Living in Thailand: Thai Visas: Visa O Family
January 27 2010 Categories: Thailand Visas, Thailand Visas & Work Permit one comment
Introduction to the Non Immigrant Visa O Family
What is the Family Visa?
The family Non Immigrant Visa O is for foreigners who have Thai family in Thailand and who wish to stay in Thailand to take care of their family. Family means a Thai relative whether a parent, spouse, children, adopted children or spouse children.
The family Non Immigrant Visa O will allow you to stay in Thailand for a period of not more than 90 days at a time but can be extended (up to one year) and the total period of stay including the extension may not exceed 1 year from the date of entry into the Kingdom in the case were the applicant purpose is to live with his familly.
If the applicant only wishes to visit his family or do not qualify for this visa type then he must apply for a Visa for “visiting a spouse or children” which visa will allow him to stay in Thailand for a period of no more than 60 days at a time.
Warning: Visa O visa applies to foreign applicants who not only have a legal relationship with a Thai national but also have an actual familial relationship. The husband must care for and live with his wife or the father/mother must live with his/her children.
Note: Holder(s) of Non Immigrant Visa O may not work in Thailand without a work permit. You may however apply for a work permit with a Non Immigrant Visa O and there is no need for you to change the type of your visa if you want to apply for a work permit.
Note: There are from time to time discrepancies between Thai embassies practices. Some embassies have the reputation to be more helpful than others. We cannot recommend you one embassy over another as the situation is changing constantly. Also note that Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thai embassies may abruptly change their practices without notice. Therefore please call the Thai embassy the closest from you location before to start the formalities.
Common documents requirements to obtain a Non Immigrant Visa O?
The common document requirements for the obtaining of a Visa O to enter Thailand for a period of not more than 90 days are:
- Passport or travel document with validity of not less than 6 months;
- Completed visa application form.
- Recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) of the applicant taken within the past 6 months.
Note: If you whishes to apply for a one year extension once in Thailand you will need a passport with a validity of not less than 18 months.
Documents Requirements specific to the Non Immigrant Visa O Family
A foreign applicant who wishes to apply for a visa O family with a Thai Embassy shall provide the following additional documents:
- Copy of documents proving the family relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, child legitimization and so on)
- Copy of household certificate
- Copy of Id Card of the person having Thai nationality
Note: The copies of the documents of the Thai person must be certified with the signature of said Thai person
Extending a Non Immigrant ‘Visa O” family
To extend your familly Visa O up to one year you must of course have been granted a Visa O by a Thai embassy and have entered Thailand on this visa, then you will need to file an application with the Immigration Officer and provide documents as follows:
- Copy of passport or travel document with validity of not less than 18 months;
- Completed visa application form.
- Recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) of the applicant taken within the past 6 months.
- Copy of documents proving the family relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, child legitimization and so on)
- Copy of household certificate
- Copy of Id Card of the person having Thai nationality
Additonal Conditions
- In the case of a spouse you must not only be married but live together
- In the case of children: The children must not be married and must be less than 20 years old and must live with you as part of a familly
- In the case of parents: The parents must be more than 50 years old or over.
Financial Requirements
- The parents (father or mother) must have a regular income of 40,000 THB per month or have deposited 400,000 THB at the bank at least 30 days before filling the application the first time and three months before in case of renewal.
- The spouse must have a regular income of 40,000 THB per month or have deposited 400,000 THB at the bank at least 60 days before filling the application the first time and three months before in case of renewal.
What should you do if you do not fulfill those requirements?
For those who cannot meet one of those requirements you have the option of the Visa for visiting familly we mentioned above
Reporting Requirement
At the end of the 90-day uninterrupted period of stay , you must report to the immigration officer of your residence area and report again every 90 days during your stay in Thailand. The 90 days period is calculated from your last actual entry (if for example you travel frequently in and out you recalculate the 90 days from the last time you enter Thailand)
Re-Entry Permit:
If you leave Thailand and intend to re-enter without losing your visa do not forget to do a Re-Entry permit before to leave Thai territory.
Note: This post is an excerpt of Rene Philippe Dubout next book: “How to Invest Safely Into Thailand” to be published in January 2010
About the Author:
The author Rene-Philippe DUBOUT is a lawyer since 1990 when he was admitted to Geneva bar (Switzerland). He practiced as a litigator there for 10 years until he moved to Thailand in 1999. In 2002 he founded with a group of Thai lawyers Rene Philippe & Partners Ltd a local law firm that specialized in Cross Borders Investments and Real Estate. He has been lecturing in several Thai Universities and a speaker to numerous conferences and seminars. He is the author of a must read book:”How to Purchase Real Estate Offshore Safely: The Case of Thailand”.
http//:www.renephilippe.com
© Copyrights 2009 – Rene Philippe Dubout – This article may be reprinted if information about the author, the websites, and the URLs remain intact
Originally posted 2009-07-30 12:06:22.
Related posts:
- Living in Thailand: Thai Visas: The Tourist Visa
- Living in Thailand: Thai Visas: The Education Visa
- Living in Thailand: Thai Visas: The Investment Visa
- Living in Thailand: Thai Visas: The Visa “O” Retiree
- Working in Thailand: Thai Visas: The Visa “B”
- Living in Thailand: What is the Visa Exemption?
- Living in Thailand: What you need to know about Thai visas
- Working In Thailand: Thai Visas: Visas B one year extension
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