{"id":4201,"date":"2022-11-20T11:34:44","date_gmt":"2022-11-20T04:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thailand-real-review.com\/en\/?p=4201"},"modified":"2024-10-10T11:11:35","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T04:11:35","slug":"how-to-apply-thai-permanent-residency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thailand-real-review.com\/en\/4201.html","title":{"rendered":"How to apply Thai permanent residency"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hello, everyone I am Chifumi Maeda, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

a Japanese female president living in Bangkok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Thank you, guys, for visiting this <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrue comments from Japanese female presidents living in Thailand\u201d blog<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d like to share with you how I\u2019ve acquired permanent residency in Thailand <\/p>\n\n\n\n

that submitted the application in 2011 and granted with the right in 2015. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Thai
This is the permanent permit residency certificate that I\u2019ve acquired in 2015. If I went abroad without carrying the certificate, I will lose my right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Those of you who are reading this article are probably those who are interested in Thailand <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and want to live in the kingdom for a long period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or even want to live in the kingdom permanently if possible and therefore, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d like to explain how in easy but in details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to apply for the permanent residency permit in the kingdom.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The permit is applying the quarter system and 100 applications are being received per nationality every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am Japanese and I\u2019ve applied for the permit in 2011 together <\/p>\n\n\n\n

with 3 other fellow Japanese applicants, i.e. 4 in total. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of permanent residency rights.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several categories of permanent residency rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The categories are as the following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Investment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business (those of you who are working falls into this category)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent of Thai national, spouse of, or child of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parent of person with permanent residency rights, spouse of, or child of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those having special skill(s)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

And I\u2019ve applied as \u201cspouse of person with permanent residency rights\u201d<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

My husband (Japanese national) had permanent residential rights <\/p>\n\n\n\n

which the fee for acquiring permanent residential right differs from those from business category <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and this was the category where I fit into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(I will talk about the fee later) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Among above categories, when the male is foreign national <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and the spouse as well is foreign national (other than that of Thai national), <\/p>\n\n\n\n

they tend to apply under the business category, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and when the spouse is Thai national, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

they tend to apply under the spouse category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Conditions for applying for permanent residency.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First of all, we need to be careful of the conditions that they require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Requirements are as the following.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Investment<\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n

Must have more than 10 million baht of stock investment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Need to have certificate from bank)<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Business<\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n

[Director’s position]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company must have registered capital of more than 10 million THB. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monthly salary must be more than 50,000 THB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

[Employee position]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Must possess work permit for more than 3 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Average monthly salary must be more than 80,000 THB.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Family of the Thai national (parent, spouse, child)<\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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When applying under spouse status, the conditions are same as that of \u201cBusiness\u201d category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When spouse is director position, the registered capital must be more than 10 million baht <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and monthly salary must be more than 50,000 THB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the spouse is on employee position, must possess more than 3 years\u2019 work permit and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monthly salary must be more than 80,000 baht.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Special skill<\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n

Must be at least a university graduate and possess skill that can contribute to Thailand.<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Among above categories, I haven\u2019t heard that those with special skills applied for permanent residency right <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and as the conditions for the application under special skill, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

the \u201cskill\u201d that one possesses is not very easy to prove, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe that most of them are applying under 3 categories, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

i.e. Business, Family of Thai national, Family of person <\/p>\n\n\n\n

that has permanent residency rights in Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Necessary documents for Thai permanent residency rights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Necessary documents are as the following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the application is accepted only once in a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I applied in 2011, the submission month was in December and the period was only 5 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is necessary to check the period at the immigration bureau beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Let me explain on each required documents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Health certificate (within 3 months of the application date)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health certificate must be issued by public hospital and that of private hospitals are not accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had my checkup at the Police Hospital on Ratchadamri Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Check items are the following 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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Leprosy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuberculosis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drug addiction<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcohol poisoning<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elephantiasis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syphilis (Stage 3)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The check items are same as those required for the acquisition of work permit and renewal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are blood tests, urine tests and x-rays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Police certificate (a.k.a. criminal record) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Requires proof that one has never committed a crime in one\u2019s home country (e.g. Japan in my case).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will be issued by the diplomatic missions aboard in Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Required documents are as the following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Application (It is at the Japanese Embassy. Can be downloadable from their homepage)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Original passport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The applicant must visit the diplomatic missions abroad in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had my fingerprint collected at the embassy of Japan in Bangkok in my case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(To check fingerprints for criminal records)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Family certificate. (Marriage certificate, birth certificate, family register, etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve submitted my family registers in Japan as my status is a spouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the family register is written in Japanese, you cannot submit it as it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Certificate of Family Register Matters (English)” must be issued and translated that into Thai <\/p>\n\n\n\n

at the Japanese embassy in Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

And finally, in order to prove that the family register in Thai is correct, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

one needs to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and have it authenticated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Alien registration certificate (issued by the police)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Necessary when applying under spouse of Thai permanent residency rights holder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those foreign nationals that acquired permanent residency rights, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

shall register an alien registration at the police station in the jurisdiction <\/p>\n\n\n\n

where the residence registration (Thai: Tabyanbaan) is registered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve also registered at the nearest police station <\/p>\n\n\n\n

where my residence was registered after obtaining my permanent residency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Alien
This is my “Alien registration certificate”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Passport (National ID card in case of spouse of Thai national)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passport of applicant (me) and my spouse (my husband).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the spouse is a Thai national, National ID card is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only the passport is required when applying under the Business category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Housing certificate (Thai: Thabiyanbaan)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not required for the Business category. (As such do not exist)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

It is necessary to submit such when applying under the category of the permanent residency in Thailand <\/p>\n\n\n\n

as well as the spouse of Thai national.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my case I submitted my husband\u2019s Thabiyanbaan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Education certificate of the applicant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submission of final education certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask your school to issue it in English if possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will also to be certified by the diplomatic mission abroad (I, at the Japanese Embassy), <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and then translated into Thai and certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Personal Income Tax and Tax Certificate. (Format: PGD 91, 90)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For business applications, proof of the tax payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For spouse application, submit the tax payment certificate of the spouse (in my case, my husband).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submit the most recent three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tax payment certificate is a document called Por. Gor. Dor (PGD) 91, 90.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Withholding Income Tax Certificate (Format: PGD 01)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For business applications, proof of the tax payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For spouse applications, submit the tax payment certificate of the spouse (in my case, my husband).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submit the most recent year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The withholding tax payment certificate is a document called Por. Gor. Dor (PGD) 01.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Corporate Registration Certificate (Ministry of Commerce) or Employment Certificate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of a business application, if one is running one\u2019s own business, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

submit a set of company registration documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you are a company employee, ask the company you work for to issue a certificate of employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of a spouse application, the spouse’s above documents are required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In my case, my husband is a company manager, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

so I submitted a set of registration documents of my husband’s company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submit documents of within 3 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Address of one\u2019s current residence, Map of the company<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The place of residence must match the residence registration (Thai: Tabiyanbaan).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One do not actually live there, but if it was registered there (or if one wants to register that), draw a map of such.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the company map, draw a map of the company that you work for and submit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Curriculum Vitae, Work experience (In Thai language)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family relationship, abilities, work experience, special abilities, contributions in Thailand, place of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need a photo of where one lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve prepared such in A4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a standard format on the website of the Immigration Bureau, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve also filled in the standard format and created by myself and submitted together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Application form (TM.9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submit the specified application (format: TM 9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Things to keep in mind.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Signature on application forms and materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Documents related to the applicant and individual must be signed by the applicant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corporate documents are signed and stamped by the person <\/p>\n\n\n\n

who is authorized to sign by the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Police certificate (certificate of non-criminal record)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Apply at a diplomatic mission in Thailand. It takes about a month to receive it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Count backwards and act once you decide to apply for permanent residency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that you can only use certificates that are less than 3 months old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Authentication (foreign language documents)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All documents written in foreign languages (other than Thai), <\/p>\n\n\n\n

including police certificates (certificates of non-criminal record) (graduation certificates of final educational background, extracts of family registers, etc.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

must be authenticated by diplomatic missions (or consulates) in Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This procedure is called “certification of seal”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

After receiving the seal certification from the Japanese Embassy (or Consulate) in Thailand, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

such shall be translated into Thai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, all documents must be authenticated by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Consular Authentication Section).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

On receiving the police certificate (certificate of non-criminal record), <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was told at the Embassy of Japan in Thailand not to open it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you don’t open it, you can’t get a seal certificate, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and you can’t even translate it into Thai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

For the sake of convenience, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I opened it at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Authentication Division of the Consular Department), <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and I was told that I needed a seal certificate,” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and took the police certificate (certificate of non-criminal record) that <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I opened by myself to the Japanese Embassy in Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are unsure, please take the sealed letter to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Consular Department Authentication Division).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

When demanded a bribe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I was not demanded a bribe through the process <\/p>\n\n\n\n

but many of the people who applied for the Thai permanent residency rights were sked for bribes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was often asked how much they demanded me to give. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So therefore I did not pay any amount of such<\/p>\n\n\n\n

at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Most of those people who ask me concerning bribe are <\/p>\n\n\n\n

those who are applying for the permanent residence via \u201cagents\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t think that all of such amount is paid to the officers in charge <\/p>\n\n\n\n

but some amount is landing in the pocket of the agent.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

If and when you were demanded for the bribe, I suggest you to ask the followings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

name (full name)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Position (rank)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

contact person<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure that you ask all these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

And have them put down on a paper the benefit that you will have by paying such amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You asking this kind of question will warn them <\/p>\n\n\n\n

that you could be a \u201ctroublesome person\u201d and such demand may be stopped in most of the cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Permanent residency is reviewed in order of application coming in, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

therefore I don’t think there will be a special treatment just because you paid bribe money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is just my opinion though.<\/p>\n\n\n