What are the criteria to apply for a residence permit in Thailand?

For foreigners traveling to Thailand and stay for a long time for any reason such as coming to work, following up with a family who works in Thailand, etc. If wanting to have a residence permit in Thailand, how to proceed? Wonderful Package has an answer for you. However, there will be an announcement announcing the amount of quota specified (Annual quota) before being able to apply a request.

Requirements for the number of foreigners who can apply for a residence permit in Thailand (Refer to the latest data of the year 2019 / for the year 2020 is not have any announcement).

1. No more than 100 nationalities of each country
2. No more than 50 stateless nationals

What are the criteria to apply for a residence permit in Thailand?

1. Hold a passport of the country of current nationality
2. Obtained Non-Immigration Visa
3. The applicant 40 years old, the official must check the background history
   - Check a criminal record with fingerprint and complete history at the Division of Criminal Records
   - Check the criminal record certificate
   - Check that it is a prohibited person under the Immigration Act 1979.
   - Check whether the person has an arrest warrant for Interpol or not at the Division of Foreign Affairs, Royal Thai Police 
4. Show the information about income, assets, knowledge, and competencies in the professional field and family status of foreigners and Thai nationals
5. Can speak, listen and understand Thai language

Type of request must be one of the following reasons.

1. Request for "Investment"
2. Request for "Work"
3. Request for "Humanity Reason" which is divided according to relationships with Thai nationals or have a relationship with a person who has a resident permit including
   - Being Husband-Wife registered marriage
   - Being Father-Mother who is at least 50 years old
   - Being a child under 20 years old and not married
4. Request for "Specialist" has special talents and benefit to the country
5. Request for “Special Cases" such as being benefit to Thailand

Specific date for accepting requests

Each year, foreigners are requested to submit a request one time, which is usually open around December of every year and will end on the last working day of that year. You can inquire about the request opening date and details about the supporting documents at the Sub-Division 1, Immigration Division 1 (Resident Application).

Once the request has been received, the foreigner must submit by themselves along with supporting documents according to the type of request, and bring the original passport to show to the authorities as well.

The procedures after received the requests

1. Officials will give a permit seal to stay awaiting consideration for the first for 180 days and the next time for 90 days until know the results of the immigration committee.
2. Receive an appointment form. Foreigners and related persons come to interview by testing the ability to speak Thai and able to understand Thai (must come on the appointment date. If not coming to the appointment date without justification, it will consider renunciation of the said request).
3. Foreigner who over 40 years old from the date of submission the request must have a criminal background check from the following officials
   - Fingerprint of foreigners send to check whether there is a criminal record in Thailand or not at the Criminal Record Registration Division.
   - Check the passport from the Black List account as a prohibited person or not according to the Immigration Act 2522.
   - Verify that a person has a foreign arrest warrant (Red Notice) from the Division of Foreign Affairs National Police Agency?

What are the criteria to consider?

1. Considered by the Immigration Commission consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Police, Ministry of Labour, Office of the Attorney General, the Board of Investment of Thailand, the Office of the National Security Council, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Immigration Bureau with the approval of the Interior Minister.
2. Criteria to be considered from income, assets, knowledge and professional ability, the status of foreigners and Thai nationals, and conditions for national security, personality, health, the understanding of Thai language, and other appropriate conditions following social conditions and government policy.
3. The period of consideration for each year is uncertain due to the policy of the Immigration Commission and the Ministry of Interior.

Remark: 

• Foreigners who meet all the criteria and conditions, the committee will consider the qualifications of each type of application from the date of request submission.
• Foreigners who meet all the criteria and conditions but exceeding the quota, the committee will consider by dividing the number of permits according to the type of application and the number of people who meet all the criteria of that foreigner.
• Although, foreigners meet all the criteria and conditions but if considering the political and social security of Thailand, the Immigration Commission or the Interior Minister has the power to consider disallowing or disapproving a residence permit in the Kingdom to that foreigner.

How much for the fee of Residence Certificate?

1. The application fee is 7,600 baht. It is non-refundable whether you get the Residence Certificate or not.
2. If you allow to have the Residence Certificate, you have to pay the Residence Certificate fee 191,400 baht per certificate.
3. If foreigners who are spouses, parents, or underage children and have a relationship with a Thai national allowed to have the Residence Certificate must pay a fee of 95,700 baht per certificate.

Where is the location to submit the application of Residence Permit?

• Bangkok: at Sub-division 1 ,Immigration Division 1, The Government Complex Commemorating His  Majesty The Kings 80th Birthday Anniversary, 5th December, B.E. 2550 (2007), Building B, 2 Floor, Counter D, 120 Moo 3, Chaengwattana Road, Thungsonghong Sub-District, Bangkok 10210
• Other Regions: at the Immigration Office in the area where stay in
• If that locality does not have an Immigration Office, you can apply to a nearby Immigration Office.

If you are a person who meets the criteria for applying for a Residence Permit in Thailand, do not miss to process the request. After receiving the Residence Certificate, you do not have to wait to renew your visa all the time.

If you have any questions or want any suggestions, please contact the Wonderful Package. We have a team ready to give advice and service to all of you.

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