Thailand is a much sought-after country of residency as it offers such a convenient lifestyle. Countless foreigners seek guidance on obtaining Thai Permanent Resident Status to benefit from the many advantages it holds.

Becoming a permanent resident in Thailand eliminates the requirement of extending your visa frequently and enables you to own property in your name. Permanent Resident Status opens the door to many opportunities that wouldn’t be available to foreigners otherwise. 

Whether you wish to be the director of a Thai public company or obtain Permanent Resident Status for your non-Thai family members, becoming a Thai permanent resident is undoubtedly the best course of action for those who wish to settle and build a life for themselves in The Kingdom of Thailand. 

Application Requirements For Permanent Residency in Thailand

• The individual must be a foreign national who had gained legal entry into Thailand via an immigration checkpoint.
• The individual must be free of disease.
• The individual must possess a non-immigration visa for three consecutive years.
• The individual must hold a valid work permit within the last three years.
• The individual must have a monthly income of a minimum of 30 000 Baht if they’re married and 80 000 Baht if they’re single. Proof of monthly income must be provided as tax statements for the last three years.
• The individual may not be prohibited from entering the country under the Immigration Act.
• The individual must reside in Thailand permanently, benefit the country as a whole, and not pose any threats to local businesses in such a way that diminishes the performance of local establishments.
• The individual must fall into at least one of the categories mentioned below.

Process and Categories

A foreigner must fall into one of the following categories to be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Thailand:

• The individual has made a substantial investment in Thailand.
• The individual is a signatory and an executive officer of a business in Thailand with a minimum capital of 10 million Baht for at least a year. They are required to hold a valid work permit for at least three years and a minimum monthly income of 80 000 Baht for two years. 
• The individual is married, has a child, is single and under the age of 20, or is the parent of a Thai citizen or permanent resident. A prospective Thai resident who is a parent of a Thai citizen or permanent resident is required to hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher degree and have at least three consecutive years of work experience.

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An immigration officer will also interview the prospective permanent resident to evaluate their Thai oral skills. 

The documentation required to apply for permanent residency depends on the category in which the applicant falls. You will receive a residence blue book once your application for Thai Permanent Residency is approved. 

Thereafter, you must register the address of your Thai residence at your local Amphur and acquire an official house card. You can apply for an alien red book at your local police station a week after receiving the residence certificate receipt. 

This red book serves as an equivalent of a Thai national identification card, which you must re-register annually. Your Thai Permanent Residency can never expire unless it is revoked. If you plan on leaving and re-entering the country, you must apply for a re-entry permit. 

After holding Thai Permanent Resident Status for ten consecutive years, you can apply to become a naturalized citizen of Thailand. 

Benefits of Becoming a Permanent Resident in Thailand

Beyond living in Thailand on a permanent basis without losing time to administration, Permanent Resident Status also enables you to purchase a condominium without the need to transfer funds from overseas. 

Local financing will become widely available and relatively straightforward, and you will be able to be the director of a Thai public company. You will also be in a position to apply for family members’ extensions of stay and obtain a work permit easily.  

Thai Permanent Residency Timeframe

Individuals can only apply for Thai Permanent Resident Status from the beginning of October until the end of December of any given year, and the applicant may submit their application up until the last working day of December. 

After submission, the application will either be approved or denied by the Immigration Commission within 60 days. In the case the application is approved, it will be sent for a second confirmation by the Minister of Interior. The total application time duration may be between six and twelve months.