If you are planning to move to Thailand, it is imperative that you understand the steps required in the VISA Process.
- You must apply for a 90 day Non-O VISA from your home country.
- When you arrive in Thailand, the first thing you must do is open a Thai bank account. This is because to apply for a long term VISA like a Marriage VISA or a Retirement VISA, you must have proof of the VISA funds in a Thai bank account 60 days prior to applying for your long term visa.
- In 2026, it is extremely difficult to open a Thai Bank account with just a 90 day Non-O visa from your home country. In fact, the majority of the Thai banks will NOT let you open an account. They want to see your name in a Thai House Book, or have a residence certificate letter from the Immigration Office here in Thailand where you will be residing. If both of those avenues fail, the only other option is to pay a VISA agent. (Now there are many shady agents out there, so you have to use an agent that has been around for a long time and is well known like the Thai VISA Center in Bangkok).
- Once you are able to open a Thai bank account and deposit the required VISA funds (400,000 thb for marriage visa and 800,000 thb for retirement visa for 60 days), you will be able to proceed with your long term visa application.
- Unfortunately for first timers, the requirements for visa application are not spelled out clearly. You may show up at immigration with your application documents and be told something is missing or they want something changed. Best to do what they say and come back the next day ready to try again.
After you go through this the first time, you should have a good idea what you will need for documentation each and every year that you extend your long term visa.