Sin Sod, or Thai dowry, is a traditional ceremony in Thailand where a man pays a dowry to his bride’s parents for the good upbringing of their daughter. This dowry is mandatory at any Thai wedding ceremony, as Thais view marriage as based on financial stability. The amount of a dowry varies and is agreed upon by the man and the bride’s family. The traditional Thai dowry is often a topic of discussion among expat guys looking to marry their Thai lady. However, legally, dowry in Thailand is not mandatory, but rather a common tradition among Thai families. A law firm can help process the dowry. Well-educated brides with a good work career can fetch at least THB100,000 or up to THB300,000 in dowries. The dowry can go down if the bride has a good upbringing or is not a virgin anymore. An average middle-class, university-educated Thai lady deserves a dowry of 100,000-300,000 baht.
A dowry is a payment made by the bride’s family to the groom or his family at the time of marriage. It is different from the concepts of bride price and dower, which are payments made by the groom or his family to the bride or her family. Most foreigners pay in dowry, which is typically made in gold bars, jewelry, and cash. The dowry is a sign of gratitude to the bride’s parents for the good upbringing of their daughter and is mandatory at any Thai wedding ceremony.
The practice is often viewed as a backwards tradition by many Westerners, but some educated Thais believe it should be abandoned. Thai dowry is symbolic and typically returned to the married couple after the wedding to help them start their new life. While paying dowry to the bride family is a Thai tradition, it is not compulsory by law. The dowry typically consists of jewelry for the bride to wear on her wedding day and cash for the bride’s parents. An average middle-class, university-educated Thai lady deserves a dowry of 100,000-300,000 baht, while an uneducated Thai lady deserves a dowry of a million baht.
📹 Thai Dowries Uncovered: How Much to Pay and Why Some Expats Say No!
Ever wondered about the secret world of Thai dowries and how much you should pay? In this eye-opening video, we dive into theĀ …
What is the divorce rate in Thailand?
The divorce rate in Thailand has risen over the past decade. More than a third of Thai couples who married in 2016 divorced in Thailand that same year. There are two types of divorce in Thailand. There are two types of divorce: contested and uncontested. Uncontested divorces are cheaper and are usually called administrative or divorce by mutual consent. Get legal advice from a Thailand divorce lawyer before signing anything about your divorce in Thailand. An uncontested divorce is the administrative form of divorce in Thailand. It is a quick and easy divorce. This type of Thai divorce does not require a reason to end the marriage. They agree to end their marriage. The husband and wife must be present when applying for an uncontested divorce. It is done at the local office, which is called the amphur, amphoe, or khet.
Requirements for an Uncontested Divorce. To get an uncontested divorce in Thailand, you must have your marriage legally registered in Thailand. You must submit the following documents:
How much should I give my Thai girlfriend?
1. Location: Think about where your girlfriend lives in Thailand. Her living costs depend on where she lives. If she lives in a village, a monthly allowance of around 15,000 THB should cover her basic needs. If she lives in an urban area, she may need a larger allowance, starting at THB 25,000 per month.
2. Financial Capability: Think about your own finances and how much you can afford to send each month. Add in your living costs, travel costs, and any other money you have to spend. Send an amount you can afford without straining yourself.
3. Economic conditions: Consider the current economic situation, especially if you’re facing financial challenges due to the global economy. Make sure the amount you send is sustainable in the long term.
How much money to give a Thai girlfriend?
1. Location: Think about where your girlfriend lives in Thailand. Her living costs depend on where she lives. If she lives in a village, a monthly allowance of around 15,000 THB should cover her basic needs. If she lives in an urban area, she may need a larger allowance, starting at THB 25,000 per month.
2. Financial Capability: Think about your own finances and how much you can afford to send each month. Add in your living costs, travel costs, and any other money you have to spend. Send an amount you can afford without straining yourself.
3. Economic conditions: Consider the current economic situation, especially if you’re facing financial challenges due to the global economy. Make sure the amount you send is sustainable in the long term.
What to expect when you marry a Thai woman?
After the father of a Thai bride asks for her hand, they may start talking about money. The sinsot dowry system and the role of money in Thai weddings may seem strange to an American groom. However, Thai culture places a lot of importance on financial stability in marriage. A man marrying a Thai bride would move in with her family. He would then take care of his new in-laws financially and receive their support in return. Family homes are usually inherited by daughters-in-law, with their husbands also benefiting. The husband gives his future in-laws a dowry in return for their support. A pre-agreed sum of money is displayed during the ceremony. It is often in small bills or gold. The amount can vary a lot, depending on the bride’s family, the groom’s, the bride’s education and beauty. A Thai bride from a village might cost around 3,000 to 6,000 USD, but in certain cases, it can be much more. A wealthy American recently paid over five million dollars in a dowry when marrying a former Miss Thailand. In modern Thailand, the dowry can be returned to the couple, but often the money is kept by the bride’s family. These things should be discussed before marriage.
Are Thai brides loyal?
We value family, warmth, and hospitality, so Thai wives are known to be faithful and devoted to their husbands and children. A Thai woman is a loving wife who makes your home a happy place.
Can I stay in Thailand if I marry Thai girl?
You can stay in Thailand for a year after getting a marriage visa. You don’t need a re-entry permit when flying in and out of the country. You can apply for a Thai work permit and work in the country for a Thai company. It makes it easier for you to find work in Thailand because your employer only needs to worry about getting you a work permit, not a visa. To get a Thai marriage visa, you must:
Bankbook or passbook showing overseas transfer.
Is a dowry required in Thailand?
Sin sod: Sin sod is a Thai custom where a groom gives money to his bride’s family on their wedding day. It is often called a dowry, but this is actually the other way around. People often call sin sod the Thai dowry, but it’s actually the Thai bride price.
Paying a sin sod for your bride is a cultural custom, but not a legal requirement. When you register your marriage, the registrar won’t ask you about the bride price. What is the purpose of the sin sod? Some foreigners may find it distasteful to buy a bride, but the custom is not to enrich the wife’s parents. It is to ensure that the groom is financially stable. Investing in your bride shows you are serious and reliable. The sin sod strengthens family bonds and maintains financial stability. Some of the money paid as a sin sod is sometimes returned to the couple after the wedding to help them start their new life together.
What is the average cost of a wedding in Thailand?
The average cost of a wedding in Thailand is… The average Thailand wedding costs much less than in the USA or Australia. You don’t need to spend a lot on a destination wedding in Thailand. Top Phuket wedding planners usually charge at least 21,500 USD. Their average is around 1 million THB, which is about the same as a Western or Australian wedding. That’s still the top end for Thai weddings. Most weddings are hosted by hotels or wedding planners. These events cost about 10,000 to 20,000 USD at a nice 5-star resort. For a high-quality all-inclusive event with friends and family.
Smaller Thailand Wedding Costs: Affordability. Smaller wedding planners charge around 1,000 to 3,000 USD for a simple ceremony and dinner reservation. We also specialize in this at ThailandWeddings.com.au. Destination wedding couples often say they can get a better service at a lower price by getting married in Thailand. Venue fees outside Thailand can equal the cost of a similar-quality wedding in Thailand. Meanwhile, Thailand offers a beautiful seaside location. It makes friends and family happy, creating memories of a lifetime!
Which country has the highest divorce rate per marriage?
The country with the highest divorce rate: The Maldives. The Maldives is known for its tropical beaches and marine life, but not for divorce. The Maldives had the highest divorce rate in the world in 2021 and the highest in history. In 2002, they set a Guinness World Record for the highest divorce rate on record, with 10.97 divorces per 1,000 Maldivians. This was twice as high as the second-highest rate ever recorded. The second highest divorce rate was in Belarus (4.63), and the United States had the third highest (4.34). The UN says that most Maldivian women get divorced by 30. The divorce rate may be explained by the ease of getting divorced and the stigma surrounding premarital sex. The Maldives is a relatively inexpensive place to get married and divorce is simple. This makes people more likely to get married and then divorce if the marriage doesn’t work. The combination of a stigma against premarital sex and the low cost of divorce has led to the highest divorce rate in the world, more than twice as high as that of Australia.
Who pays for the wedding Thai?
The bride’s family may offer to pay for part of the wedding, but it is not expected. Sometimes the bride and groom pay for part of the wedding too. The families should discuss and agree on the wedding budget and who will pay for each part of the wedding. Weddings in Thailand are most popular from November to February.
How much is a normal dowry in Thailand?
Bride price is a problem in Thailand and Indonesia. The groom must pay a high price. The standard cost is 100,000-300,000 Baht (~3,200-9,600 USD). The amount of bride price in Thailand depends on many things. The amount depends on your Thai fiancĆ©e’s status, education, and background. A Thai woman who is middle class, educated, and married to a university graduate should get a dowry of 100,000-300,000 baht. A million baht for an uneducated, poor woman is ridiculous. If your bride-to-be has been married, had kids, or lost her virginity, the dowry is much lower. In most cases, no dowry is deserved. (“Dowry in Thailand,” n.d.) Another problem is that brides are valued mainly by their virginity and background. The virginity of the bride is the main thing that matters. This is because it reflects patriarchal cultures. Sin sod says that women who are virgins are pure and worthy, while married women are not. The concept also judges people by their social status and background. It views their lives as more or less worthy than others. It could be seen as an idea against equality. Some couples in Thailand have problems with the bride price because the bride’s family asks for too much money. Bride price in Indonesia and Thailand differs in who gets it, where it comes from, and how it is given. People debate whether bride price is still useful in the modern world. Some say bride price is a tradition that harms women. Others say it’s not that bad. The bride price in Indonesia and Thailand is similar. They said love has no boundaries, but is that still true of dowry and bride price? Or is love and social status inseparable? The answer depends on each person’s perspective.
Nurhadi. Mahar Services (Dowry Non-Material) According to Mazhab Imam Hanafi and Mazhab.
📹 HOW THE THAI DOWRY REALLY WORKS TODAY; I ask Thais to find out. (THAI WEDDING)
If you would like to marry a Thai lady, you have to deal with the Thai dowry, called sin sod ąøŖąø“ąøąøŖąøąø in Thai. In this video I will tell youĀ …
I’ve been with a Thai for 8 years and we are getting married. She has 2 kids from other Thai’s. There is no sin sod involved and that was agreed to by the both of us. I take care of her kids and they are my kids and by take care I mean pay for school and any other things that they need. The one thing other foreigners need to address is when a thai says “Take Care of Me” which has a different meaning in western culture versus thai culture. Take care in western culture means treat you with respect and treat her well. Take care in Thai is more of a monetary Take care of family..etc..etc. The questions here were spot on and good that they are addressed. Thai culture is morphing and less and less women are requiring the traditional ways and more concerned about being with a good man. Finally, it is good that you are in well with the family. The mother and the father sacrifice a lot to bring up their children and definitely deserve respect and the sacrifices that they made for a better life for their children. I can say that if you don’t get along with the family or there is a lot of drama that you might want to steer clear as they will come first in your wife’s eyes.
Thank you for your informative article. There are more differences between Thai and Western culture. I know a number of Thai women in the Netherlands and I understand that the way in which older people and people with authority are treated is also different. I also understand that at parties, such as weddings, the guests give money. This is also regulated by traditions. Is there more information about this?
I recently married a Thai woman from a rice farming family. She was previously married but had no children. She was highly educated and had a good job teaching. I wanted to honor her family but only paid 400k baht as well as all wedding expenses. We are also buying a house together in a nearby city currently.
thanks, interesting to hear the views of kon thai, agrees im most part with what i expected. Thailand is in transition now with respect to sin-sod as the economics change, and i believe in the next 5-10 years it will be obsolete, except as a ceremonial gesture. i paid 1 million BHT in 2018, was told the parent would probably return it, but they did not. my (ex) wife quit the marriage after a short time, and the sin-sod was not returned to me. i always recommend to farang to not pay sin-sod, unless it is agreed that it will be returned. It is too difficult for farang to recover the money if the wife decides to quit, and quite frankly, the custom has outlived its utility. if the family refuses to return the money, find another girl, there are plenty of beautiful decent thai women who are more than happy to marry for love.
This is a fantastic VLOG obtaining responses from various Thais men & women. But question 3) there seems to be a general opinion that the amount of the Sin Sod depends on the status of the Man, sometimes the status of the Women. AND it was interesting that nobody stated a THB amount (THB 50,000, 1 million, etc) – I wonder why – what do you think? Moreover, for many foreigners who marry a girl from a POOR family from Issan, I’ve seen that the poor family wants a very sizable amount – but your interviews did not reveal this. And thoughts on this?
Very interesting thanks 👍 Have been to quite a few weddings here in Thailand and not all the same. Went to 2 where one was a justice and the other attorney, a lot of sin sod and gold. The brides one a nurse and the other a government service officer. The bride’s parents kept the lot. As l drink with these guys they don’t have a problem and were happy to do. They love her and her family a lot! Thai culture needs to be respected at all times.
Great article – you’ve just saved me 5 million baht – thank you!. I have questioned this but am told it would be non returnable (can’t imagine I would see it again even if they said it was! ). Obviously a down payment on the parents ego for their “good girl” . The purchase of a wife cannot be reconciled with a farangs love and commitment. In 2023 this now is all about the parents face and greed. It will pain their daughter as she says if I pay she is 100% happy, if I don’t pay she sacrifices her family or me and is then only 50% unhappy. The family choose not to negotiate – I refuse to budge. Maybe I need a budget alternative.
dont get married if parents just want money,, why do you want to marry into such a family, thet treat their children like a source of supply/income, where there are financial conditions to be with them, same for some of the thai women that follow these old traditions that are no nore than financial arrangememts, its not love..there will be constant intrusions in your life from these families
Its a egotiable. Sometimes negotiations work out others dont. How much are you willing to pay the parents? That depends on how Sod the girl is. It depends on her value. Men dont care about your phd your job or your rich relatives. We care about other things. Being Sod stands for being a Virgo. Because the parents taught their daughter moral values. Men pay for the exellent morals and ethics if turned out not to be a virgo. The sinsod must be returned.
Who pays the mans family for raising and educating their son? I had an interesting conversation with a female Guide one time several years ago, she said there are many lonely women because their greedy parents want too much Sin Sod and are basically trying to sell their daughter for the best price to improve the family of the daughters lifestyle.