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  1. #1
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    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.

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    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    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. #3
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    Why do you want to become a citizen? What are the benefits to you?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Luigi View Post
    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.

  5. #5
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote 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.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sumbitch View Post
    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.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Quote 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.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by ChalkyDee View Post
    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

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote 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?

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sumbitch View Post
    Quote 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?

  11. #11
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    Do you have to cut ties with your native country? Or dual citizenship ?

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    Thailand Expat CaptainNemo's Avatar
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    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...

  13. #13
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    Quote 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.

  14. #14
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    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.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrB0b
    Isn't the benefits outweighing the disadvantages a prime reason for doing anything?
    No, I don't think that should be the prime reason for doing anything. And besides, there are many countries where the benefits of citizenship outweigh the disadvantages. So how does that rule help you decide?

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by ChalkyDee View Post
    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.
    I am in the process of applying myself. I am only a couple of steps ahead of you. I am also applying as married to a Thai but I also could qualify as having held permanent residence for the appropriate time.

    Together with my wife, I visited the Special Branch on Rama 1 in late November 2016 and told them that I wanted to apply for Thai citizenship. We were invited to sit at a particular desk. From that point on the policeman at that desk became my point of contact for the rest of the application process. He asked us a handful of questions to be sure that I would qualify. He then gave us a sheet of paper with the list of documents required and we were told to call him when all of the documents were collected and ready to submit. The gentleman that was assigned to us for the citizenship application wrote his name and mobile number at the bottom of the sheet of paper and told us to call him if we needed any clarifications on anything and also to call ahead to make an appointment anytime we wanted to visit.

    We submitted the documents in early December 2016. They were checked by our guy and confirmed that everything was correct. We were told that in a few days they would call us and let us know when our next meeting at special branch would be.

    Got the call and was told to be at the Special Branch the following Wednesday at 13:30. We arrived early and the people who were supposed to be there at 13:00 hadn’t turned up so they were bumped down the line and we got their spot. Our guy went through the documentation and told us that I had 78 points out of the possible 100. This didn’t include my education as my highest education was a completed apprenticeship in NZ and they didn’t know how to translate a NZ apprenticeship into the equivalent Thai education level. I was finger printed and then told to meet with the policeman in the corner office. We had a quick chat with him and then was told to wait outside for a few minutes. Was then told to go up to the 4th floor and meet the head of Special Branch and have a chat with him. (this part didn’t go very well for me.)

    We were taken up to the 4th floor by our guy and introduced to the head gentleman. We were asked a handful of questions; explain why I didn’t get points for my education, why do I want to get citizenship, why are we married, why don’t we have children, if we don’t have children why did we get married. I must admit I wasn’t expecting to get interviewed that day so hadn’t mentally prepared myself, but also the questions about why were married but didn’t have kids flustered me a little and I didn’t answer the questions very well. I was told that in future I need to participate in the conversations more and I need to improve my Thai speaking ability. An interesting part of the conversation was that he said that up until recently the process would take 4 – 6 years to complete, but now it would only take about a year. We he saw the expression on my face he said maybe a bit longer but for sure not more than two years. Went back downstairs and was told by our guy that everything was looking good and that in about 3 weeks I should get a call to meet with the next lot of police to have an interview where they would ask a lot more questions. Apparently, this interview will be at a McDonalds. I asked what sort of questions they would ask. It was suggested that I study up on a few things such as the citizen application process, the colours of the Thai flag, have a general idea of Thailand and the cities and provinces and the meaning of certain songs.

    At the end of the meeting our guy gave us six envelopes that we had to deliver to various places around Bangkok.

    Two envelopes to the Immigration department at Cheang Wattana building B to verify my residence certificate (white book) and verify my alien ID book (red/brown book) (Only if you have permanent residence)

    One letter to the Ampur wherever you were married to verify your marriage certificate.

    One letter to the Ampur where your residence is registered to change your name. You need to select your first name and last name. You need to prepare at least three surnames to be submitted to the Ampur.

    Once you have submitted the above letters, they will be sent by the each of the above Thai government authorities back to the Police Special Branch by postal mail.

    Two envelopes to the embassy, one to verify that the passport is legitimate and one to acknowledge that you will intend to rescind your citizenship. Both of these letters will need to be taken to the translation office in Cheang Wattana Building A consular section. Normally the embassy is asked to send the documents back to the Police Special Branch by postal mail, however in my case the NZ embassy did the letters while I waited which meant that I could take them directly to the translation office. If the letters are sent back to the Police Special Branch you will have to collect them and take them to the translation office.

    If you are organised and all of the places you need to submit the letters are in Bangkok, all of this can be done in one day, two at the most.

    When you take the documents to be translated at the Cheang Wattana Building A consular section make sure you show them how your name is spelt in Thai. It must match all of the other documents submitted. Also, make sure that all Thai documents use the same spelling and spacing for your name. This is important as the document will be rejected and will have to be corrected.

    This is where I am at know. I am waiting for the phone call to make the appointment to go to McDonalds.

    Feel free to ask any questions, I can't say I know everything about the process but happy to answer anything that I can.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Barty
    one to acknowledge that you will intend to rescind your citizenship.

    Really ?

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by ChalkyDee View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Luigi View Post
    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.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by crackerjack101 View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Barty
    one to acknowledge that you will intend to rescind your citizenship.

    Really ?
    Really.

  20. #20
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    In another thread started a few weeks ago, I replied to nidhogg in a rather smartarse way about my Thai speaking abilities. How good is my Thai? Not very good.

    When I came to Thailand in 1992 I did a handful of basic Thai lessons and started to learn to read and write Thai. Didn’t enjoy travelling into Bangkok and didn’t like being a student so gave it up.

    I can write my own name and some other very basic stuff. I can read road signs, maps, construction drawings and most advertisements but I cannot read a newspaper. I could probably struggle through a 6 six year olds school book. I had a company that was around 100 permanent employees. I could walk up to anyone of them at the jobsite and talk to them about what was going on that day. I could talk to my supervisors on the phone about anything that involved the work that we did, but I cannot watch the news on TV (by the time I figured out what they are talking about they are onto another subject and I miss half of what was said). When policemen ask me why I am married but don’t have children my brain locks up.
    Last edited by Barty; 27-12-2016 at 12:16 AM. Reason: The eighth beer is taking effect and I can't spell.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by ChalkyDee View Post
    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.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by marcusb View Post
    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.

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat CaptainNemo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Barty View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by marcusb View Post
    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.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thai3 View Post
    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.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sumbitch View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by DrB0b
    Isn't the benefits outweighing the disadvantages a prime reason for doing anything?
    No, I don't think that should be the prime reason for doing anything. And besides, there are many countries where the benefits of citizenship outweigh the disadvantages. So how does that rule help you decide?
    Are you saying the benefits don't out weigh the disadvantages of not getting Thai citizenship?

    What exactly are the disadvantages in your opinion? I can't think of any.

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