Every foreigner in Thailand who stays on a long-term basis  seek some stability in this country and dream to stay longer after numerous years of yearly visa extension. Each one struggles with their requirements hoping that next year it would be the same.  What better solution versus the ever-changing visa immigration rules?

Advantages of Permanent Residence in Thailand
There are a number of advantages to holding permanent resident status in Thailand:

• It allows the holder to live permanently in Thailand, with no requirement to apply for an extension of temporary stay.
• In addition to the permanent residence book, an alien registration book will be issued, which is the equivalent of the ID card held by Thais. A permanent resident can have his/her name included on a house registration document.
• Obtaining a work permit is easier for a permanent resident than for a non-resident, but you still need to have a work permit if working.
• A permanent resident also has a number of other privileges such as, for example, being able to:

(a)     buy a condominium without being required to transfer money from abroad;

(b) apply for naturalization in accordance with the law concerned;

(c) have Thai nationality granted to children who are born in Thailand;

(d) become a director of a public company; and (e) apply for an extension of stay or permanent residence for non-Thai family members.

The annual quota for granting permanent residency in Thailand is a maximum of 100 persons per country. The Interior Minister is responsible for issuing the announcement each year that the quota is open for submission of applications, usually from October to the end of December.
The Immigration Commission has the power to define all regulations concerning permanent residency. The Immigration Bureau is the agency that handles all procedures concerning permanent residency applications.

Qualifications of an applicant:
1. An applicant must have received permission for yearly stays in Thailand on a non-immigrant visa for at least of three years prior to the submission of an application for permanent residency. Holders of multiple entry non-immigrant visa applied at a Thai Embassy abroad does not qualify for permanent residency. You must have 3 un-broken yearly extensions in order to qualify. Yearly extensions are visas applied at the immigration bureau for 1 year validity.

2. An applicant must be holding a non-immigrant visa at the time of submitting an application.

Documents required

The list of required documents depends on the category under which the application is made. Though it’s more or less financial documentation supporting each category.

Fees:

• Application for a residence permit

THB 7,600  **This is a non-refundable application fee regardless the application has been approved or denied. This is why it is best to prepare a few months before lodging in the application. Hiring a firm to assist you and check all necessary documentations can immensely increase your chances of getting approved.

• Approval of a residence permit (payable on receipt of residence book)THB 191,400 **For categories under business, investment and employment.

• Approval of a residence permit (payable on receipt of residence book) for a foreigner married to a Thai, the spouse of a resident, and any of their children who have not reached the status of a Thai juristic person (i.e., unmarried children aged below 20 years)

THB 95,700 **For categories under humanitarian reasons: i.e. spouse, parent etc
The Thai Immigration Bureau has announced quotas for all expatriates applying for residence permits at 100 persons per nationality. 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:

- Investment category (minimum 3 – 10 Mil. Baht investment in Thailand)

- Working/ Business category
- Support a family or Humanity Reasons category: He/she must have relationship with a Thai citizen or an alien who already possesses 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

Submission period for the Residence permit applications

The applicants can submit the applications once a year. Normally, the opening date for the applications is in December, we recommend preparing the required documents 1-2 months earlier. Once the date is announced, the applications can be submitted until the last working day of the year.
The results will be announced in May of the following year and the residence permits will be issued in December of the same year.
If approved, a residence blue book is issued to the alien. The foreign resident must register the place of residence in Thailand at the local Amphur Office and obtain a house card. 7 days after receipt of the residence certificate you then apply for an alien book (red book) at the local police station. You must re-register there every year, and the fee is 200 Baht.

The Residency Permit itself never expires, unless revoked . To be able to leave the country and return at will, though, you need to apply each year for a re-entry permit (endorsement) at 1,000 baht (multiple entries). If you don’t leave Thailand, you don’t need to have an endorsement done.

Also, you must present yourself at the police station covering the area where you are resident once every five years for a stamp in your book.
An alien with permanent residency status will be eligible to apply for Thai citizenship after 10 consecutive years under this classification.

• Nationals of countries specified by the Ministry and approved by the cabinet. The nationality must be the same as the country issuing the passport
• Entering Thailand as tourists for 15 days
• 1 passport picture 4×6 cm, not more than 6 months old
• No blacklisted person (persona non grata) according to the immigration laws
• Confirmed onward or return ticket within 15 days
• Indication of actual address of residence in Thailand
• Cash of at least 10,000.- Baht (US$ 250.-) per person or 20,000.- Baht (US$ 500.- per family)
• Valid passport with validity of at least 6 months

In case of student
1. Immigration Form 7 (Tor Mor 7)
2. Copy of passport
3. A 4 cm. X 6 cm. Photograph
4. 1,900 baht application fee
5. A certified document from the governor of the province in which the Private Educational Institute is located or from the Government Department or equivalent that takes care of the institute, document must contain details about the applicant:
   • Name, Family name
   • Age
   • Nationality
   • Passport number
   • Total academic years – curriculum – funding
   • Education transcript of the applicant – length of further stay
6. School license (Sor Shor 2)
7. The Permit / certificate to be school manager (Sor Shor 5) or Principal (Sor Shor
8. The officials reserve the rights to examine or ask for additional documents if necessary

1. Immigration form 7 (Tor Mor 7)
2. A copy of passport
3. A 4 cm. X 6 cm. Photograph
4. 1,900 baht application fee
5. Evidence indicating the parental status; birth certificate or a Judical Custody order of the child
6. Evidence presenting financial status:
   • Bank pass-book, bank statement certifying amount of money in the applicant’s account, a certified documents of money transferring from oversea or evidence of income with related documents
7. A record of interviewing the applicant
8. The officials reserve the rights to examine or ask for additional documents if necessary
   • In most cases, the request will not be approved if the non-Thai parents sponsor an adopted child who is a Thai citizen

• The consideration for an extension based on marriage generally involves two (2) trips to immigration. The initial application is submitted on the first trip and then a second trip 30 days later to “hear the result”.

• You must be on a non-immigrant visa to apply for the extension. If you entered Thailand on another type of visa, the visa type must be converted.

• You can apply for a multiple re-entry permit which will allow you to come and go from Thailand as you wish.

• With this type of visa extension if you do not exit Thailand within 90 days you must report to immigration.

• Income from outside Thailand can be shown as pension, investment income etc. Employment is not necessary if the income exists and can be proven.

• Each embassy has different requirements for issuing the income certification letter. Contact your embassy for more details.

• Foreign wives of Thai husbands do not have an income requirement but the Thai husband must pay personal income tax and show that receipt upon application.

Sunbelt Legal Advisors will complete all the required paperwork and accompany you on your trip to Thai Immigration to insure the process is completed properly, and without additional costs or confusion.

Basic Requirements (Two signed photocopies of all documents)

* A non-imm O visa

* Marriage certificate (Kor Ror 3)

* Current Kor Ror 2 from your District Office (Amphur)

* Three photos each of the two of you in your house and in front of your house with house number showing, if you have children, please include them in the photo.

* A hand drawn map to your house.

* A letter from your Village Headman (phuyai ban) testifying to your relationship

* 40,000 Baht per month income or 400,000 baht in the bank for a minimum of 2 months, 3 months if reapplying.

* Thai spouse’s ID card.

* Thai spouse’s House Registration Document (tabien ban).

* Copies of all Thai stamps in passport and ID page.

* TM 6 Departure card.

* Two visa photos.

Option 1. Working in Thailand: You must provide your work permit, and taxation records, updated bank book and guarantee letter signed by your bank manager with both showing the same balance.

Option 2. Income from outside Thailand: You must provide a certified income statement from your embassy. You may also be asked to provide a letter from your employer, or other documents to support the proof of income. (ie. bank statements).

In the case of a foreign woman with a Thai husband the income requirement does not apply so no bank letter, bank book or guarantee letter is needed, but the husband must produce proof of payment of personal income tax in addition to the other documents. Additionally, as the husband is requesting his wife be allowed to stay with him in Thailand a personal interview is conducted by the Immigration officer and he fills out a separate form.

Extension of Stay based on Retirement.

You are eligible for a one year visa extension on the basis of retirement you are able to meet the following criteria:

1. 50 years of age, or over.

2. Possess a Non-Immigrant type visa.

3. Meet the minimum financial criteria of 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account,  or a verified income/pension of 65,000 baht per month, or a combination of savings and income.

Step 1: Obtaining an NON-Immigrant Type Visa

In order to make the application for a retirement visa extension you must first possess a NON-IMMIGRANT type visa. A non-immigrant visa can be obtained at a Thai embassy or consulate in most countries. Normally, an application for a single entry, 90 day NON-Immigrant O visa is made for the purpose of extending the visa at immigration in Thailand.  Typically, you can show your passport (with an appropriate birthdate over 50) and some general evidence of the required funds (a standard bank statement).

Click here to view a sample application for a NON-IMMIGRANT “O” visa.

Under some circumstances, at some embassies and consulates, they are not willing to issue a NON Immigrant Visa. In this case you can obtain a 60 day tourist visa which can later be changed over to a Non-Immigrant type visa at Immigration in Thailand.  Please note, that changing over the tourist visa adds another step at immigration and requires you to present the identical documents as a retirement visa. Be aware, you can ONLY make the applcation for extension within the last 30 days of the validity of the NON-O visa.

Step 2: Meeting the Financial Requirements.

1. Showing 800,000 THB in a Thai Bank account. In this circumstance you must show evidence of 800,000 THB which has been transferred into a Thai bank account from outside the country and has been resident for at least two (2) months before the application. To prove this, you must obtain documentation directly from your bank. You will require a Tor Tor 3 (foreign exchange certificate), a certified statement of account, and an updated bank book.

Click here to download a translated request for documents which you can print and present to your bank official.

2. Show an income or pension of 65,000 THB per month. For this method you must obtain an ‘affidavit of income’ from your embassy. This is a certified statement declaring your income. Various embassies have different requirements for issuing this document. You should contact your embassy directly for additional details on obtaining this document. Please note: it is recommended to supply additional ‘evidence of funds’ to the immigration officer as they are aware that some embassies do not ask for any supporting documentation when issuing the income affidavit.

Click here to view an example of an income affidavit.

3. Combination of funds. This will require documentation from both sources noted above (1&2). The combined total must be 800,000 baht or over. Note: Some immigration officials request a minimum of 400,000 THB resident in the bank account for the combination method.

Step 3: Required Documents Checklist.

1. Application form TM.7. Download Here.

2. Application fee: 1,900 THB

3. Original Passport and a signed photocopy of passport ‘information’ page.

4. A NON-Immigrant type visa with less than 30 days remaining in validity. A photocopy of NON-Immigrant visa and entry stamp, signed.

5. A hand drawn map to your residence. Google maps (or similar) will NOT be accepted.

6. One 4x6cm passport photo.

7. Financial Evidence:

a. 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account. Requires:  Tor Tor 3 (foriegn exchange certificate), Certified statement of account, updated bank book. Funds must be resident in account for 60 days prior to application OR

b. 65,000 THB per month income/pension. Requires: Affidavit from embassy. OR

c. Combination of funds. Requires: documents noted in a&b above.

Step 4: Making the Application.

Applications for retirement visa must be made at the Thai Immigration Bureau in the area which you reside.

Don’t Forget…