Residence Permit

Residence Permit

1) General 

Because of the beauty and fascinating culture and traditions of Thailand, there is a desire to live permanently or do business here, or you may need to acquire possessory rights in your own properties. Residence Permit can be your best choice to live in Thailand more independently.  With the permit, you can get the advantages below:

     1.1 Extension of visa for staying shall not be required.

     1.2 Eligible to be a Director in a Thai Public Company.

     1.3 Buy and Possess a Condominium in Thailand without transferring money from

aboard. You can also be eligible to obtain the House Registration Book (Yellow Book); it is a document indicating possession or occupants.

     1.4 Apply for a Work Permit more comfortably.

     1.5 As well as eventually apply to become a naturalized Thai citizen.

     1.6 Able to extend the period of staying and Permanent Resident status for your Non-Thai family members.

2) Conditions 

Based on the authority prescribed in Section 7, Section 41, Section 43 and Section 45 of Immigration Act B.E. 2522, those foreign nationals who wish to obtain residency in the Kingdom of Thailand may apply for resident permit with the Immigration Commission.

To facilitate an immigration of foreign nationals for the best interest of the Kingdom, the Immigration Commission stipulated the following criteria on qualification of foreign applicant for residential permit by considering the applicant’s income, assets, knowledge, vocational ability, and family status in terms of connection with Thai national, conditions on national security or others as deem appropriate for current economic and social condition and to make it also certain that such consideration was made thoughtfully, transparently and fairly;

     2.1 Qualification of the eligible applicant to be considered for residential permit:

          - Foreign national applicants must hold a passport that has a Non-Immigrant Visa affixed and was granted with one-year visa extensions which reveal that up until the date of application submission, the applicant has been staying in the Kingdom for at least 3 consecutive years.

          - Foreign national applicants who are at least 14 years old are subject to criminal record check according to the following process;

            Fingerprint along with identity information of the applicant will be forwarded to the Criminal Record Division, Royal Thai Police for investigation to find whether the applicant has a criminal record or not.

            The criminal record of the applicant shall be examined and certified.

            Investigation through a Watch List System of the Immigration Bureau will be made to determine whether the applicant is a prohibited person (persona non grata) according to the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 or not.

Investigation will be made through the Foreign Affairs Division, Royal Thai Police to determine whether the applicant is a wanted person according to the warrants issued by the ICPO-Interpol or not.

          - The applicant must reveal information on his/her income, assets, knowledge, vocational ability, and family status in terms of connection with Thai national conditions on national security or others as deemed appropriate for the consideration.

          - The applicant must be able to understand and speak the Thai language.

     2.2 Categories of Application

          - Investment

          - Employment

          - Humanitarian Reasons:

            a) Spouse: To sponsor or to be under patronage of a Thai national spouse

            b) Child: To patronize or to be under patronage of a Thai national father or mother,

            c) Father or mother: patronize or to be under patronage of the applicant’s Thai national child,

            d) Spouse: To provide patronage or to be under patronage of the applicant’s spouse who was granted a residential permit,

            e) Child: To patronize or to be under patronage of the applicant’s father or mother who was granted a residential permit,

             f) Father or mother: To sponsor or to be under the patronage of the applicant’s child who was granted a residential permit.

          - Experts

          - Extra circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

     2.3 Qualification of the applicant in each category:

          2.3.1 Qualification of applicant for investment reason;

                   2.3.1.1 The applicant must have brought in at least Baht 10 million to invest in the Kingdom and this must be certified with a letter issued by the commercial bank in Thailand which reveals evidence of financial remittance into Thailand and

                   2.3.1.2 Investment made by the applicant must be of an interest to the national economy in either one or collective nature as follows:

                               2.3.1.2.1 Investment made in a limited company or public company with documentary evidence certified by state authority concerned and such business must not be discrepancy to national peace and order, culture or people’s morality or

                               2.3.1.2.2 Purchase of state-issued security or state enterprise’s security where the Ministry of Finance or Bank of Thailand is a guarantor and documentary evidence of such acquisition is required,

                               2.3.1.2.3 Investment in the stock market such as ordinary share, bond, preference share or investment unit etc. with a condition that such investment must be approved or certified by the Stock Exchange Commission and documentary evidence of such asset is required to be furnished along with the application

                   2.3.1.3 By the end of September of each year, foreign nationals who were granted a residential permit must submit documentary evidence of one’s investment acquisition to the Immigration Commission or the authorized official. This has to be done for

3 consecutive years starting from the day the residential permit is granted. The Committee and Secretary of the Immigration Commission or the authorized official have authority to investigate the investment to find out whether such investment is made according to the criteria stipulated by the Immigration Commission or not before reporting the findings to the Immigration Commission.

                   2.3.1.4 If the investigation reveals later that any foreign national who was granted with residential permit lacks of qualification as stipulated by the Immigration Commission then the Committee and Secretary of the Immigration Commission will report such circumstance to the Immigration Commission and propose an opinion to the Minister of Interior to revoke such permit

          2.3.2 Qualification of applicants who wish to work in the Kingdom;

                   2.3.2.1 The applicant has to be in a position of executive officer such as President of Committee or Committee of juristic persons registered in Thailand with a capital of at least Baht 10 million and is authorized as a signatory for such juristic persons, up to the date of application submission, for at least 1 year. The applicant must earn at least Baht 50,000 per month, up to the date of application submission, for a period of 2 consecutive years as minimum and tax return is required and

                   2.3.2.2 The business in which the applicant works must be of interest to the national economy i.e.

                               2.3.2.2.1 International commerce where its export value in foreign currency in the past 3 years reached a threshold of Baht 20 million on average. This fact must be certified by a letter issued by the commercial bank concerned or a company that provides loans to domestic manufacturing companies by bringing into this country, within the past three years, foreign currency at the amount not less than Baht 100 million or

                               2.3.2.2.2 Tourism-related business which in the past 3 years has brought into this country, at least 5,000 tourists on average. This fact must be certified by the letter issued by the authority concerned or

                               2.3.2.2.3 Other types of business in which the applicant is a shareholder of at least Baht 5 million for a period of at least 2 years up to the date of application submission.

                   2.3.2.3 In case where the applicant lacks any qualification as mentioned in 2.3.2.1 and 2.3.2.2 then the following requirement is applied:

                               2.3.2.3.1 Be a holder of work permit for at least 3 consecutive years up to the date of application submission and

                               2.3.2.3.2 Have been working in the current company for at least 1 year, up to the date of application submission and

                               2.3.2.3.3 Earn annual income at least Baht 80,000 per month for a period of at least 2 years, up to the date of application submission, or have been filing tax returns for the amount of annual

income of Baht 100,000 for at least 2 consecutive years, up to the date of application submission.

          2.3.3 Qualification of applicant for humanitarian reasons in each circumstance:

                   2.3.3.1 Spouse: To provide patronage or to be under patronage of a Thai national spouse

                               2.3.3.1.1 The sponsor works in Thailand

                               - Be a lawful spouse and had registered their marriage for at least 2 years before the date of application submission, and have their biological child together in any case of infertility, medical certifying letter issued by the hospital is required. In any case of infertility without a certification letter, their marriage registration must have been made at least 5 years before the date of application submission and

                               - One party or both parties must earn much enough to provide patronage or having annual income of at least Baht 30,000 per month in average, for at least 2 consecutive years before

the date of application submission and evidence of tax return is required and

                               - There is a Thai national who reveals one’s purpose to provide patronage or to be under the patronage of the applicant.

                               2.3.3.1.2 The patronage provider is an elderly

                               - Up to the date of application submission, the applicant must be at least 50 years old and

                               - Be a lawful spouse and registered their marriage for at least 2 years before the date of application submission and

                               - The patronage provider must earn annual income of at least Baht 65,000 per month in average for at least 2 consecutive years up to the date of application submission and

                               - There is a Thai national who reveals one’s purpose to provide patronage or to be under patronage of the applicant.

                   2.3.3.2 In the case of a foreign national child applying for a residential permit in order to provide patronage or to be under patronage of a Thai national father or mother,

                               2.3.3.2.1 A foreign national child wishes to provide patronage to a Thai national father or mother,

                               - Be a biological child and

                               - The applicant’s father or mother must be at least 50 years old, up to the date of application submission and

                               - The sponsor must earn annual income of at least Baht 30,000 per month in average for at least 2 consecutive years up to the date of application submission and evidence of tax return is required and

                               - There is a Thai national who reveals one’s purpose to be under the patronage of the applicant.

                               2.3.3.2.2 A foreign national child wishes to be under the patronage of a Thai national father or mother,

                               - Be a biological father or mother and registration of parental status was made and

                               - Age under 20 years old and not yet married but if the child is over 20 years old, then justification of such parental patronage is required such as studying for Bachelor Degree or equivalent and such education started before the age of 20 years old and in continuity where documentary evidence is required or the child is ill and cannot take care of oneself where medical certifying letter issued by the hospital is required and

                               - The patronage provider must earn annual income of at least Baht 30,000 per month in average for at least 2 consecutive years up to the date of application submission and evidence of tax return is required and

                               - There is a Thai national who reveals one’s purpose to provide patronage to the applicant.

                   2.3.3.3 A foreign national father or mother wishes to provide patronage or to be under patronage of a Thai national child,

                               2.3.3.3.1 Foreign national father or mother wishes to provide patronage to a Thai national child,

                               - Be a biological father or mother and registration of parental status was made and

                               - Age under 20 years old and not yet married but if up to the date of application submission, the child is over 20 years old, then justification of being under such parental patronage is required such as studying for Bachelor Degree or equivalent and such education had started before the age of 20 years old and in continuity where documentary evidence is required or the child is ill and cannot take care of oneself where medical certifying letter issued by the hospital is required and

                               - The patronage provider must earn annual income of at least Baht 30,000 per month in average for at least 2 consecutive years, up to the date of application submission and evidence of tax return is required

                               2.3.3.3.2 Foreign national father or mother wishes to be under the patronage of a Thai national child,

                               - Be a biological child and

                               - Age over 50 years old, up to the date of application submission and

                               - The patronage provider must earn annual income of at least Baht 30,000 per month in average for at least 2 consecutive years, up to the date of application submission and evidence of tax return is required and

                               - There is a Thai national who reveals one’s purpose to provide patronage to the applicant

                   2.3.3.4 Foreign national spouse wishes to provide patronage or to be under patronage of one’s spouse to whom a residential permit was granted,

                               2.3.3.4.1 Be a lawful spouse and had registered their marriage for at least 2 years before the date of application submission and

                               2.3.3.4.2 The spouse was granted with residential permit and reveal one’s purpose to either provide patronage or to be under patronage of the applicant and

                               2.3.3.4.3 The patronage provider has the same qualification as required for the applicant who wishes to invest or to work in the Kingdom

                   2.3.3.5 Foreign national child wishes to provide patronage or to be under patronage of one’s father or mother whom residential permit was granted,

                               2.3.3.5.1 Foreign national child wishes to provide patronage to one’s father or mother whom residential permit was granted

                               - Be a biological child and

                               - A father or mother must be over 50 years old, up to the date of application submission and

                               - A father or mother reveal one’s purpose to be under patronage of the applicant and

                               - The patronage provider has the same qualification as required for the applicant who wishes to invest or to work in the Kingdom

                               2.3.3.5.2 Foreign national child wishes to be under patronage of a foreign national father or mother whom residential permit was granted,

                               - Be a biological child age under 20 years old and not yet married but if up to the date of application submission, if the child is over 20 years old, then justification of being under such parental patronage is required such as studying for Bachelor Degree or equivalent and such education must had started before the child’s age of 20 years old and in continuity where documentary evidence is required or the child is ill and cannot take care of oneself where medical certifying letter issued by the hospital is required and

                               - A father or mother reveal one’s purpose to provide patronage to the applicant and

                               - The patronage provider has the same qualification as required for the applicant who wishes to invest or to work in the Kingdom

                   2.3.3.6 A father or mother wishes to provide patronage or to be under Patronage of the foreign national child whom residential permit was granted,

                               2.3.3.6.1 A father or mother wishes to provide patronage to one’s foreign national child for whom a residential permit was granted,

                               - Be a biological child, age under 20 years old and not yet married but if up to the date of application submission, the child is over 20 years old then justification of being under such parental patronage is required such as studying for Bachelor Degree or equivalent and such

education had started before the age of 20 years old and in continuity where documentary evidence is required or the child is ill and cannot take care of oneself where medical certifying letter issued by the hospital is required and

                               - The father or mother reveals one’s purpose to provide patronage to the applicant and

                               - The patronage provider has the same qualification as required for the applicant who wishes to invest or to work in the Kingdom

                               2.3.3.6.2 A father or a mother wishes to be under patronage of a foreign national child whom residential permit was granted

                               - Be a biological child and

                               - A father or mother must be over 50 years old, up to the date of application submission and

                               - The patronage provider reveals one’s purpose to provide patronage to the applicant and

                               - The patronage provider has the same qualification as required for the applicant who wishes to invest or to work in the Kingdom

          2.3.4 Qualification of applicants who applied as an expert in a particular field.

                               - Graduated at least Bachelor Degree and possesses special ability that is needed and benefit to this country and

                               - Be supported and officially certified by the authority concerned and

                               - Certifying letter pertaining to the applicant’s service in such position indicating, up to the date of application submission, a period of at least 3 consecutive years in the service is required

          2.3.5 Qualification of applicants under extra circumstances to be considered on a case-by-case basis

                               - An individual who produces benefit to the Kingdom of Thailand or Thai Government or was selected by a national institute as the one whose performance causes benefit to this country or perform for the authority and

                               - Certified in a form of letter by at least departmental authority or governor or civilian official of at least level 10 or military officer who is holding a rank of General, Air Chief Marshal, Admiral, Police General or political official who is in the position of Minister, President of the National Assembly, Vice President of the National Assembly, President of the Senate or Vice President of the Senate or Committee of Non-Government Organization according to the constitutional laws. Detail of the applicant’s work is required to be furnished or,

                               - Other qualifications or number of residential permits to be granted will be considered as deem appropriate by the Immigration Committee.



(3) Criterion of Consideration

     3.1) The applicants of each category must completely possess qualifications according to the criteria and condition of each category declared in this declaration up to the date of application submission.

     3.2) In case the number of eligible applicants according to item 4.1 of certain nationality is higher than its annual quota then a ratio will be set for each category and number of eligible applicants among such nationalities.

However, certain applicants may completely possess the stipulated qualification as mentioned before but considering economic, political, and social factors of the country as a whole the Immigration Committee or Minister of Interior has the authority to disagree to grant such applicant the residential permit and that decision is considered final. In this case such a decision is considered information which is not obliged to be revealed according to Section 15(1)(2) of the Information Act B.E. 2540.



Requirement for Residence Permit Application

(1) An applicant’s qualification

A foreign national may qualify to apply for a residence permit if he/she

     1.1 holds a passport of his/her current nationality, which was granted a NON-IMMIGRANT VISA and has been permitted to stay in the Kingdom of Thailand on the basis of one year visa extension for a total of at least 3 consecutive years up to the application submission date.

     1.2 has personal qualifications that fit one of the following categories:

           - Investment category

           - Working/Business category

           - Humanity Reasons category: he/she must have a relationship with a Thai citizen or an alien who already possesses a residence permit such as the following:

             (a) A Legal Husband / Wife

             (b) A Father / Mother

             (c) An under-20-years child on the submission date and must be single.

             (d) Expert Category

             (e) Extra Conditions on case-by-case basis



(2) Submission Period

The Ministry of Interior will announce the annual quota of foreigners to be granted a residence permit and such announcement will be published in the Government Gazette. Applications can then be submitted until the last working day of the year.



(3) Procedures after the application has been accepted 

     3.1 The immigration officers will grant the applicants for 180 days extension of stay on the date of application submission first and the next extension will be granted for 180 days until the results of the applications come out from The Immigration Commission.

     3.2 The applicants and those who get involved with the applications will get an appointment card to come for an interview with the immigration officers. The interview includes the test of the understanding of Thai language: speaking and listening (the applicants must come for the interview on the date of appointment; otherwise, without an appropriate reason, it will be automatically taken into the consideration that they cancel the applications.)

     3.3 The applicants who are 14 years of age and over from the application submission date must have their criminal records checked such as the following:

             (a) Their fingerprint sheets are sent to the Criminal Records Division for the criminal records check in Thailand.

             (b) Their passports are checked by the black list system to determine whether they are considered as “prohibited persons” according to the Immigration Bureau.

             (c) They are to be checked whether they are wanted by a foreign warrant of arrest by the Foreign Affairs Division.



(4) Consideration

     4.1 The applications will be submitted for the consideration by The Immigration Commission which consists of the representatives from The Ministry of Interior, The Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand, The Royal Thai Police Headquarters, The Ministry of Labour, Office of the Attorney General, The Board of Investment of Thailand, The Secretariat of the National Security Council, The Tourism Authority of Thailand, and The Immigration Bureau with the final approval by The Minister of Interior.

     4.2 To grant approval for the residence permit application, The Immigration Commission will take into its consideration the applicants’ qualifications in terms of income, assets, knowledge, professional expertise, relationship with a Thai citizen, national security, personality, health, the understanding of Thai language, and other appropriate conditions due to current economic and social surroundings, and government policy.

     4.3 Timing for the consideration process varies each year, depending on the policy of The Immigration Commission and The Ministry of Interior



(5) Required Documents:

- Copy of Passport and Visa (Non-Immigrant Visa) that permits one to stay in the Kingdom of Thailand on the basis of a one year visa extension for a total of at least 3 consecutive years up to the submission date.

- Application for Permanent Residence in the Kingdom

- Personal Information Form

- Heath Certificate from a Government Hospital

- Map of Residence and Working Place

- Employment Certification from the Employer (indicating wage, salary, compensations, etc.) throughout working years.

- Letter of Employment Record that issued by the Foreign Employment Department

Documents that are issued in foreign language shall be officially certified by the applicant’s national embassy located in Thailand and must be translated into Thai. And the translated documents shall be certified by the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand.

The documents mentioned-above shall be subjected to change by the government’s policies and conditions. Please use it as a guideline only. More Information, please contact us.