Here Are 4 Different Types of Visa Issued by Thai Embassies
People have different reasons for going and staying in Thailand. Whether it is for a longterm or short term stay, a visa is required. The type of visa you have to secure depends on the purpose of your stay in Thailand.
- Tourist Visa
For the purpose of differentiation, we are including this type of visa. A tourist visa allows foreigners to stay in Thailand for a period of 60 days extendable for another 30 days. You need to have a passport which should be valid for at least six months more before it expires and two recent passport size photos.
However, Americans are exempt from this requirement and can enter Thailand without visa for a period of 30 days.
- Business Visa
A business visa allows you to stay for a longer period in Thailand. You can stay for a period of 90 days for a single visit or 1 year for multiple visits. Employment or sponsorship by a Thai Company is required before it is granted.
- Education Visa
This visa allows you to stay in Thailand for the same number of days as a business visa or can be extended up to 15 months. The difference in length of stay depends on the course you choose to study, as long as you are an enrolled student at certified school in Thailand. Plus, you do not have to study for eight hours straight every day and five days a week either. You can select your preferred schedule, thus have ample time to experience the beauty of Thailand and its girls outside of campus.
- Retirement or Marriage Visa
For a retirement visa, the retiree must be at least 50 years old with a Social Security Benefit of 65,000 THB or 800,000 THB in a Thai Bank for 3 months or both. For American guys wanting to apply for a marriage visa, your income together with your Thai wife should be at least 40,000 THB.
You will also need your wife’s Spouse ID card and Household Registration. This allows you to stay for a period of 90 days for a single visit or 1 year for multiple visits. You can get these visas at the Thai Embassy in US. However, if your stay in Thailand will not exceed 30 days, you can be covered by the Visa Exemption Rule. This rule allows citizens of certain countries, including the US, to stay in Thailand for not more than 30 days on each visit.
Permanent Residency in Thailand
Many Americans prefer to settle down in Thailand for many reasons. It is a beautiful country with friendly people, lovely sights and attractions (not to mention gorgeous ladies), plus the standard of living is generally affordable. If you have decided to make Thailand your permanent home then you have to apply for a permanent residency.
To achieve a Thai Permanent Resident Status, you need to satisfy a number of requirements.
- Thai non-immigrant visa for at least a period of 3 years before making the application with 3 consecutive yearly extensions. If you are a holder of multiple non-immigrant visas then you are disqualified.
2. A Thai non-immigrant visa holder at the time of application.
3. You should also meet one of the categories below:
- Working or Running a business
- Expert or Academic
- Investment (3-10 million THB investment in Thailand)
- Family or Humanity Reasons (parent of spouse of a Thai citizen or a foreigner with a residence permit or guardian of a Thai child below 20 years old)
- Others as determined by the Thai Immigration
The necessary documents vary depending on the category you belong or the purpose of your application. The Thai government grants permanent resident status for a maximum of 100 persons per country yearly and applications are entertained for three months from October to December.
The Thai Immigration Commission is tasked to formulate all rules and regulations concerning Thai permanent residency so keeping yourself updated with the latest changes is a smart thing to do so that you can make yourself a permanent resident of Thailand and enjoy the privileges of being one.
If your application is approved, a residence blue book will be issued which you must then register at the local Amphur of the place you are currently residing and obtain your house card. A week later, you can apply for a red book at the local police station which will serve as your Thai national card. Annual re-registration will be needed.
Citizenship Requirements
If you have made the decision to settle down in Thailand, you might as well become a citizen. But before you become fully part of the country and its culture by being a Thai national, you have to fulfill certain requisites, of course. These include:
- Permanent Resident Status
You have to become a permanent resident of Thailand first before you can become a citizen. You must have resided in Thailand for at least 5 years before you qualify for Thai citizenship.
- Legal Age and Good Moral Character
Aside from being a permanent resident, you must be of legal age at the time of application and of good moral character as well. You must also be employed in Thailand showing at least 3 years worth of tax filings, and able to read, write and speak the Thai language.
- Documents Required
The documents required may change and inquiring about current documentary requirements can be made at the Criminal Investigation Division Group. Certain documents you need include a passport, document verifying your Thailand residence, house registration, marriage registration, ID cards, birth certificate among others. You need to fill out the application form and submit it together with the other requirements.
- Thai Test and Interview
Upon submission of the required documents and filing fee, you have to wait until you are summoned to appear at the Interior Ministry for a Thai language test. You have to wait again for the results, and if you passed the test you will be called back and will be asked to sing the Thai national anthem and the King’s Song.
An interview will also be conducted and Thai officials will visit your residence and verify the truth of the entries in your application form and other legal papers.
The whole process may last for 2 to 5 years. You will be informed if your application is granted via mail with the King signing your application. After which you will undergo a ceremony swearing allegiance to the King and the country of Thailand.
Benefits of Becoming a Citizen
Americans who have decided to permanently reside in Thailand almost always also apply for Thai citizenship. When you think about it, it is actually logical since a citizen enjoys more benefits than a mere tourist or resident of the country. Since you have chosen Thailand to be your sanctuary, you might as well make it your home in the truest sense of the word by becoming its citizen.
When you become a Thai citizen, you acquire all the rights of a Thai national. You can now buy prime real estate properties under your own name where a foreigner cannot, you no longer have to acquire an alien work permit for employment purposes and you can establish your own business in Thailand.
Moreover, you avoid the hassle of visa runs and renewals as well as other time consuming processes required to be done by a non-Thai national just so he can stay in the country. These are just a few of the advantages of becoming a Thai national. The options available to you and your actions are no longer hindered by being a foreigner in Thailand. When you become a full-fledged Thai national, some undertakings which are restricted and limited only to the Thai nationals become available to you.
Another advantage you get from this setup is having dual citizenship. US allows its citizens to have a dual citizenship so as far as US is concerned you remain an American even after obtaining a Thai citizenship. This way you get the best of both worlds.
Do not be disheartened by the long, tedious process as obtaining Thai citizenship may entail a lot of time and effort but the end result is definitely worth it.
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