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What visa should I apply for as a UK citizen planning to marry my Thai girlfriend and stay in Thailand?

Mar 13, 2025
a month ago
Robert ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Help needed please, I am a UK citizen before I apply for the retirement or marriage visa what visa should I apply for to get the ball rolling.

I am planning to get married to my Thai girlfriend in the next few months. I will be going to Thailand in April 2025 for a month or so. But might stay longer, as I want to open bank account etc any help appreciated 🙏
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK citizen planning to marry a Thai girlfriend and stay in Thailand for an extended period should consider applying for a Non-O visa, specifically for retirement if over 50 years old. This visa allows for a 90-day entry, enabling the individual to open a bank account and set up necessary financial arrangements. Once in Thailand, the individual can later switch from a Non-O retirement visa to a marriage visa, which has different financial requirements. It's also noted that to open a bank account, funds must typically be in the account for a minimum of 2 months.
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.
Larry ********
Just two questions ,”have you met in person before? And did you meet her in a bar? If one of those questions are true “don’t do it.!
Larry ********
@Robert *******
it’s really none of my business, but you made your comment public so that’s why I asked  😁👍👍👍
Nigel *********
You just need to put all your money in your wife's bank account . That way she can run off with all your money now instead of later
Ben *******
Go for a retirement visa... When it comes to reporting the marriage visa requires a lot more paperwork
Brian *********
If all documents in order just do a NON 0 - you don’t need the bank account just now until you extend after 90 days
Sean **********
The retirement visa is so much easier. Tried the spousal visa at first. Documents needed translated. If you have your docs already translated then marriage visa has less financial requirement. I am lucky enough to have the 800k in my bank to not touch.
Steve *******
You need to apply for the Non Imm O visa. It's both the marriage visa and the visa for being 50 and over(commonly called the retirement visa). You'll need this visa to open a bank account and to apply for a yearly extension of stay.
Colin *********
You need to look what you need for o-visa marriage,get bank as soon as possible it needs to be in the account for 2months for the first time,bangkok bank is best to try first they will ask you to take insurance as a way to make money but it now hard to get now ,so anymean is best ,in the o- visa application it ask you for how much money in the uk thinking it's about £10,000 uk,800,000 thai bauts bank account
Colin *********
Just a thought you need ,310 days from divorce to get married in Thailand, that caught me out the first time ,I got married in the first month of the o-visa, as I did not have the 800,000 buat for retirement visa, if you have ok that's great and do that o-visa its all online now ,and the photos copie are in j,pack mode ,don't know about it, but daughter did ,(picture have to much detail in it I think,it was to big to load )and when you do the o-visa do on pc or laptop phone will not show all the details on the page,I miss abit of it on the phone, you have to click on the sample passport in the application to download you bio passport details, read it carefully, I did it twice £60 a time ,marrying a thai person yes,
Robert ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin ********
🙏 thank you
Colin *********
@Robert *******
for moor info I on messenger, lot of work to do in a short time, e visa application will not require you to send passport to embassy now ,it emailed to your email address, first thing they check what you put in it ,if not right will ask for more information, (just a note for you embassy on line only works from i think it's

2 0clock each day,so will not look at it earlier ,5to15days to do it, Monday to Friday, no weekends,
Robert ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin ********
thank you 🙏
Graeme ******
Since you will need a bank account and without a long term visa it will be very difficult I would apply for a non o visa ( retirement i.e. over 50) through the London embassy now before you go. This should give you 90 days in thailand and give you the best chance to open a bank account when you arrive. You can then deposit the required funds to get your extension inside thailand. With a non O visa you can then just organise your departure flight and worry about your return flight when you are in thailand as this visa will be accepted for one way travel i.e. no return or onward travel required. This will give you the best chance to set yourself up when you arrive
Robert ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graeme *****
🙏really appreciate your help
Graham ******
To open a bank account you need to get a Non-O retirement Visa, do that for your April arrival and you'll get a 90 day entry stamp to get things set up. You can get a marriage Non-O further down the line or swap from a retirement Extension of Stay to a marriage Extension of Stay in the future.
Robert ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
🙏thank you
Phil ******
Go for retirement
@Robert *******
Robert ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
🙏thank you
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