Thailand is now taking applications for permanent residency from now until December 30, 2020.
The number of expats who can apply is capped at 100 per nationality plus 50 stateless individuals.
But permanent residency isn’t easy to get in Thailand and applicants need to speak Thai.
Local blogger Richard Barrow posted on Facebook saying he tried applying a few years ago, but he wasn’t accepted.
He says he will apply again this year and could use some advice on how to get accepted.
Richard recommends visiting the website
Thai Citizenship, which is run by Chris Larkin, a citizen in both Thailand and Australia.
Hold a Thai work permit for at least 3 consecutive years.
Work for the current company for at least 1 year.
Earn an annual income of at least 80,000 baht per month for at least 2 years, or have filed a tax return for an annual income of 100,000 baht for at least 2 consecutive years.
Applicants will also need the proper documents to file an application. The Thai Immigration has copies of the documents on its website, click HERE to visit. He’s the documents applicants need:
TM.9 application form
Form of personal information sheet
Health certificate from a government hospital
Map of residence and place of work form
Salary certificate
Letter of employment to the Department of Labour
It costs 7,600 baht to file an application. If it’s approved, the residency permit costs 191,400 baht.
The permit costs 95,700 baht for spouses and children of those with a residence or who are Thai citizens.
If the application goes through, the applicant will then go through an interview at immigration with a panel of around 7 to 10 officials.
Chris calls it a 5 to 10 minute “semi-formal chit-chat” were the applicants talks (in Thai) about themselves and why they want to remain in Thailand (The Thaiger was doing ok up to that part).
Here’s the main qualifications for permanent residency:
If immigration accepts the application, then it goes through what Chris describes as the Ministry of Interior “Black Hole.” He says the process is more “obscure” and approval is at the discretion of the Minister of Interior. In the past, the process took years, but he says recently it has been a lot faster.
Here are the benefits of permanent residency…
You are granted to stay permanently. In other way, you don’t need to apply for an extension of stay anymore
You will receive a certificate of alien registration
You will be able to have your name in a
House Book (Ta Bian Ban) not a yellow one, a blue one
You can enter in the same counter as Thai citizens for immigration passport control for arrival or departure
A child whose both parents are permanent residents in Thailand must be granted Thai citizenship
You will be able to buy a condominium in Thailand without transferring money from abroad
You will be able to apply for citizenship 5 years after your name is registered in a blue ta bian ban
Able to become director of a Public Thai company
And you will be exempted of notification of your address every 90 days
To file an application go to a local immigration office.
If in Bangkok, go to: Sub-division 1,Immigration Division 1, The Government Complex Commemorating His Majesty The King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary,5th December, B.E. 2550 (2007), Building B, 2nd Floor, Counter D, 120 Moo 3, Chaengwattana Road, Thungsonghong Sub-District, Bangkok, 10210.
You will be able to apply for citizenship 5 years after your name is registered in a blue ta bian ban
Able to become director of a Public Thai company
And you will be exempted of notification of your address every 90 days
To file an application…
