@Andie **********

Okay. Assuming you were married in the UK, let the marriage certificate legalize in the UK about 1½ -2 months before you go to Thailand again. First at the UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then at the Thai Embassy. Apply for a Non-O visa and mention it's for marriage (not retirement). When you arrive in Bangkok, the certificate must be legalized by the Thai Ministry of FA. For that you need a Thai translation, done in Bangkok by a certified translator (you could do it in the UK, but then it's not sure that it will be accepted by the Thai Ministry). You can also authorise the translator to do the legalization; for that you need a copy in accordance with the original from the UK Embassy. But you can also go to the second floor of the MFA building, there is a translation office. Make an appointment beforehand online with the MFA for the day after (it's often busy, so for the same day is risky). After legalization register the marriage certificate in the Amphoe of your wife's address. You get a Kor Ror 22 which you need for extension of the Non-O visa based on marriage, which you can do after two months after opening a bank account (see below). Important: don't forget to let your wife register your stay on her address with a TM30 within 24 hrs after your arrival there . You could do that online, but the website is very complicated. Best go to the Immigration Office together, she can fill in a TM30 there. If the UK Embassy doesn't provide an affidavit regarding your income (I'm lucky because I'm Dutch, the Dutch Embassy does), you should open a bank account shortly after your arrival and put 400,000 baht on it. It should be clear that the deposit is from the UK. To be sure that the bank doesn't refuse to open an account, you can get a Certificate of Residence from the Immigration Office, which you can collect when you are there for the TM30.

It seems a lot, but when you prepare well, but it's doable.

For your present situation I wouldn't worry: normally two border runs are allowed, as long as it's clear you're a tourist.

Does your wife also still have her Thai nationality? That makes a difference for the possibilities you have.

You must legalize the Swedish marriage certificate at the Swedish ministry for Foreign affairs. After that you must legalize it at the Thai Embassy in Sweden. In Thailand you must get a Thai translation and then have it leagalized at the Thai Ministry of Foreign affairs. For that you need a copy of the Tabien Baan (blue book) of the house where your wife is registered. You also need a copy of your passport with entry stamp and a signed copy of the Thai ID-card of your wife.

You must register the legalized document at the Amphoe of the region of the house. You will get a Kor Ror 3 + Kor Ror 2 or 22 from the Ampoe, which you will need when extending your non-immigrant visa.

Of course you also need to comply to all the requirements for the extension of your visa. Most important ones: the financial requirements and a TM30, that must be registered within 24 hours after your arrival in Thailand. That will probably a hotel, but when arriving at the house you will live, a new TM30 must be registered within 24 hours after your arrival. That can be done online, see

tm30.immigration.go.th

So, be well prepared. If not, your extention will probably be denied.

To mention one important requirement that is often forgotten or neglected: an TM30 that was registered within 24 hours after you arrival, mostly done by the hotel where you will stay after your arrival in Bangkok. When you come to your condo later, register a TM30 within 24 hours after arrival there. Because you are the owner of the condo, you have to do that yourself. It can be done online:

tm30.immigration.go.th

I'm so surprised that people don't find out the requirements for extension of a non-immigrant visa before they enter Thailand. You can easily make a mistake or forget something and then the extension of your visa will be denied. Thai Immigration has become very strict. You can do it yourself without a problem and save the money for an agent, but you have to be well prepared.

@Todd ********

Krungthai Bank has a branche in the same city as Immigration, so I can get my statement there I guess

@Todd ********

That is 100 km away ....

@Todd ********

Well, I guess Kasikorn Bank would be the best, but they don't have a branch in the village and the next city is 50 km away. My Thai husband has Krungthai Bank, so I guess I will try first to open an account with this bank. I can always change if they make it too difficult.

@Brad ***********

I guess a good bank is always busy

@John *********

Like I said, Immigration, that is the immigration office in Phitsanolok, advised me this route. The whole idea of same sex marriages made possible by law, is that no distinction should be made, also not by Immigration.