Sangchai

From among the various reasons farang become residents of Thailand, some of the more common reasons include marriage to a Thai person, retirement in Thailand, working in Thailand and ownership of holiday property.

The majority of foreign residents in Thailand are those who have retired in Thailand. Becoming a retired resident in Thailand is easiest if you are eligible for the Thai Retirement Visa. If you do not qualify for a retirement visa, you may still qualify for other types of non-immigrant long-term visas

If your address changes to a Thai address, and you no longer hold an address in your home country, then make sure you fulfill the legal requirements. For example, when a US citizen permanently changes his address, he is required to notify the Internal Revenue Service. Failure to comply with legal requirements from your home country could cause problems later.

Residence status in Thailand, rather than simply being present in Thailand for long periods of time, entitles you to a number of benefits. It makes it much easier to open bank accounts, establish online banking, obtain driving licenses, and can even entitle you to pay the Thai price or a discounted farang price at various dual priced venues.

There may be times when you must show legal proof that you are a resident. For example, you must have such proof when applying for driving licenses. The proof is obtained by getting a Residence Certificate. You get a residence certificate at your local Immigration office. You are required to present two passport photos, your passport that contains a long-term non-immigrant visa such as the Retirement Visa, and documentation that evidences your residence address. That can be bills in your name mailed to your address or a letter from your landlord. The fee for the residence certificate is 200 baht.

If you choose to do so, it is possible to obtain a permanent residence permit, which entitles you to an alien registration card, which is essentially the same as the Thai national ID card. You can even become a Thai citizen if you choose to do so.

The problem about the permanent residence permit is the fact that it is very expensive and difficult to obtain. You can expect to spend 200,000 baht, or more, if you wish to obtain the permit. Thailand restricts the number of these permits to 100 per country, per year and you cannot even apply for the permit other than in October, November, or December. The Ministry of the Interior announces the date’s applications will be accepted.

You must be a holder of a long-term non-immigrant visa, such as the Retirement Visa, that has been renewed consecutively for a minimum of 3 years to be eligible to apply for the permanent residence permit. Once you hold the permit you are required to re-register once per year at a fee of 200 baht.

If you wish to apply for Thai citizenship, you can do so after holding the permanent residence permit for at least 5 years.

Few foreigners apply for the permanent residence permit unless they are doing so out of necessity. Once you have obtained the Retirement Visa, renewal is relatively painless and quite simple to do, and far less expensive than a permanent residence permit.

Remember, even if you hold the permanent residence permit, if you leave Thailand you are still required to obtain a reentry permit. Failure to do so will nullify any visas or permits you hold.

cc ThailandVisa 2009

Thank you for useful informations. Additiona informations, All foreigners may qualify to apply for a residence permit if he/she

1. Holds a passport of his/her current nationality, which was granted a Non-Immigrant visa and the individual has been permitted to stay in Thailand for at least 3 consecutive years on a 1-year visa extension basis up to the application submission date.

2. Has personal qualifications that meet one or more of the following categories:

1) Investment category (minumum 3 – 10 Mil. Baht investment in Thailand)

2) Working/ Business category

3) Support a family or Humanity Reasons category: He/she must have relationship with a Thai citizen or an alien who already posses a residence permit as the followings:

A legal husband or wife

A legal father or mother

A child who is under 20 years of age up to the submission date of application and must be single

4) Expert / academics category

5) Other categories

Siamese Visa

Dear all,

I've been working for a Rajjabat for 4 years and I'm a bit concerned about the procedure to follow when you have to get a new work permit.

I was told I had to cancel my wp on the 25th, then I would have 24h to get out of the country. I would then have to travel to Cambodgia to get a 15 days visa AND the next day I would have to be at the immigration office with all the paperwork ready (from the new school) and get a new Non-immigrant B visa + wp.

Is anybody familiar with that system. It just sounds way to complicated for a European, I cannot imagine how thai would be able to deal with those on time -*-

Need advice please...

Normally, when you resigned or left from the school and you have to get a new work permit. Yes, you need to cancel your current work permit before getting a new one from the new school. However, as we faced this experience before, you will have times at least 7 days to cancel the work permit. Also, you can still stay in Thailand with the current non immigrant B visa until it expires. If possible, please update about your current situation at this time when you saw my these messages.

It was not the O-A. It was the standard retirement visa. He did it in the Pattaya immigration office. I was there with him and it didn't present any problem at all. He also had to go to the Bangkok immigration office for something related to the process, but I really don't recall why.

I'm not totally clear on this, but what he had was a retirement visa. Then he got a job in a school. He and his employer had to go to go to the office in Chonburi to get his work permit. I can't remember which came first, but at some point I went with him to the Pattaya immigration office and the visa type was changed, for fees of course. We were in and out in fifteen minutes.

If your partner didn't pay any additional special fees, except the immigration fee to convert the visa and also able to apply for a work permit while he was holding the retirement visa. That's sound good, Thaimo.

In Phuket, but this is not my direct experience, only what I was told by a friend.

Ah, I guessed so. The immigration office in Phuket, Hua Hin and Pattaya could accept this way of process.

hi there everyone! could someone please help me.... i resigned in my job last year so i don't have a working permit now. i currently don't have work these past few months for the reason that i gave birth to my baby and i don't plan going back to work. my problem is i have a tourist visa now but i don't wanna go out to Laos every now and then.. somebody told me (my thai friend)the immigration can give me a long stay here because i gave birth in here.. is that true? i'm confused, please help me.. tnx!

jhen

For a Non-Thai father or mother who have has a baby who born in Thailand, he/she might be able to apply for the "O" Visa in the purpose of supporting a child. However, you must be able to show the evidence indicating the parental status; birth certificate or a Judical Custody order of the child. Also, you will need to leave Thailand at least once to get a non immigrant visa before able to extend to a One Year Visa in the mentioned purpose at the immigration office in the province where your baby was born.

To avoid confusion, you can change visa types within Thailand before applying for a work permit. You do not have to leave Thailand to obtain a different visa. Fees will be charged, but I know it can be done because I have personally seen it done.

If you meant that you can change from the O-A Retirement Visa to other types of non immigrant visa inside Thailand, please let me know which immigration (what province) is able to accept this converting application.

Yes, a friend changed from Retirement Visa (extensions) to a Non-Immigrant Visa without any trouble. Seems so long as you start with a Non-Immigrant visa type you can change from ® or (O) to ( and apply for your WP.

Yes, I know very well that you can apply for a work permit while you hold a Non Immigrant O Visa. But as our experiences, the Labor Deparment will not allow the O-A retirement visa holder to apply for the work permit. Also, as you told that your friend can convert from the Retirement visa to other types of non immigrant visa inside Thailand, please let me know which immigration (what province) your friend has received the another type of non immigrant visa from.

Hi I hope someone can help us, as part of our round the world trip we are arriveing in Thailand in May 2010 and flying out of Thailand in Febuary 2011.We want to visit other countries in southeast aisa in that time.As we understand it the rules have changed if we cross by land into another country we may get a 15 day visa coming back into Thailand but we will be flying back in and I think then we will get a 30 day visa.How many times can we do that or if we get 60 days visa do we have to stay out of the country for 60 days before we can reenter the country.We are both over 50 so we may be able to go for a long stay visa. We would be grateful for any sugestions.

Top cat

"I recommend you apply for a one year non-immigrant multi entry visa before you leave your home country. then you can stay for up to 90 days per entry, and can come back into Thailand any time you want for another 90 days, and repeat until your visa expires.

Regarding arriving without a visa, you get a 30 day visa-on-arrival for free (assuming your nationality qualifies) which can only be extended for a maximum of 7 days costing 1,900 baht, then you MUST exit Thailand. You can come straight back into Thailand and get 30 days (by air) or 15 days (by land). Been some confusion about many times you can do that, rules keep on changing and you would need to check the latest rule nearer your time of arrival. Best of luck."

Top cat, I agree with Patong's suggestion. If you want to stay for a long term in Thailand, you can start this plan with a One Year Multiple Entry Non Immigrant Visa. Also, if you and your partner are 50 years of age, you may be able to apply for the Retirement visas to avoid in making a visa run.

I think Beer Chang's point was that he did not have the 800,000 K in deposit for the preceding 90 days. Although I think they recently changed the rule to 60 days for the first application. I get confused with the rule changes, each year I go to Immigration for my annual extension there is always some sort of rule change, and different supporting paperwork. I treat each visit with some humour each year, hope for the best, oh... and go 30 days early in case I have a problem.

Khun Patong, I understand on your point. Yes, the immigration in some province, might change the rule in issuing a retirement visa. But I can confirm you that if you have had the 800,000 BHT in your own Thai bank which have been deposited for 3 months OR have the pension/monthly income of al least 65,000 BHT, you can still renew your retirement visa without any problem. If the rules will be changed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must have the announcement to all immigration offices.

If I would receive a tourist visa at a consulate, it will be free until 4 March 2010? Are the tourist visa's good for a stay in Thailand for 60 days or 30 days? Will honorary Thai consulates also implement the fee exemption?

Hello Wino, This will be also applyable to the Tourist Visa (60 days) which issued by the Thai Embassy and Thai Consulate. The government of Thailand has agreed to exempt the fee for tourist visa applications, effective 25 June 2009 to March 2010.

Hi I hope someone can help us, as part of our round the world trip we are arriveing in Thailand in May 2010 and flying out of Thailand in Febuary 2011.We want to visit other countries in southeast aisa in that time.As we understand it the rules have changed if we cross by land into another country we may get a 15 day visa coming back into Thailand but we will be flying back in and I think then we will get a 30 day visa.How many times can we do that or if we get 60 days visa do we have to stay out of the country for 60 days before we can reenter the country.We are both over 50 so we may be able to go for a long stay visa. We would be grateful for any sugestions.

Top cat

Hello, I reviewed all of your information. You are right about the new rule of Thai Immigration. In order to limit the amount of foreigners using "back-to-back" border runs, Thai Immigration has issued a new regulation regarding the 30 days tourist exemption. Effective immediately, travellers without visa will get only 15 days of stay if they are arriving via a land border checkpoint from a neighboring country. But in case you want to get for additional 30 days, you will need to leave and back to Thailand via the international airport of Thailand. Also, you can get this visa type many times you require until you have used it completely for 90 days in one year. For detailed information, you can ask us via www.siamese-visa.com .

Hi Everyone,

I am here in Thailand on a Retirement Visa but I have been offered a job. They say they will arrange my Work Permit.

I am just worried that having given up my home in Australia to retire here, if I take this job and everything is conducted legally, what happens when I once again wish to retire? Will I be able to once again obtain a Retirement Visa? Will this have to be obtained outside Thailand? Will I have problems no longer having a home country other than Thailand even though I have both a UK Passport and Australian Passport?

A lot of questions I know but maybe somebody has some advice to offer? I know I can ask at the Immigration Office but I am always concerned about drawing attention to myself with them. Any Tips, Anyone?

Hello, I would like to tell you that you cannot apply for a work permit while you hold a Retirement Visa. You can only be a director of your own business in Thailand if you hold this visa type in Kingdom of Thailand. In this case, if you have been offered a job from a company in Thailand, you must obtain a Non Immigrant B or O Visa which will allow you apply for a work permit. However, about your concern in retiring in Thailand, this will not be any problem, you can still re apply for a Retirement Visa inside Thailand once you finished your this job. If you need additional informations about this, feel free to contact us via www.siamese-visa.com .

If you get a multiple entry 60 day visa which in my case would be 3 entrys.

Is there a requirement in the date you have to start the 2nd and 3rd entry

If you hold the Tourist Visa with triple entries, you can make the extension for the 2nd and the 3rd entry at any immigration office in Thailand.

Very useful information. Just one note though. Many banks allow you to withdraw more than 20,000 THB per day (up to 100,000 THB in some banks) as long as you arrange for it with the bank. I have a Kasikorn bank account and I have no problem withdrawing any amount up to 100,000 THB per day (in multiples of 20Ks).

I think you can withdraw up to 100,000 BAHT per day because you are holding a Debit card which issued from Kasikorn Bank, right? If so, that's great.

Not sure if I qualified under the Embassy Letter Option or Money In The Bank Option as their were issues with both. But I'm good for a year now.

Congratulations!! Of course, if you are 50 years of age and your financial qualification is matched with the immigration's requirements, you can surely receive the Retirement Visa in Thailand.

hi chris, Please say everything about the tourist visa charges and the total amount to stay for one month in thailand in us dollars.If somebody wants to stay there for more than one month in thailand, whtat they have to do for the extension of visa and the needed other things.Are there many job oppertunities for call centre agents in the country. I f some body knows reply me then. ok thank you.

Hello deepu, regarding the tourist visa for a month, I think you were meaning a visa exemption (30 days visa) which you can get at the international airport of Thailand. For the fee, you'll have to pay for the immigration office in the rate of 1,900 Bahts (around 60 USD) in case you want to extend your stay not exceeding 7-14 days (depending on your nationality). However, if you also plan to work or open a business in Kingdom, you should have a non immigrant B visa before entering Thailand. For more information about this visa type, you can visit us through www.siamese-visa.com .

Hi All,

I'm a new member her. I really interested go to thailand for vacation.

Anyone have tips for backpakers? coz I have budget limitation but I really want go to thailand

thank you so much

Hi, I am also a new member of Thailand Visa. If you are really interested in travelling in Thailand. You can get a visa exemption or visa on arrival when you arrived at the international airport of Thailand if your nationality is under the Visa Exemption Agreement with Kingdom of Thailand. If you need more informations about visas for Thailand, you can receive advantage informations via www.siamese-visa.com .