Living in a country where summer is year-round is the dream of many people. At any time, you can go to the sea or swim in the pool, buy delicious (and most importantly - affordable) fruits. What is not heaven on earth? Thailand is a beautiful and amazing country, living in it is easy and pleasant. But how to get Thai citizenship to a Russian citizen ? In fact, there are still several ways.
Thailand's Nationality Act
In Thailand, the law governing citizenship of a country (naturalization as a Thai citizen) is called the Thailand's Nationality Act.
It was published in 1965 (2508 in Thai chronology), the latest version of the law was in 2012 (2555th among Thais).
Birthright citizenship
According to the Law, a person can apply for the citizenship of the Kingdom by right of birth in two cases:
- His father or mother are Thai citizens, regardless of place of birth.
- If both parents are citizens of another state, but the baby was born in Thailand. In this case, it is necessary that the father and mother have the right to stay in the country at the time of the birth of the child.
The last paragraph in the law is stipulated by a number of restrictions: the requirement of citizenship is not valid if the mother or father of the child at the time of birth:
- They had permission to temporarily stay in the Kingdom.
- Stayed in the country illegally.
- They were members or heads of a diplomatic or consular mission, employees of an international organization, members of their families or employees.
Obtaining citizenship through marriage
But suppose you have no birthright. How to get Thai citizenship otherwise? This process is long and difficult, but possible.
A woman marrying a Thai citizen does not automatically obtain citizenship. She has the right to it by submitting an application and collecting the necessary package of documents for consideration by the Ministry of the Interior. Interestingly, a man who marries a Thai woman has more requirements for naturalization.
He can apply, but must meet a number of criteria, the most important of which is financial security.
Filing Conditions
According to the same Law, a foreign citizen has the right to obtain Thai citizenship if he:
- Adult and competent according to the laws of Thailand and their own state.
- “Clean” before the law and the authorities.
- He works in a permanent position and receives at least 80 thousand baht per month.
- Permanently resides in the Kingdom legally for at least five years before applying.
- Passed the Thai language test.
The last two items are optional for spouses of Thai citizens and their children. Persons making a significant contribution to the development of the Kingdom (scientists, outstanding athletes, financiers), also fall under this exception.
Procedure
So how to get Thai citizenship? In order, consider the action. First, the foreigner submits an application to the relevant authorities. If he has minor children, who also legally reside in the country, you can immediately apply for the naturalization of children. In this case, children are exempted from the qualification requirements listed above. When applying, a fee is payable. It is five thousand baht (9.5 thousand rubles), but the amount is changing. The application is considered by the Minister of the Interior, and then confirmed by His Majesty the King of Thailand.
If the application is approved, the foreigner is invited to the Ministry for a language test. It is important to know and be able to sing the national anthem of Thailand and the royal anthem of Sansoen Phra Barami. The applicant then passes an interview in Thai at the Ministry. At this time, representatives of the authorities will visit his house to make sure that the information provided to them about themselves is correct.
The next step is to report to the local police station for an oath of allegiance to the king and the kingdom. Clothing should be appropriate for the occasion, and you need to have candles, flowers and incense sticks with you. After the oath and subsequent waiting, you will receive a decision. And if it is positive, you get a Thai ID-card, and then a passport.
Based on reviews, Thai citizenship is not easy to obtain. The procedure is long and lasts more than one year. On average, all actions and expectations take about 3-5 years.
Required Documentation
The list of required documents is changing. Therefore, it is better to take the list in the Criminal Investigation Department, which indicates the requirements for the person filing the application. You need to fill out a special form, take photos and provide copies of documents. If necessary, they are certified and signed.
Here are some documents that will be needed:
- Passport.
- Work permit.
- Certificate of registration.
- Certificate of residence permit (if any).
- Marriage certificate (if any).
- Birth certificates of children (if any).
- Certificate of payment of taxes for the last three years.
- Passport of spouse.
- Account statements or certificate of employment showing income.
Dress officially to take pictures.
The benefits of Thai citizenship for Russians
Citizenship gives benefits to those who want to live in the country. You get the same rights as the native Thais:
- You can get a job without the need to obtain a permit, including government work.
- You can be the sole owner of real estate.
- Open a business and be its owner.
- There is no need to renew a visa annually and constantly check in at the Immigration Bureau.
- You can freely leave the country and be abroad for any time without fear of losing freedom of entry.
- Children automatically receive Thai citizenship at birth.
Residence
As you can see, this is a long, complex and not always successful procedure. If there are difficulties with obtaining Thai citizenship, the way to stay in the Kingdom legally will be to obtain Permanent Residency - a residence permit. It provides the following benefits:
- You can permanently stay in the state without renewing or renewing your visa annually.
- You can get a registration book.
- The facilitated procedure for obtaining work permits.
- You can buy real estate without the need for international money transfer.
- Your children born in Thailand will become citizens of the country.
- Your family will also be able to obtain a residence permit.
- Upon arrival, you go through a passport search as a Thai citizen.
Requirements for obtaining a residence permit
As well as for obtaining Thai citizenship, there are rules for successfully applying for a residence permit:
- Stay in the country for at least 3 consecutive years with a non-immigrant visa. Multivisa does not give the right to apply.
- Stay in the country at the time of filing an application with a type of visa B (non-immigrant).
Categories for which you can get a residence permit status:
- Investor: you must invest at least 10 million Thai baht in the country's economy. This may be an investment in government bonds, a deposit in a bank in Thailand, at least half of the shares of which belong to a citizen of the country, investments in renting or buying a condominium for a period of three years.
- Business category.
- Family support or humanity principles. If your spouse is Thai nationals or foreigners who have already received Permanent Residency, or you are the father, mother, or guardian of a child with Thai citizenship under 20 years of age.
- Expert category. If you are a professional in the field, that falls within the scope of interest of the Thai government.
Since Thai citizenship can be obtained only after five years in the country, you can apply for a residence permit earlier.
The papers you need to collect are determined by the category in which you are submitted. You can check their list at the immigration office. All documents must be certified at the embassy of your country and translated into Thai. The fee for filing an application is about 7,600 baht (14.5 thousand rubles). All applications for residence permits are considered by the Royal Thai Immigration Commission. Only 100 applicants from one state can receive Permanent Residency per year. Applications are submitted from October to the end of December.
Residence permit interview
As well as Thai citizenship, you can obtain a residence permit only after passing an interview in the office of the Immigration Bureau. You will be asked a few general questions about you, your documents, religion. All answers will be recorded and subsequently confirmed by you. You will pass a short written test and will have to briefly tell you about yourself in Thai. The performance will be recorded on camera.
What's next?
The waiting period for a decision is approximately one and a half years. A confirmation letter will arrive with which you will need to visit the Immigration Office within 30 days and get a certificate of residence permit. It is also necessary to pay the fee upon receipt of the certificate. It is 191400 baht (364 thousand rubles), but the amount may vary. A resident book will be issued for you. You must now register your place of residence in the local municipality and receive a House card.
After receiving a residency certificate, you are applying for an Alien book at a local police station. This book is equivalent to Thai ID-card and is updated annually. When you obtain Thai citizenship, these documents will replace the Thai passport and ID.
A residence permit has no expiration date; it is valid until canceled. When leaving the country, do not forget to obtain permission for a subsequent return. 10 years after the acquisition of a residence permit, you can apply for the citizenship of the Kingdom, provided that you stay in the country during this period.
Thailand is a beautiful country, which is a pleasure to live in. Simple tips on how to obtain Thai citizenship to a Russian citizen will help you settle here for a long time and enjoy the warmth, sea, wonderful fruits and a million Thai smiles.