How to obtain Thai citizenship: application procedure

This state does not have the status of a highly developed and economically stable country. But eternal summer, local exotic beauty, low prices for food and housing are increasingly attracting Russians. Affordable vacations increasingly end with long vacations in the winter months, and the question of the need to gain the opportunity to obtain citizenship arises.

A long-term visa to Thailand can last up to three years. A residence permit is obtained relatively easily by registering your stay in the country for twelve months at the relevant police department (dealing with foreigners).

Important! Every year, the visa that gives the right to obtain a residence permit must be renewed.

The general rule for obtaining Thai citizenship requires a permanent stay in the country for at least 10 years. But are there other ways to obtain citizenship status?

Thai Nationality Law (2008 revision)

Thai legislation establishes two fundamental conditions for obtaining citizenship: “law of the land”, “law of blood”.

According to the “right of blood”, a child must have at least one parent with Thai citizenship. “Right of the land” involves the direct birth of a child in Thailand. At the same time, at least one parent of the child must be a citizen of the Kingdom, that is, “law of the soil” does not work as such.

Thus, in practice, only “right of blood” and naturalization are applied.

Legally obtaining a residence permit and citizenship of Thailand

There are various ways to obtain Thai citizenship. But this is not always necessary; in some cases, an ordinary Thai residence permit will suffice. For many years, Thailand has remained one of the most popular countries among travelers from Russia and other CIS countries. The friendly local population, mild tropical climate and affordable prices create a festive and comfortable atmosphere for every tourist.

It is not surprising that many decide to stay in the “land of smiles” for many years. Despite the tightening of some entry rules, Thailand still remains a hospitable country with a fairly relaxed visa policy.

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Residence permit (Permanent Residence)

Contrary to popular belief, Thai citizenship is not very difficult for a foreigner to obtain. However, such a project will require time and financial investment. According to local laws, the first step to obtaining a Thai passport is to obtain a permanent residence permit.

Example of a residence permit card in Thailand

Obtaining a residence permit in Thailand is often associated with purchasing a house or apartment. However, unlike European countries, buying real estate in Thailand does not solve visa problems.

Instead, local legislation suggests the following scheme.

1. You must live in the country for three consecutive years on a Thai student, work or business visa. In this case, you should choose only one thing: if you switch from one type of visa to another, 3 years will have to be counted again.
2. Of these three years, for two years you will have to pay taxes to Thailand on your annual income. According to the law, the minimum amount of this income must be 100 thousand Thai baht. However, there are pitfalls here. The fact is that if you declare a minimum amount, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs may regard this as evidence of low income and refuse to obtain a residence permit. Therefore, experienced expats advise indicating the amount at least twice as much, that is, 200,000 baht. The tax rate on annual income is 15%.
3. Submit an application for a residence permit to the nearest immigration office. Here, too, there will be financial costs. A government fee of 7,600 baht must be paid along with the application. And when the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs finally issues the long-awaited residence permit, you will need to pay another fee - in the amount of 191,400 baht.
4. Pass the interview in Thai. All you need is knowledge of simple spoken phrases; there is no need to learn intricate written Thai grammar.
5. After 5 years of residence in Thailand, you can obtain citizenship on the basis of Permanent Residence.

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Long stay visas for Thailand

To obtain a residence permit in Thailand, you must have lived here for at least 3 consecutive years as a student, officially employed employee or businessman.

Each of these directions requires a separate mark in the passport.

1. Student visa. You can study in Thailand either at universities or at special language courses. As a rule, the second option is more popular among Russians, since studying at foreign universities is traditionally associated with Europe or the USA. Language courses in Thailand cost about 30,000 baht, and you can choose from English or Thai. A student visa is issued for 1 year with the possibility of extension up to 10 times. Many people use this method to go live in Thailand.
2. Work permit, or work visa. It is necessary to take into account that in Thailand you can officially only get a job that a Thai cannot handle.
   Sample work permit in Thailand

   In practice, this means that the vacancies of a salesperson, a waiter, and even a guide for foreigners are illegal. Therefore, the most realistic options are to get a job either in a large international company or as an English teacher in a Thai school. In this case, it is necessary to have appropriate education and work experience. A work visa is issued for a period of 1 to 3 years.

3. Business visa. Thailand is far from the most attractive country for starting a business. According to the law, a controlling stake (minimum 51%) of any company must belong to a citizen of the kingdom. In addition, the registered capital of the company must be at least 2 million baht. A business visa is issued for 1 year, and it can be extended only if the company pays for itself and makes a profit.

Thai visa example

It is important to know that regardless of the specific type of visa chosen, it can only be issued at a Thai embassy outside of Thailand itself. As a rule, foreigners have to travel to Laos, Malaysia or Cambodia to obtain and extend visas.

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Marriage

One of the easiest ways to obtain Thai citizenship is to marry a Thai man. However, you can only count on automatic citizenship if you get married.

A foreign man who marries a Thai woman must go through bureaucratic tests:

• Provide a certificate of income. The mandatory minimum is 40 thousand baht per month. Alternatively, you can deposit 400,000 baht in any Thai bank and make an account statement;
• Live in Thailand for 12 years. At the same time, another rule comes into force, which may cause confusion among any foreigner.
  Example of a national ID card in Thailand

  The fact is that a Thai woman who marries a foreigner will lose her citizenship if she decides to take citizenship of her husband’s country. And the whole family lives in the kingdom on the basis of a residence permit.

In Thailand you can find many dubious companies that offer the opportunity to become a citizen of the country through fictitious marriages.

However, it is better not to get involved in such adventures, since they are illegal. And problems with the immigration police can result in large fines and deportation from the kingdom.

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Alternative for pensioners

To obtain the right to permanently live in Thailand without visa problems, it is not necessary to obtain a residence permit or citizenship. A retirement visa can be an excellent alternative.

It is available to anyone over 50 years of age. In this case, such formalities must be observed.

1. You must provide a certificate of no criminal record.
2. You should open an account in any Thai bank and deposit at least 800 thousand baht into it. Of course, this does not mean that the money needs to be donated to Thailand: it remains at the complete disposal of its owner.

A pension visa gives the right to reside in the land of smiles for 1 year.

After this period, it can be easily renewed at any immigration office.

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Registration of Thai citizenship for a child

If children are born into a mixed Thai-Russian family, they also have the right to obtain Thai citizenship. In this case, the legislation of the kingdom provides for several options for the development of events:

1. Once the parents are officially married, the child is entitled to Thai citizenship regardless of the country in which he was born.
2. When the marriage is not registered, only the child whose mother has a Thai passport can become a Thai citizen. Place of birth also does not matter.

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Thai Citizenship: Pitfalls

Before you start taking any steps to obtain Thai citizenship, you need to consider the possible difficulties:

• For Russians, as for all foreigners, Thai culture and society can be very unusual. Therefore, you definitely need to form your own opinion about this country, having lived here for at least six months on a tourist visa;
• Oddly enough, Thai citizens do not receive a pension from their state.
  Therefore, you will have to take care of your condition yourself; This is what a Thai passport looks like
• Like most Asian countries, Thailand does not allow dual citizenship. Thus, you will have to give up your Russian passport.

Methods of obtaining

In case of marriage with Thai citizens, only foreign women have an unconditional right to obtain citizenship after five years of marriage. A foreign man who marries a Thai citizen receives a residence permit, but has the right to apply for citizenship after twelve years of marriage.

Important! A big advantage for obtaining Thai citizenship is a stable income, knowledge of the Thai language, marriage to a citizen of the Kingdom and the presence of children together.

Since the first step to obtaining Thai citizenship is a residence permit, in addition to the above methods, it can also be acquired by:

• getting an education;
• labor contract;
• opening a business.

Education can be obtained from primary and secondary to higher education, as well as engage in scientific activities. The main thing is on the territory of the country.

An employment contract can be concluded for work in an organization operating in Thailand. Work in government agencies is especially welcome. But there is one important point: the employer will have to prove that there are no necessary specialists for this position among Thai citizens.

Opening a business involves purchasing a business, creating a branch or subsidiary in the Kingdom with an authorized capital of at least two million baht. A person who is part of the management of such a company can also obtain a residence permit. Carrying out business activities must be accompanied by obtaining a special right (permit). It is noteworthy that even having such a permit is not a guaranteed right to stay in the country.

How to get a residence permit in Thailand

Home » Interesting » How to get a residence permit in Thailand

by whom Editor | posted in: Interesting |

One of the most common questions asked by many foreign tourists who dream of settling permanently in the Land of Smiles is how to obtain a residence permit in Thailand.

Legal permanent residence in the Kingdom, or a residence permit in Thailand, is the dream of many people around the world and, of course, in Russia. Most tourists who come for the first time and are “sick” of Thailand are ready to do a lot to stay in this paradise forever.

And if for most this dream remains a pipe dream, then for a very small number of lucky people it has become a reality, and these people have become permanent residents of the country of eternal summer, having received the coveted residence permit in Thailand. Let's take a closer look at what they had to go through to achieve their goal.

Benefits of being a permanent resident in Thailand

Obtaining permanent resident status, or residence permit, in Thailand has many benefits. This allows you to reside permanently in Thailand without having to regularly apply for visa extensions. This also makes it possible to register a house in your own name or purchase an apartment in a condominium without a bank transfer from abroad. Obtaining a work permit in Thailand is also much easier if you have permanent resident status. (see New rules for hiring foreigners to work in Thailand)

In addition to this, a permanent resident becomes eligible to become a director of a Thai public company and ultimately obtain Thai citizenship and become a full Thai citizen. In addition, a person who has a residence permit in Thailand can apply for an extension of stay and obtain permanent resident status for all members of his family.

All applications for a residence permit in Thailand are processed by the Royal Thai Immigration Commission. The annual quota for issuing a residence permit in Thailand is no more than 100 people per country. The application period for permanent resident status is generally from October to the end of December each year.

To apply for permanent resident status in Thailand, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• You must have held a Thai non-immigrant visa for at least three years prior to submitting your application. Holders of multiple-entry nonimmigrant visas will not be considered. You must have 3 consecutive annual renewals to qualify for permanent resident status.
• You must be a nonimmigrant visa holder at the time of application.
• To apply for residency status, you must be in one of the following categories: Investment category (minimum 10 million baht investment in Thailand)
• Work or business category
• Family Category: Must be in a relationship with a Thai citizen or a foreigner who already holds a residence permit, as husband or wife, father or mother, and be the guardian of a Thai child under 20 years of age.
• Expert or academic category
• Other categories determined by Thai Immigration Service

It should be noted that the list of documents required for the application depends on the category in which the application is submitted.

Once the Thai Residence Permit application is approved, the applicant will receive a Blue Book (Thabien Baan), which is an important document for Thais. It can be used as official proof of address anywhere and is indisputable proof of your legitimate residence in the country.

You should then register your place of residence in Thailand at your local Amphet office. One week after receiving your residency certificate, you can go to your local police station to obtain a Foreigner's Book (Red Book), which is the equivalent of a Thai National Identity Card. You must re-register there every year.

Validity of a residence permit in Thailand

A residence permit in Thailand will never expire unless this practice is abolished. However, in order to be able to leave the country and return back, you must apply for a re-entry permit (endorsement).

After being a permanent resident for 10 years, you can apply for Thai citizenship.

Criteria and conditions for obtaining a residence permit in Thailand

Many people want to stay in Thailand permanently, obtain a permanent residence permit, or even become a Thai citizen. This is one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia, because it is in Thailand that you can get an inexpensive but comfortable standard of living.

Thais say about themselves: we were born with a smile, and they happily enjoy life in one of the most beautiful countries in the world! See for yourself by watching the Amazing Thailand Smiles video

Join the Pattaya Residents Club - a group for communication between Russian-speaking residents and guests of the resort.

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Published by Pattaya Now on September 25, 2021

Important! As a general rule, dual citizenship is not allowed.

Thai law allows only one exception to the unspoken possibility of dual citizenship. When a child of Thai citizens who was born in another country (and acquired foreign citizenship by “soil”) chooses a country of final citizenship upon reaching adulthood.

Double citizenship

For Russian citizens, this option is excluded, since Thai legislation does not provide for the presence of a second passport for residents of their country, so they will have to renounce their native citizenship when receiving a new one.

There is an exception - children of Thai parents who have a passport from another state can have dual citizenship until adulthood. Upon achieving it, they will have to make a choice in favor of one.

Having familiarized yourself with the above rules, you still decide to obtain Thai citizenship, you should remember a small nuance of local life - people of retirement age do not receive payments from the state, bearing on their shoulders all the expenses necessary for existence.

Answers to frequently asked questions

If a person renounces the citizenship of the Russian Federation in favor of Thai citizenship, must the person also comply with the laws of Russia? Yes, if he has minor children, in relation to whom two citizenships are secretly present (Russian Federation and Thailand) until they reach adulthood (18 years old).

Should a Thai woman who has registered a marriage with a Russian citizen renounce Thai citizenship when moving to the Russian Federation? She may retain her Thai nationality by notifying the competent authorities. A woman finally loses her Thai citizenship only if she applies for Russian citizenship. Moreover, this requirement comes from the Kingdom of Thailand. In the event of the death of a spouse or divorce from him, a Thai woman who voluntarily renounces her citizenship can return it.

Is it possible to obtain a residence permit in Thailand after 50 years of age? Yes. This is one of the options for a simplified procedure for obtaining a residence permit. It is necessary to provide a certificate of no criminal record in the Kingdom and open an account in a Thai bank for eight hundred thousand baht. Opening an account guarantees that a citizen will be able to provide for himself. The money remains at the disposal of the investor.

Important! A person who has acquired citizenship by naturalization does not have the right to vote for five years after receiving the status of a subject of the Kingdom. A naturalized citizen cannot run for positions in the highest government bodies of Thailand (House of Representatives and Senate, ministries, Constitutional Court).

Features of Thai citizenship

If you have finally decided to move to Thailand and change your citizenship or obtain a residence permit, you should familiarize yourself with some features of the country:

• You should not count on state assistance in old age, since Thai law does not provide for pension payments. Pensioners take care of their own well-being;
• Dual citizenship is prohibited in the Kingdom. This means that renunciation of Russian citizenship cannot be avoided.

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Required documents for residence permit

To obtain a residence permit, you must collect the following documents:

• application form;
• passport;
• copy of international passport;
• three color photographs
• evidence of financial well-being giving the right to reside in the country;
• a document confirming the availability of housing (for the duration of your stay in the country);
• a document indicating the legal basis for staying in the Kingdom (marriage, education, work, business, etc.);
• certificate of no criminal record in Thailand.

Procedure for obtaining Thai citizenship

For residents of the Russian Federation, it is better to use the services of a lawyer or lawyer from among local residents. This is due to the laws of the country.

• You need to start the process by certifying copies of all the necessary documents while still in Russia.
• All necessary certificates required for submitting documents must be translated into Thai and certified by the relevant authorities.

What documents are needed

• Application in Thai.
• Foreign passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.
• Color photographs measuring 35 x 45 mm.
• A certificate of the status of the applicant’s current account opened in a Thai bank, which must indicate at least 400 thousand baht.
• Income certificate confirming the amount of at least 480 thousand baht.
• Certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirming no criminal record.
• Receipts for paying taxes to the Thai treasury for the last two years in the amount of at least 200 thousand baht.
• Certificate confirming legal presence in the country.
• Document confirming place of residence. This could be an apartment lease agreement or a certificate of ownership of real estate.

Where is citizenship obtained?

To obtain citizenship, Russians must contact the Migration Service under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There you will also need to confirm your knowledge of the local dialect.

Cost and processing time

The cost of obtaining Thai citizenship mainly consists of previously paid taxes to the treasury and other payments indicated above. Approximately the cost of purchasing a Thai passport will be about 200 thousand baht. This is without bank deposits. It can take six months from submitting your application to receiving your passport.