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What do I need to know about applying for Thai citizenship through the points system?

Thai CitizenshipNaturalizationVisa TypesThai PassportPoints SystemExpat Life in Thailand
Nov 2, 2025
a day ago
Colin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I know this is not asking for visa advice, but as it's somewhat related I hope you don't mind. I am considering applying for a Thai passport next year on the points system. I know most of the requirements not I looking for clarification on some of them and help with the process.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the challenges and realities of applying for Thai citizenship, particularly via the points system. Several comments highlight the difficulties faced by foreigners in obtaining Thai passports, with the majority stating that such applications are rare and prolonged. Some users suggest that the process might take years and require specific qualifications, with realities varying greatly based on individual circumstances. For those considering the move, links to resources about naturalization processes are provided, although caution is advised regarding clicking on external links.
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Jim *******
I would never ever click on any links.

Those sad fcucks have no idea what it is like to have 3 passports, Thai, Japan, Australia.
16 hours ago
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Colin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
That's the residency permit, no quotas on citizenship and 3-6 months
21 hours ago
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Nico *************
@Colin *******
 ah ok i understand. Thx
21 hours ago
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Nico *************
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Nico *************
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%20foreigner%20seeking%20to%20naturalize,an%20application%20form%20(Sor%20Chor.

Yes it is possible to naturalize but one way or another you have to give up your original citizenship
21 hours ago
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Colin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Check the government site
21 hours ago
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Colin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sism Legal are the worst, I would never believe anything they say
21 hours ago
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Colin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nico ************
 no you don't that's, why I didn't do it before
21 hours ago
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Nico *************
@Colin *******
 So the link in my comment is just fantasy?

Why would they write it then.

I do not want Thai citizenship but my daughter has two nationalities.

Oh, or do you mean that you do not have to give up your foreign citizenship?
21 hours ago
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Nico *************
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Pim ***********
Hello, I'm Dutch and together with my, also Dutch, wife been living here in Thailand for more than 30+ years. Now on a retirement visa and before, more than 20 years on a business visum because I owned and run a restaurant. What would be the possibility of getting a citizenship in Thailand after living here for 30+ years and what would be the better use of it compered too our current retirement visum?
a day ago
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Alexey **********
@Pim **********
 No chance to get Thai passport. Married with Thai? Perfect knowledge of Thai language? Your age 40-50 y.o.? Do you have permanent address? Are you investor or big taxes paid every year? Forget this idea. Enjoy and stay as retired person.
21 hours ago
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Colin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alexey *********
 you obviously haven't checked it out properly, it's, very doable
21 hours ago
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Alexey **********
@Colin *******
 I am married with Thai. 14 years in Thailand. My friend tried to apply few years ago when he was 48 y.o. He was married with Thai lady within 8 years. Owner of condo in Bangkok, tabien ban and pink ID. IT job with 80.000+ annual tax. Perfect Thai language. No crime records. Result: rejected without any reason. Finally he has moved to live in US now.
20 hours ago
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Heinz ***********
@Alexey *********
 I know two men who obtained a Thai passport.
15 hours ago
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Alexey **********
@Heinz **********
 Nobody for last 10 years.
14 hours ago
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Alexey **********
@Heinz **********
 How long time ago? I know also but not now.
14 hours ago
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Colin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Probably the Residents Permit not Citzenship, which is a lot easier
18 hours ago
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Colin ********
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Abu ********
I know quite a few people who have Thai wives, doing jobs and business and they have been living more than 20 years and still on 1 year visa extension. None of them even got long term visa or residence permits.
a day ago
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Sylvia ********
@Abu *******
 I know 2 foreigners who have got Thai citizenship, both speak Thai fluently, have local wives and long term businesses. It can be done, but long slow process as limited amounts of applications per year
a day ago
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Marianne ********
@Sylvia *******
 no limits. That is PR.
a day ago
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Sylvia ********
@Marianne *******
 they have Thai passport so have citizenship?
a day ago
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Marianne ********
@Sylvia *******
 not sure what the question is?
a day ago
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Sylvia ********
@Marianne *******
 sorry i was thinking you were saying there was a difference with PR and Citizenship
a day ago
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Colin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sylvia *******
 I am
21 hours ago
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Marianne ********
@Sylvia *******
 There is. Permanent Residency is not Citizenship.
21 hours ago
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Marianne ********
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Abu ********
@Sylvia *******
 , which year they got it? Thanks
a day ago
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Abu ********
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Dca *****
if one is asking about Naturalization to obtain Thai Citizenship, then, yes, there are many people from outside Thailand who have become Naturalized Thai Citizens

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a day ago
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Julian *******
Chinese just buy them.
a day ago
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Abhishek *******
@Julian ******
 i think those are short term elite visas
a day ago
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Julian *******
@Abhishek ******
 no. They are buying citizenship. The only passports given out recently have been to Chinese who are paying millions of baht for them
a day ago
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Julian *******
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Marianne ********
Thai citizenship group is more suitable for these questions.

Just a note that there has not been a sign off on any applications in a while. So the whole process might take many many years.
a day ago
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Colin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marianne *******
 according to a video I watched the process takes 3-6 months. The THai Residents Permit can take up to 18 months, is a lot costlier and a lot more difficult than citizenship for which you need a minimum of 3 years unbroken stay, stable employment, £ years tax etc and costs 5000 thb pluse expenses. You need to score 50 point from 100
a day ago
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Olav *********
@Colin *******
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%3A1762065102906&ei=zvoGaa2EN4uPseMP-uGGQA&oq=can+coreigners+get+thai+cit&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIhtjYW4gY29yZWlnbmVycyBnZXQgdGhhaSBjaXQqAggAMgcQABiABBgNMgcQIRigARgKMggQABiABBiiBDIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FMggQABiABBiiBDIFEAAY7wVIh6EBUKEYWIJ7cAJ4AJABAJgB4AKgAc4dqgEIMC4yNS4xLjG4AQHIAQD4AQGYAh2gApAiqAIewgIHECMYJxjqAsICChAjGPAFGCcY6gLCAgcQLhgnGOoCwgIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBcICCxAuGIAEGMcBGK8BwgIFEC4YgATCAgUQABiABMICBBAjGCfCAhAQLhiABBjRAxhDGMcBGIoFwgIIEC4YgAQY1ALCAggQABiABBjLAcICChAuGIAEGAoYywHCAgYQABgWGB7CAgUQIRigAcICBxAjGLACGCfCAgYQABgNGB6YA0zxBfa4K9AGrGxNkgcIMi4yNS4xLjGgB_zRAbIHCDAuMjUuMS4xuAeTIcIHCzItMi4xMi4xMy4yyAezBA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
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906&ei=zvoGaa2EN4uPseMP-uGGQA&oq=can+coreigners+get+thai+cit&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIhtjYW4gY29yZWlnbmVycyBnZXQgdGhhaSBjaXQqAggAMgcQABiABBgNMgcQIRigARgKMggQABiABBiiBDIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FMggQABiABBiiBDIFEAAY7wVIh6EBUKEYWIJ7cAJ4AJABAJgB4AKgAc4dqgEIMC4yNS4xLjG4AQHIAQD4AQGYAh2gApAiqAIewgIHECMYJxjqAsICChAjGPAFGCcY6gLCAgcQLhgnGOoCwgIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBcICCxAuGIAEGMcBGK8BwgIFEC4YgATCAgUQABiABMICBBAjGCfCAhAQLhiABBjRAxhDGMcBGIoFwgIIEC4YgAQY1ALCAggQABiABBjLAcICChAuGIAEGAoYywHCAgYQABgWGB7CAgUQIRigAcICBxAjGLACGCfCAgYQABgNGB6YA0zxBfa4K9AGrGxNkgcIMi4yNS4xLjGgB_zRAbIHCDAuMjUuMS4xuAeTIcIHCzItMi4xMi4xMy4yyAezBA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
a day ago
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Marianne ********
@Olav ********
 he is obviously talking about applying for citizenship, which is perfectly possible if you fulfill the requirements.
a day ago
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Marianne ********
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Marianne ********
@Colin *******
 Problem is no one is really signing off the documents at the end of it all, at the moment. Maybe sporadically at best.

People who applied in 2020 are still waiting.
a day ago
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Marianne ********
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Greg *********
Very difficult to achieve, but good luck.
a day ago
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Pertti *************
@Greg ********
 hassle free process us who have worked here and are married thai citizen. 3 years, aplication in and depending many things +-5 years you have your passport.
14 hours ago
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Pertti *************
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Alexey **********
Within last 10 years nobody from farangs has got Thai passport. Thai blood only! And nobody can help you.
a day ago
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Colin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
The quotas are for the, Residency Permit NOT a Thai citizenship, there are no quotas and can apply at anytime
a day ago
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Igor *********
@Alexey *********
 not true!
a day ago
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Alexey **********
@Igor ********
 Please give me one example at least. After 2015. My info is based on Royal Gazette statstics (newspaper). None European name but Thai people only who have restored their citizenship by blood.
a day ago
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Alexey **********
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Jim *******
@Alexey *********
 Obviously, it is not Thai blood only. It is like a foreigner becoming a Thai citizen. There are quotas for each country.|

A farang, who has worked in Thai and paid taxes for at least 10 years, are elligible. Even without Thai wife.

My Thai national daughter (21, now a student in Australia) has 3 passports. Thai, Australian and Japan. She left Thai when she was 4.5 years old.
a day ago
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Nico *************
@Jim ******
 yep, same here.
21 hours ago
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Alexey **********
@Jim ******
 Please note that only Thai people can have few citizenships. But foreigner are obliged to cancel his first citizenship. Applicant must pass state exam for Thai language. Quotas are for PR only. Thailand is Kingdom, not respublic. Anycase applicant must confirm how he is useful for Thailand. And why his native passport is not so good for him.
a day ago
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Marianne ********
@Alexey *********
 no, we do not need to relinquish our original citizenship.

There is a form with the intention of doing so, but it is not enforced.
a day ago
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Jim *******
@Marianne *******
 It is not enforced, true. Australian Immigration do not stamp Aus passports. When my daughter entered Thai, they asked her where is she coming from. She came from Sydney but no trace other than boarding pass.

She pulled out all her 3 passports (Japanese one had a stamp from Oct 2003 with Japanese stamp). Thai Imm officer just said "I don"t want to know of any other passports" and let her in, on her Thai passport.
a day ago
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Todd *********
@Jim ******
 exactly - she is a Thai national. She has to enter on her Thai passport.
a day ago
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Jim *********
@Todd ********
 she has to leave on same passport as she entered
a day ago
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Todd *********
@Jim ********
 of course. But a Thai citizen has to enter on Thai passport.
a day ago
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Todd *********
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Marianne ********
@Jim ******
 for citizen there is no quota, that is for PR.
a day ago
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Jim *******
@Marianne *******
 You may be right.

A woman, from Sweden, married a Thai man. Three years later she became a Thai citizen. Must be much easier for women than for men.
a day ago
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Alexey **********
@Jim ******
 How long time ago? :)
a day ago
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Alexey **********
@Marianne *******
 100%
a day ago
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Alexey **********
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