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What visa should I enter Thailand on for marrying my girlfriend, and can I do it with a one-way ticket?

Apr 24, 2025
21 days ago
Glenn **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone. I am planning on moving to Thailand shortly, marrying my girlfriend then living here on a marriage visa. Two questions.

Which visa should I enter Thailand on?

Would I have any problem entering on a one way plane ticket?

Thanks
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The best visa to enter Thailand for marrying is typically the Non-O visa, especially if you're planning to apply for a marriage visa later. Some suggest obtaining a tourist visa initially which can later be converted to a Non-O visa once in Thailand, while others recommend applying for a Non-O visa before departing for Thailand for smoother entry. A one-way ticket may cause concerns with airlines or immigration, so it's often advised to have an onward ticket, which can be purchased cheaply. Additionally, note that for the marriage visa extension, having a Thai bank account with a certain amount is necessary, which typically cannot be opened on a tourist visa.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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Glenn **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you
A.c. ***********
So, for your question #1: You don't have to have a visa when you enter Thailand (I assume you're US, UK, or AU). An agent can set it up for you to get a Non-O after you're here (at least they were able to in my case). ~ EDIT: I just remembered the recent news that the initial stay period for visa-exempt entry got reduced from 60 days to 30 days, so that could make this method trickier, but an agent could probably straighten it out.

Question #2: You can come on a one-way ticket, but the rule is that you need to have an onward ticket to show when you arrive in Thailand (some say you might even be asked to show that by airport staff while you're still in your home country, but I don't think that happens but very rarely). In reality, folks are almost never made by Thai Immigration to show that onward ticket (I wasn't, and other people I know weren't)—but you need to be prepared in case you're that 0.1% case who gets asked. Easiest thing to do would be to buy a cheap ticket to a nearby country that lets you do visa-exempt arrival like Cambodia (I mean before you fly to Thailand, so you'll have it on you as you're entering). It will be something like $60-$70. If you hate to waste the money, you could actually use the ticket, but then you'd have the extra expense of that trip, including a re-entry permit for getting back into Thailand.

Another rule is the one saying you need to be able to show 20,000 THB (or your home currency equivalent) upon entry. Again with this one, I've never heard of anyone being made to show this, but of course you want to have it on you just in case. And you probably would anyway, coming to Thailand with the intention of living here. They want to see it in cash, presumably because that's the only quick way they could verify it while you have 100 people standing in line behind you.
Jim *******
@A.c. **********
Where did you see

"I just remembered the recent news that the initial stay period for visa-exempt entry got reduced from 60 days to 30 days" as a formality?
Tony *******
Following
Robert ********
As others said. Get a NonO from the visa site. Retirement if you can, otherwise marriage.

For retirement you need to be 50+ and best have 800k to spare. Enter the country, open account, deposit the 800k (make sure that the bank can identify it as foreign money!), and do the extension near the end of your 90 day visa. You can do it with 65k per month but ask your immigration for that just after arriving!

Otherwise: marriage visa where you need only 400k in the bank.

If you have the money, go for elite visa or LTR, but that’s on another level.

Just don’t enter on visa exempt because you can’t open an account as a tourist.
Nicholas ******
The plane ticket shouldn’t be a problem..get a cheap onward ticket if you want…regarding the visa definitely visit an Agent they will help you through the process
Greg ***********
Thai Consulate in Los Angeles would not issue me a Non O visa without a return ticket. This was the Consulate not the airlines policy.

Bought a cheap one way to Vietnam and all was fine
Niall *******
Enter on a tourist visa and apply for Non Immigrant O visa when you're here.

Have a look at
*********************


For a few dollars you can book an onward flight and show a ticket at check-in. Simple
Kev *****
@Niall ******
quite the expert now ,, aren't we !! STRENGTH
Niall *******
@Kev ****
It's nice to help others, not that yould know
Gardar ***************************
If you apply non-o based on marriage visa before you go Thailand then no problem with airlines but if you come on tourist visa or visa extempt then expect you need return flight or onward ticket depends on your airline.
Brendan ********
I only book one way .because it's cheaper booking return in thailand
Eddie **********
Apply for a non o visa from your country,

You can state that your intention are to get a retierment if you over 50 years old

If under… state it is to gett s marige visa

(If your girlfriend still avis le when you come back to Thailand,

Maybe she found a man with more mony..
Nongnuch ********
@Eddie *********
you can't apply for a Non-Imm-O Married Visa if you are not married to a Thai wife. The threadstarer ist not married to a Thai, yet . . . . .so all that's left is, he can apply for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, or enter Thailand on a tourist visa or visa exempt. And then Glenn Campbell first needs to get married - which can take up to 6 months!
Glenn **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Eddie *********
After 20 years together I hope not 😂😂
Nongnuch ********
@Glenn *********
you can't apply for a Non-Imm-O Married Visa if you are not married to a Thai wife. . . . . .so all that's left is, you can apply for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa in your home country, or enter Thailand on a tourist visa or visa exempt. On a tourist entry, you cannot open a bank account any more., you would need the Non-Imm-O Visa Type for that. . . . . And then you first need to get married - a process which can take up to 6 months depending how fast authorities in your home country work !
Lna ******
With the 60 days visa the d ont aske enimore for the retour tiket, at liste from europe, i come whit one way and all god
Glenn **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes thank you.
Betty *********
@Glenn *********
yes as Steve Redwood says.Also you can either buy a refundable ticket online ( throwaway ticket which noone except your airline will ask for ) or go for a few days to a neighbor country and come back in on 60 days visa exempt which you also prolong 30 days at your local immigration office. This will give you all the time to get the correct visa. You can also go with an agency , but that will cost you more than doing oneself. You can always ask for a quote.
Steve *********
I entered the country in February on a tourist visa , then whilst here , went online to Thaievisa and converted to a non immigration type o visa , which can then be converted to a marriage visa .

I arrived on a one way ticket also from the uk and everyone from to check-in staff too immigration did not ask me any question or want proof of a return ticket.

Hope this helps
Bob **********
Get a No -O based on being over 50 then no matter what happens your extension will be ok
Frankie *******
Go to the temple n give the monk some money n food take a video n show proof of your loyalty to thailand n they will welcome n accept u
Khun ************
Go to onwardticket.com you can purchase a flight to Laos for 12.00 usd. I have done this many times just in case but I have never been asked when I only have a one way ticket to Thailand. Better safe than sorry. I now have a multiple entry retirement visa, soon to be switched to a marriage visa.

You can also have an agent get you a bank account for about 5000 baht on a tourist exempt.
Nongnuch ********
@Khun ***********
Again, a terminology issue

“I now have a multiple entry retirement visa”

There is no such visa any more since October 2023 (except if you are a Japanese citizen, they still issue them from the Thai Embassy in Tokio)

You don’t have a “visa” any more

All you got is a “1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement”, for which you bought a multi re-entry permit for 3800 THB

This is a “stay permit” and not a “visa”
Ho ******
If you can afford the 800k, better use regular Non-O.

Marriage Visa can be pita, especially the yearly extensions.
John **********
I'd suggest you have a better chance of not requiring a return flight if you come with a tourist visa rather than visa exempt but check with your airline. As to getting married you have some hoops to jump through such as getting a "freedom to marry" certificate from your embassy in Thailand which can take time and I believe some immigration offices require you to have been married for at least 2 months before they will allow you to apply for a Non-O visa based on marriage
John **********
If you are over 50 you might find it easier to use a retirement visa which you can get before you travel to Thailand. No worries about return flights, much easier to open a bank account etc. Just requires a bit more in liquid finance
Graham ******
@John *********
Correct then get a retirement extension the first year (800k or Embassy affidavit required) then switch to a marriage extension for subsequent years
Paul *******
To obtain an extension of stay based on marriage you need to have a Thai bank account. To open a bank account you need a long term visa (You cannt open a bank account on a tourist visa or visa exempt), Be aware that while an marriage extension requires 400,000 thb in your bank and a Retirment extension (for those over 50 years) needs 800,00 thb in the bank, that a retirement extension is much easier as it requires you to jump through ,amy less hoops.
Matt *******
@Paul ******
I had exactly this issue with my parents trying to get them a retirement visa. Couldn't open a bank account so they are going back to the UK to get the right visa. Bank accounts used to be easy, not anymore.
Todd *********
@Matt ******
just use an established agent. Easy and utterly painless. And a LOT cheaper than flying home
Matt *******
@Todd ********
The only agent I could find to do it was
*****
baht each. They need to go back at some point to sort things out so this plan works ok.
Todd *********
@Matt ******
I don’t think that is realistic at all. Reach out to
@THAI *****************************
. They run this page. Cost is about 36,000 each and everything done for you.
Paul *******
@Matt ******
Wow. That is extreme.
Steve *******
@Paul ******
Whatever route the OP takes he'll first need to get a Non Imm O visa, either based on marriage or being 50 or over
Glenn **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you
Glenn **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
So given the time scale I would probably have to visit Laos for a few days and then return?
Tore *********
@Glenn *********
that depends on your timeline, when you get married etc. You can stay 90 days on visa exemption before you have to leave Thailand. (60 + 30 day extension).

I would personally make sure to have a cancellable /refundable ticket out of Thailand within 60 days of entering. You are also supposed to carry 20k baht equivalent of cash. Though its rarely checked, but officially a requirement.

Also make sure to be able to show documentation of your first few nights of accommodation.
Stuart *********
A lot would depend on your passport country. Your name suggests that you are probably from one of the 93 countries than can enter visa exempt and get a stamp for 60 days.

With at least 15 days left on a valid stamp (some offices 21) you can convert to a in country Non O based on marriage but it will depend on your marriage date. Having a girlfriend won’t get you that visa.

A one way ticket will be up to your airlines policy. Some will insist on a ticket out within the number of days your entry scheme allows, regardless that you could get an extension or change to another visa type. Some don’t seem to care.
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