Thread: Do you want Thai citizenship?

The procedure seems pretty straightforward.
1. With 3 years of tax receipts for yourself and your company you can apply for a Permanent Resident card.
2. After 5 years with the PR you can apply for Thai citizenship.

With citizenship you no longer need a Work Permit.
You can own land.
And if times get tough you can get work as a motorbike taxi driver.

This gives me a few years to learn to sing the national anthem.

For many years I thought it would be impossible. But it seems quite a few farang have gone through this process.

The problem migth be the grey zones, unfortunately they do not only have white and black...

I just received a feedback from BOI to own land and have foreign owned business in Thailand, there as well all seems so easy !

Anyway, good luck to the ones applying...

The procedure seems pretty straightforward

Famous last words.

I honestly can't see any benefit in real terms for getting Thai citizenship - at least not in my case.

I only know of one person who has and that was achieved via a complex process whereby his father-in-law adopted him. Which also meant, of course, that his wife was therefore also his sister

I wouldn't mind getting Thai citizenship, but I thought the process was a fair bit harder than that.
Maybe one day- another passport & residency to add to the collection. Up till then, I'm just a guest.

so if one gets thai citizenship and one has an income or retirement from another country is one required to pay tax?.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

The procedure seems pretty straightforward

Famous last words.

I honestly can't see any benefit in real terms for getting Thai citizenship - at least not in my case.

I only know of one person who has and that was achieved via a complex process whereby his father-in-law adopted him. Which also meant, of course, that his wife was therefore also his sister

For me the big benefit would be being able to own property outright. Of course if your home country doesn't allow dual nationality then you'd probably be crazy to get Thai citizenship if you're a westerner. Might be worth it just to flash the ID card at them when they try to charge you the farang price at a park or a palace

I suppose I'd better start with a work permit and paying tax...

^You can have my job then , I think I'm on my way out

Originally Posted by NickA

You can have my job then , I think I'm on my way out

Tell us more...

Originally Posted by everglaze

so if one gets thai citizenship and one has an income or retirement from another country is one required to pay tax?.

The problem is, to get Thai citizenship, you have to revoke your own. Thais cannot hold dual nationality. I believe you have to revoke your citizenship at your embassy in Bangkok. No pension!! If you decide after a while (or even 50 years) that it was not such a good idea, it is very, very, very difficult to get your old citizenship back.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

There's a recent thread about it over on TV, started by somebody who just got citizenship. Looks similar to the PR process but a whole lot less expensive. Apparently about 10 foreigners a year succeed in the application.

Story Of My Thai Citizenship Application - Thailand Forum

The problem with that thread is the OP has been very coy as to revealing his/her gender or nationality. But it is interesting nonetheless. I finally got the OP to reveal that they had their PR for 5 years prior to applying.

Originally Posted by JoGeAr

Originally Posted by everglaze

so if one gets thai citizenship and one has an income or retirement from another country is one required to pay tax?.

The problem is, to get Thai citizenship, you have to revoke your own. Thais cannot hold dual nationality. I believe you have to revoke your citizenship at your embassy in Bangkok. No pension!! If you decide after a while (or even 50 years) that it was not such a good idea, it is very, very, very difficult to get your old citizenship back.

Hmmm, very interesting as we are having a somewhat good discussion on this topic elsehwere on this forum. Do you happen to have any reference to cite for this?

Originally Posted by JoGeAr

Originally Posted by everglaze

so if one gets thai citizenship and one has an income or retirement from another country is one required to pay tax?.

The problem is, to get Thai citizenship, you have to revoke your own. Thais cannot hold dual nationality. I believe you have to revoke your citizenship at your embassy in Bangkok. No pension!! If you decide after a while (or even 50 years) that it was not such a good idea, it is very, very, very difficult to get your old citizenship back.

This is not true for most western countries and Thailand doesn't require you to renounce your birth nationality.

The only exception I found to this is Norway which doesn't allow for dual citizenship.

Originally Posted by everglaze

so if one gets thai citizenship and one has an income or retirement from another country is one required to pay tax?.

The Revenue Code is very clear on this issue. Anyone, regardless of whether or not they are Thai, who is a resident in Thailand for tax purposes (i.e., 180 days or more) is subject to income tax on their world-wide earnings; PROVIDED THAT, the earnings must be brought into Thailand in the same calendar year as they are earnt.

Originally Posted by everglaze

Originally Posted by everglaze (Do you want Thai citizenship?)
so if one gets thai citizenship and one has an income or retirement from another country is one required to pay tax?.

The Revenue Code is very clear on this issue. Anyone, regardless of whether or not they are Thai, who is a resident in Thailand for tax purposes (i.e., 180 days or more) is subject to income tax on their world-wide earnings; PROVIDED THAT, the earnings must be brought into Thailand in the same calendar year as they are earnt.

Having to pay a tax on ones income is not a good thing, but to pay tax twice on the same income is out of the question!

That doesn't apply to most people in the world. I guess you're a USian - never understood why they're supposed to pay taxes when they're not even living in that country.

There is some programs here in the U S like 401k and IRA when you put funds in your not taxed on that amount of your income, but when you go and get your money on a later date you have to pay tax then.

Do you want Thai citizenship?

There was a time, when I first came to Thailand, where I considered that as a potential long-term aim.

After having been here for around 5 years, my ideas have changed & the idea no longer really seems attractive. I guess that once one sees the place for what it really is, warts & all, that the idea loses its gloss.

I would far rather move to an alternative Asian country where Westerners are more appreciated, or even to Australia, New Zealand.

Originally Posted by everglaze

Originally Posted by everglaze (Do you want Thai citizenship?)
so if one gets thai citizenship and one has an income or retirement from another country is one required to pay tax?.

(Origina reply quote by William ) The Revenue Code is very clear on this issue. Anyone, regardless of whether or not they are Thai, who is a resident in Thailand for tax purposes (i.e., 180 days or more) is subject to income tax on their world-wide earnings; PROVIDED THAT, the earnings must be brought into Thailand in the same calendar year as they are earnt.

Having to pay a tax on ones income is not a good thing, but to pay tax twice on the same income is out of the question!

It is highly unlikely, as Thai tax resident, would one be required to pay double tax on income. For example, if one is a US resident, there is a tax treaty that would give certain tax credits. There may be a few expections to this rule, but very easy to avoid.

Originally Posted by watterinja

Do you want Thai citizenship?

There was a time, when I first came to Thailand, where I considered that as a potential long-term aim.

After having been here for around 5 years, my ideas have changed & the idea no longer really seems attractive. I guess that once one sees the place for what it really is, warts & all, that the idea loses its gloss.

I would far rather move to an alternative Asian country where Westerners are more appreciated, or even to Australia, New Zealand.

As a fellow who grew up just down the road from you, I'd largely agree with you. Problem is, it ain't so easy anymore...

^ Fair comment. I'm pretty ok in that I have a strong family presence in Australia, & that my Dad was actually from Australian stock - family tree directly traceable & all that. I have always held that as a kind of rearguard opportunity, but have been giving it more & more thought of late.

My uncle - an ex SA bank director - moved over to Australia a few years back & has been very happy. His son has been there for many years. I've also made a few academic friends at reasonably high levels over there & had been of mind to begin looking them up sooner, rather than later.

I've no real mind to go back to SA as it has apparently really begun bending over Blackwards - not my cup-of-tea - may as well compete in Asia.

I just think that one's ceiling in Thailand is really limited due to the local racist, jobs-for-pals & hold-wages-low mentality. There can not really be a long-term perspective here as we are considered at transient entities at the best of times. I'm not sure how Thai nationality would alter the 'rip-whitey' attitudes that prevail.

^I'll be in Kaapstad for Xmas this year. First time in 21 years my family and I will spend Xmas together.


I'm excited