Phuket Immigration

[Singha Gold]

I have just recently bought a second hand truck and went in today to get it all sorted out in my name. First stop was Phuket Immigration to get the required Residency Paper. This is something I have done maybe 4 or 5 times before as I have a selection of motor bikes. It is usually straight forward, you pop up the back stairs, wave your Non-Im O visa and a letter (From the house rental company on headed paper stating you are a long time resident) - 100 baht later and you get what you need.

Today. I got shouted at for going in the back entrance and sent into the main hall with the masses. I finally got through to someone. Gave them the letter, my passport and a photo and was told that it was impossible. I told him that I had done it before numerous times and he replied that it had all changed. First he wanted house papers - which I cant give in a rental property. Then he said I needed a copy of passport. Now, I am not sure if he means from the Property Manager (Farang) or house owner (Also Farang). Neither of which I can get easily - nor do I really want to.

What was before a very easy process has turned into a real hassle. I fear for what I am going to do with my BMW bike should I need another - as you always seem to do.

Anyone else had this problem? Or is this just a "I went on the wrong day and met the wrong officer" moment?

Thanks,

SG..

[LivinginKata]

Yep, I was there last month for paper to renew my driving license. Expected to go thorough back and upstairs to see the nice 2 ladies (and pay the 100 baht 'fee') who make all the copies. No, this time go to front desk, efficient service but need to supply all the copies, then 500 baht asked. I stated 'it's free' and he waived me away. It's usual to show a copy of your house rental contract.

[Singha Gold]

I'm afraid I don't have a contract. Hence I get the property manager to write me a letter on headed paper stating I have been here X years and will be here indefinitely. I am reading around the forum and it appears I now need to go to Bangkok to the American embassy and pay 2500 Baht for someone to tell me I live here - just great. What before cost me 100 baht is now going to be 10,000+ by the time I've paid for flights/hotels etc..

[AndyB747]

I'm afraid I don't have a contract. Hence I get the property manager to write me a letter on headed paper stating I have been here X years and will be here indefinitely. I am reading around the forum and it appears I now need to go to Bangkok to the American embassy and pay 2500 Baht for someone to tell me I live here - just great. What before cost me 100 baht is now going to be 10,000+ by the time I've paid for flights/hotels etc..

Th system has changed. you need proof of where you live, e.g a rental agreement or a copy of your house book, copy of your passport, visa and immigration card.

[LivinginKata]

I'm afraid I don't have a contract. Hence I get the property manager to write me a letter on headed paper stating I have been here X years and will be here indefinitely.

Sometimes that works, but also need copy owner's ID and copy of property Tabian Bahn to support the letter. Immigration prefer a copy of the rental contract.

[Singha Gold]

I'm stuffed before I start then..

I can't get a copy of the owners ID.

I can't get a copy of the Tabian Bahn.

I don't have a rental agreement.

I wonder if the letter from the consul will be enough? I am going up to Bangkok on the 1st - It's something I could get then.

[TaoNow]

I went to Phuket immigration last week (October 28) for the 90-day report.

Before leaving I asked the lady who processed my 90-day form (and was sitting on the right-hand side of the front row of desks) what the procedure was for doing the proof of residence for driver's license renewal. She said:

1) Photocopy of the rental agreement (e.g., if you rent an apartment, which I do)

2) Photocopy of the landlady's Thai ID card with the photocopy page signed and dated by the landlady.

We did not discuss the fee.

Sounds straightforward to me. We'll see when I do the formal request.

[LivinginKata]

I wonder if the letter from the consul will be enough? I am going up to Bangkok on the 1st - It's something I could get then.

Doubt it, how can your country's consul prove where you live in Thailand. Seems a non-starter to me.

[phuketsub]

I think call it a 'Residency Paper' as the OP did is confusing: it led me to believe he had permanent resident status, which is not easy to acquire (people who applied in 2006 are still waiting)...let's use 'proof of domicile' or something similar in these discussions, shall we?

[LivinginKata]

I think call it a 'Residency Paper' as the OP did is confusing: it led me to believe he had permanent resident status, which is not easy to acquire (people who applied in 2006 are still waiting)...let's use 'proof of domicile' or something similar in these discussions, shall we?

I do believe that 'Residency Paper' is the correct term used by Thai Immigration for the document being discussed. And yes it is confusing as it has nothing to do with 'permanent residence', it's only proof of where you live in Thailand. But then again TIT...

[phuketsub]

I think call it a 'Residency Paper' as the OP did is confusing: it led me to believe he had permanent resident status, which is not easy to acquire (people who applied in 2006 are still waiting)...let's use 'proof of domicile' or something similar in these discussions, shall we?

I do believe that 'Residency Paper' is the correct term used by Thai Immigration for the document being discussed. And yes it is confusing as it has nothing to do with 'permanent residence', it's only proof of where you live in Thailand. But then again TIT...

If that's the case, I stand corrected. Thanks.

[ScubaBuddha]

I think I may have found a way around all this residency paper nonsense.

My experiences:

8 mo ago: (Residency paper was needed to obtain Thai Drivers License) Up the back stairs with my fixer. Copy of landlords tambien baan. (which was incorrect, I needed a copy of the tabien baan of the house i live in, but I just let the Thais deal with this. So now my Thai DL and a few other things now have my landlords address on it, now big deal I decide.) 5 minutes. No fee that I recall.

4 mo. ago: (Residency paper was needed for French guy who didn't speak English or Thai that was buying my motorbike) Up the back stairs, show rental contract. 5 minutes. I felt like a fixer. I ask how much. "Up to you." We walked out not paying anything.

In between these visits I read that residency paper was no longer available, and that you had to go to your embassey. (I think I read the same thing you did Singha Gold.)

2 mo. ago: (Residency paper expired so dealer needed new one to get a 2010 Ninja 650 registered, plus, since my address I want on the book is different than the one on my DL due to the earlier error of my landlord giving my fixer the wrong tambien baan, I need new res. paper. I tell Kawi manager that I don't think I can get residency paper anymore. Manager at Kawi says usually there is a stamp and address written on the 90 day notification slip stapled in the passport. So, I take copy of rental contract in to the front desk, and explain I am registering a new bike, and ask if I can get the stamp and address written. No problem. 2 minutes, no fee. After he said, "see that man about the residency paper. I reply, "I think I have all I need, thank you." And I'm out. Bike is now registered in my name to the correct house.

So, SG, what you need to do is create a rental contract. Not saying you have to make a fraudulent one, just make one up a simple one with your landlord. I took immigration the English translated contract which my Landlord made for me, which is pretty much gibberish because she doesn't speak much English and tried to use Google translate. The immigration officials wont even look at any of it other than the address. If they do they won't care. Just so long as the address is on there your golden.

Good luck.

Stamp with address on 90 day reporting form:

[Felt 35]

Scubabuddha.

The form called 90 days report or with the heading "Receipt of Notification" is the form they have used for years when needed for driving licence or buying a vehicle.

I have personally used income statement from my Embassy the last 6-8 years when in need for a Receipt of Notification. Before that period they demanded kopi and signed Id card and or Tabian Baan from the landlord. So for me it seems they have picked up the old system plus a bit more.

The Receipt of Notification shall not cost anything, but last time I went the girls who wrote the form demanded 100 Baht.

[LivinLOS]

Can be done with.

The above proof of address / residence paper.

Work permit

Yellow house book

Letter from the embassy.

For the first what used to be easy now needs the rental contract (always was supposed to) AND the landlords ID card / passport and tabien baan. If (like me) your landlord is non Thai and not in the country your going to have problems. However anyone that cant work out how to solve that problem really should assess if you have the skills to live in the 3rd world !! A couple hundred baht and its smiles, wais and no queueing or unpleasantness. I had literally none of the required papers and was out of there in under 5 minutes.

Tip.. If you cant negotiate with the officials yourself or are shy about putting notes in your passport.. The 'volunteers' there are just as appreciative of a purple note as any of them (do it out of sight). Once they are on your side the Thai officials will process based on you being their 'friend'.

[ScubaBuddha]

Can be done with.

The above proof of address / residence paper.

Work permit

Yellow house book

Letter from the embassy.

For the first what used to be easy now needs the rental contract (always was supposed to) AND the landlords ID card / passport and tabien baan. If (like me) your landlord is non Thai and not in the country your going to have problems. However anyone that cant work out how to solve that problem really should assess if you have the skills to live in the 3rd world !! A couple hundred baht and its smiles, wais and no queueing or unpleasantness. I had literally none of the required papers and was out of there in under 5 minutes.

Tip.. If you cant negotiate with the officials yourself or are shy about putting notes in your passport.. The 'volunteers' there are just as appreciative of a purple note as any of them (do it out of sight). Once they are on your side the Thai officials will process based on you being their 'friend'.

The fact that they are making impossible for us resulting in us having to put the red, now purple, notes in the passports..well...it just stinks.

[merijn]

Can be done with.

The above proof of address / residence paper.

Work permit

Yellow house book

Letter from the embassy.

For the first what used to be easy now needs the rental contract (always was supposed to) AND the landlords ID card / passport and tabien baan. If (like me) your landlord is non Thai and not in the country your going to have problems. However anyone that cant work out how to solve that problem really should assess if you have the skills to live in the 3rd world !! A couple hundred baht and its smiles, wais and no queueing or unpleasantness. I had literally none of the required papers and was out of there in under 5 minutes.

Tip.. If you cant negotiate with the officials yourself or are shy about putting notes in your passport.. The 'volunteers' there are just as appreciative of a purple note as any of them (do it out of sight). Once they are on your side the Thai officials will process based on you being their 'friend'.

The purple note you mentioned for the volunteer is not for him but goes to the immigration official which is doing you’re residence paper when you do not have all the necessary papers.

[chickencurry]

Can someone update on exactly what you need to produce for Immigration to get the Residence paper. Is it:

passport

photograph ?

housebook or house ownership certificate ?

any passport copies required ?

thanks anyone

[LivinginKata]

Yes, you need photo copies of the relevant pages in your passport, copies of your house paper, and landlord's Thai ID (if renting), plus a photo.

Edit // not sure if a photo is needed nowadays ??

[schlog]

Can someone update on exactly what you need to produce for Immigration to get the Residence paper. Is it:

passport

photograph ?

housebook or house ownership certificate ?

any passport copies required ?

thanks anyone

I made my Residence paper last week. I need only my passport and 100 Bath and a .

NO copies, tabian baan,.............

Quiet easy like ever.

[katabeachbum]

Yes, you need photo copies of the relevant pages in your passport, copies of your house paper, and landlord's Thai ID (if renting), plus a photo.

1. Rentalagreement stating your adress, signed copy of tabien baan for this adress and signed copy card and tabien baan for thai owner.

or

2. Original Tabien Baan without registered resident for your home and copy of land deed signed by last owner/lessor/usufruct/co ltd stamp and sign

or

a couple of hundred baht

Edit This came into effect 01st August as I recall

Edit again, its called "Certificate of Residence", but is now similar to 90 days reporting and Land Transpot department now accepts signed copies.

[Lotusbluete]

I got my Residence Paper last Wednesday. All I needed was this "Report of Notification" (see Scubba Buddah, post #12) and photocopy of passport. No other papers or photos requested. Paid THB 200 for 2 copies (for motorbike and car license renewal). Front row officer at the left. Very kind!

[LivinginKata]

I got my Residence Paper last Wednesday. All I needed was this "Report of Notification" (see Scubba Buddah, post #12) and photocopy of passport. No other papers or photos requested. Paid THB 200 for 2 copies (for motorbike and car license renewal). Front row officer at the left. Very kind!

That is very true, but not everyone has the "Report of Notification" certificate, which is required when you have a one year extension and have to report into Immigration office every 90 days. Essential if you don't already have that certificate then you must provide the same paperwork required for the "Notification" i.e. proof of where you reside in Thailand. Which is copies your rental contract/Tabian Ban/copy owners ID or if you own the house then copies of your appropriate ownership papers, as previously described.

[Big Guy]

I have been in recently and it is no different from before, you provide a copy of the tabien baan you are staying at, the owners id a photo with the appropriate photocopies from your passport and the 100bt a copy and you are out of there.

[katabeachbum]

I have been in recently and it is no different from before, you provide a copy of the tabien baan you are staying at, the owners id a photo with the appropriate photocopies from your passport and the 100bt a copy and you are out of there.

Before august they issued on 2 nd floor a computerwritten document with you photo attached. One original needed for each case, thats one for a motorbike, one for a car, one for a driverslisence and one for opening bank account. Copies not accepted.

Presently they fill in your info in a small form, attach it to your passport, and copies are accepted.

I d say thats a difference.

Required docs needed to issue "Certificate of Residence" may be adjusted when paying 100 baht a copy.

[LivinLOS]

I got my Residence Paper last Wednesday. All I needed was this "Report of Notification" (see Scubba Buddah, post #12) and photocopy of passport. No other papers or photos requested. Paid THB 200 for 2 copies (for motorbike and car license renewal). Front row officer at the left. Very kind!

Odd I didnt have my lease.. Paid a 100 baht bribe.. But wasnt charged any fee for the paperwork !!

Its never the same twice is it ??

[LivinginKata]

Just to be clear .... there is no official fee for the residency paper. Although I was asked 500 baht from the front desk officer. But he agreed that it was free when I challenged him ...

[chickencurry]

Thanks guys. A might be a tad off topic here (sorry) but do you need one of these Residence papers when you sell a vehicle? I'm trying to remember what I read on here before but the ol' memory is failing

[LivinLOS]

You didnt used to, but I am told since about August they have been demanding the full package from the seller.. So thats residence cert and current visa stamp and passport copy if farang (tabien baan and ID if Thai).

It used to be only the buyer they cared about but thats the reports I am now being told.

Get everything, then they can give it back if the mood strikes them.

[chickencurry]

thanks