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Are Business Visas Waived for Spouses of Thais?

Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Thai Business Visas. We are discussing them specifically in the context of spouses of Thai nationals. I thought of making this article after reading quite an interesting article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: The ever-changing world of Thai work permits for foreigners. There is a lot of information in there, a very good article. I urge those who are watching this video, go check that out for yourself but I am just going to quote from one small excerpt here. Quoting directly: "For foreigners with a Thai spouse, any non-immigrant Visa will suffice and the requirement to have specifically a "B" type Visa is waived." Not correct and I am not really calling out that article or anything. It's probably a difference of nuance of language or semantics some might call it but it's worth pointing out these kind of little tiny differences because this has an impact on how things work.

Business Visas are not waived for those who are married to a Thai. Instead, it is sort of a courtesy if you will that those who are married to Thais in Thailand on a Thai O Marriage Visa based on that marriage to that Thai national can obtain a Work Permit without needing a Business Visa; they can do it directly on their Marriage Visa. That does not mean a Business Visa is waived, it just means that there is a special courtesy granted to those on an O Marriage Visa where they can be work authorized, and that's all that's happening here. Again, as we discussed in other videos, there are different requirements associated with registered capitalization and employees associated with those who are married to a Thai who are maintaining a Work Permit in Thailand especially on an SME sort of a small company, oftentimes usually owned by the husband and wife simultaneously, kind of is all one kind of package.

So yes there are different rules regarding Word Permits issued to those who are on a Marriage Visa based on marriage to a Thai spouse, there are different rules, there is no doubt about that but it does not mean that a B visa is necessarily waived. When I got married here in Thailand, I had a B Visa for a number of years and when I got married it didn't change my Business Visa status. So the waiver if you want to call it that or the courtesy associated with work authorization for foreign nationals married to Thais that is tied to the Visa itself, the O Marriage Visa, it has nothing to do with the waiver of a Business Visa.