[seperalem]

Here is some information according to thaivisa.com. It seem accurate.

Quote[/b] ]Residency (Residence permit)

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;

© 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 NON-Immigrant visas can not appy. You must have 3 un-broken yearly extensions in order to qualify.

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.

Fees:

Application for a residence permit

7,600

Approval of a residence permit (payable on receipt of residence book)

191,400

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)

95,700

Application for a residence permit

7,600

Approval of a residence permit (payable on receipt of residence book)

191,400

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)

95,700

The Thai Immigration Bureau has recently (october 2003) 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:

1) Investment category (minumum 3 - 10 Mil. Baht investment in Thailand)

2) Working/ Business category

3) 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 to prepare

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 2004 and the residence permits will be issued in December 2004.

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 entry). If you don't leave Thailand, you don't need to have an endorement 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.

[r9tbayfC]

Quote[/b] (sawatdee @ Aug. 05 2004,08:01)]However, you must have been in Thailand for a continuous three years on one year visas....... you also have to take a written exam in Thai language and be videoed answering questions about yourself in Thai.

Thanks Sawatdee,

Need more of your expertise, the one year visa must it on business purpose? As for the exam, at what level or standard will they test you?

Your help is very much appreciated.
Mox

[r9tbayfC]

Is there anyway to have a Permanent Resident status in Thailand?

Sure someone know the requirement and critiria to become one, of course other than marrying a Thai wife if I'm right?

Mox

[DialOne]

Hi sawatdee,

Thanks for the info. Seems great! I think it will be quite useful if you can provide detailed informations. I believe it will benefit countless of people here. By the way, I am very interested too!!

Khob Kun Mak Krup

[seperalem]

It doesn't have to be business purposes. There are different categories you can apply under.

The written exam is not too hard though obviously you need to know how to read Thai! You also need to know some general knowledge about Thailand. For example, what is the flower representing mother's day, where in Thailand is Pattani, is this a picture of a plane or a car? etc.

I have heard that some people are helped with questions by the person examining them. However, you shouldn't rely on that happening to you. If you are going to pay 7000 baht for the application fee, you should really do your homework first.

[seperalem]

It is possible to apply to become a resident. However, you must have been in Thailand for a continuous three years on one year visas. You can only apply at the end of the year and it takes up to a year for approval. It is not easy to get as they only accept 100 people per nationality. As well as all the paperwork that has to be filled in, you also have to take a written exam in Thai language and be videoed answering questions about yourself in Thai. The application is 7000 baht which is not refundable. If they accept you, then you must pay them 191,000 baht.

If you want more information, we can supply it.

[r9tbayfC]

[It doesn't have to be business purposes. There are different categories you can apply under.]

Thanks consultant

What are the categories and must apply over at Thailand or I can do it in Thai embassy at my end?