Apologies if I'm 'hijacking' this post - it raises a question in my mind considering responses so far;

Can you marry a Thai (legally, not just a village wedding, or defacto) and be on a "Retirement" Visa & Extensions? Or would Immigration say that if you're legally married to a Thai, that you need to be on a Non-O based on Marriage? Some things for me to ponder over the next year.

@Jack ***************

I haven't gone through all this yet, but if everything goes well, next year I will be. From everything I've read in the past year,

@Lynnette ******

is correct and best advice. If you need to leave Thailand for periods of time, I believe that it would just be a matter of getting a "re-entry permit" before leaving Thailand (I think at the airport, but not 100% sure) & coming back in won't be a problem if you need to leave for a while for work or other reasons.

@John *********

true, I was a lot younger when doing those distances. Still, only a little over a year before retiring, I still do 7.5+ hours heavy vehicle driving each day, albeit with a meal break plus 2-4 breaks of up to a few minutes each day. It's getting very tiring now though.

@John *********

it's not so bad...I've driven more than once from Adelaide to Melbourne, Australia and vice versa which, when I last did it was almost 11 hours with a couple of short food/toilet stops.

2023? Sounds like you've overstayed your visit to Thailand by a very long time. Don't get caught! 🤣

@Brandon ***********

ok, that's what I thought. A comment was made that though there's "more paperwork", it's "easy", so for those who are 'commited' to their spouse, it shouldn't be a problem, whereas those who have a Thai partner and 'maybe not so committed' or maybe doubt somewhat their relationship 'bond', then a Retirement Visa is an 'easier way out'.

@Barry ******

it sounds like you're speaking from experience, right?

@Brandon ***********

isn't that "more paperwork and a lot more hoops to jump through", with the Spouse Visa just once a year though, or are some things quarterly? I've likely got the same decisions to make in a little over a year from now.

@Albert *******

the OP was asking about a Visa Exempt for tourism, which is only a rumour. Either that, or he's thinking of the current 60 day Tourist Visa.

What you are talking about is a Visa based either on Retirement or Marriage to a Thai.

@Tod ********

can't she apply for a Retirement Visa herself, independent of the husband? The way your worded your response seems like the wife doesn't have a single option.