Are you married to a Thai? And do you wish to settle in Thailand? If your answer to both questions is YES, the Thai immigration has something for you to make your wish happen.
Applying a Thai marriage visa is an option for the foreign spouse of a Thai national who would like to settle in the Land of Smiles. This visa is valid for one year and is renewable as long as the financial requirements are met by the applicant. With this entry permit, the holder is also allowed to work and generate income in the country provided that he can secure a work permit to go with the visa.
The main requirements of the Thai marriage visa application are as follows:
a. Legally married to a Thai – You would need to present a marriage certificate to prove this. If you got married in Thailand, a copy of the affirmation of freedom to marry is also required.
b. Able to establish good financial status through any of the following means:
• THB 40,000 monthly income – secure an affidavit of income from your embassy in Thailand which you can affix with your income statement/bank statements
• THB 400,000 deposit in a Thai bank account – the funds should be sitting in the bank for 2 months before the visa application and for 3 months before the renewal of the visa.
The foreign spouse has to secure an initial visa, a 90-day Non Immigrant O, from the Thai embassy/consulate in his home country prior to coming to Thailand. Once in the country, the visa can be extended into a one year marriage visa as long as the requirements are met. Extension can be done as early as 21 days before the expiration of the 90-day visa.
To extend your visa, the applicant has to visit the nearest Thai immigration office with his documents and then submit his application for extension. The one year marriage visa is granted as long as all required documents are provided.
In maintaining your marriage visa, you would need to report to the nearest immigration office every 90 days to inform them about your address. If you are not in the country when you are due for a report, there is nothing to worry about as you are not required. A new 90-day counting commences when you get back to Thailand.
To ensure the success of your Thai marriage visa application, it’s best to consult with Thai immigration experts for advice and guidance. This way, your plan of settling in Thailand will be successful and hassle free.