passport holders of India, married to a Thai wife, have FOUR choices of entering Thailand:

*** they can buy a “visa-on-arrival” for 2000.- THB at the Bangkok airport, and will receive a stay permit for 15 days

*** they can arrive “visa-exempt” (without a visa) and receive a 60-days stay permit

*** they can apply for a 60 days single entry tourist visa in India before they fly to Thailand

*** they can apply for a 90-days Non-Imm-O family visa, based on being married to a Thai wife. For this visa, they need a financial proof. They have to show either an income of minimum 40.000 THB per month, or a bank deposit of a minimum of 400,000.- THB

***You are NOT allowed to work on the first three visa categories

*** you are allowed to work on a “1-year Extension of Stay Permit” based on being married to a Thai wife, but you will need a work permit from the Labour Department in order to do so. Most professions are forbidden for Non-Thai people. Kool Breeze has outlined the most aspects you have to consider

@Sopan ********

what country's passport do you hold? Without knowing this, we cannot give you correct advice

@Sopan ********

well, Mr. Know-it-all, if you really know that you will get a "visa-on-arrival", you need to be aware that this visa will allow you only 15 days in Thailand. You will NOT receive a 60-days stay permit. A 60-days stay permit is only for citizens of 93 countries listed to be able to do a "visa-exempt entry". This is NOT a "visa-on-arrival"

and, you will need a rental contract and a TM30 registration, or they won't allow you to apply

and since you are from Australia, you will need to open a Thai bank account and transfer a minmum of 800.000.- THB onto it. You cannot use the income method, because your embassy does not issue an income affidavit any more. On SOME immigrations, they will ask for a 2-months seasoning of the 800.000.- THB for the application of the "change of visa type" for the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Visa (the police order does NOT state a seasoning needed for the visa, only for the extension of stay permit) So it is crucial that you visit Immigration and politely ASK for the handout of the requirements for a "change of visa type" from a tourist visa to a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa, and from this visa to the "1-year extension of stay permit" based on retirement

@George ***********

you are WRONG. Wrong. Wrong. On a multi entry Tourist visa, you will get stamped in for 60 days on each entry that is made within the 6 months visa validity. There is NO 90-days tourist visa. You are confusing the visa validity period with the period of stay permit you get stamped in on each entry. This is a common mistake many people - including you! - make.

@George ***********

you only get stamped in for 60 days. You will need to open a Thai bank account right after your arrival in Thailand. you will need an agent to help you opening a bank account, because on a tourist visa, banks will deny opening an account for you. Then you will need to put a minimum of 800.000.- THB into your account, in order to be able to apply for the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O visa on Immigration. You could use a leglized income affidavit over a minimum income of monthly 65.000.- THB from your embassy, if your embassy still issues it. The timeframe for this application on most Immigration is, that you still have a minimum of 15-21 days left on your entry stamp

@Dumitrescu *****************

anyone could plant drugs in your place and let the police find it. Then you will be in calamities. It has happened in Thailand, yet !

@Bart *************

it's true. I heard it through the grapevine

@Bart *************

don't worry, tea money will get you to open a Thai bank account even on a visa-exempt entry