Thread: Thai Citizenship

Has anyone here gone through this process?

It would be nice to hear some experience. I have all the documents ready and just waiting to submit them at special branch. I live outside Bangkok, which makes it a little more complicated.

Has anyone here gone through this process?

Lord no.


What do you need? 3 (or 5?) years of continuous extensions, Por Hok certificate in Thai, and 180k baht?

Or something like that. What have ya got mate? Would be interesting to hear.

Originally Posted by Luigi

Has anyone here gone through this process?

Lord no.


What do you need? 3 (or 5?) years of continuous extensions, Por Hok certificate in Thai, and 180k baht?

Or something like that. What have ya got mate? Would be interesting to hear.

3 years of paying tax on more than 40k a month. No Thai language qualifications and 5,000 baht. Plus 5,000 baht to charity. Also show 80,000 in your bank account.
Simple really, if you are married to a Thai.

Originally Posted by ChalkyDee

Originally Posted by Luigi

Has anyone here gone through this process?

Lord no.


What do you need? 3 (or 5?) years of continuous extensions, Por Hok certificate in Thai, and 180k baht?

Or something like that. What have ya got mate? Would be interesting to hear.

3 years of paying tax on more than 40k a month. No Thai language qualifications and 5,000 baht. Plus 5,000 baht to charity. Also show 80,000 in your bank account.
Simple really, if you are married to a Thai.

Those are the minimum requirements. It pays to have more than the minimum as you will get more points.

The total fee for the application is 5,000 Baht. When you pay you actually end up paying 5,100 Baht. The 100 baht is for the finger printing. You will be told to not lose the receipt as it will be used later. Make copies of it and then put the receipt in a plastic bag and keep it somewhere safe.

For the charity, they want to see some history as well. If you donated 5,000 Baht last week they won’t be too happy about that as it appears that you just made the donation for the sake of qualifying for citizenship. If anyone is thinking of apply in a couple of years from now it would pay to start making the donations to certified charities and keep the receipts.

You need to be able to communicate in Thai. It would help if you can read and write as well (extra points). Even if you are married. The ability to speak Thai is less than if you apply under permanent residence, but you still need to be able to communicate in Thai.

Originally Posted by ChalkyDee

Originally Posted by Luigi

Has anyone here gone through this process?

Lord no.


What do you need? 3 (or 5?) years of continuous extensions, Por Hok certificate in Thai, and 180k baht?

Or something like that. What have ya got mate? Would be interesting to hear.

3 years of paying tax on more than 40k a month. No Thai language qualifications and 5,000 baht. Plus 5,000 baht to charity. Also show 80,000 in your bank account.
Simple really, if you are married to a Thai.

I've heard that its not as simply as you are making out. It's my understanding that they do test your Thai language skills.

Originally Posted by surinboy

Originally Posted by ChalkyDee

Originally Posted by Luigi

Has anyone here gone through this process?

Lord no.


What do you need? 3 (or 5?) years of continuous extensions, Por Hok certificate in Thai, and 180k baht?

Or something like that. What have ya got mate? Would be interesting to hear.

3 years of paying tax on more than 40k a month. No Thai language qualifications and 5,000 baht. Plus 5,000 baht to charity. Also show 80,000 in your bank account.
Simple really, if you are married to a Thai.

I've heard that its not as simply as you are making out. It's my understanding that they do test your Thai language skills.

Yes, they do but it is only for 20 points out of a total of 100.

You only need 50 points to be accepted.

Why do you want to become a citizen? What are the benefits to you?

Originally Posted by Sumbitch

Why do you want to become a citizen? What are the benefits to you?

No visas, especially when I'm old and may not even have the requirements.

Buy land in my name and start businesses.

There are lots of other more minor benefits.

Originally Posted by Sumbitch

What are the benefits to you?

Allows you to buy property, own any business and apply for any kind of job if one wants to go through the extremely complicated and lengthy process.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by Sumbitch

What are the benefits to you?

Allows you to buy property, own any business and apply for any kind of job if one wants to go through the extremely complicated and lengthy process.

Special branch told me it would only take about 3 years, under a year if paying a 6 figure sum.
It isn't complicated AFAIK. Certainly not extremely complicated compared to getting citizenship in other countries.

Originally Posted by ChalkyDee

Special branch told me it would only take about 3 years, under a year if paying a 6 figure sum.
It isn't complicated AFAIK. Certainly not extremely complicated compared to getting citizenship in other countries.

I was told less than a year and I have not been asked for anything.

I agree, it is not complicated if you are organised.

Originally Posted by Barty

Originally Posted by ChalkyDee

Special branch told me it would only take about 3 years, under a year if paying a 6 figure sum.
It isn't complicated AFAIK. Certainly not extremely complicated compared to getting citizenship in other countries.

I was told less than a year and I have not been asked for anything.

I agree, it is not complicated if you are organised.

I have been thinking about this a bit, I am not sure the anyone from Special Branch can guarantee a schedule. The minister of the ministry of interior has to sign off the final documents granting citizenship. How can Special Branch have influence over the minister? Especially under the current anti-corruption government?

Originally Posted by ChalkyDee

My problem could be that the Special Branch in Khon Kaen has only one guy and he seems reluctant to get the process going as it, often not answering his phone or never in the office.

Most people that I have talk to regarding applying for citizenship have told me that Special Branch in Bangkok strongly suggest that you change your residence to a Bangkok address so that you will come under the Bangkok Special Branch as they have more experience dealing with the paper process than police in most other provinces. In my case I would have come under the Putumthani jurisdiction, but it was recommended that I change to a Bangkok address. Perhaps you should consider changing to a Bangkok address? A bit of a hassle with your job having to travel to Bangkok from time to time but might be worth it.

Originally Posted by ChalkyDee

Has anyone here gone through this process?

It would be nice to hear some experience. I have all the documents ready and just waiting to submit them at special branch. I live outside Bangkok, which makes it a little more complicated.

Quite useful info:

Thai Citizenship Requirements - Thailand

Originally Posted by ChalkyDee

No visas, especially when I'm old and may not even have the requirements.

Buy land in my name and start businesses.

There are lots of other more minor benefits.

I got it but, fuck, Thailand? Just bc the benefits outweigh the disadvantages? For one thing I don't believe LOS is the land of milk and honey. For another, if I'm going to go for citizenship in another country I'm gonna choose one where the people actually make it worth my investment. You get what you pay for, EH?

Originally Posted by Sumbitch

Originally Posted by ChalkyDee

No visas, especially when I'm old and may not even have the requirements.

Buy land in my name and start businesses.

There are lots of other more minor benefits.

I got it but, fuck, Thailand? Just bc the benefits outweigh the disadvantages?

Isn't the benefits outweighing the disadvantages a prime reason for doing anything?

Do you have to cut ties with your native country? Or dual citizenship ?

Originally Posted by marcusb

Do you have to cut ties with your native country? Or dual citizenship ?

Part of the application process is you must get a letter from your embassy that says that you intend to rescind your citizenship. I have heard that other people have submitted the letter but once they got their Thai citizenship nothing was done to make them follow through, so they now have dual citizenship.

How long this loophole remains open is unknown, but obviously it is something that has to be taken into consideration.

Originally Posted by Barty

Originally Posted by marcusb

Do you have to cut ties with your native country? Or dual citizenship ?

...nothing was done to make them follow through, so they now have dual citizenship.

How long this loophole remains open is unknown, but obviously it is something that has to be taken into consideration.

He has to get the form stamped to show cut the ties to his Vas Deferens first... he's a pre-op dual national.

I think I've read that Thai citizenship law is biased in favour of women... interesting for a country that generally puts women at a disadvantage.

I believe Thai law specifically states that Thai women who marry a foreigner and emigrate (and obtain a foreign nationality) are always able to return to Thailand and "regain" their citizenship, though as many will tell you, in practice, most Thai women maintain two passports, and the Thai authorities seem relaxed about this. I don't believe this option is available to Thai men, which may become an incentive for the relatively large ladyboy population - no idea?!

I'd say ChalkyDee should weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a sex change operation, as well as applying for Thai citizenship - that way, he can maintain effective dual nationality.

In for a penny...

Originally Posted by CaptainNemo

I think I've read that Thai citizenship law is biased in favour of women... interesting for a country that generally puts women at a disadvantage.

I believe Thai law specifically states that Thai women who marry a foreigner and emigrate (and obtain a foreign nationality) are always able to return to Thailand and "regain" their citizenship, though as many will tell you, in practice, most Thai women maintain two passports, and the Thai authorities seem relaxed about this. I don't believe this option is available to Thai men, which may become an incentive for the relatively large ladyboy population - no idea?!

I'd say ChalkyDee should weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a sex change operation, as well as applying for Thai citizenship - that way, he can maintain effective dual nationality.

In for a penny...

Dude, I think you need to find a hobby. Despite your attempts to use this thread for your own little crusade, although I'm not sure what that is, you are basically adding nothing constructive. Are you missing ajarn.com that much? Are you a newbie trying to increase your pot count to look smart?

I think I read...

I believe....

I asked for experience. If you have none and have no intention of getting Thai citizenship, go troll somewhere else.

Originally Posted by CaptainNemo

I'd say ChalkyDee should weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a sex change operation,

One main advantage to consider is that women live longer than men. That's a fact.

Know somebody who just failed the speaking Thai exam, some said they could understand him some not. So he's going again for another go next month, rather him than me.

Originally Posted by Thai3

Know somebody who just failed the speaking Thai exam, some said they could understand him some not. So he's going again for another go next month, rather him than me.

There isn't a Thai speaking exam.

Originally Posted by ChalkyDee

Originally Posted by Thai3

Know somebody who just failed the speaking Thai exam, some said they could understand him some not. So he's going again for another go next month, rather him than me.

There isn't a Thai speaking exam.

This is what I was trying to track down last time. The sarky response was not a great help.

When you did all that chatting to policemen, was it in English or Thai? From my reading I would say it was in Thai, and that pretty much is the "thai speaking exam" I would think.