Farang becoming a Thai National

[LaaMok]

What's the chances? And what's the procedure...

 

if you are going to say its impossible, please click here

 

I am interested to how its done and what is needed.

[layow]

i read

 

you need at least 4 or 6 years of continual residence and visas with no breaks

and tax records for the period

need to speak thai and sing the national anthem etc.

[LaaMok]

i read

 

you need at least 4 or 6 years of continual residence and visas with no breaks

and tax records for the period

need to speak thai and sing the national anthem etc.

 

Hi Woody,

 

where did you read this, do you have any links, I knew it was kind of possible. Well limited numbers per year etc

[Dr.Winston]

I'd heard ten years. Don't ask me where.

[Alleycat]

Best of luck my 'sometime in the future' Thai brother

[Scumbag]

I have heard they don't like gay folk....

[kdogg]

Lots more reading here than I want to do

 

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/ba...hp?page=service

[Pheromone]

They let mongers become citizens? gay mongers at that? what is thailand doing these days? Oh, they're too busy fighting protesters and cambodia to notice Brian slippin' through the cracks!

Edited October 17, 2008 by SoCo MoFo

[biggles]

Mate of mine knows a guy who is going to do this, though why you would want to I dont understand. He told mate it was 3 years and you cant leave at all. this means you have to have a retirement visa ( multiple o have to leave every 90 days). He was not aware of this and had one exit for an emergency in his two and a half years, so the time has re-set.

You also have to pass a quite difficult language test, reading and writing he said.

You might have the citizenship paper in your hand, but I reckon you will always be the falang!! in thai eyes

[Laawman]

I only know one guy that has done this - and he ran the Thai motorcycle racing team for some years. As a reward they granted him citizenship, but it's still hard to keep as they make you jump through many hoops.

[Rob Jones]

Hi Woody,

 

where did you read this, do you have any links, I knew it was kind of possible. Well limited numbers per year etc

If you go down to immigration you can get a leaflet, its very complicated and expensive alot of the deposit you pay while your application is being processed is not refundable. And when you reach 18 you have to give up your original citizenship, so NO dual citizenship is allowed

[missinginaction]

why would anyone want to do this?

[Cerberus]

I have sent you some details in a PM. You need to be in for the long run, its a marathon as opposed to the four hundred metres. Learn Bangkok Thai not Bar girl Thai if you want even the slightest chance.

[whitespider - RIP]

why would anyone want to do this?

 

I assume the few people that do are 100% committed to remaining in Thailand for the rest of their days and it avoids some of the hassles of staying here if achieved. It also opens up land and business ownership opportunities. Its also only really suited to older people not contemplating children.

 

It is not suitable for many as you must give up your original nationality and passports so you are then restrained from the freedom of travel so many of us enjoy.

 

You will also still be "farang" in the eyes of Thais.

 

Very few actually do it because for one its difficult and secondly its not really a wise move for a majority.

[LaaMok]

why would anyone want to do this?

 

 

Quoted from someone that has done it

 

"1) Now I can own what I buy, land, house, etc

 

2) No need for a work permit, and no restricted occupations. I can now

drive a Tuk Tuk for a living if the going gets tough in the IT

industry

 

3) Now I can get in free to the Grand Palace and pay the Thai rate for

national parks

 

4) I can own a business

 

5) I can get a Thai passport and visit countries like Laos and Vietnam

visa free

 

6) No need for that expensive old yearly Resident Return visa. No

limit to the amount of time that I spend out of Thailand without

losing my residency

 

7) I can use the Thai passport lane at the airport (shorter queues)

 

8) In my case, no need to give up my old nationality

 

9) I have a new Thai identity, forename and surname. Good for

travelling to places that dislike my country of origin

 

10)I can even vote, although I am not sure who is worth

voting for"

[Dr.Winston]

Quoted from someone that has done it

 

"1) Now I can own what I buy, land, house, etc

 

2) No need for a work permit, and no restricted occupations. I can now

drive a Tuk Tuk for a living if the going gets tough in the IT

industry

 

3) Now I can get in free to the Grand Palace and pay the Thai rate for

national parks

 

4) I can own a business

 

5) I can get a Thai passport and visit countries like Laos and Vietnam

visa free

 

6) No need for that expensive old yearly Resident Return visa. No

limit to the amount of time that I spend out of Thailand without

losing my residency

 

7) I can use the Thai passport lane at the airport (shorter queues)

 

8) In my case, no need to give up my old nationality

 

9) I have a new Thai identity, forename and surname. Good for

travelling to places that dislike my country of origin

 

10)I can even vote, although I am not sure who is worth

voting for"

 

Plus you can get into the Crocodile Farm at the Thai price.

[Shuggy]

In most western countreis you can renounce your citizenship but they give it straight back to you upon request.

 

Also, the Thais may ask you if you if you have given up your other citizenship. There is no way they can legally check due to disclosure laws.

[Rob Jones]

Im proud of my citizenship and would never want to change it.

[dART-Design]

Procedure is not that complicated!

 

3 years of non-stop stay with Non-imm visa + tax record and Thai language knowledge (not much, just to be able to do simple conversation). Thats all!

 

Another restriction is 100 people per country can become Thai citizens, you give up your original citizenship automatically, but here is more tricky, when you go to your home country you return it immediately !

 

Cheers !

 

Ps. I have not read this, this is notes that i receive from Lawyer.

[Newton]

You will never become a Thai dont kid yourself.

[whitespider - RIP]

In most western countreis you can renounce your citizenship but they give it straight back to you upon request.

 

Also, the Thais may ask you if you if you have given up your other citizenship. There is no way they can legally check due to disclosure laws.

 

True but you have to go home to get it. With regard to the disclosure rules I have seen/heard countless times the tricks they pull at the airport. If you admit to having both they take the Thai one off you.

 

 

, when you go to your home country you return it immediately !

 

Yes but to remain "legal" you must then rescind the Thai citizenship back here. They wont let you keep it if they find out your lying.

 

To get back home you must apply at the embassy for a visa to visit your own country blah blah

 

I have known (literally) hundreds of poeple who have considered it but very few proceed as the cons outweight the pro's.

 

Its certainly not suitable for young people unless you genuinly want to remain here forever and not involve kids.

 

Just out of interest is the guy who wrote that glowing report flogging the means to get one by any chance? He certainly makes it all sound like a bed of roses and its not.

[Rob Jones]

You will never become a Thai dont kid yourself.

Why would any half decent westerner want to become a Thai fascinates me

[Laawman]

Becoming a Thai citizen is relatively easy - it's undergoing the surgery to remove half your brain that's the difficult part.

[Rob Jones]

:

Becoming a Thai citizen is relatively easy - it's undergoing the surgery to remove half your brain that's the difficult part.

 

:Kissass:

[chuckrivera]

In most western countreis you can renounce your citizenship but they give it straight back to you upon request.

 

Also, the Thais may ask you if you if you have given up your other citizenship. There is no way they can legally check due to disclosure laws.

 

 

True but you have to go home to get it. With regard to the disclosure rules I have seen/heard countless times the tricks they pull at the airport. If you admit to having both they take the Thai one off you.

 

Slightly OT, but I am a dual national, although neither of those is Thai. The rules are black and white, but are not followed in real life. Legally, I'm not allowed to hold dual citizenship from either country; both say that if you apply for any other citizenship, you automatically renounce your former. This is not the case in practice. My parents have been dual nationals for many decades and have travelled on both passports.

 

Shuggy, according to the Embassy of my second nationality, they notify your home country in writing when you apply for citizenship.

 

Whitespider, the rule at immigration in the US, is that you MUST enter with your US passport only; using your other is an automatic rejection of your US citizenship. In practice, I don't know if this is true. I have never been asked for my other passport, nor have I been asked if I hold multiple nationalities. The practice may be different in Thailand.