The PR Visa for Thailand: Permanent Residency in Thailand

WHO IS QUALIFIED FOR THE THAI PR VISA?

The basic requirement for applying for a PR visa is an uninterrupted one-year visa for 3 years. In a language test before a committee of the immigration authorities, the applicant must also prove sufficient basic knowledge of the Thai language.

There are several reasons on which foreigners can be granted a permanent residence permit. These include:

• Investors who have invested at least 10 million Thai baht in Thai listed companies or government projects.

• Businesspeople in management positions in a company with at least 10 million THB in capital whose business benefits the country, in which the applicant has invested at least 5 million THB, and from which they receive a certain minimum income.

• Employees without a management position who have held a work permit in Thailand for at least three years before applying. The applicants must prove a monthly income of at least 80,000 THB for two consecutive years, or have paid at least 100,000 THB in income tax for two consecutive years.

• Foreigners with Thai family ties who support these families or live with the family for humanitarian reasons. Family members are defined as spouses, biological children or a biological parent who are Thai citizens. Sufficient family income must be guaranteed.

• Experts in a field that is in demand in Thailand or applicants for other special reasons previously specified by the government.

THE ADVANTAGES OF THE PR VISA

In addition to the right of permanent residence in Thailand, PR visa holders enjoy several advantages, some of which are listed below:

• Working in Thailand becomes easier. Visa holders receive a work permit without the employer having to hire four Thai citizens to hire the PR visa holder.

• The right to purchase a condominium without the purchase amount being paid from abroad or in foreign currency, and the right to be registered in a household register.

• In practice, this includes benefits such as billing for medical services. Visa holders are treated similarly to citizens in many social areas.

• The right to apply for naturalization to become a Thai citizen.

• The right to hold a seat on the board of a public company, regardless of whether the majority of the board is made up of Thai nationals.

• The right to obtain a residence certificate for the purchase of vehicles or to apply for a driving license.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

The entire application process can take several years. This is due to the restriction of only 100 PR visas being available per year. However, obtaining the necessary documents, such as a current police clearance certificate, or checking for blacklisting or a possible red notice entry can also take time.

Applications and language tests are only accepted between October and December each year, and language tests only take place during a specific period.

• Applications must first be submitted to the local immigration office in the area where the applicant lives. Depending on the applicant's category, foreign documents must be submitted in Thai and be certified and authenticated by a Thai consulate.

• Once all the necessary documents have been submitted, a note is entered in the passport to confirm that an application for a PR visa is being processed. Existing visas become invalid.

• The note is valid for 180 days and can be extended for the same period as often as necessary until a decision has been made on the application.

• Before a visa is issued, applicants must attend an interview with a test committee to demonstrate their basic language skills. Failure to attend the interview may result in the visa being revoked.

COSTS

The application fee is THB 7,600. Depending on the reason for the application, the visa itself costs between approximately THB 95,000 and THB 195,000.

In any case, it is advisable to have the process accompanied by a specialist service provider, such as Sanet Legal and Accountancy Co. Ltd.