

a. The data “picture” page.

b. The most recent visa (if applicable).

c. The most recent entry stamp or extension of stay (if applicable).

d. The departure card (“TM 6”) that should be stapled in the passport.

2. The extension of stay application form (“TM 7”).

3. 2x passport sized (4cm by 6cm) photos.

4. To meet the financial requirements of either:

- 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account seasoned for 2 months along with a letter from the bank. If renewing the one year extension of stay, the 800,000 THB must be seasoned for two months before applying and three months after the last extension of stay was granted, and for the money not to have been lower then 400,000 THB throughout the calendar year, Or;

- 65,000 THB a month in income to a Thai bank transferred from overseas, Or;

- A letter from the embassy stating the applicant receives 65,000 THB a month in income from overseas.

5. A hand drawn map to the applicant’s residence. Some immigration offices may want this map on a special paper.

6. FOR NON-OA and NON-OX VISAS ONLY: Health insurance that meets the minimum qualifications (the same requirements you used to enter Thailand)

6. A processing fee of 1,900 THB

FOR MARRIAGE:

1. Your passport and a copy of:

a. The data “picture” page.

b. The most recent visa (if applicable).

c. The most recent entry stamp or extension of stay (if applicable).

d. The departure card (“TM 6”) that should be stapled in the passport.

2. The extension of stay application form (“TM 7”).

3. 2x passport sized (4cm by 6cm) photos.

4.. The Thai spouse physically next to the applicant, and;

- Their Thai ID card and a front and back copy of the ID card

- Their housebook, and a copy of the first page.

5. Proof of finances:

- 400,000 THB in a Thai bank account, seasoned for 2 months OR;

- 40,000 THB in income OR;

- A letter from the applicant’s embassy stating the applicant has an income of 40,000 THB a month. If the embassy offers the income letter, the income method can not be used.

6. Marriage certificate (either the rose border certificate, OR a translated copy from the applicant’s home country), and a front and back copy of the marriage certificate.

7. An updated Kor Ror 2 showing the marriage is current, acquired from the local amphur office for 20 THB.

Different immigration offices have different requirements, and may include:

- A copy of the TM30 filed where the applicant lives.

- A hand drawn map to the house.

- Pictures of the husband and wife in various locations in the house (front of the house/ condo, in all rooms, etc).

- Rental contract (if renting property or a condo)

There is an under consideration stamp for both extension of stays. The immigration office will tell you what documents you need to bring when you close out the under consideration stamp.

To keep the extension of stay alive, you will need a re-entry permit. A re-entry permit can be purchased at some international airports, and ANY immigration office (not just your local immigration office). A re-entry permit DOES NOT add additional time to your existing extension of stay, however keeps your extension of stay alive.

1. The applicant’s passport and a copy of:

a. The data “picture” page.

b. The most recent entry stamp or extension of stay.

c. The departure card (“TM 6”) stapled in the passport.

2. The Application for Re-entry Permit (“TM 8”) form, found at the immigration office.

3. 2x passport photos.

4. 1,000 THB for a single entry re-entry permit, and 3,800 THB for a multiple entry permit. If you purchase the re-entry permit at Bangkok International Airport, they will charge an additional 200 THB to fill out the paperwork for you.

GETTING A VISA INSIDE THAILAND

If you're entering Thailand on a visa exempt or tourist visa, you WILL NEED to purchase a "zero entry" Non-O visa based on retirement at the local immigration office OR a “zero entry” Non-O visa based on marriage to a Thai national.

For RETIREMENT:

Different immigration offices have different requirements, but all require the following:

1. Your passport and a copy of:

a. The data “picture” page.

b. The most recent visa (if applicable).

c. The most recent entry stamp or extension of stay (if applicable).

d. The departure card (“TM 6”) stapled in the passport.

2. If entered on a tourist visa, a TM 86 visa change request form, and if entered on a visa on arrival, visa exempt, or bilateral agreement, a TM 87 visa change request form.

3. Proof of a TM 30 filed at the immigration office.

4. A letter from a Thai bank showing that 800,000 THB was transferred into the bank account from overseas, or pension from overseas of no less than 65,000 THB a month, or a combination of both income and pension, totaling 800,000 THB.

5. A hand drawn map to the house where the applicant lives.

6. A criminal background check issued from the Thai police.

7. 2x passport sized (4cm by 6cm) photos.

8. A processing fee of 2,000 THB.

Different immigration offices have different time frames required for this visa. For Bangkok Immigration, you need AT LEAST 15 days remaining on your existing "admitted to" stamp. I believe it's greater for other immigration offices.

For MARRIAGE TO A THAI NATIONAL:

Different immigration offices have different requirements, but all require the following:

1. Your passport and a copy of:

a. The data “picture” page.

b. The most recent visa (if applicable).

c. The most recent entry stamp or extension of stay (if applicable).

d. The departure card (“TM 6”) stapled in the passport.

2. If entered on a tourist visa, a TM 86 visa change request form, and if entered on a visa on arrival, visa exempt, or bilateral agreement, a TM 87 visa change request form.

3. A marriage certificate with a certified translation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if the certificate was not issued in Thailand.

4. A front and back copy of the spouse Thai ID card, the original and copy of the Thai house book, and an updated Kor Ror 2 showing the marriage is still current, acquired from the local amphur office.

5. Proof of a TM 30 filed at the immigration office.

6. A letter from the bank showing you have 400K THB in a Thai bank account OR a letter from the embassy showing you have 40K THB a month in income (NOT all embassies offer this letter).

7.. Photographs of the applicant and the spouse or child outside the home with the house number visible, and throughout the home.

8. 2x passport sized (4cm by 6cm) photos.

9. A processing fee of 2,000 THB.

Different immigration offices have different time frames required for this visa. For Bangkok Immigration, you need AT LEAST 15 days remaining on your existing "admitted to" stamp. I believe it's greater for other immigration offices.

Acquiring a visa and staying in Thailand are two separate activities. For this comment (because of Facebook character limit), I’ll discuss about your visa options:

ASSUMING you're over 50, AND you have at least 800K THB that you can bring over in cash, AND you're LEGALLY married to your Thai wife, you have the following options to enter Thailand:

1. Enter on a 30 day visa exempt, purchase a 30 day extension of stay based on tourism for 1,900 THB [if extra time is required], purchase an in-country 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 for 2K THB OR purchase an in-country 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage [IF your immigration office is willing to sell you the visa], and then apply for a one year extension of stay based on retirement OR a one year extension of stay based on marriage. NO health insurance is required.

2. Enter on a 60 day single entry tourist visa, purchase a 30 day extension of stay based on tourism for 1,900 THB [if extra time is required], purchase an in-country 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 for 2K THB red], purchase an in-country 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 for 2K THB OR purchase an in-country 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage [IF your immigration office is willing to sell you the visa], and then apply for a one year extension of stay based on retirement. NO health insurance is required.

3. Enter on a Single Entry Non-O visa based on being over 50 years old. Apply for a one year extension of stay based on being over 50. Health insurance *MAY BE* required, depending on the consulate you're using to get the Single Entry Non-O visa.

4. Enter on a Single Entry Non-O Visa based on marriage to a Thai national. Apply for a one year extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national. Health insurance is NOT required.

4. Enter on a Multiple Entry Non-OA visa based on being over 50 years old. If used "correctly" (and the borders reopen), you can stay for two years. At the end of your "admitted to" stamp, you can apply for a one year extension of stay based on retirement. Health insurance *IS* required.

5. Enter on a Multiple Entry Non-OX visa based on being over 50 years old. The financial requirements are much higher, and you'll need to talk to the local immigration office after you arrive on how to extend it. In theory, you should be able to stay for 15 years, I think. Health insurance *IS* required.