Married in Thailand
If you are planning to marry your Thai girlfriend in the very near future, you certainly aren’t alone, as thousands of foreign men find true love during a holiday in the Royal Kingdom of Thailand and in this short article, we offer useful information on the process of getting married in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Thai wedding party
Your bride’s family will arrange the post-ceremony party and there is precious little you can do about that. Thai people are very proud and they have their own wedding customs and traditions, all you have to do is follow the program. There are some great Rayong banquet venues to be found online and they have all the amenities that you need.
Visit a local amphur office
The local government office is called the ‘amphur’ and you should ask your Thai partner to enquire as to what is required in order to marry. The officer should provide her with a list of documents that you will both need in order to register your union, which may include the need for a translator.
Language obstacles
As your marriage is a legal agreement, it is crucial that both parties fully understand what is said; most amphurs require a foreigner to have a certified translator to explain what is happening.
Contact your embassy
Of course, each country has their own rules and regulations when its citizens wish to marry; most are happy to provide documentation that shows the person in question is single and therefore eligible to marry. Make sure that you have all documents translated by a certified translator, as the local government officer will check everything.
Dowry
It is traditional for the groom to pay the bride’s family a dowry; in Thai society, women support their family and when a girl weds, she can no longer support her family and the dowry is an agreed sum of money (and/or gold) that is presented at the wedding party. It is common for the bride’s family to return the dowry to the couple after the ceremony, especially if the family is financially secure. Talk to your Thai partner about this and come to an understanding, and bear in mind that the dowry is part of Thai culture. It is important to avoid too much exposure to the tropical sun.
Marriage visa
Of course, once you are legally married, you can apply for a spouse visa, which is valid for 12 months and can be renewed in-country. In order to apply for a spouse visa, you must deposit the sum of 400,000 Thai baht into your Thai bank account and this must be in the account for 2 months prior to the visa application. Your wife must accompany you to the immigration office, plus you must prepare images of you and your wife in every room of the house, along with a clear map to your home address.
We hope this article helps you to prepare for your Thai wedding; one thing is for sure, this will be a memorable event and one to cherish forever.
