onthemoon

It seems the problem here is with the UK authorities, not the Thais. Does your passport show your residence? Mine does, and it shows Bangkok, Thailand. That's why I get "VAT refund for tourists" anywhere in the EU. I haven't tried outside of the EU, but then, I'd be a tourist anywhere outside of the EU anyway. (Except in Thailand, of course.)

At least at DLT Prakanong, they understand PR very well. Yes, you do have to present your (pink) ID and your tabien bahn, exactly the same as Thai citizens. I don't know why you think there is something wrong with that.

No, I didn't say that. I said that if you need a new white book (for example because the old one is full), they ask for the tabien bahn. I don't know what happens if you don't have one, didn't try that. The OP intends to reside overseas and travel to Thailand at least once a year. He will get his entry and exit stamps into the white book, and a new endorsement every year, which is a full page. Sooner or later his book will be full. That's why this information might be relevant to him. I don't know whether someone who never travels needs a tabien bahn. They can probably renew their drivers licence using their passport and a residence certificate from the embassy, instead of the pink card and tabien bahn. The white book and the drivers licence are the only times I have needed the tabien bahn (I think).

Example: I recently needed a new white book and forgot to bring my tabien bahn. (They believed me when I said I will bring it when I pick up the new book - it takes a couple of days - so I presented it when I picked up the new white book. I don't remember whether I had to show the tabien bahn when I renewed the red police book.

Bubbha already answered this: The "P" in "PR" does not mean it's permanent; you lose it if you leave the country without visa+endorsement. On the other hand, they take the "R" seriously. So, if you don't reside in Thailand (with a tabien bahn to prove it) you lose your PR.

Blue Book: You need to renew/replace it when it's full. I travel a lot, so I get a lot of exit and entry stamps, including the full-page "Endorsement" (re-entry permit) every year. Need a new book every few years. Only the first one is blue, the replacement books are white. Don't forget to bring this PR book (whether blue or white) along with you when you travel! You have to show it together with your passport upon leaving and entering the country. And you need to have an immigrant visa in your passport and this endorsement in your PR book. Otherwise, your "Permanent" Residency will be cancelled the moment you return to Thailand.

The red book which you have to renew every 5 years at the police station, right? I was a year late once, I had to pay a fine of THB 400. That was all. However, you need an address in Thailand (and a blue tabien bahn) in any case. Otherwise you cannot renew your blue or white book, which you renew at Chaeng Wattana, and you lose PR status.

You will be asked the meaning? OK, with the National Anthem that's not so difficult, but the Sansern Baramee uses Ratchasap, so that's a lot of vocabulary I'm not familiar with. Thanks for pointing this out.

These transcriptions helped me personally to pronounce the words correctly. Sansoern Pre Barami Lyrics.docx Thai National Anthem Current lyrics.docx

8 months? My documents were sent to MOI in April 2021. Still waiting.

You don't need any driver's licence to apply for Thai citizenship.

Not in your area, but I bought condos in Bangkok and Pattaya and did not get the money from abroad. In fact, I got a local bank loan. So you are definitely right. Just giving you moral support. Others will pitch in with the relevant law or regulation.

I studied for an MSc in the UK and was told at the time that the government subsidises the tuition fees from tax money. Since non-residents don't pay taxes, they have to pay full price. Made sense to me.

It has no impact whatsoever. I completed my MBA (in English) and my PhD (in Thai) here in Thailand, and I paid the same as Thai students did. One a side note: In Thailand, you can study on any visa you have. The ED visa exists only for those who do not have any other visa but would like to study in Thailand.

I always use the Thai line at BKK. Once I arrived at DMK and there was a long queue at the Thai line and an even longer queue at the foreigners' line. When it was my turn, the lady officer said in a friendly voice that I should really use the foreigners' line, but she is being nice and will stamp for me. I advised here that this is not really correct, I have the right to use the Thai line, but she did not believe me. (She stamped my passport anyway, even though a bit irritated). If we now hear that immigration officers in Phuket also think that PR holders have to use the foreigners' line, it is just another case of officers not being properly trained. Does anybody have the regulation which states that PR holders can use the Thai line? In my experience, officers will be happy to learn something new when you show them. Of course, you always have to be polite and respectful. Oh, the machines currently only work with Thai passports, as I reported last month or so. That's a different issue.

Good advice. I am one of those who travel out of the country at least once a month, so I have a multiple-entry anyway. However, even if a trip weren't planned, I'd feel better with the re-entry in the passport. The reason is that I have family overseas and you never know when you get a call on Friday afternoon that you have to jump on a plane the next day. Sometimes business can require very urgent trips too.

I just asked them. It is not possible yet for foreigners with PR to apply for autogate. He said they are waiting for an upgrade at the moment. He could not say how long it will take.

Thanks for this. While item 3 with the time limitation is interesting, I don't expect anybody to take action when the application process is delayed. It would be kind of counter-productive, methinks. I re-read item 4 on the website you linked. The applicant needs to be able to conduct a conversation by speaking and understanding the Thai language and present proof of this. So, the Primary School Degree (ป.6) that some of us have will be sufficient. While a certificate from a university will be accepted, there is no mentioning of Chula as was originally posted. It also clearly says that only speaking and understanding is required, no reading or writing. My interpretation of this is that the applicant should be able to conduct a simple conversation (degree of simplicity to be decided by the institution issuing the certificate, and the institution must be accredited by the Ministry of Education), something an applicant will be able to do anyway, Why would anyone apply for a citizenship without speaking the language at least basically, I wonder. So, all is cool. The Thai government just wants to establish that that the applicants speak basic Thai. The German government also requires that. I don't know about other countries, such as the US or Australia.

In my notes, it says 18 months. I must have noted it down from postings in this list. Maybe it was 12 months some longer time ago?

That's 18 months between interview and publication. I believe this was the schedule before Covid, too. So, they are on track. ????

You need the support of your company. I was lucky as I worked for a small company at the time I applied, and one of the owners was a PR holder herself. A big corporation may be reluctant to give you their tax receipts and other internal documents, and they have no obligation to. Sweet-talking will be required... Good luck!

I beg to differ: to keep your PR, you have to get your yearly stamps or never leave the country. If you leave the country without your yearly stamps, the PR will be cancelled. It is not permanent and not for lifetime; you can lose it easily.

Great, and good luck!

Gymnasium: Sweden seems to have the same school system as in Germany or Austria. The degree you get when you graduate (Abitur [DE] or Matura [AT], I don't know what it is called in [SE]) can correctly be translated as "Highschool Degree". PNG90/91: If you worked and paid taxes, but you simply cannot find this paperwork, you can indeed go to the revenue department and request copies. You need your tax ID, bring your passport, and fill in a form stating why you need the copies. They will also certify the copies, which I think you will need. Minimal fee.

The officers are human, they do not just tick boxes. You want to make a good impression. They liked my P.6 certificate and some other stuff (partially not certified as I knew the document wasn't needed) and I had a good chat with my case officer. And why not? I know they are not the final decision makers, but it is never wrong to establish a good relationship. YMMV.