My wife is going to purchase a house shortly in Phrae province.
As we have to return to UK in 6 weeks time (whilst I am here on a 90 day visa so won’t be extending it this trip) how long does it take to get a blue book which I guess would only be in my wifes name?
Would this entitle me as married to a thai, the yellow book which, when I return to Thailand Oct ‘26, makes things a bit easier for opening a bank account in place of a certificate of residence?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The process of obtaining a blue book for your wife's house in Phrae depends on the local Tassaban (municipal office). The blue book will be in your wife's name; it is advised to check with local authorities as requirements differ by area. As a married couple, you can apply for a yellow book and pink ID card, which facilitate certain processes like opening a bank account without needing a certificate of residence (CofR). However, requirements vary significantly by Amphur (district office), with some being more straightforward than others.
I got my yellow house book and pink ID card recently and each Amphur differs in requirements so best to visit and find out what they need. I had a new passport and different from the one used to get married so had to get my passport verified at the British Embassy, translated and certified by the Thai MFA. There are also other local requirements like visits by the local headman(men), local witnesses, photographs at the house with headman, witnesses etc. and a visit to the Amphur with them to sign off papers. Once that is done you get finger printed and photographed then receive your yellow book and pink ID card. To simplify things it would be best to combine the incoming flight to Bangkok with an appointment at the embassy. I had to wait 16 days for an appointment so make it online in plenty of time so you get an appropriate time slot. Takes a bit of time but worth it in the long term in spite of what the naysayers claim. I use my ID card in place of a passport for checking in for internal flights.
Really depends on the Amphur you are dealing with. Some people seem to walk in with a note on the back of a fag packet and walk out 15 minutes later with yellow book and pink id. It took me weeks, lots of running around, several visits to the Amphur, Embassy letters and documents from Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I already had the documents from the land office including usefruct, showing I own the house etc. It's much more difficult than the visa process in my experience. Good luck.
Every amphur makes its own requirements, some are very easy and some give you the run around and some will just say no. I was lucky and didn’t need any embassy letter and it was really simple. Pink card the same. Both are extremely useful in smoothing out processes.
Yes you can get a yellow book and pink ID card. Advise getting at same time. Need paperwork from British embassy proving your passport it was same paperwork as needed for marriage so i used that one plus other stuff forgotten now exactly what i needed.
Blue house book is given when purchased. But believe she would need to transfer her main residence to that and not sure how that works. You really need to check in area your wife is purchasing house as with lots of things its different in different areas.
We are staying in bangkok now in a hotel. Due to the house we were going to rent being close to the Cambodian border we decided to not go ahead with it. So no CoR.
My wifes brother lives in Phrae so we will be going up there early next year to viw the property / area.
We’ve basically put moving full time to Thailand off until October ‘26 now.
Will return with a new 90d Non-O probably a retirement one rather than the current one which was based on married to a Thai. (As a few say it is easier but an extra 400k more in the thai bank)
The house we are looking at isn’t grand but a nice simple house in a peaceful setting.
I have an eSIM but was planning to buy a new phone with a 12monthbplan next time i am here.
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