Story Of My Thai Citizenship Application

[dbrenn]

Hi All,

For those who are interested, the application process for Thai

Citizenship in my case went as follows:

Late 2003 - Picked up the checklist from the Police Headquarters on

Rama 1 Road

January 2004 - Took all my documents to the Police Department, in what

I thought was a word perfect application. However, since I was

applying in January and this being a new tax year, my tax returns from

the three preceding years were not enough. An oversight on my part, so

waited until I got my most recent tax retirn PNG 91 for 2003

March 2004 - Try again. This time my application was successfully

lodged. Paid the 5,000 Baht fee. Got fingeprinted. Signed my name (in

Thai) on dozens of firms. Took two Thai witnesses and later my wife

plus kids to show that they were real. Took forms issued to me by the

police department to immigration and my disctrict office. Later went

back to pick up the completed forms and take them back to the police

department

April 2004 - Thai language interview at the Police Department

September 2004 - Invited to the Interior Ministry. Showed them my work

permit, passport, alien registration certificate and certificate of

residence. Then, I was shown into a room with around 40 people

watching me. I was given a microphone and asked to sing the Thai

National anthem and Phra Baramee (the one they play in the cinema).

Yes, really. Managed to keep a straight face. Got interviewed in Thai

- basic Q&A about my circumstances. Around the same time, a group of

three officials from the Interrior Ministry visited my house to see if

my domestic circumstances were as described on my application form

Waited

Waited

February 2006 - Got the good news that the then Interior Minister Khun

Kongsak had approved my application

March 2006 - Got a letter to notify me of the above

Waited

(September 2006 - military coup)

Waited

November 2006 - Got the good news that the King had countersigned my

application

December 2006 - One of the most memorable parts: the oath. Just

after the King endorsed my application, I was asked to report to the

police department in business attire, armed with a candle, a lotus

flower and an incense stick. I then had to stand with these in my

hands while clasped in a wai, in front of a Buddhist shrine, repaeting

an oath of allegance to King and country, and promising to be an

upright and law-abiding citizen.

Waited

Waited

April 2007 - Got the good news that the new Interior Minister Khun

Aree had announced in the Interior Ministry notices that a bunch of

applicants including me could now get Thai nationality

May 2007 - Got the paperwork and certificate from the Police HQ to

take to the disctrict office to get my ID card. Now I must return my

work permit, alien residence certificate and certificate of residence

to respective authorities as these are no longer needed. Now I can

apply for a passport

Told that my application was one of the faster ones these days.

Getting Thai Citizenship IS a pain in the arse - but look on the

bright side:

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 think that I can even vote, although I am not sure who is worth

voting for

All you need to do is satisfy the following to apply:

http://www.phuketgazette.net/issuesanswers/details.asp?id=759

Golden rules are:

1) Be patient and never get upset. The people that handle your

application do not make the rules and do not have any power over what

happens in the Interior Ministry

2) Get a coach. Not an expensive lawyer - just make friends with one

of the officials that handles your application

Cheers

[JimmyTheMook]

Very Impressive First Post !

Snip. When commenting on the post directly above you, no need to copy the entire post in the quote.

[Naam]

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

you are one lucky bastard!

[lungbing]

Congratulations on your new nationality and also on the patience you obviously have (and needed) to have obtained it.

What, approximately, was the total overall cost?

And finally, and I don't mean to be rude, but I think you will still always be a farang to the Thai people, albeit one who can speak Thai fluently.

[sbk]

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?

[danone]

congrats! well done, truly.

some questions:

- you think the amount of taxes you paid in the years before the application was an issue?

- no written/reading test?

- how would you describe your spoken thai?

looks to me like heavily time-consuming, but not on the undoable side.

[danone]

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

you are one lucky bastard!

this, by the way, you could have done with your residency permit already.

[Crossy]

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

you are one lucky bastard!

this, by the way, you could have done with your residency permit already.

Having your Thai wife with you also works (at least for me)

And well done to the OP, getting PR is a (distant) goal for me (forget Citizenship, I'm unlikely to last that long ), maybe it won't happen as most of my current work is outside the Kingdom and so doesn't attract Thai tax.

[ThaiGoon]

Haha..Cool. Congratulations. It's a very nice story. (The bureaucracy was unbelievable. )

[naka]

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.

[younghusband]

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.

Sour grapes indeed.

Well done, not least for retaining a sense of humour in negotiating the bureaucracy.I'm sure you are a deservedly happy man.

[madjbs]

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.

Jealous are we?

To the OP: Well done with that and I hope I can get there someday! Is there any chance you could give us anymore info about your application and situation, so we know how rich, charitable, old etc...... we need to become.

[grtaylor]

dbrenn - how long had you been a permanent resident before making this application?

Thanks.

G

[naka]

I just see it how I read it.

Obviously someone from a poor nation would be more likely

to want Thai citizenship than someone from a rich country.

Disagree ... Then Do Tell.

Naka.

[grtaylor]

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.

"Humiliation"? Sorry, I don't see whats humiliating about this . . . . .

G

[madjbs]

I just see it how I read it.

Obviously someone from a poor nation would be more likely

to want Thai citizenship than someone from a rich country.

Disagree ... Then Do Tell.

Naka.

Why would they? A Thai passport isn’t going to open any more gates than what you had with any other poorer countries passports. Also the hassle and security of being on a non permanent visa in Thailand is the same for whatever nationality you are. Another reason is that poor people probably wouldn’t care that they can now own businesses and buy land as they couldn’t afford to anyway, but a rich person would be able to use this to their advantage if they wish or need to.

[Silomfarang]

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

travelling to places that dislike my country of origin

If he is from Israel he can now visit the Muslim countries that were off-limits with an Israeli passport, such as Malaysia.

If he is American he can reduce his risk of trouble in whatever country has anti-US riots...

[teacup]

To... the OP

Congrats and welcome to the Somtam Club ka, P'dbrnnn!

From...Nong Teacup

[aussiestyle1983]

December 2006 - One of the most memorable parts: the oath. Just

after the King endorsed my application, I was asked to report to the

police department in business attire, armed with a candle, a lotus

flower and an incense stick. I then had to stand with these in my

hands while clasped in a wai, in front of a Buddhist shrine, repaeting

an oath of allegance to King and country, and promising to be an

upright and law-abiding citizen.

Congrats! You have done one of the hardest things a foriegner can do here, well done!

Just one question. In the quote above you said that was one of the most memorable parts, in what way? How did you feel during the oath making process?

BTW Once you obtain Thai citizenship, does anyone know how you can lose it?

[BKKDUDE]

Congrats! You did it, and you have showed your love for this country.

To anyone who can't stand it, Go and get an ice bath

Question? are you fluent in thai? or just enough for thais and you to understand each other while talking.

[cdnvic]

Congratulations. That's quite a test of your Thai patience, but you passed with flying colours.

[Artisi]

For me it would be peace of mind to be able to rest comfortably each day not knowing where the curent rule are heading as you can not be sure what will happen next week let alone next year if you are on retirement or marriage visa's. Congratulatons on hanging in there calmly without getting too rattled by it all.

[dave111223]

Congratulations.

I wish i could someday also become a Thai citizen, atleast i now know it is a possibility.

Can you please post some details like:

- how old you are?

- was there a minimum salary?

- how long have you been here?

- how long have you been a PR?

- how good is your Thai?

- when you went through the process were there many others doing the same thing?

P.S. Ignore the jealous posters saying stuff like "Who would want it?" and "Whats the big deal about owning land and a business?"

I bet if they could get Thai citizenship they'd jump at the chance.

[gummy]

Congratulations and I expect your Thai family are as pleased as you are, well done.

[Petch01]

Congratulations. I envy you!

Petch01

[hgvneil]

Well done,after reading your post i wondered how soon in the replys someone jelous would try and put you down...naka..unbeliveable.

[thai4u]

Congratulations.

For me : permanent resident - YES.

Citizen - NO never!

Why? I will not stand the humiliation to apply for a THAI passport and citizen.. its not worth the effort.

Its like a curse this passport.. go to europe? no automatic visa (in my case anyway) go to america..forget about it ,..u probebly go to work in the rice fields in the RICH foriegners countries.. hehe

BUT you have 2 passports so its different.

Again.. I won't stand the humiliation to apply for a THAI passport .

FINAL- WELL DONE CONGRATIOLATIONS

[dbrenn]

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.

[dbrenn]

For me it would be peace of mind to be able to rest comfortably each day not knowing where the curent rule are heading as you can not be sure what will happen next week let alone next year if you are on retirement or marriage visa's. Congratulatons on hanging in there calmly without getting too rattled by it all.

Couldn't agree more - peace of mind was the exact reason why I went to all that trouble. Now I can live here any time I like, doing what I like, completely on my own terms.

[JimmyTheMook]

For me it would be peace of mind to be able to rest comfortably each day not knowing where the curent rule are heading as you can not be sure what will happen next week let alone next year if you are on retirement or marriage visa's. Congratulatons on hanging in there calmly without getting too rattled by it all.

Couldn't agree more - peace of mind was the exact reason why I went to all that trouble. Now I can live here any time I like, doing what I like, completely on my own terms.

Do you have a Thai ID card now ( pra cha con)?

If you live here on yearly extensions on a Non O does that entitle you to apply, even if you never paid any Thai taxes?