Recognition of overseas same sex marriage?

[osandpo]

I've been married to a Thai guy since 2007 (registered in England first as a civil partnership and then converted to marriage). I have been living here since 2000, first on a work permit and then since January this year on a retirement visa.

Does anyone know if Thai government debts like Immigration and the Land department etc recognise overseas same sex marriages? Toying with the idea of applying for permanent residence and obviously a marriage to a Thai would help my case

[Jingthing]

Absolutely not.

Sorry and surprised you didn't already know.

In the eyes of Thai law, you are a single man and your Thai husband is also a single man.

Also I don't see marriage equality as really on any kind of urgent political radar in Thailand.

Perhaps in a few decades from now.

Edited May 19, 2016 by Jingthing

[osandpo]

Thanks, Jingthing

That confirms my suspicion. I wasn't 100% sure though as a former Belgian colleague's (non-Thai) civil partner was given a long stay visa by the embassy in Brussels purely as a dependent with no business, investment or employment here. Seems that was just a sympathetic and helpful foreign service employee there...

[johnatong]

Thanks, Jingthing

That confirms my suspicion. I wasn't 100% sure though as a former Belgian colleague's (non-Thai) civil partner was given a long stay visa by the embassy in Brussels purely as a dependent with no business, investment or employment here. Seems that was just a sympathetic and helpful foreign service employee there...

"given a long stay visa by the embassy in Brussels purely as a dependent"

What was/is the nature(category) of this "visa" and how long is "long term"?

There is no long term "dependent" visa.

[osandpo]

Johnatong

They lived here for 4 years until mid 2015 - one partner was working, the other not. They're back in Europe now but my understanding is was the non-working partner had the same kind of visa as is given to the foreign spouse of a straight foreigner working here. I can ask but if it was apparently an exceptional case, I don't think that'd help anyone much

[Pib]

http://www.thailandlawonline.com/article-older-archive/registration-of-a-thai-marriage

Same sex marriages

It is under Thai marriage laws not possible to legalize same-sex gay relationships through a marriage. Thai family law does not allow same-sex marriages. Only opposite-sex couples are eligible to marry and have it recorded in the marriage registers.

[osandpo]

Thanks, Pib

I knew that Thailand does not have legal same sex marriage. I was wondering if they would recognise an overseas registered marriage as valid for immigration / residence purposes. I'm not sure but I doubt they require legal marriage registration in Thailand for foreign straight married couples, Does Thai law require a Thai woman who marries a foreign man overseas to re-register the marriage here as well?

[Jingthing]

Again. 100 percent not recognized for immigration or residence purposes. My only advice is that your husband get involved in Thai politics and lobby for that to change.

[johnatong]

Johnatong

They lived here for 4 years until mid 2015 - one partner was working, the other not. They're back in Europe now but my understanding is was the non-working partner had the same kind of visa as is given to the foreign spouse of a straight foreigner working here. I can ask but if it was apparently an exceptional case, I don't think that'd help anyone much

I believe you have been badly misinformed.

[Pib]

To the best of my knowledge many Thai govt offices will require you to provide a Thai marriage certificate for certain things. This means the foreign marriage certificate must first be certified by your home country embassy and then you have it translated and certified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs..... and then you can go register the marriage at your district office to get the Thai version of a marriage certificate. But the MFA is not going to certify nor the district office register a same sex marriage.

[johnatong]

Thanks, Pib

I knew that Thailand does not have legal same sex marriage. I was wondering if they would recognise an overseas registered marriage as valid for immigration / residence purposes. I'm not sure but I doubt they require legal marriage registration in Thailand for foreign straight married couples, Does Thai law require a Thai woman who marries a foreign man overseas to re-register the marriage here as well?

A "gay" same sex marriage would not be legally recognised under any circumstance in Thailand.

"Straight" foreign marriages have to be registered at an Amphur before the marriage will be acknowledged for long term extensions of stay etc.

[Sophon]

As far as I can see nobody else have mentioned it, but you don't qualify for permanent residence since you are no longer working in Thailand.

Sophon

[Goldieinkathu]

Johnatong

They lived here for 4 years until mid 2015 - one partner was working, the other not. They're back in Europe now but my understanding is was the non-working partner had the same kind of visa as is given to the foreign spouse of a straight foreigner working here. I can ask but if it was apparently an exceptional case, I don't think that'd help anyone much

I believe you have been badly misinformed.

I too was for 2 years given a visa based on being married to a foreigner who had a work permit here. The consulate in Hull granted me this visa.

Then they were told they were no longer to issue a visa based on civil partnerships.

If I remember rightly it was 2012 when it was stopped.