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When should I switch from a retirement visa to a marriage visa in Thailand?

Visa Types Retirement Visa Marriage Visa Visa Extensions Thai Immigration Expatriates in Thailand

Aug 11, 2025

18 hours ago

William *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I've been living in Thailand for 3yrs on a retirement visa. I am now married, have pink id card and yellow house book, my extension is up in Jan 26.

When do I change my visa to married, now or wait until January and do I go to Australian embassy in BKK or Phetchabun immigration?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user seeks advice on whether to switch from a retirement visa to a marriage visa since they are married and have the necessary documentation. Most responses suggest remaining on the retirement visa due to less paperwork and a simpler renewal process. Community members recommend changing the visa only when the current one expires and caution about potential complications related to financial requirements for the marriage 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.
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Paul *******

You are certainly not onm a Retirment Visa. Your Retirement visa expired 2 years ago. I suspect that you are on an extension of stay based on being over 50 years of age.

8 hours ago

Richard *******

I actually went the opposite way, after two years on a marriage extension I switched to retirement, literally half the paperwork and I am in and out of Samut Prakan Immigration in under 20 minutes.

11 hours ago

Michael ********

Stay on retirement for sure.

13 hours ago

Michel *****

Embassies don't deal with extensions, only immigration - logical no?

13 hours ago

Graham ******

@Michel ****

and certainly not the Aussie Embassy

7 hours ago

Reply to

Graham ******

David ********

I'm Australian on married visa....it's a pain...but they never ask for health insurance which i don't have.....not sure if you need it on retirement visa?

16 hours ago

Fortune ************

@David *******

Only for a Non O-A they ask.

14 hours ago

David ********

Application is a pain...marriage ok

16 hours ago

Reply to

David ********

Dave *********************

I'd leave it as it is

16 hours ago

Tod *********

As people pointed out, staying on a retirement extension is FAR less paperwork, doesn't usually involve a home visit and gets no 30 day under consideration stamp when you apply for the year extension unlike a marriage extension that does get the under consideration stamp.

Here's the general list of requirements to get a yearly extension based on marriage to a thai national, it's NOT office specific which is why I said to get the hand out from your office when you go for your next 90 day report so you know what's what there 😉

18 hours ago

Ian **********

@Tod ********

Beg to differ, had a 30 day under consideration and a home visit when renewing retirement extension here in Amnat Charoen. They don't encourage married visa here for some reason.

5 hours ago

Reply to

Ian **********

Ian ******

Stay on retirement.

If things go wrong and divorced you have minimum time to stay on your visa.

18 hours ago

Graham ******

@Ian *****

You leave the day you get divorced ;)

17 hours ago

Reply to

Graham ******

Bobby **********

You don't need to change it and it's in your best interest to keep things just the way they are now.

18 hours ago

Jakob *********

@Bobby *********

I even had this told to me from the immigration officer, a lot easier to stay on the retirement visa, lot less paperwork

16 hours ago

Reply to

Jakob *********

Frank **********

Retirement extension is less paperwork and easier.

18 hours ago

Paul ********

why change?

18 hours ago

Robbie ********

@Paul *******

probably because you only need 400,000 baht seasoned as opposed to 800,000 baht, who knows the secret to the black magic box 😉

16 hours ago

Reply to

Robbie ********

Lloyd ********

You would go to immigration for an extension, the same as you have done for the last few years.

18 hours ago

Lloyd ********

You would change your reason for extension when your current one runs out, bear in mind that you must still be eligible for the retirement extension when you apply for the marriage one, as in funds and seasoning etc.

18 hours ago

William *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Lloyd *******

I need to go to Phetchabun immigration for 90day next month. Can I apply them or do I need to wait until extension runs out?

18 hours ago

Tod *********

@William ********

most people wait until their current extension runs out as there's no great hurry to switch from one to another.

When you go for your 90 day report get the hand out listing the requirements to apply for a yearly extension based on marriage from the immigration office.

Remember if you met the financial requirements for the extension you're on based on banked money method (the 800K) you still need to keep the 800K in the bank for 3 months after the extension is granted and then can't let the balance go below 400K the rest of the year before you switch to an extension based on marriage.

18 hours ago

William *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

many thanks to Tod and Lloyd for your help.

12 hours ago

Reply to

William *********

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