Thai Embassy and Consulates For details of the Royal Thai Embassy and Consulates in the UK, click here. Thai Passports For details of application procedures and Passport Offices in Thailand, click here. Schengen Visas For details of visas for Thai citizens to other European countries, click here.
UK Visas Information below relates to UK Visa Applications for Thai nationals and related issues in UK law. We have prepared a FAQ section below to answer some commonly asked questions. Application Forms and Guidance Notes All the application forms and guidance notes that you need to make a visa application can be found by clicking here.
Information or advice contained here may be subject to change at any time. For full details or if you have any further questions please visit one of the following UK Government websites or the Immigration Advisory Service. You can also post any questions you may have in the:

UK Government Websites
British Embassy Bangkok	Visa Information, Application Forms & Guidance Notes	UK Border Agency	Citizenship Ceremonies
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	Immigration Advisory Service The Immigration Advisory Service is a charity with over thirty years' experience and more than 250 staff members. Click on the image to visit their website which has a great deal of information and advice regarding visas, settlement and nationality.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) I wish to obtain a visitors visa for a Thai friend to visit the UK on holiday. What is required? Can my husband, wife or fiancé come to the United Kingdom? How does my husband or wife qualify? Can I marry in Thailand and will the marriage be recognised in the UK? Is my husband/wife automatically entitled to live in the UK? How does my fiancé qualify to come to the United Kingdom? How does my husband or wife apply to stay in the United Kingdom permanently? What are public funds? Can I work in the UK? What medical care can I receive in the UK? How can a person who is not a British citizen become one? Does the law still allow people to have more than one nationality?
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I wish to obtain a visitors visa for a Thai friend to visit the UK on holiday. What is required? The Thai applicant must firstly be sponsored by a UK citizen and must show proof that sufficient funds are available (either from themselves or the sponsor) to fund the entire holiday. Most application rejections for visitor visas are on the grounds of "insufficient reason to return". There are strict requirements that the Thai applicant show substantial evidence to satisfy this "reason to return". Family or children in Thailand are rarely considered. Proof of regular income from legitimate work and ownership of property in Thailand are generally required in order to satisfy the Embassy that they will return home before the visa expires. Without such evidence the likelyhood of refusal is increased. Further details about Visa Requirements can be found in Forms INF1 (General Information) and INF2 (Information for Visitors) from UK visas, an organisation controlled jointly between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office. Both forms are in PDF format.
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Can my husband, wife or fiancé come to the United Kingdom? If you are a British citizen, your husband, wife or fiancé may apply to come with you or join you in the United Kingdom as long as: you currently live and are settled in the United Kingdom; or you are returning to the United Kingdom with them to live here permanently
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How does my husband or wife qualify? He or she must show that: you are legally married to each other; you are going to live together permanently as man and wife; you have met each other; you can support yourselves and any dependants without help from public funds; you have adequate accommodation where you and your dependants can live without help from public funds; and he or she is not under 16.
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Can I marry in Thailand and will the marriage be recognised in the UK? Yes, you can marry in Thailand. Before you do so you need to write an "Affirmation of Freedom to Marry". On arrival in Thailand, take this to the Consulate at the British Embassy in Bangkok to be witnessed and countersigned. A sample template for you to work from can be found here. A example of a completed affirmation can be found here. Full details and a guide for persons wishing to marry in Thailand can be found here. Your marriage will be recognised under UK law if it is valid under Thai law. For it to be valid in Thai law, the marriage must be registered with the Registrar at an Amphur Office (District Office). A religious ceremony alone is not a legally recognised marriage.
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Is my husband/wife automatically entitled to live in the UK? No, they must first obtain entry clearance (a "visa") before they travel to the United Kingdom. For Thais living in Thailand the visa application should be made at the British Embassy Bangkok. The visa gives them permission to stay and work for 2 years. Near the end of the 2 years, if you are still married and plan to live together, your husband or wife may apply to remain here permanently.
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How does my fiancé qualify to come to the United Kingdom? Your fiancé must show that: you plan to marry within a reasonable time (usually six months); you plan to live together permanently after you are married; you have met each other; there is somewhere for him or her and any dependants to live until you are married without help from public funds; and they and any dependants can be supported without working or having to get help from public funds. Your fiancé will have permission to stay in the UK for six months but they must not work. When you are married, your husband or wife may apply to stay here. If the application is approved, your husband or wife will have permission to stay and work for 2 years. This is called Further Leave to Remain. To apply for Further Leave to Remain, get form FLR(M) from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) at the Home Office. Near the end of 2 years, if you are still married and plan to live together, your husband or wife may apply to stay in the UK permanently. Your fiancé must get entry clearance (a "visa") before they travel to the United Kingdom. For Thais living in Thailand the visa application should be made at the British Embassy Bangkok
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How does my husband or wife apply to stay in the United Kingdom permanently? To apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, get form SET(M) from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) at the Home Office. You should send the completed form before your permission to stay ends, but no earlier than four weeks before. The application form will give you details of all the documents you will need to send with your application and where you should send it. In addition, applicants for settlement (also known as 'permanent residence' or 'leave to remain') in the United Kingdom must pass the Life in the UK Test or take the special English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course.
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What are public funds? If you come to live or stay in the United Kingdom, until you are granted Indefinite Leave to Remain, you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without claiming certain state benefits. These are: income based Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA) attendance allowance severe disablement allowance invalid care allowance disability living allowance income support working families' tax credit disabled person's tax credit a social fund payment child benefit housing benefit council tax benefit housing and homelessness assistance Click here for an up to date list of benefits classified, for immigration purposes, as Public Funds.
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Can I work in the UK? This depends on the type of visa you have: Visitor's Visa: No. Without a valid work permit you cannot work. The UK does have a Working Holidaymaker Scheme but this is currently only available for Commonwealth and British Dependent Territory Citizens. Student Visa: Yes. You are allowed to work without needing a work permit, but are limited to 20 hours per week during term time unless the work is part of a placement for your studies. During holiday periods you can work full time. Other restrictions apply, for example, you cannot work self-employed or as a professional sportsperson or entertainer. Fiancé Visa: No. Until you are married and have been granted Further Leave to Remain you cannot work. Spouse/Unmarried Partner Visa / Further/Indefinite Leave to Remain: Yes. As you have UK resident status you can work in the UK without restriction and will need to apply for a National Insurance number.
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What medical care can I receive in the UK? Visitor's / Student Visa You should take out adequate medical insurance for the length of your stay as you are not entitled to receive free NHS medical treatment. Fiancé Visa A bit of a grey area until you are married, so taking out medical insurance may be advisable. Go to your local GP upon arrival and explain your circumstances. They may allow you to register straight away. Once you are married then you are entitled to free treatment as below .... Spouse/Unmarried Partner Visa Further/Indefinite Leave to Remain As a resident in the UK you are entitled to free NHS treatment and should register with your local GP as soon as possible upon arrival. However, you may have to pay for prescriptions and dental treatment depending on your circumstances. For a comprehensive list of entitlements, read the NHS leaflet:   HC11 - Are you entitled to help with health costs.
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How can a person who is not a British citizen become one? Someone who has been legally resident in the UK for five years (or in the case of the wife or husband of a British citizen, three years) can apply for naturalisation as a British citizen: The wife or husband of a British citizen may apply for naturalisation after living in the United Kingdom legally for three years. The applicant's stay must not be subject to any time limit on the date of application; the applicant must be 18 or over and not of unsound mind, and must have sufficient knowledge of the language but does not need to intend to live in the United Kingdom once naturalised. He or she must be of good character, however. To meet the residence requirements, you must not have been absent from the United Kingdom for more than 450 days over the 5 year period, or for more than 270 days over the 3 year period. In each case, you must not be absent for more than 90 days in the last year of the period. More information and application forms for British citizenship can be obtained from the Home Office's British Citizenship website.
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Does the law still allow people to have more than one nationality? Yes, the law does let people have more than one nationality. But the law of your original country may not allow you to be a citizen of that country if you are a British citizen. You should check this with the authorities of the country concerned.
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