Marriage Visa in Thailand: Do I Need a Work Permit ?

[Haitch]

 

I am getting married in Thailand at the end of the year and plan to apply for a Marriage Visa (Non-O) to live there. However, I am a partner in a business that operates entirely outside Thailand, with no connection to Thai companies or the Thai economy. I am not involved in the day-to-day running of the business as that is done by another partner, but I receive a share of the profits.

I’m trying to understand:

1. Do I need a work permit for this situation?
2. Is a Marriage Visa sufficient for me to stay long-term while receiving income from a foreign partnership?

[DrJack54]

1. No

2. You have other alternatives to income method. What is passport country? 

[Haitch]

I have the £10,000 / 400,000thb needed for the bank account, the passport country is uk.

If i do not need a work permit, what would be the best way to prove I do not run the business day to do if asked by immigration etc, as I was planning on using some of the profit i recieve to transfer from my uk bank to a bank in thailand when needed.

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, Haitch said:

If i do not need a work permit, what would be the best way to prove I do not run the business day to do if asked by immigration etc, as I was planning on using some of the profit i recieve in thailand when needed.

imo the best option is to show 400k baht in Thai bank account.

For extensions that would need to be in bank seasoned for 2 months prior to application and maintained till final stamp.

Referred to as "money in bank method" 

 

NOTE: As soon as final stamp is given the funds can be used.

Wash and repeat every year.

Keep your income from job abroad out of it.

 

Also UK does not provide "income letter" 

Keep it simple. 

 

[Haitch]

What would be the process for obtaining a non-o visa:

Do i need to get married first before applying for this ?  from what I have found out from contacting some banks in bangkok, that I  cannot open a thai bank account without a non o visa, but to get a non-o visa in country I need a thai bank account.  It asks for where i will be residing on the e-visa website, I would like to be residing with my girlfriend before we get married, but im not sure if this is allowed.

is there any guide for how to do all this?

[DrJack54]

9 hours ago, Haitch said:

What would be the process for obtaining a non-o visa:

So currently not married. 

You cannot obtain a Non O marriage.

Are you over 50? 

 

You stated...."It asks for where i will be residing on the e-visa website, I would like to be residing with my girlfriend before we get married, but im not sure if this is allowed"

 

What do you mean? Of course you can live with gf.

I've been doing it for 12+ years.

[Haitch]

No currently married, but like I said we are getting married at the end of this year.
I probably didnt explain it properly, I meant is an invitation letter stating that I will be living with her accepted by immigration,  no im not over 50 so I cannot get a retirement visa.

If i get married on a visa exemption, I cannot convert to non-o visa because I do not have a Thai bank account yet.
Im just trying to work out what I need to do in what order.

 

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, Haitch said:

If i get married on a visa exemption, I cannot convert to non-o visa because I do not have a Thai bank account yet.

That's 11 months away.

No offense but you are dancing about options.

The living with her (address) is irrelevant. When do you plan on coming to Thailand. 

15 minutes ago, Haitch said:

If i get married on a visa exemption, I cannot convert to non-o visa because I do not have a Thai bank account yet.

An agent can assist with opening a Thai bank account. 

Out of interest how long have you spent previously in Thailand.

Ask as you seem very unaware of options in Thailand.