Answered2 months ago
Do I need to return to Germany to register my residence for a Thai visa application if I am no longer registered there?
Regarding to the new visa regulation:
They say you need a proof of residence, for example I’m from Germany but not registered there anymore for tax reason.
That means I have to go back to Germany , register myself and then I can apply for the visa?
What if that’s not an option for me, is there any other country where you can "easily" get residence to apply from maybe nearby thailand ?
It’s pretty unclear to me what defines "residence" in a country and how to actually proof it .
Thanks for all the reasonable answers in advance.
They say you need a proof of residence, for example I’m from Germany but not registered there anymore for tax reason.
That means I have to go back to Germany , register myself and then I can apply for the visa?
What if that’s not an option for me, is there any other country where you can "easily" get residence to apply from maybe nearby thailand ?
It’s pretty unclear to me what defines "residence" in a country and how to actually proof it .
Thanks for all the reasonable answers in advance.
Answer summary
The user seeks clarification about the new Thai visa regulation requiring proof of residence, questioning whether they must return to Germany to re-register if they are no longer a resident there. They are interested in alternative countries where they can obtain residence status to apply for the visa. Various commenters discuss the implications of German residency laws and assert that being a German citizen might suffice for visa application at the Thai embassy in Germany, emphasizing official registrations and proof of residence as critical factors.
77 repliesnewest first
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krazye******
Probably Cambodia when you have the EB 1 year visa
Efficient**********
If you are German citizen you just need to apply in Thai Embassy while beeing in Germany. That’s it. You only need a proof of residence IF you have other residence and you would like to apply in country of your residency.
Greg ***********
EfficientRabbit7134 It might not be as easy as you described it. Not in Germany. Just read all the other comments about the German law that applies to the "residency"
Alexander *********
Residence is easy, PERMANENT residency takes years pretty much everywhere.
Greg ***********
It solely depends on how the Royal Thai Embassy in Germany is interpreting existing German law regarding the statute of "residency". In case holding a German passport is sufficient a requirement, the OP can book a hotel stay and apply.
David *******
My understanding is if you are a citizen of that country where you apply is enough, residency is to be shown by (in this case) non germans living in Germany and applying at the thai German embassy.
This is why many embassies and officials now say go apply at your home country.
This is why many embassies and officials now say go apply at your home country.
Greg ***********
@David ******
It solely depends on how the Royal Thai Embassy in Germany is interpreting existing German law regarding the statute of "residency". In case holding a German passport is sufficient a requirement, the OP can book a hotel stay and apply.David *******
@Greg **********
well, according to the thai official I asked, he said apply at country of residence OR your home country. This usually means the country where your passport is from.David *******
@Greg **********
this is true, I would say contact the thai embassy in germany.Greg ***********
@David ******
I hope he is right. I would be careful about information from "Thai officials" . An Immigration officer has no idea about the rules applying to the Thai embassy abroad, and vice versa I would never trust what an embassy official tells me about Immigration rules. They are two different entities using different rule-books and do not communicate with each otherGreg ***********
Here we go again. For Germans, their passport alone does not constitute a "permanent residency" in Germany. If they travel back to Germany and reside in an AirBnB or hotel, they would be on a HOLIDAY in Germany. They won't have a permanent residency unless they register themselves under a physical address, again, by showing a rental contract! That's what the LAW in Germany says !! What people in Facebook say or think about it, is NOT the LAW in Germany. Another crucial point in registering an address in Germany is that you need a mandatory health insurance for Germany. And you will become a tax resident at the very moment you register. That' what the German LAW says
Shandy ********
@Greg **********
I had a simiar discussion before with a German citizen (I'm not a German citizen, so I have no personal interest) before the visa application rule changed and he said that the different Thai embassies in Germany interpret residence differently. He also said that being a German citizen, regardless of residency, is sufficient requirement to qualify to use the Thai embassy based in Germany. Going foward, I think that the way each country interprets residency will be the standard for establishing residency. German citizens have to go through an official process of declaring non-residence in Germany and this means they have no alternatives, unless they are resident of another country in the legal sense (which will vary by the country you're in). So, yes, all German citizens will have to return to Germany and go through the official process of recovering their residency there, whatever that may be.
Frederik **********
@Shandy *******
I’m not sure I understand.From “…being a German citizen, regardless of residency, is sufficient requirement to qualify to use the Thai embassy based in Germany.”
does not follow
“all German citizens will have to return to Germany and go through the official process of recovering their residency there”
Other comments indicate that Permanent Resident status is only required for non-citizens. Can you please clarify?
Thanks
Shandy ********
@Frederik *********
I have not gone through the process in Germany myself, so please do your own research if you are preparing your DTV application. I am not an official source. We actually have not received official confirmation yet. However, many German citizens who live abroad may have given up their residency by de-registering from the country. This discussion is about whether a German citizen can use the embassies in Germany with just their passport and proof of presence (AirBNB) or if they have to present additional proof of residence like a Meldebescheinigung.Greg ***********
@Shandy *******
For somebody like me wo knows the German laws around the residency issue, your comment sounds fully legit ! Thank you !TenderK*******
OP@Greg **********
Thanks for that answer
Ivan ***********
Who cares? If you decided to live without permanent residence and are not able to get a DTV in the future, then live with your decisions! There are other visa like LTR or whatever.
Greg ***********
@Ivan **********
You put the blame onto the wrong person. The OP is not the one who all in a sudden changed the application requirements to the DTV. It's those head- and brainless bureaucrats that decided this unecessary step.Greg ***********
@Ivan **********
You are free to your opinion. However, I don't think the OP is a "Cheap Charlie" since he can afford travelling the World, away from his home country! Again, you put the blame onto the wrong person. You should start to use your brain before you hit any letter on the keyboardIvan ***********
Man, I have the least sympathy for cheap people like this, who want everything from society and governments (schools, roads, infrastructure in general, ...), but try to avoid to pay a single penny, because "taxes are theft". 🙄
So, maybe the bureaucracy just decided to make it harder for cheap Charlies to exploit this visa.
If it were to me, I would remove all soft power parts of the DTV. Why do you need a five year visa for a dentist plan or a three months MT course? Remote working is great, the rest is pointless.
So, maybe the bureaucracy just decided to make it harder for cheap Charlies to exploit this visa.
If it were to me, I would remove all soft power parts of the DTV. Why do you need a five year visa for a dentist plan or a three months MT course? Remote working is great, the rest is pointless.
Anonymous ******************
What is the country of your passport That's how they deem residence for DTV
Za *******
If you own a passport, you should apply in the country of your passport. Very easy
TenderK*******
OP@Za ******
Habe to register again and get a health insurgence there as it seems
BrightKan*********
TenderKale1374 *have *insurance
TenderK*******
OPBrightKangaroo1294 exactly
A. ************
The rule says the country you are a citizen OR have permanent residency. Not "AND have permanent residency."
Go to your home country. Get an Airbnb for a couple of weeks. Take some time and date stamped pictures at local tourists spots, monuments, well known restaurants, etc. Send them and your Airbnb receipt with a cover letter explaining you don't have utility bills, etc because you no longer live in the country and have been deregistered since 20xx.
And you made me laugh asking what country you can go and "easily get permanent residency." There is no such thing. I mean I guess anything is possible with enough money and the right connections. But I suspect that isn't the lane you swim in.
Go to your home country. Get an Airbnb for a couple of weeks. Take some time and date stamped pictures at local tourists spots, monuments, well known restaurants, etc. Send them and your Airbnb receipt with a cover letter explaining you don't have utility bills, etc because you no longer live in the country and have been deregistered since 20xx.
And you made me laugh asking what country you can go and "easily get permanent residency." There is no such thing. I mean I guess anything is possible with enough money and the right connections. But I suspect that isn't the lane you swim in.
Knowledgeabl************
Not only that even if they had money they would just get elite visa or LTR 🤷🏿♂️🤷🏿♂️
Greg ***********
A. Nony Mous well, while it will be your home country, it is far from being your permanent residency or tax residency if you already are de-registered from Germany. That's German law. You would be on HOLIDAY in Germany if you return without registering yourself anew, under a rental address. That's the law. An AirBnB or hotel stay does not constitute a residency in Germany. There is no such law. And it becomes even more complicated because if you register again, you need a mandatory health insurance
A. ************
@Greg **********
Again, permanent residency status doesn't matter when it comes to country of citizenship. Regardless of being registered or not, is the man not a citizen of Germany? When it comes time to get a new passport can he not go back to Germany and get one? Or are they going to say, "Sorry, but you are deregistered and therefore on HOLIDAY, so we can't help you"? The Thai embassy in Germany isn't going to ask for proof he is still registered. They are just going to look at the fact he is a German citizen applying through them, and submitting the proof available to him that he is actually there in Germany with plans to stay there during the duration of the application process.
The whole permanent resident thing is for people such as Green Card holders in the US. Their passports are from a different country, but they permanently live in the US. Even though the US doesn't have the deregistering thing Europe seems to have - because the US is a tough, greedy pimp, and wants its money out of our asses no matter how long we've been away or where we are - a US citizen who hasn't had a home in the US for say 5 years, by definition, couldn't be said to be a PERMANENT resident of the US. Are they ineligible to come back and apply now as well?
Greg ***********
A. Nony Mous I can see you know only very little about the German bureaucracy. The Germans use a registering system. You are either registered as a resident, or you are de-registered and have no more residency. When he needs a new passport, he can get it ANYWHERE in the World from the German Embassy, there is no need to go back to Germany for it
แดนนี่ ****
Seems pretty easy I don’t know what people are worked up about
Even if you haven’t been in your country for years, most of us still have some connection and family there,
Like for example, you have a bill for a credit card associated with your mother or brother’s address, that’s enough to show you have a residence, with your passport as well that should be more than enough..
Even if you haven’t been in your country for years, most of us still have some connection and family there,
Like for example, you have a bill for a credit card associated with your mother or brother’s address, that’s enough to show you have a residence, with your passport as well that should be more than enough..
TenderK*******
OP@แดนนี่ ***
Not in germany as it seems
Jay ******************
You know where you are a citizen. You also know if you hold permanent resident status elsewhere you could apply from there. If genuinely wanting to apply you would find out from whichever country you chose. You post here for amusement.
John **********
They don't require tax residence. Permanent residence relates to the right to live their permanently should you choose, being a German citizen is enough. So if you hold a German passport that is sufficient to fulfill the permanent residence requirement.
Elías ********
This is embassy and country dependant. In my two home countries there's no legal way to "deregister" yourself, even if you want to. In European countries this seems the norm. My Spanish friend told me she can't even get a Spanish national ID card if living abroad, only the passport.
Shandy ********
@Elías *******
I don't know what your home countries, but I expect citizens of Anglosphere countries to struggle to understand this. There's a fairly loose understanding of legal residency in the U.S. and Canada. European nationals will probably be familiar with de-registering, but I see a lot of people saying that simply being physically present in your home/passport country will be sufficient to meet the "residence" requirement. That may work in the U.S., where just showing a driver's license you got 7 years ago and then never set foot in the U.S. again will be enough to prove your residency.Elías ********
@Shandy *******
it my two countries (Costa Rica and South Korea) it works just like in the US. If you're a national, you can always get a passport AND a national ID card, regardless of you not living or spending time there, and that makes you a resident for all intents and purposes. In both you can't de-register and in Costa Rica you're not even allowed by the Constitution to renounce your citizenship.Elías ********
@Shandy *******
I'm not a citizen, but I've lived in Korea only since I was 18 y/o (and I'm approaching 40s now). I have PR. I got my DTV in the Thai Embassy in Seoul back in August 2024 when originally only Koreans and PR holders were elegible to apply (it seems they changed it later, and now just reverted to the original).Shandy ********
@Elías *******
Yeah, a national ID card probably wouldn't be sufficient to prove residence at EU embassies. They don't even issue national ID cards in the U.S., Canada, and Canada. Your main ID in the "Anglosphere" would be your passport and a driver's license. So, you're a dual citizen in Korea? One of my parents was a Korean citizen at birth, but I don't have citizenship there. I do know the laws were changed to allow Korean dual citizenship in some cases, which would allow for cases like this.
Carey *********
Tender Kale what country is your passport from? Thats your home country and yes you have to apply from there
Jay *****
A passport is not enough. In Finland, the embassy told me to show as an example an electricity or phone bill to prove my address in the country.
There *****
Du kannst dennoch eine Meldebescheinigung, bei dem Bürgeramt, welches zuletzt für dich zuständig war, beantragen.
Dort wird drinstehen, dass du abgemeldet bist.
Dort wird drinstehen, dass du abgemeldet bist.
Knowledgeabl************
Tax residency is not immigration residency…… on the plane back to Germany and apply for it ….
Greg ***********
KnowledgeableRaccoon5198 well, while it will be your home country, it is far from being your permanent residency or tax residency if you already are de-registered from Germany. That's German law. You would be on HOLIDAY in Germany if you return without registering yourself anew, under a rental address. That's the law in Germany.
Knowledgeabl************
⬆️ you could be a tax resident of Thailand doesn’t mean you can apply for the DTV in Bangkok 🤷🏾♂️🤣
Simon ******
In the UK HMRC has a SRT test which takes into account other ties. i.e. sufficient ties to the UK and not just the number of days spent outside the country in a year. Maybe there is something similar in Germany?
Greg ********
You can apply in Singapore on a S-Pass or E--Pass but you need to be employed there for those. It really depends on what the local Thai Embassy accepts. Its easy to get a 1 year visa in Cambodia but I bet the embassy would not accept it.
Allan ********
@Greg *******
. No they are Temporary employment visa not a Resident visa you can use them to get a PR visa after you have worked there a while.Greg ********
@Allan *******
Go back a few days and check posts. Someone checked with the Embassy in Singapire. This has been true since the DTV was implemwnted. I will accept your apology later. PS: how long have you spent in Singapore to know the visa system so well? S-Pass to PR! The Leo speaking is it?Allan ********
@Greg *******
. Yes there will probably be different interpretations from different Embassies for a few months.Greg ********
@Allan *******
As long as they are on a visa acceptable to the Thai EmbassyAllan ********
@Greg *******
. Ok no problem people will be ok in Singapore then.
Anonymous ******************
Apply in your Passport Country. Permanent Resident status only applies for non citizens.
Greg ***********
Anonymer Teilnehmer 461 well, while it will be your home country, it is far from being your permanent residency or tax residency if you already are de-registered from Germany. That's German law. You would be on HOLIDAY in Germany if you return without registering yourself anew, under a rental address. That's the law in Germany.
Jan *********
Anonymer Teilnehmer 461 from thai embassy in switzerland. i hope your right :) Perhaps a payslip from me with my sister's address on it would suffice. I regularly go to Switzerland for work and also have the option of a remote work contract.
Za *******
@Jan ********
if you are not Swiss and not registered with an address in Switzerland, you cannot apply there. If your passports country is different than you should apply in your passports country.Jan *********
@Za ******
iam swiss but not registradedAnonymous ******************
@Jan ********
maybe would be better ask the embassy before apply. I appied in South America. So, I am not sure about the Switzerland's embassy. But as a citizen, I belive they only ask a prove of address (like utility bill) when you stay in your home contry.Jan *********
Anonymer Teilnehmer 461 your sure about it?
Kool *******
@Jan ********
the new rule says applying in your passport country/country of citizenship. If you apply from a different country, then you must have official permanent residency in that country. This was done to prevent people rejected in one country, and going to another close country, and applying again.Kool *******
@Jon *********
they will want you to provide official documentation proving you have permanent residency.
Jon **********
@Kool ******
saying you need 'official permanent residency' is whats causing confusion. What you need is a passport, a long term visa, or some country specific permission to live/work in that country. Not all countries offer PR, and the local embassies will be aware as to what permission will be accepted.
Unforgettabl*************
@Jan ********
Permanent Residence is an immigration status that as a citizen you surpass. Obtaining satisfactory proof of being in the country may be a different issue though.Anonymous ******************
@Jan ********
according to the new rules. You have to apply in your home country (Passport Country) or where you have Permanent Resident status (PR Visa). I applied in my home country. I do not have a permanent address, so I used an electricity bill of my mother and an declaration that I was living in that address on that moment. My DTV was approved.Greg ********
Anonymous participant 461 Its a tad confusing. Not every country has PR either but the local Thai Embassy should be aware of the situation and terms used.
Anonymous ******************
@Greg *******
thank you for the clarification. I didn't know about that.Greg ********
Anonymous participant 461 Not necessarily PR in all jurisdictions. Singapore allows applications on ling term passes ie S and E Pass. These might be only for a year.
Knowledgeabl************
🤦🏽🤦🏽🤦🏽
Dan *******
No more going to third party countries for making applications, you will be required to make an application in whatever country that you hold a passport in.
Paul **********
It means your home country, you are still German on your passport.
Greg ***********
@Paul *********
well, while it will be your home country, it is far from being your permanent residency if you already are de-registered from Germany. That's German law.Paul **********
@Greg **********
the guy said he's not tax resident, so unless he is permanent resident in another country, it means they have to go homePaul **********
@Greg **********
as I said before, just because he is a non dom for tax, it's doesn't mean he's no longer German, if travelling he won't have residency in any other country.Greg ***********
@Paul *********
when you de-register (an unknown to many German specialty, regarding the replies in this group) from your home country and start travelling the World as a digital nomad, you won't become tax resident anywhere. He could go back to Germany for a holiday, book into a hotel and apply based on his German passport (in case a "permanent residency" is not actually required by the Thai embassy)Activity
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