The Difference between Marriage Visa and Spouse Visa
Is there a real distinction between a Thai marriage visa and a Thai spouse visa? Learn everything there is to know about Thai marriage visas.
What should you know about Thai marriage visas?
The common term for a “1-Year Extension of Stay Dependent 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 citizen and meets the immigration bureau’s other requirements. The holder of a Thai marriage visa is allowed to remain in Thailand for a year without having to leave the country.
Anyone who marries a Thai citizen can obtain a One-Year Extension of Stay based on marriage, also known as a Marriage Visa, in Thailand. However, in order to obtain this visa, you must first have a Non-Immigrant Visa O based on marriage or accompanying a family member..
Key Points
- Thai marriage visas allow you to stay or reside in Thailand with your spouse for up to a year.
- You can renew your visa without leaving Thailand by visiting an immigration office.
- This visa holder is also entitled to apply for a work permit if he or she marries a Thai citizen.
Is there a difference between a Thai marriage visa and a spouse visa?
There isn’t much of a difference between a marriage visa and a spouse visa; they’re both basically the same! If you’re applying for a marriage visa, you must be in a relationship which means you’ve been together for at least 12 months, or in a married/spousal relationship which means you’re husband and wife.
Applicants who are legally married to a Thai citizen may be given this type of visa. There are various forms and durations of marriage visas: Single-Entry Non-Immigrant Visa-O, which is valid for 90 days from the date of application and multiple entry visa which allows you to extend your stay for a total of 365 days after your first extension has been accepted and can be renewed year after year without limit.
After entering Thailand, holders can contact the Thai Immigration Bureau for a stay extension and re-entry permit.
Who else is qualified for a Thai Marriage Visa?
Non-immigrant O visas are not only available to Thai citizens’ spouses, but they are also available to the following travellers:
Dependents of foreigners working or studying full-time in Thailand just like spouses and children under the age of 20, volunteers who volunteer with a non-profit organization, foreigners over the age of 50 who wish to retire in Thailand on a one-year or five-year “O-A” retirement visa and foreigners seeking medical treatment in Thailand.
The Marriage Visa differs from the others because you must extend your Non-Immigrant O Visa upon marriage to a Thai citizen once you arrive in Thailand.
There is no difference between a marriage visa and a spouse visa; they’re both the same! .
What is the procedure for obtaining a Thailand marriage visa?
The following are the basic requirements for applying for a marriage visa:
1. Prior to applying for a Thai marriage visa, you must first receive a 90-day Non-Immigrant O visa from the Thai Embassy or Consulate in your home country or place of residence and this can also be acquired from Thailand’s neighbouring countries.
2. You must travel to Thailand to enable the initial non-immigrant O visa once the non-immigrant visa has been obtained.
3. To convert your non-immigrant O visa to a marriage visa, you must prepare all required documents and present it to the Immigration Bureau.
4. The extension will start within the last 30 days of the 90-day stay permit.
5. The application for a visa extension is sent to the Immigration Office along with all of the other documentation before the one-year Thai marriage visa is issued and the processing time could take up to a month.
In Thailand, a foreigner with a Visa Exemption stamp or a Tourist Visa may still apply for a Thai marriage visa if they have already completed the qualifications for the non-immigrant O.
How long does a Marriage Visa last?
A Thai Marriage Visa is valid for up to 90 days and can be used for single or multiple entries and you can only enter the country once within those 90 days if you have a single-entry visa while you can enter as many times as you want during the visa’s validity period in a multiple-entry visa. If you intend to stay longer than 90 days in Thailand, you must apply for a stay extension with the Thailand Department of Immigration until your visa expires.