dbrenn

Yes, there are other countries. But I love Thailand. That's why I live here. That's why I invested 10 million baht to build a hotel business. That's why I married a Thai lady and have a Thai child. That's why I bring money into Thailand (last month it was 750k baht). But, in spite of living here for 5 years, in spite of learning to read/write/speak Thai etc etc bla bla bla bla bla . . I am still treated like some short-stay sex tourist

Cambodia certainly does not thrill me. Maybe I need to split my time with 3 months in LoS and 3 months elsewhere. But to me, that makes me sound more and more like a sex-tourist!!

Anyway, moaning does not help the matter. I don't wish to relocate to another area of the world because my baby son is in Thailand and I need to try to get custody of him, (and I'm sure that's not going to be an easy task).

Simon

PS - With 500k+ baht/month, I can sure put some money in the bank if I stay in Laos/Cambodia!

Simon,

You don't have to leave Thailand even if you get a divorce, Thailand won't refuse you entry as you have a dependent Thai child living in Thailand. Assuming that your son is a Thai national, you should always be able to get non-imm O visas by showing your son's birth certificate at the Thai embassy.

Cheers

dbrenn, I am curious to know whether anything was stamped into your passport after making your application? I know that when you applies for PR the Immigration Department put a stamp in your passport saying that your application for permanent residence is under consideration. I wondered if something similar is done when you apply for citizenship.

Many thanks,

Bob

No, unlike PR nothing was ever stamped in my original passsport. You continue being a PR while your citizenship is under consideration. Once I got citizenship, I was asked to return my PR documents and Work Permit to the respective issuing authorities, and apply for a Thai passport to leave and enter Thailand.

They may have changed the procedure. Female and male acquaintances did their singing at the police station; same male acquaintance who was among interviewees this morning. Another female freind who had her interview earlier this year and now has the ID card had a room full of officials with microphones, like you, but didn't have to sing. Our experience was a bit like I'd imagine speed dating to be. Two kitchen-sized tables each with six chairs and we sat elbow to elbow for a brief chat before the 'yindee duay' was declared by the interviewer. Would have been very odd had anyone burst into song. It seemed to me they were more intent on confirming peoples' bonafides than judging their singing skills.

Good if they are making it easier BUT you did miss out on the most amusing part ....

excellent news. Now you are free to travel I guess!

Did you by any chance get an indication if a farang male with a Thai PP was a common occurance. They gave me the impression that they get a farang coming in on almost a weekly basis out at Chaeng Wattana...but I can't really verify if this was true.

I saw a couple of farangs at the passport office in Bang Na but they had Thai ladies with them so not sure who was actually applying for the passport.

The set of Interior Ministry notices that was just signed contained around 125 names in 6 groups, of which around 5 were western sounding. The rest were chinese, indian and various others.

^Wheels can always be greased. The trick is finding the squeaky ones that need greasing.

As just about anywhere, in Thailand you can get away with murder with the right amount of money.

More often than not you need a trusted discreet and well connected intermediary(read lawyer) to handle the details. It is kind of refreshing to learn that as a rule these things are handled legitimately.

I'll tell you if I found a way through the system to get a PR or citizenship in a streamlined manner I wouldn't advertise it here on a public forum. I'd be the proverbial clam.

For me, the reason why I believe the citizenship area is free from corruption is the issue of national sovereignty. Citizenship, means access to this sovereignty - land, and unfettered rights to exploit what ever sits in the borders, so it isn't given away easily, and any price offered for it is likely to be too high.

Governments of all stripes, will wage catastrophic war for a few square km's of useless mudflats or inches of territory to protect its sovereign rights and claims, so it isn't a surprise for me at least is that the road to citizenship is a tough one at least in Thailand. On this point at least, access to land (whichever way) is a protected and non negotiable issue.

Other countries, take the view that a certain level of foreign participation in ones economy is a good thing, and that the wealth it generates will benefit all its citizens. Hence, the relatively liberal approach to immigration and foreign investment we see in the west. Unfortunately, the public debate in Thailand hasn't yet reached this point. It will, slowly I am sure as the real and perceived benefits become apparent

Hi Samran,

You were right in your earlier comments about the passport office - plain sailing. Applied in less than half an hour at the passport office in Central Bang Na, just showing my ID card and my cerificate of citizenship. Picked up my new passport two days later. Only cost 1000 Baht.

If only the Ampers could learn a thing or two about modern administrative practices from these guys at the passsport office ....

Oh, and by the way, I forgot to mention in my earlier post on my experience at the Ampher to the rest of the group. Although when I origtinally applied for Thai citizenship I had to reserve a Thai forename and surname, I was in the end allowed to keep my original name. Apparently, they have changed the rule obliging a name change on conversion to Thai citizenship. I can always change my name later, if I want, just like the Thais do.

Cheers

Did the Interior Ministry interview this morning, along with about 100 other people. Was very professionally organized with each couple being interviewed by one main interviewer supported by an IM person providing confirming background detail and 3 other govt. officials taking notes. Involved about 5 minutes of very basic questions about our circumstances. Not at all intimidating and very friendly. No singing, for me at least, altho some people behind me were still preparing when we were done. The main interviewer, who seemed director-general level, congratulated me at the end and the IM support person said the IM Minister would sign the order authorizing my citizenship and that will be that. So apart from years of waiting, that's that.

As a by the by, the woman waiting next to me ahead of our interview had her application in for 8 yrs and an acquaintance I knew who happened to be there today put his in last year. Taking out the gap between mine being lodged and me being out of the country, I waited 2 yrs. No explanation for the difference in wait time other than the suggestion that this govt. is trying to clear a backlog built up by the previous admin. So much for anti-foreign sentiment.

Congratulations, and sounds like you had a very good outcome. Didn't know that you ladies don't even have to sing the National Anthem and get interviewed alone by a room full of officials like us guys .... you did miss the best part though

So is there any legal ways that I can enter Thailand again?? I never killed anyone there!!!!! So that means I cannot enter the kingdom for my rest of my life. Is it truth?/?? Pls help!!! Thanks brother and sisters here!!!

Probably not. Most countries have similar regulations that exclude people who commit criminal offences like theft, and quite right too. I for one don't have much sympathy for you if your are guilty, as I have had stuff stolen before and I know how it feels.

Changing your passport might not help either - passport numbers change but I was told that immigration matches people by same name, nationality and date of birth, all of which would appear on any new passport.

Hi! I'm Robin here! On 18Nov03, I was accuse of stealing a handphone and was sent to jail in Bangkok for 4 months. I was deported back to Singapore on 18Mar04. I try to enter Bangkok again on 10apr05 but was deported back again!!!! What should I do now? My wife is a thai. How can I enter Thailand again? Anyone can help? I heard people say that can enter Hatyai? Is it truth? Or do u guys think that if I use my Hanyu Pinyin name in my new passport(now passport have new number instead of my ID number) instead of using my dialect name. Because I used my dailect name in Thailand when I was in jail. thks!! Pls help!!

http://www.phuketgazette.net/issuesanswers...ails.asp?id=723

OP comes from a country which allows dual citizenship with Thailand.

But I imagine that most TV members come from countries that do not allow this.

So the question for OP is this: Would you have relinquished your original citizenship to get the Thai?

Otherwise, in his position, what OP did is just common sense.

The UK, Australia, USA, Germany, Switzerland...(the list goes on) all allow dual citizenship.

I quite sure most TV members come from countries which do allow dual citizenship.

In fact it seems most countries allow for dual citizenship. link

Norway seems to be one of the exceptions.

Are most members here from Norway?

Hi there,

Interesting document on citizenship rules - thanks for the link. To my knowledge, most western countries allow plural citizenship, Australia recently started allowing it. I have american friends that tell me that they are not able to apply for Thai citizenship while keeping their US citizenship, seemingly in contradiction to the document that you provided the link for. Are they mistaken, or could this be because acquisition of Thai citizenship entails an oath of allegiance to Thailand (see page 10 of your document)?

In answer to your earlier question, I had held PR for longer than the minimum 5 years. I maintained a WP throughout my application process, simply because I was working here anyway, but my WP was only checked twice - during my initial application and at the Interior Ministry when I went to sing the national anthem. I did not have to show any documentation after this Interior Ministry visit until the final step at the Ampher to get my ID card. Although my home Ampher asked for a copy of my WP, this was not actually a requirement as the second (more competent) Ampher that finally processed my ID card did not ask for copies of my WP. Theoretically at least, I could therefore have stopped working in September 2004 after the Interior Ministry check. But, things can and do change anytime....

I'm afraid that there is no easy answer to your question on what in practice would be minimum acceptance criteria. The process does seem rather discretionary, and depends largely how much they like you as a package.

Cheers

As someone who has just gotten PR, I am interested in the next step as soon as possible.

A quick question about timings. I have seen conflicting reports about when I am allowed to apply for citizenship. I have lived here for 14 years, paid lots of tax for more than 10 consecutive years, but have only just gotten PR. Do I have to wait 5 years more before applying? or can I try straight away?

I am male, 39, with a son.

In the past you could appeal the normal waiting period to the Minister of Interior if you felt there was a case why should be considered early. Is that still an option? Also, is it worth having "influential" people be the two sponsors/witnesses for your application?

Thanks for any insight on this...

Generally they are quite strict on minimum requirements, aksing that they are all met before an application can be successfully lodged. An appeal to the Interior Minister himself would probably take a very long time indeed. Not sure either about the influential people as witnesses - depends who they are I suppose.

You should ask at the police department on Rama 1 Road. They are very helpful and will give you advice.

Great post dbrenn! I have also read your first thread with great interest. I really appreciate you sharing these experiences, I have done some research on this for two years and this is the best info that i have come across so far.

In a few years I plan to go down that path as well. I have my PR three years now. One of the things that i did after receiving the PR was splitting my salary that i take out of my company with my wife to reduce the amount of income tax that we pay. From reading your thread i understand that you need to pay tax over a salary of at least 80,000 per month or pay a minimum of 100,000 tax per year. Is it correct that you only need to do this in the last year, which is the year you apply for the citizenship?

Again very informative thread, many thanks.

That is correct. Are you married? If I remember correctly, the minimum amount goes down to 30,000 Baht per month and there is no specific minimum tax requirement over and above the tax that you would normally pay on a 30,000 Baht salary. However, it is good to be well above the minumums, given that approval is very discretionary.

Hi Again All,

For those who are interested, this post covers the procedure that I followed once the Police Department had given me my certificate of citizenship, which I previously described here:

Story Of My Thai Citizenship Application

A certificate of citizenship is all well and good, and looks very impressive printed on high quality thick card with various rubber stamps and a Police General's signature. However, the certificate itself is useless without the ID card that it entitles you to. It's the ID card that actually allows you to do things. Surely, I thought, all I have to do now is go to my local Ampher (disrict office), present this flashy certificate, and I will be welcomed with open arms and given an ID card in 5 minutes as a matter of formality. Well, I did get the ID card, but, as usual in Thailand, the process was entertainingly complex, to say the least. In my enthusiasm, I was forgetting that anything that I have ever done at an Ampher takes at least two attempts - the first to see exactly what this particular set of officials wants according to their own interpretation of the rather ambiguous laws; and the second attempt to provide them with the documentation in the way that they want it ...

FIRST ATTEMPT:

1) Went to my Ampher with every conceivable document along with the certificate of cisizenship, and presented it to one of the officials in the Tabien section

2) Sat there for a while and waited patiently. He looked totally confused and was frowning as he shuffled through all the papers. He got out the rule book and read it for a while. Then, he told me to go away and make photocopies of my citizenship certificate, all the other papers that accompanied it, including my certificate of residence, my alien registration certificate, my Tabien Bahn, my work permit

3) I made all the copies and went back to the same official. He made me sign all the copies, then he went away and spoke to a couple of his higher ups. After a while, he came back and told me that they have never done this before, and that they would need time to "study" the rules. He told me that I would need an interview with the boss of the Ampher. According to his interpretation of the rules, even though I had received the permission of both the King and the Interior Minister, changing my citizenship to Thai was a matter of great sensitivity and could not be done witout exhaustive checking of all my documents. He gave me a telehone number to call the following day, once he and his colleagues had taken a closer look

Needless to say, even my legendary patience in situations like these was starting to wear a little thin, but of course I kept smiling and didn't show displeasure. Looking at the dozey people in my local Ampher, who seemed to have no grasp of the rules, I called the official in the Police Department who handled my application to ask for advice. I was told to go to a different Ampher, one that is more adept at handling such applications and whose officials knew the process. This came as a surprise to me, as I thought that such a procedure could only be done at my local Ampher, but I am no expert and so I followed this advice.

SECOND ATTEMPT:

1) Went to the recommended Ampher, whereupon I was initially was told to go back to my own Ampher. Upon gentle insistence that I had been sent there, I befriended one of the officials and told him that his Ampher was specifically recommended. Now, at last, the process could begin in earnest

2) I was told to go away and make copies of every conceivable document (again)

3) I was temporarily "moved" to a Tabien Bahn within the catchment area of this new Ampher

4) I was told to go away and come back with four photos

5) I signed a whole mass of forms

6) My photo was stuck in a big book, and the official manually wrote a page-long commentary of my application

7) I was told to produce a Thai witness (apparently all first ID cards need a witness)

8) My witness (one of my friends who worked nearby) kindly arrived and filled out various forms

9) Lunch time - I was told to come back in an hour

10) Had all my forms approved by the boss of the Tabien section

11) The nationality line on my (new) Tabien Bahn was amended from my old nationality to "Thai"

11) Went to the ID card issuing section - signed more forms. Commentary of my application was written manually into another book, register style, similar to the first but a different colour. I Was asked to go away and come back with some more photocopies of sundry personal documents that were apparently missing from the first set

12) Had my photo taken against a measure to show my height. Had my thumb prints electronically read

13) Paid 25 Baht

14) Got my ID card - at last. In answer to a previous question, my citizen ID begins with the number 8

Now the cleanup - I need to move back to my old Tabien Bahn. I can do this as and when I please, and it is a simple process. Can't wait to see the faces of the people in my old Ampher when they see that I have made a pilgrimmage to a new Ampher to perform a task that they were not capable fo doing.

Thai bureacracy is an interesting mix of old and new - there are computers at the Ampher upon which citizen records are kept. The ID card was issued in 5 minutes and made on the spot using the latest technology, but only after wading through a bureacratic system that can only be described as dickensian. Oh well, I did get my ID card, and this is a once in a lifetime experience.

Cheers

In my usual, inimitable fashion, I have just stumbled across this thread.

Absolutely fascinating (apart from the ridiculous and needless rants around pages 6 and 7).

I come from an era when all things were possible with regards to PR and citizenship, with the right amount of money. In fact I still know of a few farangs walking around with Thai citizenship who can barely speak a word of Thai - which to me is a total disgrace, and a shame on them.

dbrenn, I am in awe in what you and others have achieved.

I cannot conceive that anyone who has decided to make his/her home and life in Thailand would not wish to do the same - were it possible.

Many,many, congratulations, and enjoy your hard earned rights.

I also know a few people who got citizenship in the old days. Things were a lot more flexible then, and it was much easier than it is now if you knew the right people and / or put money in the right places. Now, Thai laws governing visas, residency and citizenship seem to be more rigorously followed, and it seems that there are few, if any, ways for an ordinary person to circumvent them.

Thanks to you and the other nice people in this group for the kind words, and I hope that my original post will encourage those people who are eligible to apply to go ahead and do it. True, it is not an easy thing to do, but people who are lawfully living and working here may be surprised, like I was, to find that with some effort it is possible to get full rights here. Once you get down to the application process with the right frame of mind, it is not really as bad as it sounds and only takes a few days of your time. Acceptance criteria only seem to get tougher, so if you are eligible for any kind of concession, be it a visa, PR or citizenship, apply for it now rather than procrastinate until the rules change against you.

Not sure why you chose to go through all this humiliation ! But you obviously had your reasons !

If you are from Africa or the Indian Sub-Continent or such, then Thai citizenship may be regarded as useful.

But you kept schtuum on this.

But otherwise ... Why bother

1. You can buy land ... Ok.

2. You can drive a Tuk Tuk ... Yea Ok I guess.

3. Entry to the Grand Palace ... Ok if you go every weekend.

4. You can own a business ... Mmmm.

5. No comment.

6. So Bt 1,900 a year is a problem for you ?

7.

8. Ok.

9. Sounds like you are on the Lam.

10. Why would you want to vote ?.

Naka.

The OP has decided to be a 1st class citizen in the country he's chosen to live in...Congratulations to him for achieving it. Its better than being a second class resident - from a rich country.

The poster quoted the figure of 1,900 Baht for a resident return visa, which is incomplete information with respect to the requirements for PR re-entry, so I will respond to the poster's comments simply for the benefit of new PR's who should be aware of the rules before attempting to leave Thailand, or risk losing their PR.

In order to be allowed to leave the country and return again with PR status, a PR holder needs the following:

1) A non-quota immigrant visa in your passport - cost for 1-year multiple entry is is 3,800 Baht

2) An endorsement in your certiificate of residence - cost for a 1-year endorsement is 1,900 Baht

The total is therefore 5,700 Baht per year, not 1,900 Baht.

To get the above, you need to bring your Alien Registration Certificate and Tabien Bahn to the immigration office, along with a photo, your certificate of residence and passport. You apply one day and pick up the completed documents the next.

New PRs who have never left Thailand should note that both the passport with visa AND endorsed certificate of residence must be presented to immigration on departure and re-entry to Thailand in order to maintain PR.

A PR who never leaves the country does not need the above and therefore pays nothing, but you have to pay the above if you want to leave and re-enter as a PR. If you are out of Thailand without the above or if either of the above expire even by just one day, then you automatically lose your PR and you have to begin the whole application process again from scratch.

Both the abbove are valid for one year, hence a PR can spand a maximum of one year out if he or she wants to return to Thailand with PR status.

Hi and congrats again,

Just a minor comment on the annual PR requirements (visa and endorsement), fresh in my mind because just done them.Formalities can now be completed in less than an hour with all documents returned completed.It's done upstairs now not on ground floor as before.You don't actually need the Tabien Bahn, at least I have never needed it - just the passport, blue book and police red book.I'm not entirely sure in fact whether latter is needed but I bring it along anyway.

Now you mention it, the only reason that I had to take my Tabien Bahn was to get a duplicate certificate of residence - my old one was full of stamps. As you correctly say, to get an endorsement, the documents that you need are your pasport, certificate of residence and alien registration book (they did ask for this one).

Glad the whole process can now be done in a day - the service is getting better over there.

Hello dbrenn

my name is Tom Young Iam from Canada, the province Ilive in is called Alberta, the city is called Fort mcmurray. I read your story about your journey to attainng a thai citizenship. quite the story. Iam writing to you because I have a fiance who lives outside(42km) of Udon Thani, and I could use all the help on l;earning about the thai system! IAm currently building a home in the village of Non Simma.

If you could I would appreciate emailing to you about your life in Thailand...Iam currently employeed by an oil corporation here in Ft Mcmurray, but my plan is to move to Thailand in 1-2 years...maybe sooner. But I donot quite understand the issues surrouonding the Farangs lving there (visa's) ect. I may be taking 2 of my children to live with me, they are 14 & 12..Any how I will keep it short, please if you do not mind could you email me to let me now if you would share your experiences and knowledge with me?

sincerely

Tom Young

My email adress is thanks again and hope to hear fro you. I do have mnay questions to ask, if you do not mind.

First things first - go and stay there for a while on Non-imm O visasa and see if you like it. Living in a remote area far away from your own kind and without any of the familiarities of home isn't something that anybody can adapt to. Don't even think about taking your kids there until you have lived there for a year or more and are sure that it is best for you AND them. They are just teenagers, and might not shere your enthusiasm for living in such a foreign culture as a village in Udon Thani.

Thanks so much for the link and reassurance! That's a huge relief. I've a small sheet with the national anthem in Thai and English that I've been reciting at every possible moment (haven't been too many unfortunately) since I learned over a business lunch that I have to sing it. Can read Thai, but am still trying to work out the best way to remember. Can remember the first line word perfect by knowing what it means....Maybe I can glance at my paper if I get stuck. Am thinking of maybe taking Monday off work and just staying home and writing out both endlessly. With any luck, they'll find my singing so dreadful that I'll get off with one....

Didn't even know that ladies have to sing the song too. Just read off the sheet with a bit of melody thrown in, and be extra nice to them. You'll pass.

I haven't heard of a quota, and one wld hope the processing were based on qualification not on a ceiling. I'm quite horrified by the original post as I have my interior ministry interview next Tues. and can barely stumble my way thru the national anthem after I learned last week I'd have to sing it. At least I know the tune by heart. The King's anthem's a complete shock, I could hum it at a pinch, I think, but have no clue of the words. Eek! Crash course!

Someone asked if PR was a prerequisite for citizenship. It's not for women who have produced a Thai citizen. I believe it is a prerequisite for men.

Re household registration, I got on my husband's househould registration when I had PR (since lapsed) and would recommend the same for a female spouse applying as the premise is that you are seeking to stay with your husband. In every step of my process, the officials have deferred to my husband over me. Now if they would only ask HIM to stumble thru the anthems....

Don't worrry too much:

1) It's easier for a woman

2) You can write the Thai National Anthem and King's Anthem on a sheet of paper and read from it while singing if you can't remember the words. Can even be transliterated into Roman script if you aren't too good at reading the language. So long as you know the tune, you will therefore be OK

Not sure why you chose to go through all this humiliation ! But you obviously had your reasons !

If you are from Africa or the Indian Sub-Continent or such, then Thai citizenship may be regarded as useful.

But you kept schtuum on this.

But otherwise ... Why bother ?

1. You can buy land ... Ok.

2. You can drive a Tuk Tuk ... Yea Ok I guess.

3. Entry to the Grand Palace ... Ok if you go every weekend.

4. You can own a business ... Mmmm.

5. No comment.

6. So Bt 1,900 a year is a problem for you ?

7.

8. Ok.

9. Sounds like you are on the Lam.

10. Why would you want to vote ?.

Naka.

The OP has decided to be a 1st class citizen in the country he's chosen to live in...Congratulations to him for achieving it. Its better than being a second class resident - from a rich country.

The poster quoted the figure of 1,900 Baht for a resident return visa, which is incomplete information with respect to the requirements for PR re-entry, so I will respond to the poster's comments simply for the benefit of new PR's who should be aware of the rules before attempting to leave Thailand, or risk losing their PR.

In order to be allowed to leave the country and return again with PR status, a PR holder needs the following:

1) A non-quota immigrant visa in your passport - cost for 1-year multiple entry is is 3,800 Baht

2) An endorsement in your certiificate of residence - cost for a 1-year endorsement is 1,900 Baht

The total is therefore 5,700 Baht per year, not 1,900 Baht.

To get the above, you need to bring your Alien Registration Certificate and Tabien Bahn to the immigration office, along with a photo, your certificate of residence and passport. You apply one day and pick up the completed documents the next.

New PRs who have never left Thailand should note that both the passport with visa AND endorsed certificate of residence must be presented to immigration on departure and re-entry to Thailand in order to maintain PR.

A PR who never leaves the country does not need the above and therefore pays nothing, but you have to pay the above if you want to leave and re-enter as a PR. If you are out of Thailand without the above or if either of the above expire even by just one day, then you automatically lose your PR and you have to begin the whole application process again from scratch.

Both the abbove are valid for one year, hence a PR can spand a maximum of one year out if he or she wants to return to Thailand with PR status.

Congrats Mate. Job well done. Given the opportunity I would love to have a Thai Passport in addition to my US one. Currently have a resident and work visa for China, PRC. Did not have to sing the National Anthem but did have to give allot of blood and undergo every medical test under the sun.

Which brings me to my question, Does Thailand allow dual citizenship? I have a young son that is a dual citizen and holds both Thai and US passports. I was told when he reaches the age of 18 he is no longer eligable under Thai law to hold a passport of another country. Is this true or is it urban legend?

Thai law states that the holder of dual nationality through birth *should* (not *must*) make a choice by a certain age. I forget how old. However, there is no legal obligation to do so, and no penalty imposed for not doing so. Most people therefore don't boither and continue to hold dual nationality. In the case of acquisition of Thai nationality through naturalisation, there is no requirement to renounce your existing nationality, so long as your "old country" allows dual/plural citizenship, which mine does.

to the OP or to anyone who knows the right answer,

I have questions with the following requirements in the Thai citizenship procedure:

"If working in Thailand, he or she must have an income of at least 80,000 baht a month or have paid taxes in the year the citizenship application is made of 100,000 baht or more." --- What if not working in Thailand but remitting income from other country where I'm working from? Can I pay tax even not working in Thailand?

Apart from taxes paid for the tree years preceding your application, you also must have a valid work permit both at the time you apply and when you are invited to the Interior Ministry, so you may have problems in this area.

"He or she must have lived in Thailand contunously for at least five years before applying." --- This does not mention any residency permit. Will I be considered to have lived continously in Thailand with only Non-B (spouse) visa for the last five years?

Thanks...

When I applied, applicants must have held PR for 5 years preceding the application. Temporary visas don't count for the 5 year minimum residence requirement.

No recognistion is given for taxes paid abroad. You have to be living aand working here - paying Thai taxes and the evidence must only be Thai Por Ngor Dor 91 tax return forms.

You have to get PR and hold it for at least 5 years before applying for citizenship. Incidentally, in answer to some of the other questions, yes there is a short reading test, your Thai language should be at least to a good conversational level (you are interviewed alone at both the Police Department and the Interior Ministry) and you need to have a clean criminal record.

Just curious, where are you registered at? I was told by the Police in Bangkok that I needed to apply for citizenship in the province my husbands house registration is located in. But, unfortunately, Surat Thani police are clueless. I was hoping to be able to try Bangkok, so am curious if you are Bangkok resident or not?

You can lodge your application only to the police HQ of the Jangwat that appears on your Tabien Bahn. Doesn't matter what your husband's Tabien Bahn says, it's only yours that matters. You are considered a married couple for the purposes of your Citizenship application so long as you cohabitate, regardless of what your respective Tabien Bahn say your address is.

This all means that you don't have to be on the same one as your husband. You can be on any Tabien Bahn in Bangkok, even temporarily, if that's where you want to apply.