A Non-O marriage visa is open to a foreigner legally married to a Thai national. To renew the stay each year, you show money: usually THB 400,000 in a Thai bank account, or income from THB 40,000 a month; confirm the exact figure with your office, and check the current exchange rate if your income or savings sit in another currency. The stay renews yearly, for a fee usually quoted at THB 1,900. Our lawyers check the money and documents before filing and support the renewal at Phuket Immigration.
In short
- Often called a spouse visa, it rests on a marriage to a Thai national that is legally registered under Thai law; a temple ceremony alone does not qualify.
- Show money as a THB 400,000 deposit, income from THB 40,000 a month over 12 months, or a mix of both totalling THB 400,000 a year — confirm with your office how it counts a mix.
- A deposit usually seasons for 2 months before the first application and 3 before each renewal; confirm the exact period with your office.
- The extension is yearly, the fee is usually THB 1,900, and a continuous stay also means a separate 90-day address report.
- Over 50? It is worth comparing this route with the retirement visa first.
- Whether the visa extends to a same-sex spouse is still unconfirmed by Immigration Bureau.
Marriage visa or retirement visa?
If you are over 50, it is worth weighing a marriage visa against a retirement visa. Both renew yearly for a similar fee; eligibility differs, and the money test is lower for marriage.
| Marriage visa (Non-O) | Retirement visa (Non-O) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Legally married to a Thai national | Aged 50 or over, married or not |
| Usual money test | THB 400,000 deposit or THB 40,000/month | THB 800,000 deposit or THB 65,000/month |
| Extension | Yearly, fee usually THB 1,900 | Yearly, fee usually THB 1,900 |
A retirement visa can be the steadier choice once you turn 50, independent of the marriage. See our retirement visa page and our guide to retirement visa routes in 2026.
Who qualifies for a marriage visa
The marriage visa is a separate basis for living in Thailand, not a variant of a tourist visa: permission rests on the marriage and the money you show each year, not on a travel purpose. It suits someone planning to live in Thailand with a Thai spouse, not to spend a season here.
The basis is a legal marriage registered under section 1457 of the Civil and Commercial Code, at a district office (amphur). A religious or temple ceremony without that registration will not support an application; registration itself is covered on our page about registering a marriage in Thailand.
If you married abroad, that marriage still needs confirming for Thai authorities, and the accepted documents vary. Ask the immigration office where you plan to apply which proof it will accept.
Money: bank deposit or monthly income
To extend a marriage visa, you show the family can support itself. The table sets out the usual ways; confirm the figure and period with your office, since missions and offices do not always apply the same rule.
| Route | Amount | How it is verified | Seasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit | THB 400,000 | Bank documents to the list set by the receiving office | Usually 2 months before the first application, 3 before renewals — confirm with your office |
| Income | From THB 40,000 a month | 12 months of proof | Income needs to run through the full year |
| Combination | THB 400,000 a year, combined | Bank statement plus income evidence | Confirm with your immigration office |
Income used to be confirmed with an embassy letter; the US, UK and Australian embassies no longer issue them, so their nationals usually rely on the deposit, or on 12 months of transfers of THB 40,000 a month or more.
Because the test is in baht, income paid in dollars, pounds or euros can drift under the threshold when the rate moves. Say your income is USD 800 a month, roughly THB 28,000, or about THB 336,000 a year. Offices commonly accept a combination totalling THB 400,000 a year, so a Thai deposit of around THB 64,000 plus margin could close the gap; confirm how your office calculates it.
Not sure your money or documents will meet the bar? Send us your situation; our lawyers review the figures before you file and send over a document checklist.
Documents for the entry visa and the extension
Before filing, gather three things: your passport, the marriage certificate, and proof of money — the deposit statement or 12 months of income evidence. The full list for the entry visa is set by the mission; the full list for the extension is set by the immigration office.
The entry visa is filed online only, through the e-Visa system: Thai missions stopped accepting paper applications on 1 January 2025. Since 31 August 2025, non-immigrant categories were cut to seven, so pick the one matching marriage carefully.
Beyond that, supporting papers or forms vary by mission and office and are worth confirming before you travel. Our team checks the list before filing and tells you in advance what is missing.
What to check before you file
- The marriage is registered under Thai law, not just marked by a ceremony.
- If you married abroad, you know how it will be confirmed in Thailand.
- The deposit has already seasoned by the filing date.
- If you rely on income, you have proof for all 12 months.
- You know your mission or office and its current list.
- Foreign documents are translated and certified as required.
The one-year extension at Phuket Immigration
If you live in Phuket, the stay is extended at the local immigration office. The extension runs for one year, with a fee usually quoted at THB 1,900. Each year you show the money again and confirm the marriage is still in place. An officer decides each application, so a renewal is never guaranteed, and the office may ask for extra evidence of the marriage, which we help you prepare in advance.
A continuous stay also means an address report every 90 days, tracked separately from your renewal date; see our guide to the 90-day report and our page on visa extension in Phuket.
Many people arrive visa-exempt and apply for a marriage visa once already in Thailand. Since 15 September 2026, citizens of the UK, US, Australia and most EU countries enter visa-free for 30 days rather than 60; confirm this applies to your nationality. If it does, the window to change status in-country is shorter, so gather documents before you fly in, and fund a Thai account only once the amount and seasoning period are confirmed. Other options are on our page about staying in Thailand beyond 30 days.
Can you work on a marriage visa
The visa by itself does not give you the right to work; a work permit is handled separately, under the Foreign Workers Management Emergency Decree B.E. 2560, and filed only through the e-Work Permit system since 13 October 2025. We confirm the right route with the Department of Employment, including whether any streamlined process applies to a Thai national's spouse.
Same-sex spouses
The Marriage Equality Act took effect on 23 January 2025, and same-sex marriages are registered the same way as any other marriage. Whether the marriage visa extends to a same-sex spouse is still unclear: Immigration Bureau has not published an official position, and available reporting disagrees.
What our team does
Our lawyers hold licences from the Lawyers Council of Thailand and work in English, Russian and Thai. The mission and the immigration office make the decisions, so we cannot guarantee the outcome. We agree the cost in advance and fix it before work starts.
- At a consultation, we review your situation and pick the visa: marriage, retirement, or another status.
- We check your money and documents, including the deposit's seasoning period.
- We prepare and translate the documents, then file with you.
- After the extension, we remind you about 90-day reports and the next renewal.
Describe your situation below: where and when the marriage was registered, the amount you can show, and when your current permission ends. We reply within 24 hours.
