When I read the relevant Thai law re gaining citizenship it states:

"To acquire Thai nationality:

Aliens who wish to apply for Thai nationality under the Nationality Act B.E. 2508 (A.D. 1965) a person does NOT need to be 40 years or have spent 10 years in Thailand.

They must be of the age of majority, be of good character, be gainfully employed, have continuously lived in Thailand for not less than FIVE years and have knowledge of the Thai language. (Section 10)

It's an advantage to be married to a Thai citizen and having children born in Thailand or having studied in a local university/college as an undergraduate.

etc etc'

Although it states that the applicant must have lived continuously in Thailand for not less than 5 years, nowhere does it state that they must have PR prior to applying for citizenship.

So, my simple question is - Do you need to have PR priot to applying for Thai nationality? And if so, please point me to the relevant rules etc

Thanks - Simon

When I read the relevant Thai law re gaining citizenship it states:

"To acquire Thai nationality:

Aliens who wish to apply for Thai nationality under the Nationality Act B.E. 2508 (A.D. 1965) a person does NOT need to be 40 years or have spent 10 years in Thailand.

They must be of the age of majority, be of good character, be gainfully employed, have continuously lived in Thailand for not less than FIVE years and have knowledge of the Thai language. (Section 10)

It's an advantage to be married to a Thai citizen and having children born in Thailand or having studied in a local university/college as an undergraduate.

etc etc'

Although it states that the applicant must have lived continuously in Thailand for not less than 5 years, nowhere does it state that they must have PR prior to applying for citizenship.

So, my simple question is - Do you need to have PR priot to applying for Thai nationality?  And if so, please point me to the relevant rules etc

Thanks - Simon

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any such rule is probably internal policy. A good read can be found here but of course is not specific law as you seem to desire (but unlikely to find in many cases).

http://www.manager.co.th/IHT/ViewNews.aspx...D=9480000160960

In any system there are two levels:

Laws

Administrative Procedures.

What you are reading is the Law.

The Administrative Procedure says that PR a is a pre-requisite to Nationality.

Tough but that is the way it goes,

unless someone at a very high level can pull some strings for you.

In any case, it's just a hyperthetical question - I'm years away from being eligible

In any system there are two levels:

Laws

Administrative Procedures.

What you are reading is the Law.

The Administrative Procedure says that PR a is a pre-requisite to Nationality.

Tough but that is the way it goes,

unless someone at a very high level can pull some strings for you. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Someone like the Minister of the Interior