How to extend a family visa in Thailand in 2025

Marriage registration
Obtaining a family visa (outside Thailand or converting a visa inside Thailand) – done once
Extending a family visa – must be done every year

See also: How to get married in Thailand

2. When to extend a family visa

A family visa that you may have obtained outside Thailand allows you to stay in the Kingdom for 3 months. After the first two months, you can begin the process of extending the visa.

If you have already received an annual visa extension, you can begin the process of the next extension in the last month before the expiration date.

Example: Let's say your last annual stamp is valid until November 23, which means that between October 23 and November 23, you can apply for an extension of your family visa for another year.

3. What are the requirements for extending a family visa

The requirements for extending a family visa are the same as for a family visa – you must be married to a Thai citizen and you must meet the property qualification:

you must have 400,000 in a Thai bank account for the last 2 months before applying
OR you must have a monthly income of 40,000 each month

4. What documents are required to extend a family visa

4.1 Documents confirming that you have money in a Thai bank or income

You must have 400,000 baht in your bank account. This amount must be there for at least 2 months before applying for a visa.

A bank statement (not older than 7 days) showing that you do have 400,000 baht in your bank account. You will need to get one from your bank for 100 baht each, paid in cash (Bangkok Bank fee; other banks may charge different fees). You can make one original document and one photocopy.
A bank statement (not older than 7 days) showing your bank account balance for at least 2 months (but make it 3 months, just to be safe). This also costs 100 baht each.
Copies of your updated Bank Passbook (not older than 7 days). To prove that your Bankbook has just been updated, top up your account with 100 baht before updating – also keep the receipt you receive. If you encounter an error at the ATM, go to your bank office to update your Passbook.

Note: There is an opinion that bank documents should be received on the day of application to the Immigration Office – I agree with this opinion and always apply for a visa on the same day when I receive the bank statement and certificate.

Note 2: There is also an option with proof of income of 40,000 baht per month, which will be discussed below – as a rule, this is a more troublesome option.

4.2 Documents confirming the fact of marriage registration and the presence of children

Two types of marriage certificates:

Kor Ror 3 – an official marriage certificate with pink rose petals. 2 sets of photocopies + your signature + your wife's signature. You should keep the original Kor Ror 3 and give the immigration office only the photocopies.
Kor Ror 2 – a marriage certificate in the population register, which looks like a detailed form. You will need to get at least 2 NEW copies (i.e. within 7 days) of your Kor Ror 2 from the local Civil Registry Office for 20 baht.

If you have children with your wife: Birth certificate of the child/children (not needed if you have stepchildren that you have not officially adopted). 2 sets of photocopies + signatures of both parents.

4.3 Proof of residence

If you are renting:

Rental contract.
Landlord's ID: for Thais it is an ID, for foreigners it is a passport.
Landlord's House Book – Blue Book (also called Tabian baan).
Hand-drawn map of the route to your house. This is how I do it in Pattaya: I draw Sukhumvit Highway, draw Pattaya Klang Road, draw the turnoff to my house and indicate my house. I sign the roads and indicate the name of the condo and the postal address (two digits separated by a slash) of my house – this is quite enough. I do the signatures in English – but if your wife does the maps, you can do the signatures in Thai – this is even better. There should be two of these maps.

Note: usually not required, but the Immigration Office may also ask for:

Chanote (title deed) for the rented apartment – you can ask for this from the landlord.
Electricity and water bills.

I recommend bringing the last two documents with you (and making 2 copies of them).

If you are the owner of the property:
Chanote (title deed) in your name
House purchase and sale contract
House book – Blue Book (also called Tabian baan).
Electricity and water bills

4.4 Wife's documents

Thai wife's ID card.
House Book (Blue Book, Tabian Baan) of Thai Wife.

4.5 Applications and passport

1) Form TM.7 with a 4×6 color portrait photograph (use glue, not tape). This is the basic application form. Be sure to write your phone number and your wife's phone number on the back. You will need to fill out two of these forms, so you will need two photographs. In the reasons for staying in Thailand, write something short and simple, such as “Support Thai wife”.

Download: APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY STAY IN THE KINGDOM (TM.7): https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/4.คำขออนุญาตเพื่ออยู่ในราชอาณาจักรเป็นการชั่วคราวต่อไป-ตม.7.pdf

2) Form STM-2. Fill in 2 forms and sign them. This is the confirmation of the terms of your temporary stay in the Kingdom of Thailand (the “fine print consent”).

Download STM-2:

3) A copy of the first page of your passport + each page of your passport that has a Thai immigration stamp.

4.6 Group photos

2 printed A4 color photos of you, your spouse and your children outside your home with the house number or condominium name visible.

And also 2 printed color photographs on A4 paper of you, your wife and your children inside your home (one of which should be in your bedroom on/in front of your bed). Often the immigration office will say that you only need 3 photographs, but prepare 4 just in case.

These photographs may only be required for the 1st and 2nd years of renewal, but may be required in subsequent years as well.

4.7 Payment

When submitting documents, you will need to pay a government fee of 1900 baht.

4.8 Other documents

It is believed that you also need to attach a Notification Receipt for Staying in the Kingdom for More than 90 Days (TM.30). In my opinion, this document is not required, but you can play it safe and make copies of it.

5. Two sets of documents are required and the copies must be signed

Please note that all these documents are required in duplicate! Including the application with photographs in duplicate.

Those documents, the originals of which you must keep (for example, a Marriage Certificate or a Passport) you copy twice and put copies in both sets of documents.

With expense documents (for example, a bank statement) you can do the following: put the original in one set of documents, and a copy in the other set.

You must sign copies of the passport, documents confirming the place of residence and bank documents.

The wife must sign a copy of the wife's ID and her house book.

You both must sign copies of the Marriage Certificate and the Child's Birth Certificate.

6. The procedure for submitting documents for extending a family visa

I live in Pattaya and therefore describe the process of extending a family visa in Pattaya. Your experience of extending a family visa in other cities and provinces of Thailand may be different.

I receive bank documents and Kor Ror 2 on the same day when I apply for a visa – I believe that if the documents from the bank are older than 1 day, the Immigration Office may find fault.

The bank opens at 11 am.

The Immigration Office has a break from 12 to 1 pm. But the queue where they give out numbers closes at 11.30 – that is, it is unlikely that you will have time to submit documents in the first half of the day. It is better to come after lunch. But closer to the evening, when you try to get a number, you may be told that the quota for today has ended. Therefore, it is ideal to submit documents from 1 pm.

You must apply together – you and your wife.

If the documents are all right, they will accept them and put a stamp in your passport for 1 month. They will also write a password in your passport – you need to send it to the official contact of the Immigration Police on LINE – the robot will inform you in a reply message whether your documents are ready.

Within a month, representatives of the Immigration Police may be sent to you for verification – they will call you in advance and set a day and time. You will need to find a witness who will confirm that you and your wife are actually a family. The witness can be either a foreigner (she/he needs a passport) or a Thai (in this case, she/he needs an ID and a copy of the house book).

After the month has passed, you need to come to the Immigration Office again and they will put a new stamp on you. In this case, you can come to the Immigration Office without your wife. There is no need to take a number in the queue – just go to the appropriate window (counter) where they accept documents for a family visa. The second stamp gives the right to stay in Thailand for 1 year. There is no charge for this stamp.

7. Proof of monthly income of 40,000 baht

Required documents if you receive income in Thailand:

Work permit
Letter from work confirming your position and income of at least 40,000 per month
Tax payment certificates (Form P.N.D.1 for the last 3 months and Form P.N.D.91 for the previous year)
Certificate of company registration and list of company shareholders (OrBorJor.5 form) not older than 6 months

If you receive income outside of Thailand:

A document (letter) from the consulate of your country.

Note: When confirming income outside of Thailand, the Immigration Office may require other documents, such as a bank statement.

Note 2: You can find out from your consulate whether your country's consulate issues this letter and what requirements are imposed to obtain it.

8. What to do if there is no money in the bank account. Do I need to contact visa agencies to extend a family visa

You do not need to contact visa agencies at all – you can easily extend a family visa yourself.

You can contact a visa agency if you need any assistance – for example, if you have no money in your account. It should be noted that if the agency offers you help even if you have no money in your bank account, then this may work, but it is definitely illegal.

In all other cases, the agency's assistance in extending a family visa is not needed.

How to extend a family visa in Thailand in 2025

Contents

1. The process of obtaining and extending a family visa