It is not strange to know foreigners wanting to make Thailand as their permanent place of residence. After all, the Kingdom has what it takes to be a coveted place to establish one’s residency: true tropical experience, inexpensive cost of living and well-established healthcare system.
Some would have their extended stays in the Kingdom through retirement visa while others choose marriage visa since they are married to Thai nationals. Yet, these extended visas are only temporary as holders of these still have to renew such visas every year and so if they want to stay longer in Thailand, more than what those mentioned visas allow them to, they can choose to apply for the Thai Permanent Residency Visa.
Thai Permanent Residency Advantages
The permanent residency permit is a step closer for Thai citizenship and a Thai passport. Also, the holder of this residency permit allows him to stay in the Kingdom indefinitely and call it his new home even with the absence of a visa.
Furthermore, he may even be able to purchase a condominium on freehold without the need to source out the funds from abroad.
If the holder has non-Thai family members who have the intention to stay in Thailand for extended periods, the permanent resident may apply for extension of stay for these relatives of his.
Roadblocks
As promising as a Thai permanent residency is to a foreigner, being granted with one is not at all an easy process which can take up between five months to one year. More than that, it is only issued to 100 individuals a year only and so competition for slots would be very intensive.
Qualifications for Thai Permanent Residency
No one can simply approach Thai immigration and apply for a permanent residency. Any interested individual should:
- Have held three (3) consecutive One Year Visa extensions.
- Have a valid work permit, also for three years.
- Be earning at least 30,000 Baht monthly for those married of not less than five years with their Thai spouse and at least 80,000 Baht monthly for those who are single. It can be proven by providing tax statements for three years.