It's technically federal government property you don't let it out of your sight. The only exception maybe being Thai immigration

@Ingvar ******

many many choices in Pattaya

Annual renewal is half the 1st year price.

Yes

Follow the directions online. I just did mine. 3 weeks total through post office EMS.

The purple one

Soi 6, Soi 7, Soi Boukhao, etc.,

@Fred ********

but, a lot of factors go into that also, for instance, what local immigration office you use, there are about a hundred of them or if you do the process starting from your home country or use an Agent, etc., Don't try to make too much sense of the process for this country I've been in and out for 40 years, 4 permanent now, and I'll never understand it

It varies from seconds to days, there's no logic to it so don't give yourself a migraine trying to figure it out. Many factors go into it that are Beyond you and I

If married to the parrot it can attach as a dependent to your visa so it doesn't need a separate visa. BTW, is this a normal S. African marriage?