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How To Get A Thailand Permanent Resident Visa

May 28, 2024 6:59 PM
Jane Le
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Thailand is home to some incredibly breathtaking landscapes, historic monuments, mist-covered mountains, and jungles. Undoubtedly, Thailand is a haven for anyone who wants to stay in this country for a long time. To become a permanent resident of this Southeast Asian country, you must apply for a Thailand permanent resident visa. Let’s discover this type of visa by checking out this post!

WHO NEEDS A THAILAND PERMANENT RESIDENT VISA?

Normally, many people find Thailand to be a preferred travel destination due to its allure, such as the diverse culture, magnificent landscapes, etc. 

In fact, except for tourism-related purposes, Thailand attracts a large number of foreign visitors who wish to settle down in this nation permanently due to its low cost of living and popularity as a rapidly-growing destination in Southeast Asia. For this reason, the Thai Royal Government designed a long-term visa type called a Thailand permanent resident visa for international citizens who want to live in this country for a long time.

The permanent resident visa is also used for those who invest in Thailand or have a work permit. Unlike other types of Thailand visas, which require periodic exits from the country, the permanent resident visa permits holders to live and work in Thailand without renewing their visa annually or leaving Thailand.

Thailand permanent resident visa - The work permit

The Thailand permanent resident visa can be used for those who invest in Thailand or have a work permit

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PERMANENT RESIDENT VISA FOR THAILAND

There are many different aspects of the Thailand permanent resident visa that you need to learn about. In this part, we will offer you comprehensive insights into this long-term visa type in detail. 

Categories of the permanent resident visa 

Regarding a Thailand permanent resident visa, there are many different categories that you can choose to apply for this visa type. To know more about these visa categories, including their requirements and duration, you can check out the following list:

Category 

Requirements

Investment 

To apply for an investment permanent resident visa, you must have:

  • A minimum investment of 10 million Baht in Thailand

  • Documents from a Thai commercial bank (These documents are used to prove that the investment was transferred to the nation from overseas.)

Additionally, the investment needs to have a positive impact on the Thai economy.

After receiving the visa, you must submit the investment proof to the assigned officer or immigration committee within September of each year for three years in a row.

Business 

In addition to having a minimum capital of 10 million Baht and being able to sign documents for a minimum of one year, you must be employed as an executive for a Thai-registered business until the date of application submission.

Besides, you must demonstrate proof of income tax payment and earn at least 50,000 Baht per month for a minimum of two years in a row until the date of application submission. 

Work

Prior to the submission date, you must have addressed the following issues:

  • You have had a valid work permit that has allowed them to work in Thailand for more than three years. 

  • You have worked for the company listed in the application for at least one year.

Additionally, for at least two years in a row, you must either have earned at least 80,000 Baht per month or have paid at least 100,000 Baht in personal income taxes.

Humanity reasons

You need to choose one of the following options to apply for this category:

  • Spouse who is a Thai national or a holder of a Thailand permanent resident visa who offers patronage or who is patronized by the spouse;

  • Child who serves as a patron or is under the patronage of parent(s) who is a Thai citizen or a Thai permanent resident;

  • Parent endorsing or being patronized by the child, who is a Thai citizen or a holder of a permanent resident visa;

  • Expert;

  • Other cases, which may be considered based on his or her circumstances.

Thailand permanent resident visa - The visa categories

There are many different categories in which you can choose to apply for a permanent resident visa

Benefits of applying for the permanent resident visa 

Obtaining a Thailand permanent resident visa has several advantages, in addition to making extended visits easier. A few advantages of applying for the permanent resident visa are listed below:

  • It permits you to live in Thailand for a long-term period of time. If you want to become a permanent citizen of this Southeast Asian country, this visa will help you increase the possibility of applying for Thai citizenship. However, the prerequisite for this possibility is that you need to live in Thailand for ten years in a row.

  • You do not have to renew or extend your Thailand visa annually. This helps you not only save time and money but also avoid complicated and confusing paperwork procedures. 

  • Apart from this residency permit, you may also be qualified to hold a director position in a public enterprise in Thailand. You will also be eligible to extend the length of stay or apply for permanent resident status for your non-Thai family members.

  • Possessing this visa can assist you in experiencing a very straightforward application process for a work permit.

  • You can acquire an alien book (the red book) and a book of permanent residence.

  • You will be able to use Thai medical and educational resources and be qualified for a Thai driving license.

  • You can also enjoy other benefits, such as the capacity to have your name on documents related to home registration, the capacity to purchase property without having to transfer your funds from outside the country, etc.

Thailand permanent resident visa - The benefits

The permanent resident visa will help you increase the possibility of applying for Thai citizenship

Duration of the Thailand permanent resident visa 

Based on the name of this visa, you can guess its duration of validity and the length of stay. This visa is designed for international citizens who want to live in Thailand for a long time or become permanent residents of Thailand. This means that the permanent resident visa allows you to live permanently in Thailand for an unlimited validity period.

What are the requirements for the permanent resident visa?

To raise the chance of approval for a Thailand permanent resident visa, understanding and satisfying all the visa requirements is a must. In this article, we will reveal some requirements that you need to notice:

  • Some general requirements that you must meet are:

It is necessary for you to possess a Thailand work visa along with a work permit for a minimum of three years. When you apply for a permanent resident visa, these documents need to have an extension of stay based on employment. 

Furthermore, you need to have at least one BA degree and work a job that requires you to work for a minimum of three years in a row. You have been employed by your present employer for a minimum of a year prior to the time of application for this visa.

For two years in a row, you have been paid for your monthly salary of at least 80,000 Baht or have filed a tax return with at least 100,000 Baht in annual income.

If you want to apply for a permanent resident visa by investment, you must possess a minimum of 3 million Baht that has been invested in a Thai limited or public enterprise.

In the event that you intend to apply for a permanent resident visa through your family relationship, you need to be a parent, a child, or the spouse of a Thai national.

  • Required documentation for a permanent resident visa application:

You need to collect all the necessary documents below beforehand:

Documentation

Requirements

Passport

You need to have a valid passport and a copy of all pages pertaining to it. 

Passport-size photo

The passport-size photo also needs to meet all Thai photo criteria. The dimensions of the photo are 4 cm by 6 cm. Your photo must be taken within 6 months prior to the submission date.

Non-immigrant visa

You need to have a valid non-immigrant visa for a minimum of three years in a row before submitting the application for a permanent resident visa.

Departure and arrival cards

You need to attach copies of the cards you received when arriving or departing from Thailand.

Health certificate

It is a document from a Thai hospital that has provided it as proof that you are free of diseases that are prohibited. This current certificate should be valid for no more than three months.

Visa application form

An application form for a Thailand permanent residence visa that has been filled out and signed.

Proof of sufficient funds

You need to provide the following documents:

  • Bank statements that show a consistent and ample source of income.

  • A bank letter attesting to the account's balance and data.

  • Wage slips, tax statements, tax returns, and evidence of tax payment if you are employed.

Note: 

At least 20,000 Baht per individual and 40,000 Baht per household are required for your bank balance. 

Documents related to employment (if required)

You need to obtain the documents below:

  • A work permit, along with a copy of all pages pertaining to it.

  • A letter from your employer detailing your position, the length of employment, salary, etc.

  • Company documentation, including balance sheets, shareholder lists, and the registration document of your company.

Documents related to your family (if required)

A list of required family-related documents is compiled as follows:

  • A marriage certificate (if you are married to a Thai national) and the birth certificates of any children who are Thai citizens if you are applying based on family ties.

  • Family pictures, the ID card of your Thai spouse, and the household registration.

Documents related to investment (if required)

If your application is based on the category of investment, you need to provide documentation that proves your investment, such as records of your investments in government or social projects.

Additionally, based on the forms of the application, you may be required to provide other necessary documents. Therefore, it is advised that you reach out to the Royal Thai Immigration Office or the Royal Thai Embassies or Consulates for more relevant details.

Thailand permanent resident visa - The visa requirements

Understanding and satisfying all the visa requirements is a must to raise the chance of approval for the permanent resident visa

Step-by-step instructions for registering for the Thailand permanent resident visa

An application for a residence permit in Thailand can be made at a Royal Thai Immigration Office. Besides, you must be aware that the number of individuals granted permanent residence in Thailand is limited to 100 per country per year.

The application process for a Thailand permanent resident visa can be difficult and time-consuming. Therefore, for the purpose of avoiding unexpected problems posed in the visa application process, you need to follow the instructions below:

  • Collect the necessary paperwork:

If you do not submit all the needed paperwork, your visa application will definitely be denied. Thus, you must begin gathering them beforehand when you have the intention of obtaining this type of visa. It is essential to confirm the list of required documents by contacting the competent authority to ask for more details.

  • Await the opening dates for registration for the permanent resident visa:

You have a certain amount of time to submit your application. This often occurs from October to the last month of each year. Only applications for this Thailand visa type may be submitted during this time. 

Thus, you need to make sure you have already prepared all the documentation and that you are aware of the precise registration time. Just 100 applicants from each country will receive this type of visa (if approved), so keep that in mind.

  • Send the application to a Royal Thai Immigration Office:

After collecting all the required documents and waiting for the registration time, you must submit your application to a Royal Thai Immigration Office within the allotted period (from October to December). 

During the process of submission, you may have to implement both an interview and a multiple-choice test by using the Thai language:

Category

Description

Interview

You will need to conduct an interview in which you have to demonstrate your command of the Thai language. If you are absent on the scheduled date without a good explanation, your application will be considered canceled.

You will be interviewed by an immigration officer at the Royal Thai Immigration Office. This is an essential stage of your visa application process for permanent residence in Thailand.

You will need to explain the details of your background, your religion, and the relevant paperwork to the immigration officer. Your answers will be recorded, and you will be asked to sign the paperwork when the interview is finished.

Multiple-choice test

You also need to respond to ten multiple-choice questions in Thai. The immigration officer can help you if you do not know how to read Thai.

After that, you need to pay the permanent resident visa fee. It is noticeable that the processing fee for a Thailand permanent resident visa must be paid if you want your visa application to be approved. Scanning your fingerprints is also required after you have made a fee payment successfully.

  • Await the processing time:

Once your application has been submitted, you will have to wait for the result of the application. You will be granted a 180-day extension to stay in Thailand while your visa is being processed by the Immigration Office. 

After your application has been approved, you will be given a blue book of residency used to record your place of residence in Thailand and apply for an alien book, which is the Thai version of an ID card. After that, you must register your address in Thailand at the nearby Amphur (district of Thailand).

How long does it take to process an application for a permanent resident visa?

A Thailand permanent resident visa takes roughly five to six months to process. To prevent delays in the processing time, it is crucial to make sure that the application is complete. Besides, you need to ensure that you have submitted all the required documentation. 

It is suggested that you double-check all the information in the visa application form as well as confirm the quantity of required documents before submitting your application.

How much does the permanent resident visa for Thailand cost?

The cost of a Thailand permanent resident visa is 7,600 Baht. However, this visa fee can change anytime, depending on the rules of the Government of Thailand and your nationality. 

The fee also fluctuates based on the category of permanent resident visa that you intend to choose. You should also be aware that you may have to pay additional expenses (for example, service fees, fees for the permanent residence permit certificate, etc.). 

Besides, you must pay 191,400 Baht for the residence permit if your application for a permanent resident visa is approved. However, in the event that you are a spouse, a parent, or a child under 20 years old of a Thai citizen or a holder of a permanent resident visa, the fee that you need to pay for the residence permit is 95,700 Baht. 

For these reasons, it is recommended that you contact the competent authority to inquire about the specific requirements regarding the visa fee.

Thailand permanent resident visa - The visa fee

The visa fee can change anytime, depending on the rules of the Government of Thailand and your nationality

Visa extensions of the Thailand permanent resident visa 

If you successfully obtain the Thailand permanent resident visa, you will not be required to ask for an annual extension of stay or a yearly visa renewal. Besides, while permanent residents do not need to renew their visas annually, they must report to the Royal Thai Immigration Office each year to verify their presence. If not, you risk paying fines or maybe losing your permanent resident status. 

Additionally, in order to prevent having your permanent residence visa revoked, you must obtain re-entry authorization before departing from and returning to Thailand.

An international airport in Thailand or a Royal Thai immigration office can provide re-entry permission. The fee for a single re-entry permit is 1,000 Baht, while the fee for multiple re-entries is 3,800 Baht.

In order to get your visa reactivated in the event that you return to Thailand, you need to make sure that you write down your re-entry permit number on your immigration arrival form. 

Moreover, to be eligible to apply for Thai citizenship, you must reside in Thailand for a minimum of ten years in a row with the aim of maintaining the status of permanent residency. Other prerequisites, meanwhile, such as passing an exam on Thai language and culture, possessing a work permit, and having high morals, must be fulfilled.

Thailand permanent resident visa - The visa extensions

You must reside in Thailand for a minimum of ten years in a row to be eligible to apply for Thai citizenship

CAN I APPLY FOR A THAILAND PERMANENT RESIDENT E-VISA?

Because of the complications of the visa application process, there is currently not much information about the online application for the Thailand permanent resident visa. Therefore, in the event that you have the intention of staying in Thailand for a long period of time or even becoming a permanent resident in Thailand, it is recommended that you submit your visa application in person at the Royal Thai Immigration Office. 

Additionally, there is other assistance for you if you are eager to live in Thailand permanently but find the application procedure for a permanent resident visa confusing. In fact, it is not easy for you to implement all the steps of the application for a permanent resident visa without any problems. Therefore, you can ask for assistance from some trusted consulting and support channels. This may be another way to help you discover details related to this type of Thailand visa as well as receive effective support from these sources to solve problems that you are facing. 

E-VISSA.COM: YOUR TRUSTED VISA APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

Do you want to register for a Thailand permanent resident visa faster? If you want to make sure that the procedure for obtaining the permanent resident visa for Thailand goes smoothly, you may need the support of E-Vissa.com

Our platform has been carefully designed to provide you with comprehensive guidance and trusted visa application assistance. Here are some benefits that you can gain from this effective service gateway:

  • Safeguarding your personal and sensitive data is our top priority. You may be certain that your data is treated with the utmost confidentiality and protection during the application process. 

  • With our comprehensive articles on a variety of visa-related topics, you can receive thorough instructions and useful information about types of visas, including the permanent resident visa. Whether you are a seasoned applicant or this is your first time applying for a visa, you will find it easy to comprehend and carry out the application process thanks to our user-friendly platform.

  • In the event that you use our service, you may quickly monitor the process of your visa application with the aid of the straightforward tools on our website. You will receive timely notifications of any modifications or changes and be able to quickly monitor the status of your application. This also allows you to take swift action to solve relevant issues and ensure a seamless submission of the visa application to the competent authority.

For the aforementioned benefits, you can consider using our acknowledged and trusted website to consult about your application procedure for a permanent resident visa. You can place your trust in using the services and tools of our platform because it is not only a service gateway but also a trusted visa application assistance. 

With a great deal of experience in not only applying for an E-Visa but also responding to relevant inquiries, our website will provide you with the best experience and support. For this reason, you can contact E-Vissa.com and ask for assistance if you have any issues or queries about the procedure for applying for this type of visa. 

To sum up, acquiring a Thailand permanent resident visa is not as simple as you expected. You need to fully meet the strict requirements for the visa application process. Any mistakes or problems posed in the process can result in your application being denied. Therefore, to improve your chances of getting an approved permanent resident visa, you should not disregard the valuable information in this article. 

If you make a mistake or have any questions when applying for this type of Thailand visa, please get in touch with us as soon as possible at [email protected] to receive our assistance.

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