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What are the requirements for obtaining Thai citizenship?

Thai CitizenshipVisa RegulationsImmigrationNaturalization ProcessPermanent ResidencyLanguage RequirementsThai National AnthemBenefits of Thai CitizenshipForeigners in ThailandPoints System for Citizenship
May 7, 2023
2 years ago
Angchhiring ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
In order to obtain Thai citizenship, one must take a written and spoken test in the Thai language????
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To obtain Thai citizenship, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the Thai language, both spoken and written, and must learn to sing the national anthem. Permanent residency for at least five years is typically required, along with a points-based system considering factors like education and age. However, if married to a Thai citizen, requirements are less stringent. There are varying opinions on the difficulty of qualifying for citizenship versus permanent residency, with some users arguing it's easier and more beneficial to pursue citizenship, while others suggest aiming for permanent residency due to the challenges in language requirements and residency criteria.
Alex ********
Fair enough
2 years ago
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Gareth *******
No problem for myself,I now have a few Thai children,We can buy land in there name,My eldest son is 23.,And Carrie's our family name.
2 years ago
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Frank **********
Who the heck wants to be a Thai Citizen?
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
@Frank *********
 me, who the heck wants to deal with immigration?
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
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Craig ********
It takes a lot more than that to become a Thai citizen. Good luck.
2 years ago
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Thomas *********
There's a lot more to it than that. You will also have to pay tax on your overseas income.
2 years ago
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John ********
One must....
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
@John *******
 not true, if married to a Thai. However, there is a written test, which helped me get the neccesary points
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
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Christina *******
Yeh why not
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
why would anyone sane want to become a Thai citizen … unless you’re Nigerian or Indian ?
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Russell **********
When did a coup ever take away someone's right to own land? You sound like a tinfoil hat or something. I'm no fan of the current administration, but they've done nothing of the sort you claim.
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
@Paul ******
 if the Government wants your land they just take it back with a bulldozer & the army … read up about Sirindhorn Dam & the people swept aside there, they are still protesting till this day on deaf ears … good luck with your rights in Thailand
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
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Johnny ******
@Russell **********
 I became Thai and am British. Many reasons to do so, stupid question.
2 years ago
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Tony ********
@Johnny *****
 are you both Brit and Thai now or Thai only?
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
Both
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
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Paul *******
@Russell **********
So you'd prefer the annual immigration run around, no land ownership rights, reporting requirements that foreigners have over becoming a Thai citizen? Not that it's easy to qualify of course, but your reasoning is dumb. I think anyone who can become Thai and intends to live in the country and/or wants to own land, have unrestricted working rights should become Thai.
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
@Paul ******
 yep good idea ... until there's a coup & everything gets taken away
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
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Jeremy ********
Jade Opal Jasper Dual Citizenship

Dual citizenship is not recognized in Thailand. To become a citizen of Thailand, you must renounce your previous nationality.
2 years ago
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Mitchell *******
The more countries you can be a citizen of, the greater your choices in just about everything you do.
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
@Mitchell ******
 yes exactly, but you always want to keep your best citizenship, if you can simply add another then ok
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
@Mitchell ******
 not necessarily unwise for some people in certain circumstances, it just depends what you may lose, so therefore it is wise to look before you leap ... is that 'un vague' enough ?
2 years ago
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Mitchell *******
@Russell **********
 , my comment was that the more citizenships you have, the more life options you have.
2 years ago
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Mitchell *******
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Jeremy ********
@Mitchell ******
 once you go become a citizen of a different country by USA law you gave to surrender your US citizenship….
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
@Mitchell ******
 it's fine if you retain your US, European or UK citizenship, but pretty unwise to just be a Thai citizen with their authority controlling over you
2 years ago
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Lynnette *******
@Russell **********
 "just be " a thai citizen. What does that mean?
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
@Lynnette ******
 are you confused ?
2 years ago
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Lynnette *******
@Russell **********
 by your comment "To just be a thai citizen".
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
@Lynnette ******
 if you have to forfeit your own country's citizenship, that being a first world country, to just have Thai citizenship in my view would be an unwise choice
2 years ago
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Lynnette *******
@Russell **********
 you don't surely? My son has dual citizenship in usa, my sister dual citizenship in Australia. So not sure why you'd "just have thai" citizenship, which is why I asked what you meant.
2 years ago
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Russell ***********
@Lynnette ******
 you don't durrly ? is that American slang of some kind ? ... sometimes you can only hold one citizenship depending on which country you are from, do you understand ?
2 years ago
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Lynnette *******
@Russell **********
 typo corrected. Obviously not American slang as I'm British. Your comment about citizenship was so vague it was necessary to ask you to clarify. So. . Its not necessarily unwise to be a thai citizen.
2 years ago
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Lynnette *******
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David ********
@Russell **********
 Benjamin Hart an American who is a lawyer and manager of Integrity Legal in Bangkok was naturalized into Thai citizenship. He is pleased with the accomplishment per his youtube videos.
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Russell **********
 the Pizza Company owner did it so he could own the land that his companies are on...he went on to become Billionaire....
2 years ago
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Bo *******
@Jeremy *******
 Less tax from income foreign country when become citizen in Thailand is one reson!
2 years ago
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Frank **********
@Jeremy *******
 he's a billionaire off that crappy pizza they sell?
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Frank *********
 Yes…
****************************************************************
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
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Mark ********
Thai citizenship group this group will give you accurate answers, lots incorrect above.

Key point on your question is are you married to a Thai?

If yes then no need to have PR, read, write or sing. Some conversational Thai will be expected but not fluency and your wife can join meeting and assist you on Thai bits.

If not married then you will need PR which is harder than citizenship to apply for, plus higher language requirements including singing the anthem.
2 years ago
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John **********
Best to aim for permanent residence.
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
Ah, I see. It does seem a bit unfair that retired folks can't get PR, especially those married to locals.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@John *********
No, better to become a Thai citizen. Easier process and more advantages. PR is extremely difficult to qualify for and even if you get it, you still need a work permit to work and are still subject to dual pricing and still can't own land
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
@Paul ******
 Indeed, PR is not worth it and costs 190,000 baht or something. Citizenship cost me 5,000 baht, is easier and many more benfits.
2 years ago
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John **********
@Johnny *****
 easy if you're married, not so easy if you're not
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
@John *********
 Citizenship is obviously easier if married, in any country. Not sure why you recommend going for PR rather than Citizenship, as if he is not married, he has to get PR first. If married, Citizenship is the easier, cheaper, better option by far.
2 years ago
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John **********
@Johnny *****
 yea. I'm not married to a Thai but can't get PR either as I'm on a retirement visa. I noticed the poster wasn't even in Thailand according to his profile and assumed he wasn't married to a Thai because of his location/work
2 years ago
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John **********
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John **********
@Paul ******
 can you become a Thai citizen without first obtaining PR?
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
@John *********
 yes, I did as married to a Thai
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
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Dan ********
Yeah,it’s practically impossible to qualify…don’t bother is the best advice I can give you.
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
@Dan *******
 nonsense, if married to a Thai you don't need to speak any Thai
2 years ago
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Dan ********
@Johnny *****
 You’re right,that makes things much easier…but there are far more farangs who haven’t got a Thai partner than have one,for them it’s a big problem.
2 years ago
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Dan ********
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Paul *******
@Dan *******
Nonsense. Plenty of foreigners, including quite a number of westerners have become naturalized as Thai.
2 years ago
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Dan ********
@Paul ******
 For the vast majority of foreigners it’s far too high a bar,most farangs barely have any Thai at all after years here..
2 years ago
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Dan ********
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David ********
According to a website :

It is compulsory that you know how to speak and write in Thai

You must know how to recite the Thai National Anthem

But there is far more than this. You have to have permanent residence for at least 5 years (there are limited permanent resident slots). They have a points system - for example to get maximum points for education you need a PhD, to get maximum points for age you have to be between 40 and 50, etc. I just an internet search, "how to obtain Thai citizenship"
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@David *******
PR status is not required if you're married to a Thai. Can become eligible to apply after 3 years on a non immigrant visa with work permit earning a minimum of 40K per month, every month
2 years ago
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Paul *******
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Richard *********
and sing the national anthem
2 years ago
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Johnny ******
@Richard ********
 I never had to sing it
2 years ago
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Richard ********
@Richard ********
 Seriously?
2 years ago
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Jonathan *******
@Richard *******
 and the royal song as well, the one they play before a movie at the cinema
2 years ago
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Richard ********
@Jonathan ******
 Are there any words to that one?
2 years ago
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Patrik *******
@Richard *******
 No.. you just dance 💃 And Need to beatbox. But need No words for the national anthem
2 years ago
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Patrik *******
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John **********
Yes
2 years ago
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John **********
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