Lots of Europeans are planning to buy real estate in Thailand for renting or reselling it. However, among our compatriots there are many who want to move to the kingdom for permanent residence. How to do it legally? What types of visas can be issued to stay in the country for a long time? What documents should be collected?
Content:
- Types of Thai visas
- Visa documents
- Additional documents for a METV
- Work in Thailand
- Marriage with a Thai
- Doing business in Thailand
- Education
- Pension in Thailand
Types of Thai visas
Depending on the purpose for which you are going to Thailand, in 2023 you can get the following types of visas that will allow you to stay in the country for a long time:
- Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) for those who plan to visit the country repeatedly. The visa is issued for six months. During each stay in the kingdom, you can spend no more than 60 days with this visa. Only persons working officially can get this type of permit.
- Medical visa. It is issued to Europeans who plan to be treated in Thailand. The list of documents for obtaining this type of permit includes an invitation from a Thai medical institution, as well as the conclusions of European doctors.
- Other nonimmigrant visas. Europeans can study in Thailand, conduct business, visit relatives and religious shrines. Depending on the purpose of the trip, you can apply for a visa of the appropriate category.
Visa documents
If you are going to stay in the kingdom for no more than 45 days, you do not need a visa. If you plan to spend more than 45 days in the country, you need to get an entry permit. To get it, you should prepare a package of documents that includes:
- The original of the passport and a copy of the main page of the document. The passport must be valid for the entire period of stay in the kingdom.
- A questionnaire that you need to download on the website of the Thai Embassy. The questionnaire should be printed out in two copies and filled in.
- Two photos of 40×60 mm. At the time of entry into Thailand, the photos must be no more than six months old.
- Redeemed round-trip air tickets.
- Paid consular fee.
- Medical insurance of a Thai company that will cover the costs of $100,000, including the risks of COVID-19.
- Certificate of absence of diseases preventing entry into the country (the list of diseases can be viewed on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand).
- Confirmation of payment for a hotel room. You can also provide an agreement on renting apartments or villas in Thailand or a document on the ownership of the housing where you plan to live for the rest of the period.
Papers should also be added to this package of documents, depending on the type of visa. For example, businessmen need documents about investments made in the economy of the kingdom, and students should take a certificate from the place of study.
Additional documents for a METV
To apply for a METV, the following papers must be added to the main package of documents:
- Account statement for the last six months. The account must have at least $7,000.
- In addition, it is necessary to take a certificate from the place of work, which should indicate the position and length of service, as well as the duration of paid leave.
- You also need to provide a travel plan.
- Full-time students need to attach a certificate from the place of study in order to obtain a METV.
Work in Thailand
Europeans often come to this country to work. Europeans unofficially work here as promoters, guides and real estate agents. However, according to local law, foreigners are prohibited from holding these positions. In addition, informal employment does not give the right to long-term residence in the country.
In order not to be caught by law enforcement agencies and to get a work visa, you should get an official job.
Educational institutions, like other companies in the kingdom, must recruit staff in such a way that there are at least four local residents per foreigner in the organization. Despite this, it is not difficult for Europeans to find a vacant place in local companies.
Applicants need to prepare the following documents:
- CV.
- Diploma of graduation from an educational institution.
- Some companies will need TOEFL or IELTS certificates to apply for a device, which confirm English language proficiency.
- Certificate of no criminal record.
- A letter of recommendation or a certificate from a previous job.
Working on probation does not qualify for a work visa. At this time, you will need a tourist type of permit to stay in the country.
A work visa is usually issued for 1 year. Then you can apply for an extension.
It is not possible to apply for a work visa on the territory of Thailand. To do this, you should contact the country's embassy in Malaysia, Cambodia or Laos.
All costs for obtaining a permit are borne by the employer.
Marriage with a Thai
If you want to enter into a fictitious marriage in order to live in Thai territory for a long time, it is better to abandon this idea. For such adventures, they can issue a large fine and deport from Thailand.
The real – not fictitious – spouse of a local resident can legally stay in the country for a year. At the same time, he does not need to travel outside the state to extend his visa, which must be done annually.
Having been married to a Thai for 3 years, you can apply for a residence permit. After 12 years of family life, you can get Thai citizenship.
Doing business in Thailand
To obtain a residence permit in the kingdom, you can also invest in the local economy an amount equivalent to about $273,300.
You can place funds on a local bank account. In addition, government securities can be purchased. Investments should not be withdrawn from the kingdom for 3 years.
To move to a permanent place of residence in Thailand will also allow the opening of a business in the country.
The kingdom has excellent conditions for doing business. Many investors from different countries invest huge amounts of money in the local economy. But a foreigner has no right to be the sole owner of a business in Thailand. By law, 51% of the company's shares must belong to a Thai citizen.
To create a joint business, you need to find a local citizen who you can trust. That is why many foreign businessmen start business here with small projects in order to make sure of the reliability of a partner.
A business visa is usually issued for one year. After the expiration date, it can be extended. At the same time, a foreign organization must meet the following requirements:
- Have an authorized capital of at least $50,056.
- The company must be profitable. If the organization incurs losses, it will be impossible to extend the business permit.
Education
Studying at a local educational institution is one of the easiest ways to move to Thailand for permanent residence. At the same time, it is not necessary to enroll in college, university or graduate school.
In all major cities, there are many courses that can be attended by foreign citizens. For example, you can enroll in a Thai or English language school, boxing, massage training, culinary arts, and so on.
To enroll in the courses, you must submit a passport, a photo and a copy of the rental agreement to the school.
To apply for a student visa, you can first arrive in Thailand for a period of no more than 45 days. The stamp will be put at the airport upon arrival. During this time, you can choose a school where studying will give you the opportunity to stay in the country for a longer period.
If you have the money and time to study, you can change schools once a year and enroll in new courses. The advantage of the courses is that they do not take much time, because you only need to attend them a few hours a week.
Persons residing on a student visa bear the following additional costs:
- Every 3 months the student visa needs to be renewed. It will cost about $49.68, or a little more than $198.74 a year.
- Tickets for a trip to Cambodia, Laos or Malaysia. You will need to travel to these countries to extend your permit to stay in Thailand. Often, schools themselves organize trips to Laos for their novice students, but, of course, educational institutions do not take on themselves the costs. The trip – round trip, hotel and meals – will cost about $161.47.
Pension in Thailand
Pensioners from different parts of the world often move to the country. All due to the pension visa, which can be issued for a year and extended an infinite number of times.
At the same time, it is not necessary to be a pensioner. If you are already 50 years old, then you can apply for this type of permit. To do this, your bank account must have at least $21,488.
There are several ways to get this type of visa:
- Contact the Thai Embassy in Moscow.
- Arrive in the country for 45 days (a pre-issued visa is not needed for a stay in the country for up to 45 days) and make a pension visa at the immigration office.