Marriage Visa

• Thailand marriage visa is the more popular name for 1-Year Extension of Stay Based on Marriage.
• It is a long-term visa and issued to a foreign national married to a Thai, and the one meeting all the requirements of the immigration office.
• The visa holder is allowed to stay for 1 year in Thailand without the need to exit the country.
• This visa could be renewed every year, and the process can be done in Thailand. However, visa renewal requirements would still apply.

Thai marriage visa comes in as an advantage to foreign employees, as their employer would only have to be concerned about their work permit.

• The applicant must be married to a Thai national, and this is confirmed through a marriage certificate. Based on the immigration office that’s processing the application, there are cases wherein a copy of Affirmation of Freedom to Marry is also needed. This could be obtained by a foreigner from the embassy of Thailand in his country of residence.
• The applicant has to deposit a security of 400,000 baht in a Thai bank account for a minimum of 2 months before the visa application. The applicant must earn a monthly income of a minimum of 40,000 baht. The embassy needs to issue a letter verifying this income.
• Other documents required as a proof of security deposit in a Thai bank are a confirmation letter from the bank confirming the receipt of the deposit, and an updated bank book or passbook.

Documents such as police clearance certificate and medical certificate may also be required. Usually, these documents aren’t asked for if the application is submitted inside Thailand. However, in case an authorized official from the Thai embassy or the consular asks for it, the documents will have to be submitted.

There isn’t a direct application to Thailand marriage visa. It is important for applicants to be informed about the requirements, to avoid an unsuccessful visa application. Here are some important factors concerned with a Thai marriage visa.

• Before applying for Thailand marriage visa, the applicant will have to apply for a 90-day visa or a 1-Year Non-Immigrant O Visa from his/ her country of residence.
• On obtaining the non-immigrant visa, the applicant will have to travel to Thailand for visa activation.
• Now, the applicant must prepare the documents required to convert the non-immigrant O visa to a Thai marriage visa.
• The extension will be processed during the last 30 days of the applicant’s 90-day stay permit.
• Once the visa extension application, along with all the required documents is submitted to the Immigration Office, it may take around 1 month for the issuance of the Thai marriage visa.

A foreign national on a visa exemption stamp, or a tourist visa, can also apply for a Thai marriage visa, provided that he/she meets the requirements for the non-immigrant O visa for the 1-year visa extension application. This could be done at Thailand’s immigration office.

• Re-Entry Permit: If the visa holder plans to enter and exit Thailand during the 1 year of his/ her visa validity, he/ she will require a multiple re-entry permit to be able to do it, and also avoid the cancellation of your visa. In case the visa holder does not intend to travel in and out of Thailand during the 1 year of validity of your visa, he/ she need not to apply for a re-entry permit. In case, the visa holder is required to exit the country for any reasons, he/ she can make a re-entry permit application to the nearest immigration office or at the international airport before departure.
• 90-day Reporting: Thai marriage visa holder will have to notify the immigration office about his/ her current residential address every 90 days. This can either be done through a personal visit to the immigration office, or through an email. In case, the visa holder isn’t present in the country at the time of reporting, the 90 days count would restart from the date of re-entry in Thailand.
• Bank Account: At the time of the renewal of the Thai non-immigrant retirement visa, the Thai marriage visa holder must have the required funds in his/ her bank account before the renewal of the visa, and the funds must at least be 3 months old.

For more details, get in touch with the experts at BLS.