Marriage Equality Act: Nationwide Implementation from January 23rd

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

As of January 23rd, same-sex couples across the country can register their marriages at any district office, following the enactment of the long-awaited Marriage Equality Act. The announcement was made today by Traisuree Traisoranakul, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, underlining a major step towards equal rights for all citizens.

 

The Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has mandated the Provincial Administration Department to ensure that all necessary measures are in place to facilitate this new development. This includes providing comprehensive support to same-sex couples keen on registering their partnerships.

 

With the new act, both partners entering a same-sex marriage must be at least 18 years old. Exceptions apply to minors, who must be accompanied by parental consent and a court order. The law clearly states that partners must not have any shared biological parents, nor should they currently be married to others. Additionally, step-parents are prohibited from marrying their stepchildren.

 

 

For women who have been previously married, a 310-day wait period is required before remarrying if widowed or divorced, barring a court’s permission or proof of non-pregnancy.

 

Prospective couples need to present their identification documents or equivalent proof from a government source, alongside household registration records. Foreign partners are required to produce their passports and embassy-verified status confirmations. The registration process incurs a fee of 200 baht.

 

This legislative change signifies a historic advancement in the rights afforded to same-sex couples, marking a notable shift towards inclusivity and equality.

 

-- 2025-01-03

 

[Baht Simpson]

A great step forward.

[Jingthing]

Congratulations Thailand!

[BarBoy]

...so if a farang man marries a thai man, which one has to show the 400K in the bank to get a marriage extension, or will there be no such financial requirements when it comes to same sex marriages in Thailand?

[Peabody]

What if both people are foreigners?

[connda]

I want to see the first foreign man married to a Thai man register their marriage, claim the Thai man to be the "husband" and the foreign man the "wife" in the marriage, and demand the same considerations as foreign women who are married to a Thai men.

For you gay expats out there - here's your chance.  No more proving financial requirements, and after three years of marriage you can apply for Thai citizenship, just like the foreign wives of Thai men. 

Whose gonna be the first one up to give it a shot? 

 

[Foxx]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

As of January 23rd, same-sex couples across the country can register their marriages

 

Not true.  Only some.  The British Embassy is refusing to issue the necessary paperwork for British citizens to register their marriage.  It's currently unclear when they will do so.  It's an absolute disgrace.

 

[connda]

29 minutes ago, Foxx said:

 

Not true.  Only some.  The British Embassy is refusing to issue the necessary paperwork for British citizens to register their marriage.  It's currently unclear when they will do so.  It's an absolute disgrace.

 

How funny.  The UK is up there with the rest of the West championing 🏳️‍🌈 LGBT+ rights, but as soon one of their citizens wishes to legally get married to their gay partner in Thailand? 

The UK Government -> 🇬🇧: "Piss off 🌈 !!!!!!"

You can't make this stuff up. You do know that no Western government actually give a flying flip about LGBT+ rights.
 

[Lite Beer]

2 hours ago, BarBoy said:

...so if a farang man marries a thai man, which one has to show the 400K in the bank to get a marriage extension, or will there be no such financial requirements when it comes to same sex marriages in Thailand?

Or if a foreign woman marries a Thai woman.

[Ben Zioner]

So when it comes to naturalisation, they will ask who is plays man as the requirement differ between men wives and husbands.

 

So much for equality...

 

T.I.T

[Ben Zioner]

1 hour ago, Foxx said:

 

Not true.  Only some.  The British Embassy is refusing to issue the necessary paperwork for British citizens to register their marriage.  It's currently unclear when they will do so.  It's an absolute disgrace.

 

I'd be proud to be British...

[ikke1959]

It is a big step only Mr Anutin haven't signed the law yet and therefor it is still not possible to get married before he signed it. There is a lot of confusion going on now as Embassies can't give the permission to get marry yet before the law is signed by Anutin, but we all know that this man want to show his power and probably will sign the 22nd

[connda]

1 hour ago, Lite Beer said:

Or if a foreign woman marries a Thai woman.

Yeahhhhhh.  What about that 'eh.  Then who is the "husband" and who is the "wife." 
Do lesbians marrying Thai women now have to show 400,000K in the bank or 40K/month?

[connda]

2 hours ago, connda said:

I want to see the first foreign man married to a Thai man register their marriage, claim the Thai man to be the "husband" and the foreign man the "wife" in the marriage, and demand the same considerations as foreign women who are married to a Thai men.

For you gay expats out there - here's your chance.  No more proving financial requirements, and after three years of marriage you can apply for Thai citizenship, just like the foreign wives of Thai men. 

Whose gonna be the first one up to give it a shot? 

 

 

6 minutes ago, connda said:

Yeahhhhhh.  What about that 'eh.  Then who is the "husband" and who is the "wife." 
Do lesbians marrying Thai women now have to show 400,000K in the bank or 40K/month?

Man, this is going to be fun to watch this year!  This will probably be the highlights of 2025. I guarentee you Immigration hasn't even thought of this yet.  Wait until the first applications for extensions based on marriage by gay couples hit.  🌈 🎇 💔 Immigration is gonna melt as the gay community goes into an uproar due to gender discrimination. 
 

[Celsius]

There will be no foreign gay marriage to Thai nationals. Pigs will fly and it will snow in Bangkok before that happens.

[Neeranam]

For those in gay partnerships wanting Thai citizenship, DOPA discuss the new marriage laws here. 

. 
 
https://youtu.be/FX1SR1JyPIs

[zmisha]

This will lead to depopulation.
And then Thailand will try to solve its demographic problems with migrants, like EU and the US do. Immigrants from Myanmar, Laos and other neighbors of Thailand will be the first to take advantage of this. Unfortunately, little will change in relation to the farangs - but we should expect that the supporters of tough measures will be in the minority.

[Captain Flack]

An off topic post about Trump winning has been removed.

[arick]

My village mink is still laughing and won't give me a lucky date. I will go ask him again this morning. 

[arick]

6 hours ago, connda said:

 

Man, this is going to be fun to watch this year!  This will probably be the highlights of 2025. I guarentee you Immigration hasn't even thought of this yet.  Wait until the first applications for extensions based on marriage by gay couples hit.  🌈 🎇 💔 Immigration is gonna melt as the gay community goes into an uproar due to gender discrimination. 
 

Why do you find it so shocking that immigration wouldn't know about it. Every time I go to immigration they asked me how my partner is they even ask if he can come in and have a drink with them.

[Foxx]

8 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

It is a big step only Mr Anutin haven't signed the law yet and therefor it is still not possible to get married before he signed it. There is a lot of confusion going on now as Embassies can't give the permission to get marry yet before the law is signed by Anutin, but we all know that this man want to show his power and probably will sign the 22nd

 

There is no requirement for Anutin to sign anything.  The bill has received royal assent and has been published in the Gazette.  It automatically passes into law after the appropriate waiting period.

[mfd101]

My partner and I will go slow on this, waiting for the news to penetrate (if you'll pardon the term) here at the edge of the jungle.

 

Too many ifs & butts at this stage ...

[khunjeff]

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

There is a lot of confusion going on now as Embassies can't give the permission to get marry yet before the law is signed by Anutin

 

As another posted has already noted, Anutin has nothing to do with the law going into effect. But even if he did, embassies can issue whatever documents they want, regardless of what Thai laws may or may not be in effect - and they also don't "give the permission to get marry", they just give documentation that their citizen is free to marry (or claims to be so).

[sandyf]

35 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

As another posted has already noted, Anutin has nothing to do with the law going into effect. But even if he did, embassies can issue whatever documents they want, regardless of what Thai laws may or may not be in effect - and they also don't "give the permission to get marry", they just give documentation that their citizen is free to marry (or claims to be so).

Quite, at the end of the day it is up to the amphur if a marriage takes place.

I seem to recall that sometime ago when the topic of marriage came up some guy said he hadn't been to the embasssy. He just showed the amphur the Decree Absolute and they accepted that. 

Obviously not applicable to those that have not been married.

[ikke1959]

3 hours ago, khunjeff said:

 

As another posted has already noted, Anutin has nothing to do with the law going into effect. But even if he did, embassies can issue whatever documents they want, regardless of what Thai laws may or may not be in effect - and they also don't "give the permission to get marry", they just give documentation that their citizen is free to marry (or claims to be so).

According to Bangkok Pride, who is organizing the mass wedding, Anutin has to sign to confirm and several Embassies will not give the permission if this is not done yet...Can find on facebook under  Bangkok Pride and you read it in Thai as well in English.. There was confusion first if it would be possible as according to the law 120 after publishing in the Royal Gazette, but the court decided that it only can start from 23rd January, being the 121st day after publishing...

[ikke1959]

16 hours ago, Foxx said:

 

Not true.  Only some.  The British Embassy is refusing to issue the necessary paperwork for British citizens to register their marriage.  It's currently unclear when they will do so.  It's an absolute disgrace.

 

Anutin has to sign first so that all countries are being informed, but he refuses it seems..Probably to show he has power

[ikke1959]

Sad to see and read that so many comments are so badly informed about gays and the same sex marriage.. Comments enough but they have no clue.. Foreigners can marry Thais, but everybody has to be informed even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British Embassy indeed doesn"t give permission yet... Only when Anutin has signed again to confirm...

[cjinchiangrai]

21 hours ago, BarBoy said:

...so if a farang man marries a thai man, which one has to show the 400K in the bank to get a marriage extension, or will there be no such financial requirements when it comes to same sex marriages in Thailand?

The foreigner, of course. Thais don't need a visa.

[Ben Zioner]

21 hours ago, Baht Simpson said:

A great step forward.

to doom...

[cjinchiangrai]

19 hours ago, Foxx said:

Not true.  Only some.  The British Embassy is refusing to issue the necessary paperwork for British citizens to register their marriage.  It's currently unclear when they will do so.  It's an absolute disgrace.

What paperwork is that? They issue the marriage certificates the day of the wedding.