Thai Citizenship, Any Real Benefits?

[WebBangkok]

Hi,

I have been here 2 and a half years and have an opportunity to get a Thai citizenship through a few people I know. I still have to pay the fees etc though.

The thing is a friend of mine told me I still need to get a work permit even though I will have citizenship, so does it really have any other benefits? And do I really need to still have a work permit and do the 90 day reporting? Sounds silly for someone who is a citizen to be doing 90 days reporting.

I thought that I would be able to have the same benefits that Thai's have, no?

Can I buy land etc?

[Mario2008]

A Thai citizen is a Thai citizen and of course would not need a work permit. Only foreigners need a work permit and extensions of stay etc. A Thai national does not.

[Richard4849]

Don't know how many times I've heard the "I've been offered Thai citizenship by influential friends" shtick. I've never seen it be true.

[lopburi3]

Are you both talking about the same thing? Citizenship would mean you are the same as any other Thai for most anything. But PR (Permanent Residence) is the normal first step and that would involve work permits and re-entry permits and such. The pinned item at top of forum has a lot of details on both.

[WebBangkok]

Cool thanks for the info.

I cant remember if it was Citizenship or Permanent Residence now.

[makescents]

You can sell your vote.

But seriously you can own land, enter national parks for free, travel and work in the ASEAN area from 2015 without a permit.

[samran]

did the conversation at anytime involve the words "for you my friend, special price"..

sounds the only thing your 'friends' will give you is a lighter wallet....if you don't even know what the heck you are supposed to be getting.

[Heng]

Owning land is the principle benefit, especially for those who 'sense' that their marriage (or their assets under their spouses questionable 'management') won't last until their children are old enough to legally own land themselves.

[Richard4849]

The principle benefits include freedom from visas, work permits, endorsements and trips to Chaengwattana, forever. Land and company ownership, visa-free travel to ASEAN countries and some other places where Thais can travel freely but many Western passport holders cannot. Shorter lines at immigration, cheaper prices at national parks and some tourist traps. Much better access to finance and credit.

But the biggest benefit is the satisfaction of belonging, 100%.

[PatOngo]

Unless you are born to Thai parents,regardless of what your friend can arrange,you will always be either a kek,a jek or a farang.

[kamluan]

Mr webbangkok....

So your here more then 2 years...well....

if you want to be safe and stay whitout any problems or worries,

just stay and live the way you did since you got into the kingdom.

STAY away from people offering id/passpoorts ect.

You can not get a Thai citizinship or id by only working here.

Unless your mom or dad are Thai.

I have 2 citizenships, Thai and Dutch,but i whas born here and still had my birthcertificate...but even whit that it whas really hard to get a thai id and passpoort.

But on the other side...we're in thailand where everything is possible......but.....if some day they discover that you had a thai citizen ship in a unlegal way.....

well....

contract me as your webdesigner because it's a no come back ban.

My point is ,not legal way....stay away so you never will have future problems.

Ok visa runs are boring i agree...bet better loose one daytrip then your name on a blacklist of people banned from thailand.

Kind

regards

Charan kamluan

[samran]

Unless you are born to Thai parents,regardless of what your friend can arrange,you will always be either a kek,a jek or a farang.

some may very well say.

However, you will be a "kek,a jek or a farang" with a Thai passport who will be able to tell that 'khon baan nok' where to stick it.

[endure]

Mr webbangkok....

So your here more then 2 years...well....

if you want to be safe and stay whitout any problems or worries,

just stay and live the way you did since you got into the kingdom.

STAY away from people offering id/passpoorts ect.

You can not get a Thai citizinship or id by only working here.

Unless your mom or dad are Thai.

[Richard4849]

Unless you are born to Thai parents,regardless of what your friend can arrange,you will always be either a kek,a jek or a farang.

Unless you are a farang with a Thai ID card, you are speculating with no experience.

I can tell you -- as one of the few farangs here who has obtained Thai nationality -- that I get instant respect on a new level when I show my ID card with a Thai name on it. You are not just "another farang" anymore -- you are a Thai, and people do treat you as such once they know it. And I am speaking from personal experience.

[kamluan]

<br />

<br />Unless you are born to Thai parents,regardless of what your friend can arrange,you will always be either a kek,a jek or a farang.<br />

<br /><br />Unless you are a farang with a Thai ID card, you are speculating with no experience.<br /><br />I can tell you -- as one of the few farangs here who has obtained Thai nationality -- that I get instant respect on a new level when I show my ID card with a Thai name on it.  You are not just "another farang" anymore -- you are a Thai, and people do treat you as such once they know it.  And I am speaking from personal experience.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

A falang whit a thai id whitout speaking thai get the same treatment??

[Richard4849]

<br />

<br />Unless you are born to Thai parents,regardless of what your friend can arrange,you will always be either a kek,a jek or a farang.<br />

<br /><br />Unless you are a farang with a Thai ID card, you are speculating with no experience.<br /><br />I can tell you -- as one of the few farangs here who has obtained Thai nationality -- that I get instant respect on a new level when I show my ID card with a Thai name on it. You are not just "another farang" anymore -- you are a Thai, and people do treat you as such once they know it. And I am speaking from personal experience.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

A falang whit a thai id whitout speaking thai get the same treatment??

I speak Thai, so I wouldn't know about that. Possibly not.

[Samuian]

This "precious friend, unless it's an adoption, mant surely PR!

But then, in both cases, you are still are not Thai! And after 2 decades I am still not really sure if it would either be worth it!

As a european citizen I can already stay and work in 27 contries, out of which I only would prefare 5-6...

[samran]

<br />

<br />Unless you are born to Thai parents,regardless of what your friend can arrange,you will always be either a kek,a jek or a farang.<br />

<br /><br />Unless you are a farang with a Thai ID card, you are speculating with no experience.<br /><br />I can tell you -- as one of the few farangs here who has obtained Thai nationality -- that I get instant respect on a new level when I show my ID card with a Thai name on it. You are not just "another farang" anymore -- you are a Thai, and people do treat you as such once they know it. And I am speaking from personal experience.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

A falang whit a thai id whitout speaking thai get the same treatment??

I speak Thai, so I wouldn't know about that. Possibly not.

though possibly better, but then i wouldn't know anything about this issue either....

[GarryP]

I thought the requirement to take on a Thai name had been dropped.

[kamluan]

<br />

<br />Unless you are born to Thai parents,regardless of what your friend can arrange,you will always be either a kek,a jek or a farang.<br />

<br /><br />Unless you are a farang with a Thai ID card, you are speculating with no experience.<br /><br />I can tell you -- as one of the few farangs here who has obtained Thai nationality -- that I get instant respect on a new level when I show my ID card with a Thai name on it. You are not just "another farang" anymore -- you are a Thai, and people do treat you as such once they know it. And I am speaking from personal experience.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

A falang whit a thai id whitout speaking thai get the same treatment??

I speak Thai, so I wouldn't know about that. Possibly not.

yes indeed..not..even if i go to cut my hair i pay falangprice(not all shops)...i hope to speak the thai language one day...but it ain't easy for me..and i am not stupid,

but it's just difficult,now i stay in thailand for 2 years and still can't have a conversation.

Best thing for me to do is shut up if going somewhere like a park,or buying something...,,,,untill i speak fluente Thai.

[kamluan]

This "precious friend, unless it's an adoption, mant surely PR!

But then, in both cases, you are still are not Thai! And after 2 decades I am still not really sure if it would either be worth it!

As a european citizen I can already stay and work in 27 contries, out of which I only would prefare 5-6...

yes adoption.

[Richard4849]

They did drop the name requirement, but I decided to take a Thai name anyway.

[makescents]

<br />

<br />Unless you are born to Thai parents,regardless of what your friend can arrange,you will always be either a kek,a jek or a farang.<br />

<br /><br />Unless you are a farang with a Thai ID card, you are speculating with no experience.<br /><br />I can tell you -- as one of the few farangs here who has obtained Thai nationality -- that I get instant respect on a new level when I show my ID card with a Thai name on it. You are not just "another farang" anymore -- you are a Thai, and people do treat you as such once they know it. And I am speaking from personal experience.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

A falang whit a thai id whitout speaking thai get the same treatment??

Considering that you need to demonstrate language ability in order to get citizenship I would think that situation a tautology.

[skippybangkok]

I your close buddies with an incoming minister or shadow minister ( shadow = thaksin ) ......... the suggested short cut maybe possible. For all others, the process is a long and slow road.

If the guy who is telling you this says u still need a WP after citizenship ...... then he is not credible

[WebBangkok]

Well I got to see my friend again, if its a PR then might not bother, but I asume you need a PR and a citizenship, so unless he can do both then it might not be worth it.

The thought of never needing to worry about 90 day reporting, re-entry permits when I fly abroad, buy land etc would be great.

[Richard4849]

PR is the first step to citizenship in most cases, and has some benefits of its own.

Unless your friend is a close bosom buddy of the Interior Minister, though (and he's about to be out if a job himself), I think he's full of hot air. There are hundreds of people, many reasonably well-connected, still waiting for PR after submitting applications five years ago.

[skippybangkok]

PR is the first step to citizenship in most cases, and has some benefits of its own.

Unless your friend is a close bosom buddy of the Interior Minister, though (and he's about to be out if a job himself), I think he's full of hot air. There are hundreds of people, many reasonably well-connected, still waiting for PR after submitting applications five years ago.

Happy to see him go. He refused to sign any more PR / Citizenship apps. ( from the horses mouth ). Hope the next one is less xenophobic

[moe666]

I think I'll get my girlfriend to adopt me.

[kamluan]

<br />

<br />Unless you are born to Thai parents,regardless of what your friend can arrange,you will always be either a kek,a jek or a farang.<br />

<br /><br />Unless you are a farang with a Thai ID card, you are speculating with no experience.<br /><br />I can tell you -- as one of the few farangs here who has obtained Thai nationality -- that I get instant respect on a new level when I show my ID card with a Thai name on it. You are not just "another farang" anymore -- you are a Thai, and people do treat you as such once they know it. And I am speaking from personal experience.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

A falang whit a thai id whitout speaking thai get the same treatment??

Considering that you need to demonstrate language ability in order to get citizenship I would think that situation a tautology.

I don't speak Thai but yes i got an id and Thai passpoort...

[Maestro]

I don't speak Thai but yes i got an id and Thai passpoort...

On what basis did you acquire Thai nationality?