Getting Married To Thai Girl...

[KnooKie]

I am thinking of marrying my Thai girlfriend and am wondering what i need to do and how this may help me with regards to Thai visas?

We have been together for nearly 3 years. I have lived in Thailand for nearly four years with Non Immigrant Education visas that i have obtained whenever i have revisited the UK where i am from. I have been scuba diving for most of that time hence the letters from the dive school to help me obtain the Non Imm Education visas.

My girlfriend is a cook not a bar girl. We are both in our early forties. Both her parents passed away some time ago so there is no commitment there. She has 1 daughter from a previous marriage but she is in her early 20's and working and studying at Uni in Bangkok and very independent.

From reading other posts it would seem i need to go to the UK embassy in Bangkok and get some necessary paperwork. We would like to get married quickly and quietly with no big fanfare wedding ceremony. Is this possible in Thailand? She has no family commitments of any kind?

Does anyone know what we need to do? Which paperwork we need? Do we have to do this in Bangkok? Is there anything else i may need to know?

We are planning to stay in Thailand after getting married.

Will this make it easier for me to get a visa in the future? and then hopefully a work permit?

any advice appreciated

Paul

[Lite Beer]

You need to get an Affirmation to Marry Certificate from the UK Embassy. This takes 2 days.

You then need to get this translated to Thai and Certified at the MFA in Bangkok.

You can then register your marriage at any amphur . I forget how much but not a lot.

There are many translation companies near the British Embassy who can do every thing for you if you want.

I take it that your Girlfriend has divorce papers if she was legally married before.

Read this.

Embassy

Once you are Married you would be eligible to apply for 12 monthly extensions of stay.

From the Police Order.

(6) In case of marriage with a Thai lady, the husband who is an alien must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit in a local Thai bank of not less than 400,000 baht for the past 2 months for expenses within a year.

[gotlost]

Yes you need to get a letter from the British embassy that authorize you to marry a Thai, have it translated then you and her go to any amphur office. You, translated letter from embassy, copy of your passport and if you are divorced a certified copy of your divorce papers. Her, ID, House Book ( blue) and if she is divorced original of divorce paper. The letter from the embassy will cost, the translation and filling depends but about 3000 baht. The singing of names at the amphur office abut 100 baht. Thats about it and no one needs to know. Whish you all the best.

[Mario2008]

For a work permit you will still have to find an employer first, in a job you are allowed to do. Being married to a Thai doesn't make it easier getting one.

[lopburi3]

Off-topic post removed.

[beano2274]

Firstly Download the form from the Embassy website "Affirmation to Marry", complete and take to the embassy, pay the money.

Collect it the next day, get this translated, I used a company near the BTS station, then after translation take to the MFA (An agency can also do all of this for you except the Embassy stuff), pay at the MFA, collect the next day, now you can get married.

[KnooKie]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I own property that i rent out in the UK so no problem with the 40000 baht a month someone mentioned.

[lopburi3]

That 40k has to be in an Embassy letter so what will be required by the Embassy is the deciding factor. I expect rental/tax paperwork will do it.

[phil2]

If it's any help chum, you will be greeted outside the UK embassy by people,who for a reasonable fee, sort out all the paperwork, copies etc, escort you in the embassy, and get you married at a local office. Saves all the hassle and the officials know these people so no problems.

I don't know what it will cost you to get the letter of bachelorhood from your embassy, but every other thing you need to do; including translation, MFA endorsement, and the actual marriage will not cost you more than 1,500 baht if you do everything yourself. On the contrary, if you pay any of those agents, you'll be spending a lot.

There's no hassle about the whole thing. Get the letter from your embassy, and get it translated. Go to MFA next day and pay 800 baht for express service, and collect the documents at 3 P.M. Get married the third day. A friend went through the MFA bit today.

Good luck.

[Mario2008]

The consular department announced a few months ago that there is no more express service available, till further notice.

[chowder]

You need to get an Affirmation to Marry Certificate from the UK Embassy. This takes 2 days.

You then need to get this translated to Thai and Certified at the MFA in Bangkok.

You can then register your marriage at any amphur . I forget how much but not a lot.

There are many translation companies near the British Embassy who can do every thing for you if you want.

I take it that your Girlfriend has divorce papers if she was legally married before.

Read this.

Embassy

can anybody do the translation or have to be qualify personel

[lopburi3]

Believe the translation service/person must be registered with the MFA. I know this was the case in the past. Although there were always people hanging around who could run the document out to a service for a fee.

[scubajo]

Used the express translation at the MFA last month. Got a little disappointed at the Amphur a few days ago, where my Affirmation was denied on the basis that it only mention that according to the embassy I was "allowed to get married"!!! And not that I was "allowed to get married by Thai law" Still have to contact the Dutch embassy about this..

[kevbap]

hi, i will download the documents/paperwork in the morning for you, as i was in the embassy on monday and picked up some papers, hope they can be of use to you.

see you, tomorrow Kevin

[Mario2008]

Used the express translation at the MFA last month. Got a little disappointed at the Amphur a few days ago, where my Affirmation was denied on the basis that it only mention that according to the embassy I was "allowed to get married"!!! And not that I was "allowed to get married by Thai law" Still have to contact the Dutch embassy about this..

Was this an amphur with a lot of experience in marrying foreigners?

Note that you can marry at any amphur, just go to another amphur. Maybe in a bigger town if you tried to get marreid married in a small place.

[lopburi3]

Ban Rak here in Bangkok is used by both Thai and foreigners and very popular with Thai as most believe it brings good luck. They know the rules. Upcountry if they have not done they are very concerned they may make a mistake. I am sure there is nothing on any such document saying "Thai girl".

[sarahsbloke]

can anybody do the translation or have to be qualify personel

It has to be done by someone approved by the Ministry of Foreign affairs in BK

Best to employ someone to do translation and get the MFA certification all in one go, I paid 3000bht, payment on delivery.

(I previously tried a DIY, 500bht translation, 400bht MFA, returned with note ...... use approved translator, loss 900bht)

Got a little disappointed at the Amphur a few days ago, where my Affirmation was denied on the basis that it only mention that according to the embassy I was "allowed to get married"!!! And not that I was "allowed to get married by Thai law"

The MFA are extremely picky, and will reject anything with minor errors, returning with notes on what is wrong. If the MFA stamped and put stickers on the back of the original and translation then the Affirmation is good and the Amphur Office have no right to refuse. It is the MFA granting permission to marry, not the Amphur office. Why not go to another Amphur office?

and if you are divorced a certified copy of your divorce papers

The British Embassy/Consulate will only accept original divorce papers.

You can then register your marriage at any amphur . I forget how much but not a lot.

70 bht

Edited April 16, 2010 by sarahsbloke

[Mario2008]

The MFA only certifies that the papers are geniune, by checking the signature form the embassy employee with that of the list they get from the embassies. It is the amphur that decides if you meet the criteria for being allowed to marry.

Marriage registration is free, it is the copy of the mariage register that you have to pay for. Each amphur sets its own price, mostly between 20 and 40 baht. You will need the copy of the register for getting an extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national.

[kevbap]

Hello there, as promised some info from the British Embassy about Marriage to a Thai. hope this proves helpful and good luck with the marriage, oh i am always up for a party !

Cheers Kevin

god dam_n computers....try again to download..!

[jazzbo]

And as might be said by Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) of Wayne's World:

Thank you sincerely for all the information needed to marry a ThaiGirl...

NOT!

OK, it's been a rough 3 SongKran days.

Edited April 16, 2010 by jazzbo

[fletchsmile]

If it's any help chum, you will be greeted outside the UK embassy by people,who for a reasonable fee, sort out all the paperwork, copies etc, escort you in the embassy, and get you married at a local office. Saves all the hassle and the officials know these people so no problems.

I don't know what it will cost you to get the letter of bachelorhood from your embassy, but every other thing you need to do; including translation, MFA endorsement, and the actual marriage will not cost you more than 1,500 baht if you do everything yourself. On the contrary, if you pay any of those agents, you'll be spending a lot.

There's no hassle about the whole thing. Get the letter from your embassy, and get it translated. Go to MFA next day and pay 800 baht for express service, and collect the documents at 3 P.M. Get married the third day. A friend went through the MFA bit today.

Good luck.

Actually using an agent for registering the marriage isn't a lot. We initially went to ask about translations for certs. When they told us they could do the whole thing in one day for THB 8,000 I was more than happy. It wasn't from outside the embassy but not far away.

Sure you can save money doing it yourself. By your calcs its THB 2,300 and 3 days or so plus trapsing round to embassy, translation, ampeur, back next day etc. We paid 8,000 and did it in 1 day.... no having to find out where all the places are... no waiting around... they took us to the ampeur and we signed...

Edit: Result = 3 days extra for your honeymoon at a place of your choice instead of waiting inside embassies and ministries

Edited April 16, 2010 by fletchsmile

[Xircal]

Can anybody tell me what is meant by a "House Registration Certificate" for Thai nationals? That's mentioned on the Siam-Legal (dot) com website as a required document for obtaining a marriage certificate.

Also, Can I marry her even though I'm not resident in Thailand at the moment?

[sarahsbloke]

"House Registration Certificate" for Thai nationals?

Tabien Baan blue book, every Thai has to be registered in one (usually their parents house)

Not required for marriage (well my gf didn't have it with her when we got married)

But we did need it when she changed the name on her ID card.

Edited April 17, 2010 by sarahsbloke

[lopburi3]

Every Thai is listed on a home register document (blue book) and that along with ID card is the basic identification for all. In most cases this will be parents home. It is basically a listing of who lives in the residence (although often the person no longer lives there and has not changed to a new location).

Do you mean not here in Thailand or not a legal resident? You need to be here to marry here but the only other requirement is a letter from your Embassy listing your bio data/employment/references.

[Mario2008]

You don't need to be a resident to be able to get married in Thailand. Even two foreigners not residing in thailand can get married.

[Xircal]

<br />&quot;House Registration Certificate&quot; for Thai nationals?<br />Tabien Baan blue book, every Thai has to be registered in one (usually their parents house)<br /><br />Not required for marriage (well my gf didn't have it with her when we got married)<br />But we did need it when she changed the name on her ID card.<br />

<br /><br /><br /><br />OK, thanks. Edited April 17, 2010 by Xircal

[Xircal]

I've just been making some calculations and notice that I'm going to run into a problem as regards the 40,000B income requirement. <br /><br />The situation is slightly complicated by the fact that I'm a Brit living in the Netherlands on a Dutch retirement pension, the latter of which has been reduced in value because I've only lived here for 28 years. Since I didn't maintain national insurance contributions after leaving the UK, I don't qualify for pension from there unfortunately. However, I have savings which when added together to my income, will exceed the sum of 400,000B which I believe is the annual income requirement. What I'm a little confused by here is how I have to demonstrate what my annual income (savings plus retirement pension) actually is because from what I've read in other posts on this forum, I won't be able to open a Thai bank account if I'm not resident there. <br /><br />Also, on the "Affirmation of Freedom to Marry" document, should I state my income in Euros, or convert it into Sterling? If I have to convert it, do I have to use the prevailing exchange rate, or is there another rate which is always used?

EDIT: I've just read on the Siam-Legal (dot) com site that the annual 400,000B requirement has been scrapped and replaced by 40,000B a month as a minimum income, but that this latter sum can comprise of both the foreigner's income and that of his spouse. Since my gf doesn't have any income, I'll have to consider getting a job of some sort or another I suppose.

Edited April 17, 2010 by Xircal

[lopburi3]

That information is totally false. The income must be yours alone and it can not be combined with savings. It is either 400k in bank 2 months or 40k monthly income. The laws changed over 15 months ago.

[chowder]

im starting to get confuse with all this talk, if im correct the process must be

1.get a Affirmation to Marry Certificate from my embassy

2.get it translate by a certify translator

3.take the translate letter to an MFA office to get it verify

4.and then register marriage at any local amphur

im starting to think that the translator, translate the letter and also verify the letter for marriage

[gotlost]

im starting to get confuse with all this talk, if im correct the process must be

1.get a Affirmation to Marry Certificate from my embassy

2.get it translate by a certify translator

3.take the translate letter to an MFA office to get it verify

4.and then register marriage at any local amphur

im starting to think that the translator, translate the letter and also verify the letter for marriage

Your list is correct. I had a visa service that had my letter translated and filed with the MFA and gave me a certified copy to give the Amphur office for 3000 baht.