Because more western expatriates plan to stay in Thailand for their entire life, the prospect of how to get Thai Citizenship has become more appealing. On the other hand, Obtaining Thai citizenship is a lengthy process that can take anywhere from three to five years. As a result, many foreigners find it too challenging. If you’re willing to apply for or even receive Thai Citizenship, though, it is not tough.
Comply with all of the Thai government’s requests. Those that have decided to make the country their homes, for whatever reasons, family or work, are inclined to believe it is worthwhile. However, being in Thailand for some time is not just the only need for getting Thai Citizenship. Outstanding value of your work, actions, and earnings all play essential functions.
How to Get Thai Citizenship: Citizenship in Thailand
Foreigners can overcome obstacles in Thailand by obtaining permanent resident status. Which can later be followed by naturalization as Thai citizens. This same ability to own all the over 49 percent of remaining Thai stock. The privilege to own property and land. The comfort from the series of documentaries responsibilities of Thai immigration processes.
The capacity to work in the country without a work permit. And smoother access to financial activities are just a few of the benefit of obtaining Thai Citizenship. Applications for naturalization as a Thai citizen begin with the Special Forces of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok. And then go to the Interior Ministry for review and approval.
Eligibility requirements will vary depending on the circumstances of the applicant. Unless the applicant has a strong tie with Thailand (e.g., marriage to a Thai person, having children with Thai citizenship). They will need permanent residency and have lived in Thailand for at least five years.
The following conditions must be met if the candidate wishes to apply for Citizenship through the permanent residency route:
1. A legal adult, including Thai and the applicant’s home country’s laws.
2. Has a clean past in criminal convictions, political actions, and drug-related behavior.
3. Maintains a steady job. A work visa from the Office of Work Permits or the Provincial Office of Employment is required, as well as a basic wage that meets the following requirements:
3.1. The applicant must have a monthly income of approximately 80,000 Baht if they don’t have a strong tie with Thailand.
To meet this requirement, the foreigner should submit a revenue certificate. Along with documents demonstrating that you had already paid income tax for even more than three years. Documents indicating how they have compensated income tax for revenue of 100,000 Baht that year preceding the filing of the request for Thai citizenship naturalization.
Is It Possible to Acquire Thai Citizenship While Retaining Your Existing Citizenship
You can still have dual Citizenship in most industrialized countries. Therefore, if you have Australian, Canadian, US, UK, or French Citizenship, you could also have Thai Citizenship because the Thai authorities do not require you to relinquish your native nationality.
Many expatriates who have lived in the country of Thailand for an extended period choose to go through the lengthy process to become Naturalized Thai citizens. Applying for Citizenship is a lenghty and often exhausting process that entails submitting lots of paperwork. Dealing with the administrative department after bureaucratic department, singing the country’s National Anthem, most importantly – waiting, waiting, waiting.
How to Get Thai Citizenship: The Advantages of Being a Thai Citizen
If you’ve lived in the country for a long time, you’re well aware of the advantages that lie with it. However, being a Thai citizen (rather than just a Temporary/Permanent Resident) provides a slew of benefits, including:
- You have the ability to purchase and own properties in your full name.
- To work, you do not need to obtain a visa.
- You does not need a renewed visa.
- You do not need to file for such Re-Entry Permit each time you travel abroad.
- In Thailand, you can own more than 49% of a company’s stock.
How to Get Thai Citizenship: Who Is Qualified for Naturalization
If you meet the following criteria, you can petition for the country’s citizenship through naturalization:
- You must be at least 18 years old to participate.
- You must have resided in Thailand before applying. As a Legal Resident for about five years.
- It would be best if you had spent those years in Thailand on the very same travel visa you had in the time for your application.
- You are well-behave and have a police record.
- The job is in the country.
- You can communicate in Thai* and understand, speak, and write it.
- Perform the country’s National Anthem, Sanserm Phra Baramee.
- On the Points System for getting Thai Citizenship, you must achieve at least or mark half of points out of a possible 100.
These are optional if you:
- You are the wife, husband, or kid of somebody who has obtained Thai Citizenship by naturalization?
- Are you married to a Thai woman?
- I used to be a Thai citizen.
- Have stay in a way that benefits Thailand in some way
Even if you do not have a Permanent Residency. You can be able to seek Thai Citizenship following three years of staying on Thai Visa Extensions.
How to Get Thai Citizenship: What Is the Procedure for the Application
The First Step in Obtaining Thai Citizenship: The essential condition for obtaining Thai Citizenship is a Thai Legal Resident. If you don’t have it, you’ll have to register for it. And settle in Thailand for five years, paying taxes before applying for Citizenship.
- You must apply for Thailand citizenship at the Bangkok Police Headquarters Special Division or wherever you reside.
- When you choose to apply for Thailand citizenship. You should go to the Police Headquarters to get a list of the relevant documents you’ll need to submit.
- Please submit all of the relevant documentation. You can ask to support other documents when something is not in order.
- Your Thailand Citizenship petition is register if everything is in order, and you are require to pay the processing fee and provide your fingerprints.
- You must go to the Ministry of Interior. Participate in a Thai-language interview, and perform the Thai National Anthem.
- Wait for your request for reviewed and approved. Thai immigration agents will visit your residence during this period to verify that the information you gave is correct.
- You must take the Citizenship Oath at the Police Headquarters if your Thai Citizenship application is granted.
How long would the Process take for an Application?
From the time you file your completed set of documents. The time process for Thailand Citizenship application is from 6 to 12 months.
How to Get Thai Citizenship: How Much Would It Cost
The following are the fees of applying for Thai citizenship:
- For candidates who are of legal age, the cost is 10,000 Baht per petition (over 18 years old)
- 5,000 Baht per filing for applicants’ children and those under 18.
- The Certificates of Naturalization costs 1,000 Baht.
- 2,000 Baht each application for Thai Nationality Recovery
How to Get Thai Citizenship: When Applying, What Papers Do I Need
The paperwork you’ll need to provide for the Thai citizenship petition varies depending on your situation. It’s the responsibility of the officials at the Headquarters or police office where you apply to provide you with a comprehensive checklist of proper documents. However, the following documents are required for Thai citizenship:
- Passport photocopies
- Copies of the Alien Book are available for purchase.
- Photcopies of your Certificate of Residency
- Photocopies of the Registration of the House
- Photocopies of the Work Permit (or Permits)
- Photographs of yourself
- Evidence of filing an income tax return
- Documents from the company, as well as certificate of employment
- If you’re married or have children, you’ll need your marriage and birth certificates.
- Copies of two nationals’ identification documents which can vouch for you
- and any paperwork you’ll need to bring
Other Prerequisites for Filing for Thai Citizenship and Obtaining It
You should be of legal age to apply for Thai citizenship. Be one with good moral character, be working in Thailand, and provide appropriate three years of tax filings in Thailand. You should have lived in Thailand for at least five years and be capable of reading, writing, communicating, and comprehending Thai.
If you are awarded Thai Citizenship, you will receive a letter confirming this (or a letter refusing your application if you are not). The King of Thailand will sign your application. Then, for the swearing-in ceremony, you’ll be expected to show up to your local police station dressed nicely and with Buddhist paraphernalia (candle, flowers, and incense).
You will swear allegiance to the King and the country of Thailand at this moment. It, however, is not the end of the process; you will have to wait (perhaps for a few more months) for word from the Ministry of the Interior confirming your Thai Citizenship. The Thai authorities estimate that obtaining Thai Citizenship will take between 1 and 5 years from start to end.
So, it takes about 5-10 years from the time you apply for Permanent Residency to the time you become a full Thai citizen. Thai Citizenship is not easy to obtain, but as more ex-pats feel their allegiances shifting from their home country to Thailand, it is becoming something they would like to have.
Contact Criminal Investigation Division Group I, Subdivision 3, Police Department, Rama I Road, Bangkok, for more information and a checklist of documents required for Thai citizenship.
Conclusion
Remember that the commanding officers of your application on how to get Thai Citizenship can request whatever documents they want, even if you’ve already supplied them. Because your citizenship’s fate is dependent on them. You must always be friendly and respectful.