Foreign national who has married a Thai citizen and want to stay and live in Thailand, will need to have a Thailand Marriage Visa.
You will also need a Thailand Marriage Visa if you are accompanying your spouse who will work or study in Thailand under his/her own Thailand Student Visa or Work Visa.
But if you are both foreigners and have yet married and have planned to do so in Thailand, please refer to this page.
What is Marriage Visa in Thailand?
A Thailand Marriage Visa, in other word, is the Non-immigrant O Visa which is extended on the basis of marriage to a Thai national.
So, technically, you have to first apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad.You will then receive a 90-day visa, which you can use to travel and stay in Thailand. After entering Thailand with the Thai Marriage Visa, you can apply to extend for one year at the Thailand Immigration Department in Bangkok.
Who Is Eligible for Marriage Visa in Thailand?
Other than spouses of Thai citizens, if you are one of the following types of travellers should also apply for a Thailand Non-Immigrant O Visa:
- Dependents (spouse and children under 20) of foreigners who are working or studying full-time in Thailand
- Volunteers who work for an NGO in Thailand
- Foreigners over 50 who want to retire in Thailand:
- One-year retirement visa “O-A”
- Five-year retirement visa “O-X”
- Foreigners who want to receive medical treatment in Thailand
Whatever types of visa you are holding when entering Thailand, once you get into the country, you will have to extend your Non-Immigrant O Visa on the basis of marriage to a Thai citizen.
Requirements for Thailand Marriage Visa Application
Below are the requirements for the documents that you have to file with when applying for a Thailand Marriage Visa at the Thai Embassy/Consulate abroad:
- Your passport, with a valid period of at least 6 months and has at least 2 blank pages. If you’re applying for a 1 year visa, you should have a valid period of at least another 18 months.
- Photocopy of your passport
- A completed and signed Thailand Non-Immigrant O Visa application form. You can download it from the website of the Embassy / Consulate.
- At least 3 passport-sized images of yourself, with the following specifications:
- White background
- Taken within the last 6 months
- With a neutral facial expression, staring straight ahead
- Your entire face must be fully visible
- Headgear is only allowed for religious purposes and even then, only if it does not cover the face
- Glasses are allowed only if they do not cover your eyes and do not have heavy frames
- Number of pictures depends on the specific Consulate or Embassy (in most cases, four should be enough)
- Proof of your Thai spouse’s financial status. It can bank statements showing at least 400,000 Thai Baht in total or a monthly income of 40,000 Thai Baht
- Copy of the Marriage Certificate (legalized/notarized and signed by your spouse)
- Copy of your Thai spouse’s passport and Identity Card (signed by your spouse)
- Translation of all your documents if they are not in Thai, and get certified with an accredited translator
- Payment for the visa processing fee
The documents you need for Marriage Visa extension in Thailand:
- Your passport and a copy showing the profile page; Also the page showing your full name / referral name if the profile page is not showing your hidden middle name
- Your marriage certificate
- Bank statements of your spouse’s account showing at least 400,000 Thai Baht in total or a monthly income of 40,000 Thai Baht
- Address proof showing your correspondence residence in Thailand
- Your spouse’s house registration papers (Tabian Baan)
- Images proofing the relationship of you and your spouse (could be showing images accompanies with your family members or common friends, or living under the same house)
- Copy of your Thai spouse’s passport and Identity Card
The Immigration department holds the right to request for any additional documents as they see fit.
Please note that you will have to translate all the documents into Thai if they are not, and get them certified by an accredited translator as well as the MFA in Bangkok.
You will also be requested to get your documents legalized or notarised by the relevant Embassy / Consulate for some foreign nationals.
Steps for Thailand Marriage Visa Application
You have to get a Marriage Visa for Thailand from the Embassy / Consulate in your country. The application process is as follows:
- Contact the Thailand Embassy or Consulate where you will submit the visa application. Visit their website to learn about the opening hours, working days, and their preferred method of visa fee payment.
- Make an appointment (most Embassies / Consulates require appointment during the pandemic)
- Prepare all the required documents for Thai Marriage Visa application
- Submit the documents. Depending on which Embassy / Consulate you are applying at, you can submit the application:
- In-person
- By post, but only a pre-paid and self-addressed envelope will be allowed
- Wait for around 2-10 weeks for the application to be processed.
- Collect the passport and visa. If you applied by mail, they will be mailed back to you.
How Much Does the Thai Marriage Visa Cost?
The cost of a Thailand Marriage Visa changes depending on which Embassy / Consulate you are applying due to changes in local currency. However, you should expect to pay the following amounts (in approximate):
- Fee for a single-entry visa: 2,000 Thai Baht
- Fee for a multiple-entry visa: 5,000 Thai Baht
In addition to the change in currency, different Embassy / Consulate may have a different service rate. You should check with them first.
What Is the Validity of a Thailand Marriage Visa?
A Thailand Marriage Visa is issued for a maximum stay of 90 days, available for single or multiple entries, depending on what type of visa you are holding.
If you intend to stay for more than 90 days, you should apply for an extension of stay from the Thailand Department of Immigration in Bangkok before your visa expires. Read this article if you want to extend your Thai Visa with unlimited times.
After Arriving in Thailand With a Marriage Visa
All foreign nationals in Thailand have to comply with certain rules. After entering Thailand with a Marriage Visa, you first have to get an extension of your stay, so that you will be eligible to stay for a longer period. You may apply for a re-entry permit for leaving and re-entering Thailand, or apply for extension here.
Extending your stay
Your Marriage Visa obtained from an Embassy / Consulate is valid for a maximum stay of 90 days. So, if you want to live in Thailand with your spouse, you will have to get a one-year extension for your visa. You can get the extension from the Bureau of Immigration in Bangkok.
Before the visa extension expires, you can apply to extend for another year. Once you have lived in Thailand for 3 years by mean of visa extensions, you will be eligible for Thai Permanent Residency.
Getting a Re-Entry Permit
Once you get the visa extended, you should also get a Re-Entry Permit, which can be issued for a single-entry or multiple-entries, depending on what type of visa you are holding.
90-Day Report
All foreigners who lives in Thailand staying over 90 days will have to submit a 90-Day Report to the Thai Immigration authorities in Bangkok, declaring their stay, except when you are holding a visa extended with this service.
Can I Work in Thailand With a Non-Immigrant O Visa?
You are not allowed to work or employed in Thailand if you are holding a Thailand Marriage Visa. Anyone who wants to work in Thailand has to get a Thai Work Permit from the Thailand Ministry of Labour in Bangkok. While some may say that you can get a Thai Work Permit while holding an O Visa, you may actually convert it into a Thai Work Visa before applying for the work permit.
It is your employer’s responsibility to get you a Thai Working Visa. You may learn more deatils with the Immigration authorities or the Ministry of Labour in Thailand.