Become a Thai Resident

Thailand is a desirable destination for many people, and some visitors decide to make a home there permanently. To become a Thai resident, you will need to follow the application guidelines specified by the Thai Ministry of the Interior. Present a portrait of yourself as a productive, law-abiding member of society. Contact the Ministry with any questions that you have and then patiently await their final decision. After you’ve received your residency certificate, you are then eligible to pursue naturalized citizenship after a waiting period.

Steps

Meeting the Initial Application Requirements

1. Get in under the quota. The Royal Thai Immigration Commission posts a quota each year for those persons seeking to receive permanent residency in Thailand. Find the quota within the Government Gazette publication. The quota is divided according to persons per country.
2. Apply during the review period. The application period usually covers the fall of each year, often from October until December. After the quota is posted, you are able to submit an application until the last working day of that year.
3. Hold a non-immigrant visa prior to application. You must hold a Thai non-immigrant visa with three consecutive yearly extensions logged in order to be eligible for residency. The visa must be the same type in order to qualify under the three-year mark. If you hold multiple, non-immigrant visas then you will not qualify.
4. Offer a tangible contribution to Thai society. The Immigration Commission will assess a variety of factors when weighing your application. You must offer something beneficial to Thailand in the way of income, knowledge, expertise, personality, or other factors. An understanding of the Thai language is another factor that can count in your favor.
   • If you can demonstrate a respect for government and authority via regular tax payments, then this will also benefit your application.
5. Keep your criminal record clear. Everyone 14 years of age and older will have their criminal records checked before being considered for residency. You will need to supply a copy of your fingerprints to be checked by the Criminal Records Division. And, your passport will be scanned to make sure that you are not a “prohibited person” or someone under a foreign warrant.
   • Be aware that in a competitive application environment any crime on your record will result in the rejection of your application.
6. Meet an application status category. If you are a foreign national seeking residency, then you must meet one of three personal qualifications: investment, working/business, or humanity. Your personal and professional circumstances will determine which category you’ll fall into.
   • The investment category means that you are seeking to invest in a Thai business operation. The working/business category covers those persons with permanent employment in Thailand. The humanity category includes those persons who are married to Thai citizens or whose parents are Thai citizens.
   • You can also apply on the basis of special circumstances and these applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
7. Consult with a lawyer. It is not required to go through the immigration process with a lawyer, but it can help a great deal. Locate a lawyer by talking with your embassy or the Thai Ministry of the Interior. Lawyers can especially help you if you need to have multiple documents translated into Thai.

Filing Your Application

1. File your application with the Ministry of the Interior. You’ll need to go to an office during regular business hours and bring with you all of your application documents. You’ll need to show a completed application, a photocopy of your lease agreement and TM30 form from your landlord, two passport photos, and your actual passport. You may also need multiple copies of your passport pages.
   • The application requirements can change, so be sure to check the immigration website before heading to the office to submit everything. Your local ministry office also has blank application copies available.
   • Once you’ve dropped everything off, you will receive a receipt. Make sure to hold onto this as it will allow you to pick up your residency certificate after the processing period.
2. Complete a residency interview. You will most likely be asked to sit for an interview with immigration officers. These officers will try to gauge your understanding of the Thai language. They will ask questions to verify the information provided in your application documents.
   • Make sure that you are on-time for your scheduled interview or it can negatively impact your application. Most interviews are scheduled when you drop off your application materials.
   • You can also request that the officers provide a printed transcript of your answers at the end of the interview.
3. Take the multiple-choice residency test. You will also be asked to complete a short test composed of questions written in Thai. Be aware that you can ask for a question translation as well from a Thai immigration officer.
4. Record an introduction. When the testing phase is completed, you will be asked to step into a separate area. You will then stand in front of a camera and record a brief introductory statement in Thai.
5. Get all native language documents certified. It is important that all of your foreign language documents are certified by your national embassy. They will also need to be translated into Thai as well. Make sure to leave plenty of time to complete these processes as they make take months, depending on the embassy workload.
6. Provide supplemental supporting materials. To increase the odds of your application being accepted, you are allowed to submit additional documents supporting your character. You could add in reference letters from Thai citizens. You could also include membership papers for charitable or non-profit organizations. Be creative here and try to show the best side of your personality.
7. Pay the application fee. You will need to pay a non-refundable fee with your application. This amount varies somewhere around 7,600 baht ($220). Then, you will need to pay another fee once your permit is granted. This fee is often around 191,400 baht ($5,500). The fees vary yearly, so make sure to check before applying.

Taking Action After You’ve Been Approved

1. Obtain your certificate of residency. Once you’ve received a letter indicating the approval of your application, you will need to go to a Thai Immigration Office to get your official certificate of residence. You will have a 30-day window to make this trip.
   • You will also need to bring certain documents with you: the original and copy of your passport; the original and copy of your House Registration Book; 12 recent photos; and the final fee in cash.
2. Register your place of record. After you’ve received a certificate, you will get a new residence blue book. You will then need to go to your local Amphur and record your permanent place of residence. Make sure to update the Thai government if this information ever changes.
3. Apply for an alien book. You will need to wait one week after you’ve received your residency certificate and then you can go about applying for an alien book. This red book can be obtained at your local police station and is essentially your national Thai ID card. Be aware that you will need to re-register every year.
4. Get a re-entry permit, if needed. Your residency permit can be revoked by the Thai government, but it never officially expires. However, if you plan to leave Thailand and return at a later date, you will need to get a re-entry permit from the Ministry of the Interior.
5. File for naturalized citizenship. After ten years of consecutive, documented residency, you will be able to apply to become a Thai naturalized citizen. This application process is extensive, but it gives you the freedom of full citizenship.

Tips

• If you are planning to move to Thailand, it is a good idea to visit the Thai embassy in your current location before you depart.
• Be aware that you residency certificate gives you a number of privileges, including the ability to buy a vehicle and get a Thai bank account.

Warnings

• Be aware that submitting false documents or information to the Thai government is considered a criminal offense.

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