Certificate of residence for Thai drivers licence?

[JTXR]

The U.S. Embassy can provide an "affidavit for Thai drivers license" that it says local officials call a "residence affidavit".  Can I use just this at the DLT to get a drivers license, or do I also absolutely need a "certificate of residence" from Immigration?

[Vacuum]

You'll have to call your local DLT to get the right answer. Most offices want the "certificate of residence" from Immigration, or a 'yellow book' if you have one.

[Snow Leopard]

I couldn't get a certificate of residence affidavit due to my embassy working on an appointment basis and that they had no open slots in July. It depends what visa you are on as well i think. 

 

I got a letter from the immigration office with my Passport and Condo lease contract in Bangkok. This was a bit of a hassle. Had to pay a bribe but i am sure you can do it legit as well. G/F went nuts. 

 

I am sure you can circumvent the above if you have the affidavit from the US Embassy. 

 

DLT on Sukhumvit required my Passport copy and a copy of the  visa page and the entry stamp page. Immigration letter, My country D/L. Condo rental contract and a medical cert (Available on the on the other side of the road). Had to do the eye sight and reaction test. Watch a video for an hour in DLT - Cost 105B for the license. I forgot what the medical cost now. Not much. It took about 4 hours in total but i got there early.

 

They never asked for the IDP. 

 

Next day opened a bank account as well with all of the above documents + My new Thai D/L.

 

Hope that helps. Long waits but got it all done with some smiles and a lot of patience.

 

 

[KittenKong]

2 hours ago, Snow Leopard said:

I got a letter from the immigration office with my Passport and Condo lease contract in Bangkok. This was a bit of a hassle. Had to pay a bribe but i am sure you can do it legit as well. G/F went nuts. 

Your GF is right to go nuts. It is a completely shameful procedure that shows Thailand up for what it really is.

 

That said, I always thought that Bangkok was one of the few offices that didn't impose a fake "charge" (for which you never get a receipt) for this officially free service.

 

In Pattaya you have the choice of a 300B bribe or waiting a week or two.

[observer90210]

...and not to mention that the entire procedure can be drastically different, better or a real nightmare,  from one DLT office to another....welcome to Thailand 4.0 !!!

[Snow Leopard]

2 hours ago, KittenKong said:

Your GF is right to go nuts. It is a completely shameful procedure that shows Thailand up for what it really is.

 

That said, I always thought that Bangkok was one of the few offices that didn't impose a fake "charge" (for which you never get a receipt) for this officially free service.

 

In Pattaya you have the choice of a 300B bribe or waiting a week or two.

You are right Kitten Kong of course.

 

I had no 90 day report. I think that was the main issue. I had not been in country long enough but needed to get all this done urgently. So i was not strictly in the right either if you know what i mean.

 

It all stemmed from not being able to get an embassy letter due to no free slots.

[The manic]

5 hours ago, KittenKong said:

Your GF is right to go nuts. It is a completely shameful procedure that shows Thailand up for what it really is.

 

That said, I always thought that Bangkok was one of the few offices that didn't impose a fake "charge" (for which you never get a receipt) for this officially free service.

 

In Pattaya you have the choice of a 300B bribe or waiting a week or two.

She went nuts because the money did not go to her!

[KittenKong]

10 hours ago, Snow Leopard said:

I had no 90 day report. I think that was the main issue. I had not been in country long enough but needed to get all this done urgently. So i was not strictly in the right either if you know what i mean.

Yes, that could be the reason.

[Vacuum]

14 hours ago, KittenKong said:

In Pattaya you have the choice of a 300B bribe or waiting a week or two.

Peanuts! In CM it's 500B.

[Pilotman]

My wife went to a local lawyer and obtained a signed and notarised declaration that I was resident with her at our home address.  We took that to Pattaya Immigration and they issued the residence certificate.  Dead easy.  Cost was 1,000 baht. 

[Andrew Dwyer]

I paid 500 baht for a COR at Pathum Thani Immigration , expensive but sure beats a trip to British Embassy !!

Now I’m in Ayutthaya, anyone know if COR’s are readily available there ??

[keeniau96]

I got such residence paper from Phuket Immigration several months ago. Qued up at volunteer desk, got number, Ok at desk a few minutes later. They had the required paper all typed out by computer, stamped, no charge. All very fine at Thai driver office.

[jackdd]

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

My wife went to a local lawyer and obtained a signed and notarised declaration that I was resident with her at our home address.  We took that to Pattaya Immigration and they issued the residence certificate.  Dead easy.  Cost was 1,000 baht. 

The visit to the lawyer was unnecessary and the certificate of residence is free or costs maximum 500THB

[Pilotman]

3 hours ago, jackdd said:

The visit to the lawyer was unnecessary and the certificate of residence is free or costs maximum 500THB

You have to prove that you live at the address you give to Immigation, and its not free, Immigration charge, I think 200 baht

[jackdd]

4 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

You have to prove that you live at the address you give to Immigation, and its not free, Immigration charge, I think 200 baht

Usually you just have to take your wife and her house book (or the rental contract in case she is renting the place) to the immigration and she confirms that you live there with her.

You could of course also just download a rental contract form, fill it with your data and take this to the immigration.

[KittenKong]

10 hours ago, jackdd said:

The visit to the lawyer was unnecessary and the certificate of residence is free or costs maximum 500THB

A residence certificate is always free. Any charge imposed is always a bribe for which you will never get a receipt.

 

Some offices, like Bangkok, do not ask for anything for the certificate, and rightly so. Others, like CM and Phuket, ask for 500B. Pattaya lies inbetween at 300B.

[melvinmelvin]

8 minutes ago, KittenKong said:

A residence certificate is always free. Any charge imposed is always a bribe for which you will never get a receipt.

 

Some offices, like Bangkok, do not ask for anything for the certificate, and rightly so. Others, like CM and Phuket, ask for 500B. Pattaya lies inbetween at 300B.

 

my immigration office charges 1500 for 1,

1 for motocy ticket

1 for car ticket

total 3000

[Langsuan Man]

5 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

 

my immigration office charges 1500 for 1,

1 for motocy ticket

1 for car ticket

total 3000

If it were me an anonymous letter would be on it's way to Immigration in Bangkok.  Three times the normal is pure greed and I am sure headquarters is missing their cut

[KittenKong]

8 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

my immigration office charges 1500 for 1,

1 for motocy ticket

1 for car ticket

total 3000

Crikey!

[karurosu]

Hello and thank you for the valuable tips. However, when searching on the internet I found in the Thai Immigration Bureau website (link below) that the cost for a Residence Certificate (TM.15) is 19,000 THB. Is this perhaps another document with the same name and NOT the one required to apply for a driver's license extension? Thanks.
https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_62

[johng]

A residence certificate is always free. Any charge imposed is always a bribe for which you will never get a receipt.
 
Some offices, like Bangkok, do not ask for anything for the certificate, and rightly so. Others, like CM and Phuket, ask for 500B. Pattaya lies inbetween at 300B.

Yes its supposed to be free....but they will make you wait for maybe 2 weeks...then in two weeks come back tomorrow because big boss is not here to sign etc etc....so I'd rather pay the 300 baht and get it done in 30 minutes.

Also if you have car and bike licence and renew at the same time you only need
1 original "certificate of residence" and 1 copy...at least thats the case at the Pattaya /Barnglumg DLT.

[johng]

Hello and thank you for the valuable tips. However, when searching on the internet I found in the Thai Immigration Bureau website (link below) that the cost for a Residence Certificate (TM.15) is 19,000 THB. Is this perhaps another document with the same name and NOT the one required to apply for a driver's license extension? Thanks.
https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_62

Sad to say that you can't take anything published on the vast majority of Thai websites as gospel....what with the poor translations,totally out of date information,
links to non existent content and tons of flashing bell,banners and whistles that do absolutely nothing.

The "residence certificate" referred to in this thread...is just to confirm your place of residence, ie: an address that immigration agrees is your official address
its supposed to be a free document...but many office's charge an "admin" fee...or "express delivery" fee.

[karurosu]

Thank you for your reply. Yes, that simple "certificate of residence" is that document I needed. As you mentioned, due to being a little confused by the information found on those websites, I went to the immigration department at the government complex in Chaengwattana to get an answer. My experience is below, in case it may be useful to others:

At the ticket counter after mentioning I wanted a certificate of residence to renew my driver's license, the officer gave me a queue number for the J2 counter (the counter for tourist visas). Since at that point I didn't know whether I needed to fill out a form, I asked around but nobody gave me a definite answer. So I decided to wait. After about 4 hours (1 hour lunch break included), my number was called and I explained what I needed, the officer then produced a simple form (attached) and told me the fee was 200 THB. I filled out the form, and gave the required fee and photocopies (Passport 1st page, visa, 90-day report receipt and TM 6 arrival card). She did not ask for a photocopy of my Thai house registration book (yellow book) but I included it anyway. The officer then gave me a little piece of paper as a receipt (attached) and told me the document would be ready within 3 weeks (but if I didn't hear from them by them I should go back to the office to get it, but not before 3 weeks had passed).

I hope the certificate is ready soon my driver's license is expiring next week... ?

[jackdd]

21 minutes ago, karurosu said:

Thank you for your reply. Yes, that simple "certificate of residence" is that document I needed. As you mentioned, due to being a little confused by the information found on those websites, I went to the immigration department at the government complex in Chaengwattana to get an answer. My experience is below, in case it may be useful to others:

At the ticket counter after mentioning I wanted a certificate of residence to renew my driver's license, the officer gave me a queue number for the J2 counter (the counter for tourist visas). Since at that point I didn't know whether I needed to fill out a form, I asked around but nobody gave me a definite answer. So I decided to wait. After about 4 hours (1 hour lunch break included), my number was called and I explained what I needed, the officer then produced a simple form (attached) and told me the fee was 200 THB. I filled out the form, and gave the required fee and photocopies (Passport 1st page, visa, 90-day report receipt and TM 6 arrival card). She did not ask for a photocopy of my Thai house registration book (yellow book) but I included it anyway. The officer then gave me a little piece of paper as a receipt (attached) and told me the document would be ready within 3 weeks (but if I didn't hear from them by them I should go back to the office to get it, but not before 3 weeks had passed).

I hope the certificate is ready soon my driver's license is expiring next week... ?

If you have a yellow house book you dont need a certificate of residence

[user564545]

 

I second what 'jackdd' says.

I renewed my license last year using my yellow book as proof of residence.

You can also use your work permit if you have one.

[johng]

I read they don't accept yellow house book at Pattaya/Barnglamung DLT

[KittenKong]

56 minutes ago, karurosu said:

After about 4 hours (1 hour lunch break included), my number was called and I explained what I needed, the officer then produced a simple form (attached) and told me the fee was 200 THB.

...... and told me the document would be ready within 3 weeks (but if I didn't hear from them by them I should go back to the office to get it, but not before 3 weeks had passed).

Not a fee, a bribe. A fee always gets you a proper official receipt.

Either way you should have queried it. Most people say that it is free in Bangkok, though some choose to pay a bribe to get instant service and to avoid having to come back to collect it. You certainly should not have to pay anything in Bangkok if you are getting the certificate weeks later.

[karurosu]

On 8/10/2018 at 12:08 PM, KittenKong said:

Not a fee, a bribe. A fee always gets you a proper official receipt.

Either way you should have queried it.

Yes that was my bad, I should've asked for an official receipt. ?

 

As for the yellow house book, I too surmised I wouldn't need the residence certificate since I have the book (which was used to apply for the original driver's license 5 years ago)....however, I thought it'd be better to apply for the certificate, you know, just in case with procedures changing often and all...
Thanks for the comments everyone!

[KittenKong]

2 hours ago, karurosu said:

As for the yellow house book, I too surmised I wouldn't need the residence certificate since I have the book (which was used to apply for the original driver's license 5 years ago)

I think that in most places a yellow book is good enough. But I also think that Banglamung office does not accept them, as mentioned.