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Why are marriage visa costs so high in Thailand, and can I do it myself?
Marriage VisaThailand VisaNON-O VisaVisas and ImmigrationExpat AdviceVisa CostsVisa AgentsVisa Application Process
May 22, 2025
a year ago
Rod *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI've been quoted 70k for a marriage visa, in which i think is a complete rip off. This includes assistance with a yellow book and the registration of the marriage. Additional, i just handed over 25k for an Australian tourist visa for my wife.
Any thoughts on what i think is my own stupidity.
Any thoughts on what i think is my own stupidity.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user expresses frustration over being quoted 70,000 baht for a marriage visa, feeling this is excessive. They compare this to a previous payment of 25,000 baht for an Australian tourist visa for their wife and seek advice on the situation. Commenters suggest that applying for the marriage visa can be done independently at significantly lower costs, such as 2,000 baht for a Non-O visa. Discussions focus on the feasibility of handling the visa process without an agent and the varying experiences with local immigration offices in Thailand.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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Chris ********
We went to our local amphur and got a list of requirements. Made an appointment at the UK embassy in Bangkok to prove I was ok to marry, and get relevant paperwork. We then visited an additional office in Bangkok but they couldn't complete the registration. Thankfully there is a department in Ubon that can now certify marriages so we didn't have to go back to Bangkok again. I'm on a Non O visa, so not the marriage visa, but I think the process would be the same, just different paperwork requirements! Can't remember the cost but nowhere near your quote, including flights, hotel etc! Good luck.
Rod *********
Thats cheap wait till your married
Allan **********
Try Down under visa. Geoff Harvey is very good and honest. Registerd Migration Agent
Mark ********
Don't be a fool!!!
Henrik *****
Take control over your life, and don’t use agents.
Oo *****
I paid 30.000 bht for a 3 year tourist visa for Aus. Ended up with a partner visa for Aus, $13.500.
Paul ********
Wow what a rip off
Tony ******
25 K for Australian holiday visa Super cheap
Julie-Anne *************
are the agents friends of your wife to be, sorry! I have to ask, as I have heard so many bad stories.
Rod *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Julie-Anne ************
the agent was recommended by two different people.Reply to
Rod *******
Reply
Alan ******
Yes it’s a rip off
Stuart ********
Dam sounds like it could be cheaper to buy your own buffalo,then get it sick and then take it to the hospital yourself for Medicine the way it’s going.
Geoff ********
Get A visa lawyer not A visa AGENT BIG DIFFERENCE !!
Cris ******
Even for an agent that's wild. I think my entire marriage process was about 30k. That was using an agent for the marriage certificate, translations, and visa.
Julie-Anne *************
@Cris *****
why don't you tell him which agent you used.Cris ******
@Julie-Anne ************
because my visa agent was in hua hin and the marriage stuff was in Bangkok. No idea where poster lives and I don't live in hua hin anymoreReply to
Cris ******
Reply
Jo **********
70,000 is insane
Frank **********
Marriage visa requires more paperwork but very doable and doing it yourself would save you a lot of money.
Rowan *********
These agents are becoming greedier by the minute 🤣
Stan **********
Cory **********
Work on one thing at a time. The bank account is your only real obstacle if want a Non-O inside Thailand. Just apply for Non-O back in your own country and save a large the headache.
To get a Non-O when you have the money it’s simple. They have free volunteers outside immigration to help you with the paperwork if in Thailand. It’s not even that complicated unless you cannot spell your name.
To get a Non-O when you have the money it’s simple. They have free volunteers outside immigration to help you with the paperwork if in Thailand. It’s not even that complicated unless you cannot spell your name.
Blade ********
Only worth it when he can arrange the visa without the marriage. 😅
John **********
Yeah I got quoted the same, so I decided to do it myself . Simple and it gave me a sense of achievement.
Rod *******
ORIGINAL POSTERWith an invasive Australian government, i didn't have the patience to deal with their bullshit.
John **********
@Rod ******
I'm not exactly sure what that has anything to do with the discussion, but I have a life rule ..... Never get annoyed about things that I am powerless to change.Reply to
John **********
Reply
Matthew *********
Going rate is usually 30 to 50. That is way over.
Peter ***********
Is that
*****
baht for the Aussie Visa?Ken ********
If you have the cabbage good on you
Marianne ********
You can do all of this yourself.
Get the Non-O in your home country or in Thailand. Both possible as long as you fill the requirements. If your marriage was outside of Thailand you'll need some additional documents to prove this inside of Thailand. But absolutely nothing worth 70k baht to arrange...
Getting the yellow housebook should be easy enough if the family actually wants you registered in their house.
Bring the owners to the local district office and ask for requirements. Maybe bring your village elder if the family is on good terms with him. Should be straight forward getting this sorted and getting the Pink ID.
Get the Non-O in your home country or in Thailand. Both possible as long as you fill the requirements. If your marriage was outside of Thailand you'll need some additional documents to prove this inside of Thailand. But absolutely nothing worth 70k baht to arrange...
Getting the yellow housebook should be easy enough if the family actually wants you registered in their house.
Bring the owners to the local district office and ask for requirements. Maybe bring your village elder if the family is on good terms with him. Should be straight forward getting this sorted and getting the Pink ID.
John **********
@Mari****
the Pink ID is for foreigner?just never heard of it before now.Yellow book ~ I have an understanding of thatMarianne ********
@John *********
yes. Pink ID card is for foreigners.But you need to be in a yellow house book.
In theory, having one should replace the need to get a Residence Certificate for things that require that. But I don't know how it actually works.
John **********
@Mari****
residence requirements? Wonder what defines that?Marianne ********
@John *********
Residence Certificate is simply piece of paper you get from Immigration that you need to open bank accounts, get a drivers license, purchase a motorbike.. Stuff like that.Many provinces will only give this to you if you have completed at least one 90 day report.
John **********
@Mari****
thankyou.How it all works is a hard one at times in ThailandReply to
John **********
Reply
Matthew *********
@Marianne *******
the yellow book done at district office. So easy. It took a week to get mine. Only had to have my birth certificate translated for the office. Only document I had to supply and copy of passport of coarseStuart ***********
@Matthew ********
this really varies from Amphur to Amphur. I've just been through it in Hua Hin and it was...challenging. Not saying it's difficult, but they insisted on a new copy of my passport stamped as authentic by the British Embassy in Bangkok (I had already done this once to get married and had colour copies), then translated and certified at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Once they had these documents they sent us away for 5 weeks until they had an appointment available. When we returned for our appointment they asked us to sign a few copies of documents and sent us away for another week whilst the Sheriff checked everything was okay. A week later we waited for 2 and a half hours for them to issue the yellow book and pink ID card. So, all in it probably took me about 2 months to get the yellow tabian baan, when other people seem to get them with no problems. Before anyone says it, yes we go smartly dressed and are always polite.Matthew *********
@Stuart **********
that is the problem, each office has its set of rules. To be honest that is the only thing that has been easy for meStuart ***********
@Matthew ********
yes, it does make it more 'interesting' here! I am the opposite really, all my dealings with visas and immigration etc have been straightforward and even buying the house. Getting the yellow book was definitely the challenge, when it seems it should be simple (like it was for you). I am not complaining, I love Thailand and if a few visits to the Amphur are required it's no problem as I am retired.Reply to
Stuart ***********
Reply
Sylvia ********
@Marianne *******
depends on.the district, yellow book has long waiting lists, one needs to pay to jump the queue even if prepare documents yourselfReply to
Sylvia ********
Reply
Ruud ******************
Next time give it to me!!!!
Pamela *******
I can comment on the 25k for the sc600 application as that is what i do for a living. It is reasonable (although i know it does not sound reasonable for many) and is quite an average number when it comes for sc600 applications for high risk countries. The goalpost has been moved by the department and the evidence required is more complex than a mortgage application. Your Au partner visa would set you back around $15-20k (that is AUD) depending on complexity. Love appears to be real expensive these days.
David *******
@Pamela ******
it was for a tourist visa. That's what you did for a living?Pamela *******
@David ******
that is what i do, currently, for the living. That is the "Australian visa" part. My DTV seemed like a walk in the park in comparisonReply to
Pamela *******
Reply
Pamela *******
@Johnny ********
can I just be a hopeless romantic mate? :)Johnny *********
@Pamela ******
Please do, we need more like you,Reply to
Johnny *********
Reply
Johnny *********
@Pamela ******
Love wasn't mentioned.Johnny *********
@Pamela ******
Well OK yeah,Reply to
Johnny *********
Reply
Jesper *******
Well it all depends whether it's worth the hassle of doing it yourself....applying a visa for yoursel to stay in thailand is much more easy than applying for a visa for your wife to stay in Australia
Paul *******
@Jesper ******
And cheaper. Australia loves to rip us off. We also have the most expensive passport in the world.Reply to
Paul *******
Reply
Jan ******************
Apply for a Non O e-visa based on marriage through the embassy before you go to Thailand. The process it’s quite simple and cost normally around 80 USD. Visit the immigration you will use in Thailand and get handed over a list of their specific requirements for extension of stay and collect all documentation you’ll need to apply. Cost is 1900 baht.
Pete *******
Go to your local immigration office, get list of requirements for the Non O based on marriage. The cost for the visa is 2k baht. Why would you pay more?
Michael ********
The only reason to use a Agent is if you haven't got enough income, otherwise you can do all that yourself.
Rod *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Michael *******
i do have the income. I've read enough about the complexities on obtaining a visa by yourself. Not to mention the difficulties people have trying to open a bank account.Kool *******
@Rod ******
it is pretty easy to do if you have the bt400,000, or equivalent in a bank account in your name only. To use the monthly payment method you need a notarized wage statement from your embassy, and very few do that anymore. There is no yellow book requirement for the type O visa based on Thai wife. Bt70k is way overpriced. Call Siam-Legal.com they are legitimate, and fair priced.Michael ********
@Kool ******
you can use monthly payments of 40k a month without a letter from your embassy.Kool *******
@Michael *******
only when you apply for the initial 90 day visa outside of Thailand. Inside Thailand when applying for the first one year extension immigration only accepts notarized wage statements from your embassy.Michael ********
@Kool ******
just checked at the immigration website, no mention of the letter from embassy, if you have the letter you don't need the prove any income in the bank that's the way I do it....... In the case of marriage to a Thai woman, the alien husband must earn an average annual income of no less than Baht 40,000 per month or must have no less than Baht 400,000 in a bank account in Thailand for the past two months to cover expenses for one year.Reply to
Michael ********
Reply
Stuart ***********
@Rod ******
have you considered that the people saying it is complicated are either; 1. not very good at following basic instructions or 2. Have a vested interest in 'selling services' to you? It could be that they simply want to feel better about using an agent themselves or their girlfriend is an agent. Getting a visa for Thailand is very straightforward, just a few simple questions on an A4 form and providing copies of documents. The immigration office and staff are helpful, just be polite and dress appropriately.Ken *********
Reply to
Ken *********
Reply
Wannikea *********
@Rod ******
only real obstacle is opening a bank account, so dress nice, grab your wife and start at her bank. Bring a residence certificate, Thai DL, your passport, lease agreement, and a whack of cash.Reply to
Wannikea *********
Reply
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