The popular term for a “1-Year Extension of Stay Based on Marriage” in Thailand is a marriage visa. This is a long-term Thai visa for a foreign national who is married to a Thai and meets the immigration bureau’s other standards. The holder of a Thai marriage visa is allowed to stay in Thailand for a year without having to leave the country.
Every year, the visa is renewable, and the renewal process can be completed within Thailand (requirements for the visa renewal still apply). When a valid Thai Work Permit is obtained in conjunction with the Thailand Marriage Visa, the holder is also permitted to work in Thailand.
This is seen as a benefit to potential foreign employees because the employer would just have to worry about obtaining a work permit.
Thai Marriage Visa: Qualifications
To be eligible, you must be married to a Thai national. A Marriage Certificate (Kor Ror 3) and Marriage Registration can prove this (Kor Ror 2). If the applicant or the Thai spouse marries outside of Thailand, the marriage must be in knowledge of the amphur with Kor Ror 22 possession.
Financial requirements must be met:
- THB 400,000 security deposit in a Thai bank account for at least two months prior to the visa application.
- A minimum monthly salary of THB 40,000 is required. To prove this income, a letter from the foreigner’s embassy is mandatory.
The following documents can serve as proof of a security deposit in a Thai bank:
- Bank book or passbook that has been updated.
- A bank document showing the deposit of funds into the account for at least two months from an international source.
Other necessary documents include:
- A copy of an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry is necessary in some cases, depending on the immigration office. The foreigner obtains this confirmation from his foreign embassy in Thailand.
Foreign citizens may be unable to get an income affidavit from their respective embassies. In that case, they can show monthly income on a 12-month bank statement of their Thai bank account. The statement must show a monthly deposit of THB 40,000.
Thai Marriage Visa: Application Process
Please keep in mind that there is no direct application process for a Thai marriage visa. You must avoid the risk of a denial of your visa application. It is critical that you pay close attention to the requirements and other variables surrounding the entire process. The following are the essential guidelines for applying for a marriage visa:
- A 90-day visa is mandatory. Prior to applying for a Thai marriage visa, you must first get a Non-Immigrant O visa from the Thai Embassy or Consulate in your home country. You can get a 90-day Non-Immigrant visa from Thailand’s neighbouring nations.
- You must travel to Thailand to activate the initial non-immigrant O visa once you have the non-immigrant visa.
- For the conversion of your non-immigrant O visa to a marriage visa, you must prepare all necessary documents.
- The extension will occur during the last 30 days of the 90-day stay permit.
- The application for a visa extension is filed to the Immigration Office together with all of the necessary documentation. Before the issue of a one-year Thai marriage visa, the processing time could take up to a month.
Furthermore, a foreigner with a Visa Exemption stamp or a Tourist Visa can apply for a Thai marriage visa inside Thailand. It is possible only if they meet the conditions for the non-immigrant O visa and one-year Thai marriage visa applications. Moreover, this is possible at the Thai immigration office in the province residence of the foreigner and Thai spouse.
Important Points to Remember:
90-days Reporting:
Once you are having a marriage visa, you’ll need this. Every 90 days, you must notify the nearest Immigration office of your current address or residency. If you are out of the country when the report is due, the 90-day countdown to your next reporting period will begin once you return to Thailand.
Re-entry Permit:
If you intend to travel in and out of Thailand within the year that your visa is valid. However, you will need a multiple re-entry permit in order to prevent revocation of your visa. If you plan to spend the entire time in Thailand, you do not need to apply.
You may need to leave the country for any reason. For this, you must first apply for re-entry permission at the local Immigration Office. You can do so at the international airport as well before departing.
Bank Account
The marriage visa is valid for a year and renewal is possible by meeting the same requirements as when applying for the first time. But you have to do something before you may renew your visa. You must maintain the necessary funds in your bank account must be at least 3 months old.
If you divorce, there will be revocation of your marriage visa and you have to leave the country immediately. However, you may stay in the country until your current marriage visa expires in some instances.
For more information and assistance on Thai Marriage Visa, mail us at [email protected].
