A Thailand family visa for an Indian spouse, child or parent is the Non-immigrant O, applied for on thaievisa.go.th at INR 7,000 for a single entry and decided in about 10 working days by the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi or the consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. It gives 90 days on arrival and the Immigration Bureau extends it a year at a time for THB 1,900: dependants of a work-permit or ED holder extend together with the main applicant, spouses of Thai citizens extend on their own by showing THB 400,000 in a Thai bank for two months or THB 40,000 of monthly income, and retirees aged 50 or more show THB 800,000. Indian marriage and birth certificates need the Ministry of External Affairs apostille and a Thai translation.
The compact version with the price card and checklist is on the Thailand family visa route page. This article explains which category applies, how the funds rules are tested and where Indian files fall down.
Who qualifies for a Thailand Non-immigrant O family visa?
| Family member | Sponsor or basis | Extension test in Thailand | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse and children under 20 of a Non-B worker | The worker's permit and extension | Extended with the worker; worker's salary THB 50,000 | No work without own permit |
| Spouse and children of a Non-ED student | The student's enrolment | Extended with the student | Children may attend school |
| Spouse of a Thai national | The Thai spouse's ID and house registration | THB 400,000 in a Thai bank for 2 months, or THB 40,000 monthly income | Home visit; 30 days under consideration |
| Parent of a Thai child, or guardian of a student | Child's birth certificate or school letter | THB 400,000 (parent) or school confirmation (guardian, one parent only) | Guardian visa for international school families |
| Retiree aged 50 or over | Age and funds | THB 800,000 in a Thai bank, or THB 65,000 monthly income | O-A from India needs THB 3 million insurance |
Children are dependants until 20 under Thai immigration practice, later than most countries, which helps Indian families with students in Bangkok international schools. Common-law partners are not recognised, and parents of a foreign worker cannot be sponsored as dependants; they use tourist entries, the retirement route from age 50 or the Destination Thailand Visa.
What documents must be legalised, and how is a marriage recognised?
Indian marriage and birth certificates must be apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs through an authorised agency (INR 50 per document plus agency fees) and translated into Thai by a certified translator for use at the Immigration Bureau and the district office. For a marriage with a Thai national, the Indian certificate is apostilled, translated, certified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation division (THB 200 per document, about three days) and recorded at the district office (amphoe) of the Thai spouse, which issues the Kor Ror 22 record; the embassy accepts the Indian certificate for the visa itself, but the extension in Thailand requires the Thai record. Religious ceremonies without civil registration are not recognised.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-immigrant O, single entry | INR 7,000 | Per dependant, online on thaievisa.go.th |
| Non-immigrant O or O-A, multiple entry, 1 year | INR 13,500 | Retirees and frequent travellers |
| Extension of stay, 1 year | THB 1,900 | Immigration Bureau; marriage cases may be held for 30 days |
| Re-entry permit | THB 1,000 single; THB 3,800 multiple | Before each trip abroad |
| Marriage registration at a Thai district office | Free | Translation and certification about THB 2,000 |
| MEA apostille | INR 50 per document plus agency fees | Through MEA-authorised agencies |
| Health insurance (O-A retirement) | Market rate | THB 3 million cover required |
Vistolane charges the INR 7,000 or INR 13,500 government fee as listed and shows apostille, translation and insurance costs separately on the Thailand destination page.
How does the application run?
- Legalise the relationship documents: MEA apostille of the marriage and birth certificates, Thai translation, and for Thai spouses the MFA certification and district office record.
- Collect the sponsor's documents: the worker's passport, visa, work permit and employment letter; the student's enrolment letter; the Thai spouse's ID card and house registration; or, for retirees, bank statements and a police clearance.
- Apply on thaievisa.go.th for the Non-immigrant O (or O-A) with the passport, photo, relationship documents, sponsor's file and three months of statements; pay INR 7,000 or INR 13,500; decision in about 10 working days.
- File the Thailand Digital Arrival Card and enter within the validity; the officer stamps 90 days (one year for the O-A).
- Before day 90, extend at the Immigration Bureau with form TM7, THB 1,900 and the category's evidence; marriage cases get a home visit and a 30-day under-consideration stamp before the year is granted.
How long does it take from India?
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Apostille, translation, Thai registration | 2 to 6 weeks |
| e-Visa processing | About 10 working days |
| Travel | Within 3 months of issue |
| First extension | Same day for dependants; 30 days under consideration for marriage |
Dependants usually apply together with or a few weeks after the main applicant, once the work permit exists; families relocating for a job should let the worker's permit come through first.
After arrival: work, school and renewals
Non-O dependants may not work; a spouse hired by a Thai company needs their own Non-B and work permit, as the Thailand work visa guide explains, while spouses of Thai nationals can obtain a work permit on the marriage extension with the employer's capital requirement halved to THB 1 million. Children attend Thai or international schools without a separate student visa until 20. Everyone files the 90-day report, buys a re-entry permit before leaving the country and renews the extension yearly, with the Thai-marriage funds held for two months before each renewal and retirement funds for two months before and three months after.
Why are Thailand family visas refused, and what fixes each reason?
Certificates not legalised. Marriage or birth certificates without apostille or Thai translation. Apostille through the MEA and translate before applying; Vistolane arranges both.
Marriage not recorded in Thailand. An Indian or religious certificate only, at the extension stage. Certify at the Thai MFA and record at the district office before the first extension.
Funds seasoned too briefly. THB 400,000 or THB 800,000 deposited days before the extension. Hold the balance in a Thai account for the two months the Bureau requires and keep the bank letter dated the same day.
Sponsor's status weak. Worker's extension pending or salary below THB 50,000. Extend the worker first; dependants cannot be granted longer than the sponsor.
Child over 20. A dependent child aged 20 or more. Switch to an ED visa for study or a tourist or DTV route.
How Vistolane handles it
Vistolane arranges the MEA apostille and Thai translation, prepares the Non-O e-Visa for each family member and charges the government fee as listed; its Bangkok partner handles the district office record and the first extension. Start with the free eligibility check or the Thailand family visa route page. Families weighing other hubs can compare the Malaysia Dependant Pass guide, the Vietnam TT family visa guide and the Singapore Dependant's Pass guide.
