Answered9 years ago
Can I apply for permanent residency in Thailand after three years on a retirement visa extension?
My understanding is that after having a retirement visa extension for three years, one can apply for permanent Thai residency. A green card, essentially. Is that correct? And then one can work, own a business etc., is that correct? Also, that Thailand only accepts these requests from 100 people from any country per year. Is that also correct? Is there any way to know how many people from the US try this each year? Has anyone from the US on this group gotten one? Did you get it on your first try? If not, how many years did it take? Thanks!
Answer summary
The process of applying for permanent residency in Thailand requires more than just having a retirement visa extension for three years. To qualify, one must hold a non-immigrant visa with consecutive yearly extensions without any breaks for at least three years. Moreover, a retirement visa does not allow for legal employment or work permits, which further complicates the path to residency. There are specific categories that allow for permanent residency application, including business investment, employment, or familial ties to a Thai citizen. Additionally, the total number of permanent residency approvals per nationality is limited, with 100 slots available per year for each country, raising concerns about how many applications are submitted from the US annually.
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Joe ***********
David - you could do what you described if you opened a Thai Registered Company with a Thai partner(s) owning 51%. And getting a Non imm. B Visa and Work Permit. But it can be a costly venture with ongoing costs. Or, I believe - if married to a Thai and she has a company (easy to do for a Thai) and you work for her.
Tod *********
Okay, you can't apply for permanent residence off ANY visa (the kind you border bounce on to get another 90 day stamp) it has to be on yearly extensions of stays and they cannot be broken during the 3 years prior to you applying.
Also you can't ever qualify for permanent residence on what's called a "retirement visa" because you can't hold a work permit and legally work on one.
If you are married to a thai, legally working here you can after a period of years apply directly for thai citizenship and totally skip the permanent residence process.
This is a LONG but good topic about how to acquire permanent residence
Also you can't ever qualify for permanent residence on what's called a "retirement visa" because you can't hold a work permit and legally work on one.
If you are married to a thai, legally working here you can after a period of years apply directly for thai citizenship and totally skip the permanent residence process.
This is a LONG but good topic about how to acquire permanent residence
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-cameratas-guide-to-the-permanent-residence-process/
David **********
OPThank you all for clarifying that. So what kind of yearly extension allows you to work in Thailand? I thought the only yearly extensions were for education or retirement. So let's say as an artist I want to do my art legally here in Thailand (jewelry), get paid at least 80,000 baht/month for it, pay taxes and then apply after three years. What kind of visa/extension do I need? Can I be living and making my work here, but have part of the monthly sales be overseas as long I declare them and pay taxes on them here?
Sean *************
@Tod ********
, I went over to the permanent residency desks at CW immigration and asked the woman many questions, about 30 minutes worth. That’s where I found out the above info and when I found out that I’d disqualified myself on my last string of extensions.Tod *********
@Se**
, Oh WOW :O I didnt' know they went thru them if there were more than 100 and did it by merit of the application, I thought they did a drawing if there were more than 100 people applying.Sean *************
@Tod ********
, I meant to say the top 100 candidates from each nationality. If more than 100, the applicants are selected by merit. I know there is lots of mis-information and we strive for accuracy. Sorry for the oversight.
Tod *********
@Sean ************
you are incorrect about the "of all the people that apply in a year" Permanent Residence applications are open to 100 people from each country. The US, UK, and indded most western countries rarely have more than 15 or 20 applicants IF that in a year. China, India, Japan, and others max out every year
Sean *************
Of all the people that apply in a year, they take the top 100 candidates. CEOs and high (tax) paying jobs would top the list. Other things that would increase your standing are things like making a significant contribution to Thai society, the number of Thai staff you employ, etc.
Robert *******
Would be difficult to became an legal artist making jewelry, look at this list of prohibited jobs for foreigners in Thailand.
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David **********
OPIn other words, hire a lawyer.
Beat *******
afaik: a B visa (btw, that's not an extension) as an employee of a Thai company with a minimum capital of (not sure how many million) THB and 4 (fake?) Thai employees, in a job that is officially allowed for foreigners to do allows you to work in Thailand
David **********
OP@Beat ******
it looks like retirement visa is not enough.Beat *******
sobering infos here (but not about investment):
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0-permanent-residency-which-route/David **********
OP@Beat ******
What is considered an investment?Beat *******
yup, non-immigrant O visa + 3 years of retirement extensions (that's not a "retirement visa") + 3 million THB invested in Thailand should be enough (as far as I understand these facts)
- or maybe not??
- or maybe not??
Ron *******
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Luke ******
To apply for Thai Permanent Residency, you need to fulfill the following criteria:
You should have had a Thai non-immigrant visa for at least 3 years prior to the submission of your application.
Holders of multiple Non-Immigrant visas can not apply.
In order to qualify you must have 3 consecutive yearly extensions.At the time of the submission of application, you must be a holder of a non-immigrant visa.
You must be able to meet one of these categories to apply for PR status in Thailand:
Investment category (minimum 3 – 10 Mil. Baht investment in Thailand)
Business / Working category
Support a family or Humanity Reasons category: In this category, you must have a relationship with a Thai citizen or an alien who already possess a residence permit as a husband or wife; father or mother; or a guardian of a Thai child under 20 years of age.
Expert / academic category.
Other categories may be determined by Thai Immigration.
As Ron said, for retirement.....no.
You should have had a Thai non-immigrant visa for at least 3 years prior to the submission of your application.
Holders of multiple Non-Immigrant visas can not apply.
In order to qualify you must have 3 consecutive yearly extensions.At the time of the submission of application, you must be a holder of a non-immigrant visa.
You must be able to meet one of these categories to apply for PR status in Thailand:
Investment category (minimum 3 – 10 Mil. Baht investment in Thailand)
Business / Working category
Support a family or Humanity Reasons category: In this category, you must have a relationship with a Thai citizen or an alien who already possess a residence permit as a husband or wife; father or mother; or a guardian of a Thai child under 20 years of age.
Expert / academic category.
Other categories may be determined by Thai Immigration.
As Ron said, for retirement.....no.
Ron *******
In a word....no. You need to of been working and been paying taxes for a solid 3 years before even beginning the process.
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