Thai passport

Post by **charlesh** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:59 am

I have been told that after 3 years in LOS one can apply for a Thai passport - true or not. Sounds odd to me!
Charles H

Post by **lomuamart** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:26 am

Don't know much about this, but other then if you've got dual nationality (one of them being Thai) I don't think you've got an earthly.
Having said that, you can apply for Permanent Residency after 3 (I think) consequetive years of being on annual extensions, but I'm sure you need to have been working, paying taxes, be able to show proficiency in the Thai language and have shedloads of money. That might get you a Thai passport, I'm not sure. It certainly gets you a separate PR book/passport looking document. Maybe it's that that you've heard about?

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:36 am

If you have bucket loads of money you could probably buy one.
Everything else seems to be for sale here if your pockets are deep enough...

Post by **STEVE G** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:33 am

As I understand things, Thailand doesn't allow dual nationality so to become Thai you have to surrender your original nationality and get t document to prove it.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:11 am

Yeah, that's what I understand Steve.
Charlesh, as Lomu said after 3 years you can apply for Permanent Residency. You need to have been granted stay here for 3 years un-broken. They need to have been for business or support of family member. They only accept the first 100 applications from each nationality per year. Then you do not need any more visas/extension for stay. You can't own land with it.

This is about obtaining Thai Nationality:
Thailand's Nationality Act B.E. 2508 as amended by Acts B.E. 2535 No. 2 and 3 (1992)
Section 10. An alien who possesses the following qualifications may apply for naturalisation as a Thai:
(1)becoming sui juris in accordance with Thai law and the law under which he has nationality;
(2)having good behaviour;
(3)having regular occupation;
(4)having a domicile in the Thai Kingdom for a consecutive period of not less than five years till the day of filing the application for naturalisation;
(5)having knowledge of Thai language as prescribed in the Regulations.
Section 11. The provisions of Section 10 (4) and (5) shall apply if the applicant for naturalisation as a Thai;
(1)has rendered distinguished service to Thailand or has done acts to the benefit of official service, which is deemed suitable by the Minister;
(2)is a child or wife of a person who has been naturalised as a Thai or has recovered Thai nationality; or
(3)is one who used to have Thai Nationality.

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:35 am

They should have that system in England. Point 5 would be a start...

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:52 am

Too right Randy, would love to see the Poles trying to learn Thai

Post by **buksida** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:01 am

Most of the replies here are on the right track, this is how I understand it.

You can apply for residency (red book) after 3 consecutive years on a non-immigrant visa (salary over 80k per month if non-B). It costs 7k to apply (no guarantees) about 96k if married and 190k or there abouts if not. You need to take a test in Thai also. Residency is like a permanent visa - but you still need to do all the bullshit if you want a work permit.

After 10 years (maybe 5 according to quote above) of permanent residency you can apply for Thai citizenship, again a bunch of cash and a pile of paperwork is required - only then do you get a Thai passport.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:13 am

Here's a useful link on PR from Thai Consulate in UK:
http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/pdfs/Ap%20 ... igners.pdf

I think it'd be well useful to have, although expensive, but think of no visa/exit/permits/extensions/reporting/visa runs etc for the rest of your life. Plus it'll force you to learn Thai, for those of us like me who haven't cos we're too lazy.

If you have this though can't really see the reason to get Thai nationality, if you can own land with it then that may be a reason.

SJ

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:14 am

Could you imagine being stopted by the police for a fine and producing a Thai passport. Wonder what effect it would have....