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What visa should my English husband apply for before obtaining Thai citizenship after we move to Thailand?
Feb 28, 2023
3 years ago
Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi. We are currently living in the uk and planning our move and live permanently in Thailand in the next few years.
I'm Thai, my husband is English and my daughter is half (we'll register her Thai citizen here) I'm confused about what visa should he apply for? before applying for Thai citizenship after 3 years of living there. Thank you
I'm Thai, my husband is English and my daughter is half (we'll register her Thai citizen here) I'm confused about what visa should he apply for? before applying for Thai citizenship after 3 years of living there. Thank you
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is planning to move from the UK to Thailand with her English husband and Thai daughter. She is seeking advice on which visa her husband should apply for to eventually obtain Thai citizenship after three years. Comments suggest that the easiest route would be to apply for a Non-O visa based on marriage to a Thai national. Some also mention the possibility of applying for a retirement visa if he is 50 or older. It is noted that Thai citizenship requires working and paying taxes in Thailand, implying that without employment, her husband may need to continually renew his visa.
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.
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Alain ***************
Get a marriage certificate before leaving the UK. I’m not married but heard from others that it could be pretty annoying requesting this from inside Thailand. I believe youtuber Chuck from notime2bsad made a video about it
Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Alain **************
Thank you so much, will contact the embassy and see what documents they required and will check out his video 😊🙏🏼Reply to
Gena ******
Reply
Steve *******
Non Imm O visa based on marriage to a Thai national.
Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
thank you 😊Reply to
Gena ******
Reply
Paul ********
Just keep it Simple?? And live Happy ever After
Stay Sexy, Happy n Safe
Stay Sexy, Happy n Safe
Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Paul *******
will sure do that 😂Garrett ***********
@Paul *******
Someone started drinking earlyReply to
Garrett ***********
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Richard *********
suggest you use duck duck go , " applying for Thai citizenship"
marriage visa is easiest for all, start with a 9o day NON O
fyi, there is a yearly quota>
marriage visa is easiest for all, start with a 9o day NON O
fyi, there is a yearly quota>
Paul *******
@Richard ********
NO there is no quota. That only applies to permanent residency applications.Paul *******
There's no yearly quota for either Thai citizenship or getting a non-O marriage visa.
The applicant should have applied for Thai citizenship on behalf of her daughter when she was born but it can also be done through the Thai embassy back home.
The applicant should have applied for Thai citizenship on behalf of her daughter when she was born but it can also be done through the Thai embassy back home.
Reply to
Paul *******
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Brandon ************
The only way to apply for Thai citizenship is to work and pay taxes. If your husband isn't going to be working here then he cannot gain citizenship. He'll just have to keep getting extensions of stay every year, forever.
Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
oh ok, thank you so much 😊Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTERWe are not planning to be working there but may set up a small cafe if the opportunity comes. Is there any visa that lasts at least 5 to 10 years?
Bob **********
@Gena *****
he will need to speak,read and write Thai fluentlyBob **********
@Gena *****
he cannotGena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bob *********
Can not apply for citizenship?Bob **********
@Gena *****
not if isn’t working for 3 years and he cannot leave Thailand plus needs to have the Thai language in handGena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bob *********
so he will need to attend Thai language classes/school?Reply to
Gena ******
Reply
Graham ******
@Gena *****
Elite VisaGena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Graham *****
Yes, we've looked into that as well. Looking for something that able to apply for citizenship later onKool *******
@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 ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
Thank you so much! Really give us such great details and a clearer direction 🙏🏼😊John **********
@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.John *********
@Gena *****
Look at the Non O-X visa requirements.Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ********
not heard on this but google it right now, look like it said the permit holder can stay in Thailand with valid visa for 5 years, so you don't need visa runs every year right?John *********
@Gena *****
*************************************************************************
*****
-non-immigrant-visasGena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ********
thank you so much 🙏🏼😊Reply to
Gena ******
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Martyn ***********
Who's the visa for? Your thai, your child is thai.. So must be husband? So married visa or if he's 50 retirement which is far easier...
John **********
@Martyn **********
a retirement visa may be easier but it wouldn't allow him to apply for citizenship. A marriage visa will assuming he also meets the other criteria.Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Martyn **********
for my husband and yes he'll be 50 when move, we'll check out the retirement visa. Thank youMartyn ***********
@Gena *****
retirement is the way to go if you have the 800k to put in a bank or the equivalent income.... Marriage is big hassle, but only 400k required in the bank.Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Martyn **********
still hassle even if we've been married for 15 years?Martyn ***********
@Gena *****
married for 15 and could be divorced next year... The same hassle... Year in.. Year out.Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Martyn **********
I meant was 15 years of marriage is more legitimate than marriage for a year or 2. Why still hassle or just the money side that they concern about?Steven ***************
@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.Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steven **************
No, I'm not. Will contact the Thai embassy in London about this, as we're planning to buy a home a year before we make the moveSteven ***************
@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.Martyn ***********
@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..
Steven ***************
@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.Martyn ***********
@Steven **************
citizenship is very... Very hard to get and IMHO a bad idea...Steven ***************
@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.
Martyn ***********
@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....Steven ***************
@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.
Martyn ***********
@Steven **************
I wasn't saying visas were easy... I was referring to citizenship.. Retirement is easy if you've got the requirements sorted.Gareth ********
@Gena *****
yes. I’ve been married for 12 and it’s a pain getting a married visa. Retirement is far more straightforward and quicker.Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gareth *******
But do you need to renew every year? How long/hard/easy to renew?Ludwig ***********
@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.Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ludwig **********
Great advice, thank you so much 😊🙏🏼Gareth ********
@Gena *****
he’ll need to get an extension of stay every 12 months.Martyn ***********
@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.
Reply to
Martyn ***********
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Garrett ***********
You're married, I'd go with a marriage visa...
Gena ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Garrett **********
we'll look into this, thank you 🙏🏼😊Reply to
Gena ******
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