Resident visa

[songhklasid]

I plan to semi retire next year, have been married to thai national (now she has aussie passport) for 26 years, we have house near sankhaemphang, chiang mai, I want to spend more time in country, what do I need for a residency visa, I've done thai language (60hours) course, recently got my thai motorbike licence.

thanking you for your help.

regards S.S.

[nowretired]

Are you asking about Citizenship or Permanent Residency?

There is no "residency visa" but depending on your circumstances you could obtain an "extension of stay" based on marriage which is renewable annually or if over 50 an extension of stay based on retirement.

[KhunBENQ]

Sounds like you simply want to stay all year or for a long time without leaving the country.

This would start with entering the country on a Non-O visa and then applying for a one year extension of stay.

(not the only method but the most used route)

What you need? Money

If your wife still is a Thai national you can apply for an extension based on marriage, requiring a monthy income/pension equiv. to 40'000 Baht OR 400'000 Baht in a Thai bank account.

Easier to apply (less paperwork, issued instantly):

having monthly income/pension equiv. to 65000 Baht or 800'000 Baht in bank account or a combination thereof.

You can then apply for extension based on retirement.

Resident permit and citizenship are a long long way to go (takes years usually). Guess you don't mean that.

Edited August 15, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[KhunBENQ]

Thai language course is a good investment but not a requirement for an extension of stay.

[songhklasid]

Thankyou for info, what is a non O visa, I have only used tourist visa's in the past, sounds simpler than I thought.

[ubonjoe]

A non immigrant O visa (aka non-o) is obtained at an embassy or consulate. It can be issued as a single entry or multiple entry visa that allows a 90 day entry.

If you plan on applying for an extension of stay at immigration you will just need a single entry non-o based upon marriage. The fee for it is 2000 baht.

From Chiang Mai the best place to get one is in Vientiane Laos. You will need your marriage certificate plus a copy, copies of you wife's house book registry and ID card.

[elviajero]

Thankyou for info, what is a non O visa, I have only used tourist visa's in the past, sounds simpler than I thought.

Yes it's very straightforward.

A "no O visa" is short for a Non-Immigration 'O' visa.

You should apply for a single entry Non-Immigration visa in Australia. As mentioned above you can apply for one on the basis of being married or, if you're over 50, retirement.

When you enter Thailand you'll be given a 90 stay. During the lat 30 days (45 at some offices) you can apply for a 1 year extension of your stay (1,900 baht). This can be renewed every year indefinitely. When you apply for the extension you can also apply for a re-entry permit (3,800 baht) which allows you to leave and return to the country as often as you want within the year. Or a single re-entry permit can be applied for each time you leave 1,900 baht).

[TerryLH]

"Or a single re-entry permit can be applied for each time you leave 1,900 baht)."

The cost for a single is 1000 baht.

[stoneyboy]

A "no O visa" is short for a Non-Immigration 'O' visa.

And it's Non Immigrant O Visa.

[elviajero]

"Or a single re-entry permit can be applied for each time you leave 1,900 baht)."

The cost for a single is 1000 baht.

A "no O visa" is short for a Non-Immigration 'O' visa.

And it's Non Immigrant O Visa.

Thank you both for pointing out my typos.

You are both correct. I apologise for my errors.