For Returning Thai Nationals – My Immigration Appointment Experience (Inheritance Visa for Adoptees / Thai Descent)

I wanted to share my experience with Thai Immigration for those who, like me, are returning Thai nationals — especially adoptees or individuals born in Thailand. This is for those reclaiming Thai citizenship or status.

If you have a Thai birth certificate and also your civil registry form issued by a district office, you may qualify for what's commonly called an "Inheritance Visa" — an extension that is valid for up to one year and renewable. This is a route available to people of Thai descent who are not yet listed in the Thai national registry (tabien baan) or holding a valid Thai ID but are in the process of reclaiming it.

Here’s a summary of my appointment process and some helpful tips:

Where: Immigration Division 1 – 3rd Floor, IT Square, Bangkok

Why: I booked the appointment online under the category for "Returning Thai National Reclaiming Thai Status"

When: I arrived around 8:00 AM for an early spot in the queue

Link to Online Appointment: [members only]

Documents I brought (and what they required):

TM07 form filled out correctly (I will upload a sample for reference)

Copies of my Airbnb receipt + payment history as proof of residence

Copies of my TM30

Copies of entry stamp

Certified translated name change document with MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) stamp

Copies of my Adoption Registration in Thai

Copy of my U.S. passport (bio page)

Most importantly:

Original & copies of my Thai birth certificate ( I had a recently issued copy by the district office)

Original & copies of my civil registry form also issued by the District Office.

Tips from my experience:

They are extremely meticulous about document accuracy and completeness. Be sure your translations are official and certified by MFA or else you'll be asked to provide them in both original form and copy form.

Have extra original copies and multiple photocopies on hand — just in case.

Even though my appointment time had technically expired, they acknowledged my Thai status and gave me a priority queue card, allowing me direct entry to the immigration office.

The longest part of the process was the initial queue, which took about 2 hours, but this is necessary for your documents to be verified before the immigration officer can process your extension.

The process is very manageable if you are organized and respectful, and the staff were professional and helpful once my documents were confirmed.

Hope this helps someone going through the same journey! Feel free to message or comment if you have any questions.

Make sure you have cash only on hand to pay the €1,900 baht extension fee.

NOTE: Depending on your reclamation timeline, you have to report your residence information every 90 days, it can be done online on the immigration website.

Hi,

I need to renew my annual visa — it's a Non-Immigrant O (Thai Family / wife) visa. I am German and based in Bangkok. This time, I will be abroad traveling when the visa expires, so I have a few questions:

1. How many days or weeks in advance can I apply for the extension?

2. Is it also possible to apply after the visa has expired — for example, one week later?

3. Lastly, I would really appreciate it if someone could share from experience which documents are usually required for the extension.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Best regards,

Daniel

Hi everyone Cheapest yearly retirement visa

Pls

As I’m home on my first 90 visa ( based on marriage). My local immigration office said I can extend for a year after the first 60 days. So my question is when would my 90 day check ins start from is it 90 days on entry to Thailand or 90 days from the start of my first year extension?

Arrived in January and planning on doing a 90 day report next month and wondering if I go there early enough could I also get a 180 day DTV extension? Are they even done at the same place? Hopefully its all within the same area where you get tourist visa extensions.

I got my DTV approved this month. I am wondering do I have to maintain 500K baht (equivalent) in the bank throughout the 5 years?

I used to hold retirement visa. When come to renewing the visa, I need to present bank statement for the entire year.

Hello group. I am going to extend my 1y non O retirement visa this August after my first year in the land of smiles. To your knowledge, 1- did I have to keep 800k THB in my bank account for the whole 1st year? 2- can I bring my bank account balance down to 400k THB 3 months after my 2nd year non-O visa extension? 3- can I get my balance down to 400k THB now and top it up to 800k THB 2 months before extending? Thank you so much!!

I'm on O visa now 800k route last 2 years. Last year sent 66k month but after extended I took 800k out instead leave 3 months. Thinking let visa expire. Then apply new O visa on 65k route. New application need be 800k first or is 12 months 65k route accepted? Reason for let expire is I'm leaving Thailand for 3 months and renewal date later in year suits me better. Thanks

I'm currently on an extension for retirement which will expire in August but I want to change to marriage. The GSB bank has now stopped the app on the phone for foreigners so I want to close this account but if I'm changing to marriage visa do I still need to keep this account with the minimum 400000 baht in for the retirement visa?

After one year my retirement visa will expire Feb 18 2025. I want to go back to Thailand at around that time. I need advice: Should I let it expire and then go or better to go before it expires? I also want to ask about changing it to a regular tourist visa in which case is better to let it expire ? or is it easier to change to a tourist visa within Thailand ?

Thank you all