Thai Permanent Residency

Everything you want to know from Thailand's leading PR firm

What is Thai permanent residence?

This status lets you live in Thailand for an unlimited period without worrying about visa expiry dates or extensions. It requires a substantial commitment of time and effort, but the benefit is undeniable: Thailand will be your home.

You’ll find a lot of confusing and conflicting information about eligibility and requirements, but we are experts in Thai immigration and the permanent residency (PR) permit. We will clarify your options and make your application process as smooth as possible.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

If you have been researching permanent residence in Thailand, you’ve likely encountered a variety of names for it. Many sources, including Thai government websites and documents, use several different terms. To help clear up this confusion, here are some of the common names you will see for permanent residency in Thailand:

Benefits of Thai permanent resident status

With PR, you will no longer be exposed to sudden changes in immigration rules or discretionary decision making.

What our clients say

"Khun Ing accompanied me through every step of the Permanent Residency process."

Hi, my name is Ahmet. I am a legal executive working for a multinational corporation with headquarters in Los Angeles, in charge of our

Ahmet

"My family and I were very relieved and very happy."

Hi, my name is Scott. I’ve been living and working in Thailand for the past 2 and a half years. My wife and my

Scott P.

How to get permanent residency in Thailand

PR isn't easy to obtain, but if you want to make Thailand your home, it's well worth the effort.

There are four categories for applying for permanent residency:

Work/Business:

You are working for a company in Thailand or have started your own business that employs Thais.

Humanity/Family:

You are married to a Thai national or another permanent resident.

Investment:

You are investing at least 10 million baht in Thailand for three years.

Expert:

You have academic or other qualifications and an endorsement by a relevant Thai government organization.

The other categories, Humanity/Family, Investment, and Expert, have all the same minimum requirements as Work/Business, but add on more. The bar is significantly higher and approval is more difficult.

If you’re applying under the most popular category, Work/Business, here is what to expect:

Timeline: Expect up to two years from start to finish.

Eligibility: Financial stability and tax contributions are priorities.

Documentation: There is a lot, so plan ahead.

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Thailand Permanent Residency Interview Guide

What’s covered:

BAAN THAI IMMIGRATION SOLUTIONS

Permanent Residency Experts

We are an immigration-focused international law firm based in Bangkok. Our team of bilingual counselors are experts at facilitating PR applications for expats who are making Thailand their home. Our expertise has made us the counselor’s counsel — handling referrals from leading business law firms to help their clients achieve PR status.

The team I've assembled at BaanThai brings decades of experience helping people navigate Thai immigration. We've now helped many people obtain PR, so they can pursue their dreams and achieve their goals in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Mark Friedman
Managing Director
Baan Thai Immigration Solutions

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Free Consultation

FAQ

The application fee is 7,600 baht. Once approved, the fee for the permit is 191,400 baht unless you are married to a Thai citizen or another permanent resident, in which case it is 95,700 baht.
The application process usually takes around six months. Getting approved varies greatly, but plan on 12 to 24 months from initial application until final decision.
Once your application has been accepted, your passport will be stamped with a special extension allowing you to stay in Thailand while you wait for the result.
Casual conversation. The interview is usually conducted in a relaxed style and you’ll be expected to answer questions about yourself and your experiences in Thailand.
Certainly, however, the number one comment from people who choose this route is that they wish they had sought help. This is because of the amount of time involved, the amount of written and spoken Thai required, and the highly discretionary nature of granting this immigration status.

Yes. Permanent residents can use the same blue “tabien baan” residence book as Thai citizens and receive a Thai ID card which gives access to a range of government services and makes a lot of officialdom easier, including banking, driver’s licenses, airport immigration, etc.

Yes, and leaving Thailand without one or letting it lapse while abroad will void your permanent resident status.

Up to one year; any longer and you will void your permanent resident status and you will need to apply again.
In our experience, these quota limits are almost never reached and have only been a factor for holders of Chinese and Indian passports.

Yes, under limited circumstances you can lose your PR if you:

  1. Leave Thailand without a Reentry Permit or
  2. You do not return to Thailand for a full year.

However, there are exceptions for point 1.2. In the event that you could not enter Thailand due events beyond your control (e.g. travel ban due to pandemic), or other uncontrollable and unforeseen circumstances, you can appeal the order to revoke your PR by providing the aforementioned reasons.

No, the retirement visa category does not qualify for PR.

No, your application will not be accepted for approval as minimum income is one of the most important requirements for the Business category. You can fix this over a three year period by earning and paying taxed in the required amounts.

Yes, you can apply for PR at the Bureau of Immigration Office located in your Province. Note that once you submit the application it will be sent to Bangkok for consideration and approvals.

Yes, you will still need a Work Permit. However, you will no longer required to have 4 Thai employees in order to qualify for a work permit.

You will need to have basic conversational skills. You should be able to hold a simple 10-15 minute conversation. Here is a link to a free Permanent Residency Interview Guide with more information.

No, you cannot buy land in Thailand under PR. You will need to receive Thai citizenship in order to be permitted to purchase real estate, other than a condominium.

Yes, but you will need to obtain a Re-entry Permit before you travel out of Thailand. You will receive an “under consideration” stamp while you are waiting to be issued your PR. During this period, you will still be residing in Thailand under your Non-immigrant visa, and thus you can travel out of Thailand in the ordinary course with a Re-entry permit.

The consideration period is typically about 16-24 months.

No, your application will not be rejected if you quit your job while your PR is under consideration. However, if you applied for your PR under the Humanitarian category and you get a divorce while under consideration, you will need to change the category to Business category.

The Baan Thai Difference

WE ARE ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

Every member of our team understands how difficult it is to apply for permanent residency in Thailand. The process is complex, time-consuming, and for many people, overwhelming. You do not need to go it alone. With Baan Thai, one of our bilingual immigration experts will be by your side, bridging any linguistic or cultural gaps.

Our comprehensive knowledge of Thai law gives us the ability to create a strategy for your application and ensure that every box is checked. And our long-standing relationships with Immigration Bureau authorities ensure that your applications and reviews are handled with respect.

We are ready to answer your questions about Thai permanent residency.

Our dedicated and experienced team is ready to help you as we have so many others. Contact us today for your free consultation.