One of the key stages in the immigration process to Thailand is obtaining a permanent residency visa or permanent residency. While the term "Permanent Residency" (PR) is more familiar to Eastern Europeans, Thais often use this term to refer to the same type of authorization.
An essential requirement to get a PR is continuous residence in the country up to 3 years on a non-immigrant visa (NIV). There are different types of NIV depending on the purpose of your stay in the country. It's worth noting that not every non-immigrant visa is suitable for a subsequent application. As an example, the popular student visa, which is obtained when enrolling in a local university or language school, as well as the retirement visa to wealthy citizens over the age of 50, do not grant the right to apply permanent residency. Let's explore the most common types of visas that allow foreigners to stay in Thailand permanently.
Content:
- Employment Visa
- Investor Visa
- Advantages of Permanent Residency (PR) in Thailand
- Reasons for obtaining permanent residency
- Documents required for PR in Thailand
- How to obtain Permanent Residence (PR) in Thailand for Europeans
- How to get Thai citizenship?
- Let us help you get Permanent Residence (PR) in Thailand
Employment Visa
The NIV category B visa is issued to foreigners coming to the Kingdom to work or make private business. To obtain it, the applicant must demonstrate financial stability by providing a bank statement to the embassy or consulate. The deposit should not be less than $600 per person. In addition, a work permit must be obtained from the Thai Ministry of Labor.
At the time of application, the following documents are usually required:
- Passport valid at least 6 months.
- Application NIV category B visa.
- Photograph.
- Certificate of no criminal record.
If the applicant intends to work in a company, additional documents such as an education certificate and a medical certificate must be attached. In this case, the employer also compiles a set of documents to employ a foreign citizen.
Those planning to start a business should consider a separate non-immigrant visa category B-A.
Investor Visa
Foreign citizens planning to engage in investment activities can obtain an NIV IB visa. It is granted only to investors who meet one or more of the following requirements:
- Create jobs in the country.
- Support the export of Thai goods.
- Engage in the processing of local resources.
- Develop programs developing Thai provinces.
- Implement new technologies that contribute significantly to the development of the country.
When it comes to people investing in property in Thailand, a visa of category IМ is provided. In 2023, it will only be issued to foreigners who previously had an NIV related to business and investment.
To obtain this document, one must invest approximately $300,000 in local real estate, government bonds, or place the specified amount in a fixed deposit in a local bank that is majority owned by the government.
An important clarification to those planning to get an NIV IМ to purchase an apartment or house is that the property must be purchased directly from the developer. It is not allowed to sell the property within 3 years from the date of purchase.
The funds used to make the investment must be of foreign origin. In other words, the amount required to purchase real estate or securities must be transferred from a foreign account to a Thai bank, converted into local currency, and then invested.
Advantages of Permanent Residency (PR) in Thailand
The main benefits of PR in Thailand are as follows:
- Simplifies the process of obtaining a work permit.
- Permanent registration in the Tabien Baan register. Residential address is required to most legal procedures. However, holders of any type of NIV must report their current whereabouts every 90 days. PR holders have a permanent address, which eliminates the need to periodic confirmation of residence.
Reasons for obtaining permanent residency
As mentioned above, the main requirement of receipt Thai PR or Permanent Residency is to reside in the country at least 3 years on a non-immigrant visa (NIV), which is usually granted on a 1-year basis. It is important to note that all 3 years must be spent renewing only one type of document.
It's not possible to get residency in Thailand by buying property. In order to apply a long-term residency, specific reasons are required. Here are the most important ones:
- Be an investor and invest at least $90,000 in a local company, government organization or securities on the stock market.
- Be a managing director or shareholder of a Thai company with a capital of at least $300,000 at least one year. Important conditions include earning not less than $1,500 per month within 2 years and the company must be engaged in activities beneficial to the country's economy.
- Hold a work permit valid within 3 years with a monthly income of not less than $2,400. The period of employment in a Thai company should be at least 1 year.
- Be a representative of the expert category (scientist or expert in any industry), have a diploma of higher education and hold a relevant position in an organization within 3 consecutive years.
- Be married to a Thai citizen or be the parent of a child with Thai citizenship.
Applications for PR are submitted from October to December. Each year, the Royal Immigration Commission decides to grant PR to only 100 people from each country. The length of stay in Thailand on the basis of PR is determined by the holder. If desired, PR can be cancelled independently or after 5 years, citizenship can be obtained.
Documents required for PR in Thailand
It's advisable to check the current list of documents required to PR on the Immigration Bureau website. In addition, one can seek assistance from a specialized visa center where staff can help gather the necessary documents and fill out the application correctly.
After obtaining permanent residence status, the foreigner is issued a Residence Blue Book. Subsequently, it is necessary to register at the place of residence and get a house card. A Red Book, which is equivalent to a citizen's identity card and must be renewed annually, is issued at the local police station one week after receipt of the Residence Blue Book.
How to obtain Permanent Residence (PR) in Thailand for Europeans
There are no special European citizen restrictions to get a permanent residency. They go through all the standard procedures applicable to foreigners:
- Stay in the country during at least 3 years on a non-immigrant visa.
- Pay 15% income tax annually on a 2-year basis. The annual income should not be less than $2,800, but it's advisable to declare a higher amount to avoid being considered financially unstable by immigration officials.
- Apply a permanent residence at the Immigration Department based on place of residence.
- Interview in the Thai language, which usually requires basic oral proficiency.
To apply, it's important to fill out the application correctly and provide a package of documents, including:
- Passport.
- Photographs taken within the last 6 months.
- Registration card with address.
- Work permit.
- Proof of employment.
- Income tax payment certificate.
- Receipt for application processing fee.
As the rules of obtaining residency in Thailand change periodically, it's advisable to verify the document requirements directly with the Immigration Department or seek the assistance of a specialized company that will help gather all the necessary documents for the PR application.
The Immigration Department has the right to refuse to issue a PR. Common reason for denial include an incomplete document package, incorrectly completed applications, and knowingly providing false information.
How to get Thai citizenship?
The process of obtaining Thai citizenship is available in two situations: by birth and by naturalization.
In the first case, a child acquires citizenship if one of the parents is a citizen of the country. However, being born in the country to foreign parents does not give the right to Thai citizenship.
Foreigners can become citizens by naturalization if they are:
- Are over 18 years old.
- Have no criminal record.
- Have lived in the country at least 5 years.
- Have employment or business in the country.
- Can speak and write the country’s language.
- Know the national anthem.
- Score at least 50 points in the immigration system, which evaluates education level, age, monthly income, length of staying, knowledge of the culture and history.
When applying for citizenship in Thailand, foreigners must provide a package of documents, including:
- Passport.
- Birth certificate.
- Residence registration card.
- Red book (residence blue book).
- 12 photographs.
- Education certificate with apostille from the Ministry of Education.
- Employment certificate stating salary and work experience or other proof of employment or business ownership.
- Income statement for the last 3 years.
- Identification documents of 2 guarantors with Thai citizenship.
All documents in foreign languages must be translated and notarized. The application can be submitted to the Immigration Office based on the place of stay or in the capital. Applicants can contact these offices for the latest list of required documents.
In addition, the applicant must be fingerprinted, undergo a language interview in Thai, and sing the national anthem. Immigration officials may visit the applicant's home to verify the accuracy of the residency information. After the citizenship application is approved, an oath ceremony is held.
Let us help you get Permanent Residence (PR) in Thailand
If you are planning to obtain permanent residency in Thailand and stay in the country permanently, the first thing you need to consider is your place of stay. Our website offers a wide range of houses and apartments in Thailand. You can buy property for private ownership with the right of long-term ownership for 30 years or rent property. There is also an option to purchase under construction residences with installment plans over several years.
We work with major real estate agencies and developers. Many of these companies work with foreign buyers, providing translation and legal services, as well as assistance in navigating all the nuances of local legislation when obtaining residency permits.
Our website constantly updates information on real estate sales in upcoming complexes and new developments, keeping you informed of all offers from developers at competitive prices. A convenient search system allows you to easily filter properties by price, number of bedrooms, area and many other criteria. This will help you to quickly find the optimal apartments or villas in Thailand for your permanent stay. If you have any questions, you can contact our specialist for advice.