What visa should my English husband apply for before obtaining Thai citizenship after we move to Thailand?

@Gena *****

not if isn’t working for 3 years and he cannot leave Thailand plus needs to have the Thai language in hand

@Gena *****

-non-immigrant-visas

@Gena *****

the main requirement for permanent residency, or citizenship, is that your husband legally work for a minimum of three years, making a minimum of bt40,000 a month, and filing Thai income tax every year. If this requirement is not met there is no way he can get permanent residency, or citizenship. He can work legally on a type O visa extension based on Thai wife, what most call a marriage visa. The first year there is a lot of paperwork involved, but if you keep copies of everything, every following year you use everything as before, just with new bank letters, and new pictures. He can't legally work on a retirement visa, or an expensive Elite visa. Every visa has yearly extension requirements, so him on a marriage visa extension, and working is the best long term option, as then he has the possibility of getting permanent residency, meaning he would be done with immigration, just reporting his address with the police once a year. Seriously think about this.

@Gena *****

the only way he can apply for citizenship is by working and showing at least 40k baht per month taxed income. It's much easier from a marriage visa but he still needs to be officially working for 3 years before he can apply.

@Gena *****

Look at the Non O-X visa requirements.

@Gena *****

“Married” visa or “Retirement visa” both need to be extended yearly. The difference is that for the retirement option you need more money in the bank (800k THB vs 400K for the married option) and you will never be allowed to do any work. The married option requires a bit more paperwork but is cheaper and offers more possibilities. If you stay long term I would go for the married visa. The chances of getting a permanent residence status or citizenship are very remote.

@Steven **************

I wasn't saying visas were easy... I was referring to citizenship.. Retirement is easy if you've got the requirements sorted.

@Gena *****

. Home will need to be in your name only in almost all circumstances. Strict laws here involving foreigners owning real estate/land. You can use your family housebook if you're still in it initially, until you get your own.

@Gena *****

. Are you still registered in a Thai housebook? (Tabien Bahn.). You're going to need it to get your husband a long term spouse visa/extension.

@Martyn **********

. No one said it was easy, nothing here regarding visas is. It's all about the $$$ here.

A yearly visit to imm to extend a spouse or retirement visa isn't that hard, just paper work and proof of funds.FIrst one was a grind but clockwork after that.

I've been here 5+ Years on spouse extensions. Never had a home visit, used same photos more than once. Changwattana seems a lot easier than provincial offices from what I hear. Typical beurocracy here , give someone a uniform and they believe they can make and change the rules as they see fit.

@Steven **************

yes but should be an informed choice... And going into it thinking it's going to easy just isn't right. And imho it's a terrible decision anyway....

@Martyn **********

I agree. I'm not bothering myself either after looking into it.

But it's her husband's choice, not ours. If they're adamant about it, spouse visa is the best path.

@Steven **************

citizenship is very... Very hard to get and IMHO a bad idea...

@Gena *****

no... Like I said... You maybe get divorced next year, so every year you have prove your together legitimately... This could involve multiple visits, photographs of your clothes in the wardrobe etc...

Like multiple people have said now, retirement is the way to go if you can. I've been married for 19 years and took the advice 7 years ago... Every the extension is easy..

@Gena *****

. Length of marriage is irrelevant. I obtained a spouse visa one month after marriage with no issues at all. If he wants citizenship eventually it's his only option. Spouse visa allows him to work (with permit) and also less financial burden to open a business which is another way to pay tax to qualify for citizenship.

@Gena *****

he’ll need to get an extension of stay every 12 months.

@Gena *****

retirement is easy, the initial application can be 'problematic' depending on the immigration and the official... An agent could smooth it along.

It's not a renewal it an extension you get every year.

@Gena *****

married for 15 and could be divorced next year... The same hassle... Year in.. Year out.

@Gena *****

yes. I’ve been married for 12 and it’s a pain getting a married visa. Retirement is far more straightforward and quicker.