Marriage In Thailand - Laws and Customs You Should Know

Thai women are masters at having preserved a special elegance and poise in the way they hold themselves, dress and act. A large part of their graceful attitude is part of the intrinsic customs and the culture.

It is therefore no wonder that many Western men have developed a love for these women and are keen to marry a Thai woman.

We’ve already established that Thai women are hardworking, well groomed and keen to meet a man who treats them with respect.

Thai marriages are big business. I mean what is there not to like about getting married, surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery and a gaggle of family and friends who will make your big day unforgettable.

The Ceremony

Marriage customs in Thailand traditionally follow the Buddhist way. A Buddhist wedding is quite different to what you may be used to from your country of origin. 

The bride usually wears a slimming white one-shoulder gown fit for royalty. Her makeup and hair are neat and flawless, and she prides herself on her gentle kindness and humility. 

The man usually wears a similar fabric cut into a princely suit, with a long jacket over straight-legged pants. 

The couple can choose to hold the ceremony in a Western style (a civil wedding with the presence of a priest) or at a Buddhist temple.

In a Buddhist style ceremony, the bride and groom kneel before, and are given prayers and good luck by a monk. 

And as you already know, a Western style ceremony is done civilly. The decorations and party atmosphere however are strictly done in a romantic Thai theme.

What You Need to Know About Marriage Laws

Marriage laws between foreigners and Thais are pretty straightforward.

The legal process takes less than a week. The non-Thai groom must go to his embassy and acquire an affidavit that affirms his identity and that he is eligible to be married; meaning he is not under legal guardianship, is of legal age and is not married. 

He then must take the affidavit to the Thai marriage office, where he will be asked to provide proof that he is employed. He is also expected to present the identification documents of his wife-to-be. 

Before the process is complete, the groom must submit any intended prenuptial agreement to a Thai law firm so that it can be translated into Thai and submitted as legally binding.

If a Thai woman wants to take on the citizenship of the groom’s home country, she will lose her Thai citizenship. But that she can reclaim it later if she wants to move back to Thailand. 

Europeans and North American residents will be eligible for dual citizenship when marrying a Thai woman.

They can apply for this after having lived in Thailand for three years. They also need to pass a Thai interview test with simple questions.

Before a Westerner can be a legal citizen he can only own a 39% share of any business. He further has to pay rent for his living space, or lease land on which he lives in a house that he can own or build. 

It is advised you seek legal counsel before you get married if you want to protect your assets with a prenuptial agreement. If you don’t then expect to share your wealth with your new wife according to Thai law.

Also keep in mind that after the marriage, your wife will expect to take on the duties of a wife. Most Western couples split the domestic duties equally between both partners. 

This isn’t the case in Thailand. 

In Thailand, women tend to insist on doing the washing, cleaning and cooking. Part of a wife’s honoring her husband is to take care of all his needs.

Some Thai traditions expect the wife to bow at the feet of her husband before they go to sleep, some state she’s not allowed to eat until he takes the first bite, etc.

Nowadays, it’s more common to see women in charge of the household and genuinely wanting to see their partners happy before they go about doing things for themselves. 

So don’t be alarmed if your Thai wife turns into a domestic diva after your marriage. It’s simply the way she was brought up and you must learn to respect her upbringing if you want to live happily ever after.

Thousands of expats get married to their Thai wives every year. If you learn to live with her culture, and her customs you will have no reasons for complaint because the highest deed for a Thai woman is to keep her husband happy.

Our company, www.datethailadies.com, will put you in touch with countless women who are looking for marriage and for a man who will join them in Thailand.  We offer the option to meet pre-screened serious women who are looking for a real relationship, not to take your money. Why do Thai women look for Western men? Visit our site to read more!