{"id":37123,"date":"2017-07-15T00:26:12","date_gmt":"2017-07-15T04:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=37123"},"modified":"2021-03-02T12:46:53","modified_gmt":"2021-03-02T17:46:53","slug":"residency-options-in-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/residency-options-in-thailand\/","title":{"rendered":"Residency Options in Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Residency Options in Thailand<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thailand is a popular vacation destination, but it can also be a great country to call home. It hosts a low cost of living and accommodations, great food, and beautiful weather and outdoor sights. If you&#8217;d prefer to live abroad for an extended period of time, there are some <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">residency options to consider in Thailand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>90 Day Non-Immigrant Visa<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before applying for other visa options, you&#8217;ll have to start with the 90 day non-immigrant visa. It&#8217;s issued to those who wish to enter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bravewomentravel.com\/2018\/02\/21\/how-to-get-around-bangkok-as-a-female-traveler\/\">Thailand to study<\/a>, do business, invest, retire, etc. It&#8217;s valid for 90 days, as the name states, and can be extended for 7 more days. This visa can be upgraded to a 1 year non-immigrant visa once you&#8217;ve arrived in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bravewomentravel.com\/2018\/02\/14\/thailand-travelling-as-a-solo-female\/\">Thailand<\/a>. Here are the requirements for the 90 day non-immigrant visa:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Application submission via Thai embassy or consulate by mail or in person<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valid passport good for at least 6 months from planned arrival date<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Invitation or confirmation letter for purpose of travel<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proof of financial funds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Embassy fees<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The review and processing of this visa application takes around 5 to 10 business days. Under this visa, you can apply for a work permit and open a savings account in a Thai bank. It&#8217;s the perfect step for getting your foot in the door if you&#8217;re looking for a more long-term way to live abroad in Thailand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Retirement Visa<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those who are looking to retire in Thailand, the retirement visa can be obtained when upgrading your 90 day non-immigrant visa once you&#8217;ve entered the country. This visa is valid for one year, and allows multiple entries into Thailand. It can be renewed each year, but you have to meet the qualifications again each time you renew. Here&#8217;s what you need:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Completed application<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Must be age 50 or older<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proof that you can meet the financial stipulations. Any of the criteria below are valid: <\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deposit THB 800,000 into a Thai bank account. This amount must be sitting for 2 months prior to visa extension<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">THB 65,000 monthly pension<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A combination of the first two qualifications that adds up to meet the correct amounts<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Must not have any criminal history<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After 3 consecutive 1-year extensions, you can apply for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">permanent residency in Thailand<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Business Visa<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This visa is available to those who either want to work abroad in Thailand or want to open a business in Thailand. With this visa, you are eligible to apply for a work permit and to open a bank account. It&#8217;s good for one calendar year and can be renewed as needed. Remember, three renewals and you can apply for permanent residency. This is what you need to apply for the business visa:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Completed application<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passport good for at least 6 months from arrival<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent passport-style photograph (within the last 6 months)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Letter of approval from the Ministry of Labor<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This can be obtained when your employer submits the Form WP3 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Copy of Thai work permit<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corporate information of hiring company\/employer. This information can include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business license<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">List of shareholders<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Company profile<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">List of foreign workers and their nationalities<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Map with location of company indicated<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Income and Business Taxes visible on balance sheet<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For tourism or export related businesses, you&#8217;ll need a document indicating the number of foreign tourists or export transactions issued by banks<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Marriage Visa<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This visa is for those who are married to Thai nationals and want to go and live abroad with their spouses. As with the other visas in Thailand, you must first get the 90 day visa before applying for this visa. This visa allows multiple entries into Thailand and is valid for one year. It can be renewed as needed. With this visa, you may also apply for a work permit. These are the qualifications:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legally married to a Thai national<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No criminal background<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meet financial requirements. Either\/or is okay here:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Security deposit of THB 400,000 in a Thai bank account for at least two months<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monthly income of at least THB 40,000. A letter from your own country&#8217;s embassy must be supplied to verify this income amount.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>Permanent Residency<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the name implies, the permanent residency visa allows you to <\/span><a title=\"live abroad in Thailand permanently\" href=\"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/thailand\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">live abroad in Thailand permanently<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is very difficult to gain in Thailand, since many people want to live permanently in this country. The Thai government only allows 100 people of each nationality every year. The application takes about 5 months to review, and the entire process can take a full year. Here is what you have to have:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 consecutive visa extensions\/renewals<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valid work permit<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least 30,000 Baht monthly income for those who&#8217;ve been married to a Thai national for 5 years, and at least 80,000 Baht monthly income for those who are single.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 years&#8217; worth of tax statements proving income requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>I hope you enjoyed reading this article: Residency Options in Thailand. If you have any questions, please contact<\/b><a title=\"our office HERE\" href=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/offshore-services\" rel=\"\"> <b>our office HERE<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>I&#8217;ve included some great articles for you to read, enjoy!<\/b><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"LinkSuggestion__Link-sc-1mdih4x-2 jZPuuT\" title=\"Is Teaching in Thailand Right For You?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/teaching-thailand-right\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Is Teaching in Thailand Right For You?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"LinkSuggestion__Link-sc-1mdih4x-2 jZPuuT\" title=\"Why Thailand is a Popular Retirement Haven\" href=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/thailand-popular-retirement-haven\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Why Thailand is a Popular Retirement Haven<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"post-title post-url\" title=\"Top Residency and Visa Options: Bulgaria, Thailand, Malta, DR, and St. Kitts\" href=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/top-residency-and-visa-options-bulgaria-thailand-malta-dr-and-st-kitts\/\" rel=\"\"> Top Residency and Visa Options: Bulgaria, Thailand, Malta, DR, and St. Kitts <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"post-title post-url\" title=\"Retiring in Thailand in 2018\" href=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/retiring-in-thailand-in-2018\/\" rel=\"\"> Retiring in Thailand in 2018<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"post-title post-url\" title=\"29 Things I Learned Living in Thailand\" href=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/29-things-learned-living-thailand\/\" rel=\"\"> 29 Things I Learned Living in Thailand<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Residency Options in Thailand Thailand is a popular vacation destination, but it can also be a great country to call home. It hosts a low cost of living and accommodations, great food, and beautiful weather and outdoor sights. If you&#8217;d prefer to live abroad for an extended period of time, there are some residency options [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":308,"featured_media":37780,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[71,127,137,168,366,442,451],"yst_prominent_words":[17393,29057,9917,3574,2756,29061,2775,29059,29064,29058,29063,17409,2369,2489,30023,29066,29060,2412,2376,4599],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/thailand-1451379_1280.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37123"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/308"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37123"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37123\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44380,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37123\/revisions\/44380"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37123"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=37123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}