Dependent & Guardian Visas in Thailand

Begin with the principal applicant’s status

On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to see all columns.

The ordinary family checklist should not be substituted for the special programme’s rules. Where the principal person has only a short visit or an unresolved application, establish whether a dependent route is available at that stage.

Documents for each family member

• Individual passport, photograph and evidence of application jurisdiction.
• Marriage, birth, adoption or custody documents establishing the legal relationship.
• Translations and legalisation in the form required by the receiving authority.
• Principal applicant’s passport, visa, latest stay permission and work or programme evidence where relevant.
• Financial support and insurance documents required by the chosen route.
• For school-related cases, enrolment confirmation, school licensing or authority letters and the proposed study period.

Check names across the entire family file, including birth names and previous passports. A child travelling with one parent may need additional consent or custody evidence. Do not assume a family bank statement is accepted under every category; confirm the account-holder and sponsorship rules.

Parents and guardians of students

A school place does not automatically grant a parent a guardian stay. Confirm the student’s education route, the parent-child relationship, the number of guardians permitted and the financial and deposit-history requirements for the actual visa or extension.

The education guidance indicates that parents of students under 20 may need the appropriate Non-O family route. Domestic guardian-extension conditions require their own review. Avoid paying a school deposit on the assumption that both parents can automatically obtain identical permissions.

Plan who will be the sponsoring parent, where the family will live and how school changes will be reported. If a parent also intends to work, assess that permission independently of the child’s enrolment.

Special programmes have different family rules

DTV guidance covers a spouse and children under 20. SMART rules cover the lawful spouse and legitimate children with programme-specific financial and insurance evidence. These categories do not create a general dependent route for every relative.

The 2025 LTR rules and BOI’s updated brochure expand dependents to include parents and legal dependents and remove the former numerical cap. Some older website summaries still mention four dependents. Use the newer rules and confirm the current checklist for the particular relationship.

Even where a relationship qualifies, the principal applicant’s approval does not automatically issue dependent visas. Each person’s documents, admissibility and any health-cover requirements must be reviewed.

Does dependent status allow work?

Ordinary dependent status is not a general employment authorisation. A spouse offered a job should review work-permit eligibility and whether their immigration basis remains appropriate. Certain programmes provide specific rights, but those rights must be established under that programme.

For example, the SMART rules provide a defined spouse work entitlement. This should not be extended by analogy to a Non-O, DTV or retirement dependent. Children’s work rights also differ from those of spouses.

Coordinate arrival, renewal and changes

1. Map the principal approval and each family member’s separate application.
2. Obtain civil documents early, allowing time for translations and certification.
3. Plan arrival dates around the principal person’s valid status.
4. Check every entry stamp and keep separate expiry/reporting records.
5. Renew dependent permissions alongside the supporting status where appropriate.
6. Reassess the route if employment, study, family relationship, custody or age eligibility changes.

The family should have a contingency if the principal approval is delayed or refused. A child’s school start date or a lease agreement does not override immigration eligibility.

Preparing a family relocation enquiry

Provide a simple family table with nationality, age, relationship, current location, proposed sponsor and intended arrival date. Include any school enrolment and the principal person’s existing visa or application stage. This is enough to identify the main questions before collecting sensitive civil records.

Pimaccounting can discuss document preparation and coordination with the employer, school or relevant programme. Ask for a scope that identifies which family members, translations, applications and renewals are included.

Frequently asked questions