Visas for my spouse and children when I work in Thailand
Your spouse and children come in on a Non-Immigrant O visa as dependants of a Non-B holder, then extend their stay in Thailand for up to a year at a time under clause 2.20 of Immigration Bureau Order 12/2568. Children qualify while unmarried, living in your household and not over 20, and the family’s stay rests on yours: if your permission ends, theirs is exposed too.
Last reviewed 2 November 2026
The two steps
| Step | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Immigrant O visa, dependant | Thai embassy or consulate | Entry visa for the spouse and children of a Non-B holder. The checklist asks for proof of relationship plus your work permit, an employer letter and the employer’s registration documents. |
| Extension of stay, clause 2.20 | Immigration office in Thailand, in person | Up to one year at a time, on the basis of being the family member of someone permitted to stay to work. |
Who qualifies under clause 2.20
- Spouse: the marriage must be real both in law and in fact.
- Children, including adopted and step-children: unmarried, living as part of your household, and not over 20. An older child qualifies only if ill or disabled and unable to support themselves, with a hospital certificate.
- Parents aged 50 or over are also covered.
The documents the order lists are short: the application, passport copies for the family member and for you, and proof of the relationship, such as the marriage record, birth certificate, house registration or adoption record. The BOI’s visa FAQ adds that foreign marriage and birth certificates must be certified by a Thai embassy or consulate, which in practice means legalising them before you leave home. Do that first; it is the step that takes weeks.
Government fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-Immigrant visa, single entry | 2,000 baht (embassies charge the equivalent in local currency) |
| Non-Immigrant visa, one year multiple entry | 5,000 baht |
| Extension of stay | 1,900 baht per person |
| Re-entry permit | 1,000 baht single, 3,800 baht multiple |
Those are per person, so a family of four renewing every year pays them four times. What agents charge on top is on the work permit cost page.
What a dependant visa does not do
And it does not stand on its own. Under clause 6.2 of the order, a permission ends when the criteria it was granted on change or end. Your family’s stay was granted because of yours, so a resignation, a change of employer or a refused renewal is a family event. Sequence it with your agent for everyone, not only for you.
Related questions
- Visa and work permit: why are they two documents from two agencies?
- Changing employer: what happens to your work permit?
- LTR visa: what are the income and investment thresholds?
Sources
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Penang: Non-Immigrant Visa (O) for dependant, checklist (PDF)
- Immigration Bureau Order 12/2568 of 23 January 2025: clauses 2.20 and 6 (signed copy linked from the Phetchaburi Immigration official site, Thai)
- BOI One Start One Stop: visa and work permit FAQ (fees, certified relationship documents, in-person extensions)
- Thailand.go.th: extension of stay and re-entry permit fees
- Thailand.go.th: Non-Immigrant visa fees
- Tilleke & Gibbins: 2018 amendments, fines for working without a permit (PDF)
This is general information about how a filing works, not accounting or tax advice for your company. Confirm anything that matters against the official notice or with your accountant. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.