Recently Married - Request for Advice on Benefits / Eligibilities

[Sun3110]

I am a UK national. have recently married my Thai girlfriend after a 10 year relationship. It is a legal marriage which I had certified / legalised by the Thai Government (though I know this step to be unnecessary for the purposes of having the marriage recognised in the UK).

 

I would appreciate any advice and / or information on what advantages marriage affords me in terms of living in Thailand. Whilst I do not intend to reside in Thailand I do intend to spend between 15 and 20 weeks a year in the country and so, for example, having a Thai driving licence would be helpful, as would understanding other issues such as the position on healthcare (though I may continue to pay for this as and when the need arises in any event).  Our home is in Roi Et province.

 

I am flying to Thailand in January and intend to apply for a Non O Visa based on marriage. It is not my intention to seek an extension but I think having this visa will help with such things as securing a driving licence. Your advice on this issue would be appreciated. I am not currently in the family book (the Tabian Baan? ) but I am sure this could be arranged if it is important / necessary.

 

Thank you in advance for any advice or information.

 

Any advice or information would be very much appreciated.

[stoner]

11 minutes ago, Sun3110 said:

I would appreciate any advice and / or information on what advantages marriage affords me in terms of living in Thailand.

provide security for your wife. whats hers is hers and whats yours is hers. 

[oldcpu]

Some of my thoughts on this (I have a Thai wife).

 

If you are only staying 15 to 20 weeks/year in Thailand, my suspicion is there is likely little to no benefit in Thailand, for being 'legally married'.

 

For me, aside from the companionship of a loving helpful person, the biggest benefit of having a Thai wife is she is a walking translator and someone who can negotiate for different things and often get the "Thai" price, as opposed to the inflated foreigner price ... . But one gets that with a Thai partner if not married.

 

One can obtain immigration extensions on one's permission to stay in Thailand, using the 'reason' to visit one's Thai family (and in some cases being married to a "Thai woman"), but that is not essential. There are other ways to stay in Thailand, and there are Visas that can easily give one 15-to-20 weeks in Thailand.

 

Opening a Thai bank account might be easier with a Thai wife (as being a translator she can possibly smooth things over), but again - not essential.  

 

Drivers license?  I believe there is no need to go for a Thai driver's license if only staying 15-to-20-weeks in Thailand.  If you have a Thai driver's license, you will need to pay attention to the date the license expires and renew if/when required.

 

Health care?  While I live in Thailand full time with my Thai wife, I have superb European Health Insurance that comes with my European pension, that covers both myself and my wife.  So neither my wife nor I use Thai health care.  And we go to the more expensive 'private' hospitals and are fully covered.

 

BUT, I believe since you and your Thai wife have registered your marriage in Thailand, you probably could qualify for Thai health care, IF you obtained a non-immigrant Visa for reason of 'marriage'.  I believe that 'Visa' may be necessary < but I am not certain >  That sort of Visa (justified by being married to a Thai spouse) has a LOT of paperwork involved (more than a non-immigrant Visa for reason of retirement) but it is an approach to consider. It does mean you would have to only go to the Thai public hospitals, instead of going to the Thai private hospitals, where typically the 'private' hospitals are considered by many to be superior to the 'public' hospitals'.

 

[DrJack54]

20 minutes ago, Sun3110 said:

Whilst I do not intend to reside in Thailand I do intend to spend between 15 and 20 weeks a year in the country and so, for example, having a Thai driving licence would be helpful,..........

The non O marriage (90 days) along with 60 day extension to visit wife will have you covered time wise.

The non O will make it easier to obtain TDL.

One big advantage of non O marriage is that you can be under 50 and also work.

Also the financials are much less and time funds stay in bank and stay in the account for extensions is sweet deal compared to based on retirement. 

[lopburi3]

24 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

I believe since you and your Thai wife have registered your marriage in Thailand, you probably could qualify for Thai health care

Negative - he and anyone else can use (including Thai out of home area) Thai system as paying customers but marriage has nothing to do with that.  Being married does not allow free access.

[howerde]

As far as healthcare goes you are not entitled to free healthcare in Thailand even if married to a Thai, unless you work here and pay into the social security fund(the company pays it).  I would get a decent health insurance from your home country, and not rely on a Thai policy there is a section on the forum about health insurance, sure small incidents can be treated as an out patient the costs are reasonable, but for anything more serious the costs can mount up,  do not make the mistake of assuming hospitals here are monitored as in UK, there are appalling hospitals and appalling doctors here(sure the hospitals are all shiny), the draconian laws on libel make sure things are kept quiet 

[FriendlyFarang]

The main benefit of being married is that you can apply for a one year extension, allowing you to live in Thailand easily.

Since you don't plan to do this, there is hardly any benefit for you. Being married allows you to apply for a 60 day extension, so if you enter with 45 days visa exempt, you can extend it for the regular 30 days, and then another 60 days, might become handy at some point.

A driving license can be obtained with a tourist visa, and you don't get free health care.

 

24 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

One big advantage of non O marriage is that you can be under 50 and also work.

Only if he has a work permit, and somebody in this position could also easily apply for an extension based on working. The marriage extension has the small advantage that it doesn't end when the job ends.

[jak2002003]

Op, Thailand is not the UK.  Marrying a Thai national gives you no entitlements to health care... Sorry. 

 

 

[oldcpu]

As noted on this thread (updating what my Thai wife speculated to me - and thankyou to those who corrected/updated what I was mistakenly told), being married to a Thai (even if on a Visa for reason of marriage) does not automatically grant one access to the Thai Health care. 

 

One small advantage that I do know of being married to a Thai (as I HAVE used this in the past) , is if one is on a Type-OA Visa, then one can obtain one-year extensions to that Visa's permission to stay in Thailand, based on marriage, and thus not be forced to purchase Health Insurance from a Thai branch of an Insurance company.  

 

However in your (Sun3110) case, there is no need for you to go for a Type-OA Visa.   Going for a Type-O Visa allows yearly renewals on your permission to stay in Thailand, without having to buy Health Insurance from a Thai branch of an Insurance company.  There also may be other Visas more suitable for you.

 

My recommendation is to have Health Insurance if in Thailand.  Either have so much wealth that you can in essence "self insure" or purchase the 'best value for the money" health insurance that is suitable for you.  We all have different circumstances, so I believe that will vary for each of us.

[Sun3110]

Thank you everyone for your responses. 

 

I am 63 - retired some years ago and don't intend to work again. 

 

Thank for the point about healthcare, regarding the need to arrange my own cover should I decide to spend longer periods of time in Thailand, which is a distinct possibility. I had picked up from previous posts that being on a Non O visa does not require you to purchase a Thai Healthcare policy - but of course, as several of you have pointed out, I still need to pay for my healthcare and if I decide to stay for longer periods in Thailand getting cover in place is strongly advisable. For all my visits I do have comprehensive travel insurance which should cover any health emergencies.

 

Despite visiting many times over the past 10 years (c. 4 times a year) and my wife visiting England at least annually until the pandemic struck, I do not have a thai bank account and have been refused taking a thai driving test with my tourist visa. I had been thinking that both would make my life easier for my stays in Thailand. I realise that I can continue to rely on my international driving licence but I would feel more comfortable having a thai driving licence.

 

I Think I will get a Non O Visa for my upcoming trip and see how far I get with both of these desired steps.

 

Thank you all again for your responses and advice.

 

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, Sun3110 said:

I Think I will get a Non O Visa for my upcoming trip and see how far I get with both of these desired steps.

You could apply a multiple entry non-o visa at a embassy that allows unlimited 90 day entries for 1 year from the day it is issued

[Salerno]

18 minutes ago, Sun3110 said:

...have been refused taking a thai driving test with my tourist visa.

Perhaps next visit, take a short trip to a more foreign-friendly area; numerous people have acquired a driving licence on just a visa exempt in Pattaya for example.

[boonbohmee]

I recently got my first "marriage" visa after 20 years of marriage. 

I think you're better off with using tourist visas until you decide to live here. Just much easier.

You need a tabien bahn to get a bank account. You need a bank account and 400,000 baht in it for two months before you can get a marriage visa.

The tabien bahn took two months and included having all family members and the local phuyaibahn making in person visits. The nice surprise is that I got a Thai ID card with it. It's pink instead of blue and it says you aren't Thai. So far, it works just like a Thai ID for health care. I've been to the local clinic (anamie) many times and not paid. I just had a covid booster, and just like the locals I didn't pay. 

For your driving licence the best way to do it is to get an international licence in the UK before you come. That can be turned into a Thai licence without the written and driving tests.

 

[lopburi3]

29 minutes ago, boonbohmee said:

I recently got my first "marriage" visa after 20 years of marriage. 

I think you're better off with using tourist visas until you decide to live here. Just much easier.

You need a tabien bahn to get a bank account. You need a bank account and 400,000 baht in it for two months before you can get a marriage visa.

The tabien bahn took two months and included having all family members and the local phuyaibahn making in person visits. The nice surprise is that I got a Thai ID card with it. It's pink instead of blue and it says you aren't Thai. So far, it works just like a Thai ID for health care. I've been to the local clinic (anamie) many times and not paid. I just had a covid booster, and just like the locals I didn't pay. 

For your driving licence the best way to do it is to get an international licence in the UK before you come. That can be turned into a Thai licence without the written and driving tests.

 

1.  A tabian bahn is not required for a bank account.  A residence certificate or Embassy letter of address are common alternatives if this is asked.

2.  400k in bank 2 months is the requirement for one year extension of stay on basis of marriage.

3.  Everybody got free covid vax and boosters, including tourists.

[DrJack54]

51 minutes ago, boonbohmee said:

For your driving licence the best way to do it is to get an international licence in the UK before you come. That can be turned into a Thai licence without the written and driving tests.

When was last time you obtained TDL.

As for international DL just your DL from home country is fine. 

 

[lungbing]

OP

Check with your pension company (if any) now that you are legally married.  Your wife might be eligible for a proportion of your pension as a widow's pension when you die.  There are no benefits for your wife or widow from your government pension when you receive it.

 

You should also make a new will, even a simple one is better than dying without one.  Two wills in fact, one for any UK possessions, funds etc and one for the same here in Thailand. It will save a lot of bother for her afterwards.

[skatewash]

 

Quote

 I am not currently in the family book (the Tabian Baan? ) but I am sure this could be arranged if it is important / necessary.

Short of obtaining permanent residency or Thai citizenship you can't get added to a blue house registration book (Tabian Bahn) which is not used for foreigners.  You could, however, obtain a yellow house registration book for foreigners and be entered in there.  You can find out the requirements for the yellow house registration book at your local amphoe office.  Varies by office how difficult that process is.  Not terribly important nor necessary but nice to have if not too troublesome to obtain.

[Muhendis]

If you are hospitalised in a government hospital for any reason, it would be less costly by something like 10 - 20% if your wife stayed with you sharing your room.

[brianthainess]

15 hours ago, Salerno said:

Perhaps next visit, take a short trip to a more foreign-friendly area; numerous people have acquired a driving licence on just a visa exempt in Pattaya for example.

Such as ?

[Salerno]

4 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Such as ?

Such as what?

[brianthainess]

25 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

If you are hospitalised in a government hospital for any reason, it would be less costly by something like 10 - 20% if your wife stayed with you sharing your room.

I never had problems with public hospital and most specialists come from private hospitals one day a week, the great advantage is your wife can stay 24/7 very good for me, pop out for better food, pillows, fans etc.

[brianthainess]

2 minutes ago, Salerno said:

Such as what?

Oops my mistake didn't read Pattaya. But outside of that where else would they except a tourist visa ?

[lopburi3]

42 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

If you are hospitalised in a government hospital for any reason, it would be less costly by something like 10 - 20% if your wife stayed with you sharing your room.

Suspect you are talking about paying extra for a private room and needing wife to help provide nursing service?  Most general patients stay in open wards at government hospitals.

[chuang]

One benefit is you got a wife ????

[Salerno]

@brianthainess No idea, it's not something I particularly pay attention to. If there are any other DLTs that accept tourist visa/visa exempt hopefully someone on here will pipe up. If not, it's not that much of a hardship to head to Pattaya if someone really wants to get a licence.

[boonbohmee]

14 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

When was last time you obtained TDL.

As for international DL just your DL from home country is fine. 

 

I took my family in for our TDL's just last month. We submitted our DL's along with our international drivers licences. My children paid their 505 baht and walked out with their new licences. My wife and I were about to do the same but while they were entering our information they found that we had TDL's 10 years ago. We had to do the tests again.

[IvorBiggun2]

17 hours ago, Sun3110 said:

I am a UK national. have recently married my Thai girlfriend after a 10 year relationship.

After 10 years of visiting/knowing your teelak you suddenly decide to get married without raising your concerns prior to that event. Why now? I'd call that bad planning. 

[IvorBiggun2]

16 hours ago, Sun3110 said:

I realise that I can continue to rely on my international driving licence but I would feel more comfortable having a thai driving licence.

You can only drive in Thailand, using a IDP, for 3 months prior to it becoming illegal. Thereafter a Thai licence must be obtained. If things haven't really changed other than you have married why not get a Thai licence before now?

Edited December 8, 2022 by IvorBiggun2

[FriendlyFarang]

14 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

You can only drive in Thailand, using a IDP, for 3 months prior to it becoming illegal.

That’s wrong

[IvorBiggun2]

7 minutes ago, FriendlyFarang said:

That’s wrong

Is it?