Permanent Residency Application Query

[somchaimaidai]

I am about to enter the application process for this years intake of permanent residency applications and am applying as a single person under a business application.

The concern I have is I have ‘heard’ from a source that even in the event that my application is successful that the PR visa will be permanently ‘attached’ to a work permit and in the event of me stopping work (I plan to retire in approx. 5 years) that the PR visa would be cancelled, therefore putting me back to square one. Is this correct?

(I am currently 37 years old so by the time I retire I would be under 50 years old.)

At this stage my level of investment is low as it only involves the various forms I have collected, but I am now at the stage where I have all 20 required items required for the application and would very much appreciate informed advice on the above.

Thanks.

[Desi Babe]

Best of luck with you ...

[lopburi3]

No that is not true. PR is only lost if you leave Thailand and do not return (in a year I believe) or for criminal convictions I believe. You will not lose it for a work or job ending.

[somchaimaidai]

No that is not true. PR is only lost if you leave Thailand and do not return (in a year I believe) or for criminal convictions I believe. You will not lose it for a work or job ending.

Thanks for the response. I should expand on the 'source' in that it is the lawyer who is dealing with the paperwork for me. He has become less than enthusiastic in recent weeks and came to me today and basically said 'are you really sure you want to do this as its not much benefit for you or me'. (We have agreed a fee prior to the process)

I didn't want to put this initially as I did not want to lead the direction or encourage any negative responses regarding Thai's. I have lived here 7 years, am happy here and just want to increase my stability in the country but have no intention of getting married in the near future...

[mahjongguy]

The fee for those who are not married to a Thai is pretty steep relative to the benefits. Even so, I don't recall any successful applicant for PR reporting here that they've had any regrets.

You seem to have the qualifications, the money, and the desire. Perhaps all you need is a different lawyer.

[samran]

The fee for those who are not married to a Thai is pretty steep relative to the benefits. Even so, I don't recall any successful applicant for PR reporting here that they've had any regrets.

You seem to have the qualifications, the money, and the desire. Perhaps all you need is a different lawyer.

Even better, do it yourself. Staff are friendly and helpful.

You've clearly got a lawyer who doesn't even know the rules. Are you sure you want him handling your case?

[somchaimaidai]

Whilst I have all the info I need on the requirements for applying for PR (immigration website). I cannot find anything that stipulates the conditions in maintaining a PR once successful.

There are a number of different methods of application (investor, business, spouse) and it would be really helpful if there was a list/ policy on how each of them are successfully held.

Regarding the lawyer I accept that I can do it myself and he is just not interested now. I will look at trying to agree a reduced fee with him to cut off his services from now.

[samran]

Whilst I have all the info I need on the requirements for applying for PR (immigration website). I cannot find anything that stipulates the conditions in maintaining a PR once successful.

There are a number of different methods of application (investor, business, spouse) and it would be really helpful if there was a list/ policy on how each of them are successfully held.

Regarding the lawyer I accept that I can do it myself and he is just not interested now. I will look at trying to agree a reduced fee with him to cut off his services from now.

once you've got it, the only real condition is that you effectively make Thailand your home and remain a law abiding citizen.

You can not for instance, leave Thailand for more than 364 days - as your re-entry permit is only valid for one year. So you must return for at least one day and renew the re-entry permit if you are looking to leave again. Stay away for more than one year and your PR effectively lapses and you are back to square one.

If you never leave Thailand again, you can stay forever with no further conditions attached to your stay apart from remaining a law abiding citizen.

The only thing to be careful of is having a re-entry permit in your passport if you need to travel at short notice. From friends who have PR it can take 2 or 3 days to process. If you leave with no-rentry permit, your PR is cancelled.

[p_brownstone]

Whilst I have all the info I need on the requirements for applying for PR (immigration website). I cannot find anything that stipulates the conditions in maintaining a PR once successful.

There are a number of different methods of application (investor, business, spouse) and it would be really helpful if there was a list/ policy on how each of them are successfully held.

Regarding the lawyer I accept that I can do it myself and he is just not interested now. I will look at trying to agree a reduced fee with him to cut off his services from now.

once you've got it, the only real condition is that you effectively make Thailand your home and remain a law abiding citizen.

You can not for instance, leave Thailand for more than 364 days - as your re-entry permit is only valid for one year. So you must return for at least one day and renew the re-entry permit if you are looking to leave again. Stay away for more than one year and your PR effectively lapses and you are back to square one.

If you never leave Thailand again, you can stay forever with no further conditions attached to your stay apart from remaining a law abiding citizen.

The only thing to be careful of is having a re-entry permit in your passport if you need to travel at short notice. From friends who have PR it can take 2 or 3 days to process. If you leave with no-rentry permit, your PR is cancelled.

Totally correct - except to add that every 5 years you have to take your Alien Registration Book to the local Police Station to renew for another 5 years at a cost of Baht 800.-, a totally painless procedure which took literally 10 minutes last time I went, and that only because the chap took great care in producing quite beautiful (Thai) handwriting in my book!.

No other documents required for the renewal.

One small note of warning.

If you forget to renew on time - as I did once - they will only extend the Alien Registration Book for one year, not the usual 5 (but on expiry of that 1 year they will again renew for 5 years), other than that small inconvenience there is no penalty and no affect on your Permanent Residence Status.

Apart from that, if you simply stay in Thailand you need have absolutely no contact with any Government authority - no 90 Day reporting for example.

Patrick

[somchaimaidai]

Whilst I have all the info I need on the requirements for applying for PR (immigration website). I cannot find anything that stipulates the conditions in maintaining a PR once successful.

There are a number of different methods of application (investor, business, spouse) and it would be really helpful if there was a list/ policy on how each of them are successfully held.

Regarding the lawyer I accept that I can do it myself and he is just not interested now. I will look at trying to agree a reduced fee with him to cut off his services from now.

once you've got it, the only real condition is that you effectively make Thailand your home and remain a law abiding citizen.

You can not for instance, leave Thailand for more than 364 days - as your re-entry permit is only valid for one year. So you must return for at least one day and renew the re-entry permit if you are looking to leave again. Stay away for more than one year and your PR effectively lapses and you are back to square one.

If you never leave Thailand again, you can stay forever with no further conditions attached to your stay apart from remaining a law abiding citizen.

The only thing to be careful of is having a re-entry permit in your passport if you need to travel at short notice. From friends who have PR it can take 2 or 3 days to process. If you leave with no-rentry permit, your PR is cancelled.

Totally correct - except to add that every 5 years you have to take your Alien Registration Book to the local Police Station to renew for another 5 years at a cost of Baht 800.-, a totally painless procedure which took literally 10 minutes last time I went, and that only because the chap took great care in producing quite beautiful (Thai) handwriting in my book!.

No other documents required for the renewal.

One small note of warning.

If you forget to renew on time - as I did once - they will only extend the Alien Registration Book for one year, not the usual 5 (but on expiry of that 1 year they will again renew for 5 years), other than that small inconvenience there is no penalty and no affect on your Permanent Residence Status.

Apart from that, if you simply stay in Thailand you need have absolutely no contact with any Government authority - no 90 Day reporting for example.

Patrick

Patrick,

I certainly appreciate your response but may I ask whether you received your PR as a spouse of a Thai or as a business application? The further I look into it the more it seems confusing on those who applied under a business application.

Thanks.

[TheChiefJustice]

Samran's response is 100% correct - and it does apply to a business application. Stop looking for ways PR can be revoked. As long as you are law abiding, are not out of Thailand for more than a year at any one time, and always return with a valid re-entry permit then your PR will not be cancelled. I am not sure why this is confusing.

Concentrate on getting your application submitted.

[Dork]

Whilst I have all the info I need on the requirements for applying for PR (immigration website). I cannot find anything that stipulates the conditions in maintaining a PR once successful.

There are a number of different methods of application (investor, business, spouse) and it would be really helpful if there was a list/ policy on how each of them are successfully held.

Regarding the lawyer I accept that I can do it myself and he is just not interested now. I will look at trying to agree a reduced fee with him to cut off his services from now.

once you've got it, the only real condition is that you effectively make Thailand your home and remain a law abiding citizen.

You can not for instance, leave Thailand for more than 364 days - as your re-entry permit is only valid for one year. So you must return for at least one day and renew the re-entry permit if you are looking to leave again. Stay away for more than one year and your PR effectively lapses and you are back to square one.

If you never leave Thailand again, you can stay forever with no further conditions attached to your stay apart from remaining a law abiding citizen.

The only thing to be careful of is having a re-entry permit in your passport if you need to travel at short notice. From friends who have PR it can take 2 or 3 days to process. If you leave with no-rentry permit, your PR is cancelled.

Totally correct - except to add that every 5 years you have to take your Alien Registration Book to the local Police Station to renew for another 5 years at a cost of Baht 800.-, a totally painless procedure which took literally 10 minutes last time I went, and that only because the chap took great care in producing quite beautiful (Thai) handwriting in my book!.

No other documents required for the renewal.

One small note of warning.

If you forget to renew on time - as I did once - they will only extend the Alien Registration Book for one year, not the usual 5 (but on expiry of that 1 year they will again renew for 5 years), other than that small inconvenience there is no penalty and no affect on your Permanent Residence Status.

Apart from that, if you simply stay in Thailand you need have absolutely no contact with any Government authority - no 90 Day reporting for example.

Patrick

Patrick,

I certainly appreciate your response but may I ask whether you received your PR as a spouse of a Thai or as a business application? The further I look into it the more it seems confusing on those who applied under a business application.

Thanks.

It is only the application process (& the amount you pay) that varies between PR based on family or business. Once you have it, all PR's are equal. So if you apply under the business category and subsequently stop working, that has no effect. Likewise if you apply under family and subsequently get divorced.

[somchaimaidai]

Samran's response is 100% correct - and it does apply to a business application. Stop looking for ways PR can be revoked. As long as you are law abiding, are not out of Thailand for more than a year at any one time, and always return with a valid re-entry permit then your PR will not be cancelled. I am not sure why this is confusing.

Concentrate on getting your application submitted.

I was not looking for ways it can be revoked but actually investigating the statement made by my lawyer. I appreciate the responses made and the application will go in on Monday.

[Rhys]

For the novice, what really are the advantages of PR? The issue is different with retirement status? What if you continue to work beyond the Thailand retirement age of 50? Is that right 50 in Thailand? Or as usual it depends on the situation.

Cheers mates, happy holidays

[Mario2008]

Retirement age in Thailand is 60 and will probably rise to 62 in the near future. That is however only for government employees. Some government employees continue to work after they turn 60, but than as normal contract workers without civil servant status.

Thailand use the ag of 50 to allow foreigners to apply for a visa and extensions of stay based on being retired, which does not mean tht one really is retired. One can not work in Thailand, but can work in another country.

Much is said about the advantages of PR in sevral threads already.

[brianinbangkok]

One small note of warning.

If you forget to renew on time - as I did once - they will only extend the Alien Registration Book for one year, not the usual 5 (but on expiry of that 1 year they will again renew for 5 years), other than that small inconvenience there is no penalty and no affect on your Permanent Residence Status.

Thanks.

I was about 1 month late renewing my alien registration book, they made me pay the small fine , about 400 bath, think its mentioned in the book, paid the 800 bath renewal fee and got a 5 year renewal. So guess its up to the local officer to decide on this.

Sent from my A101IT

[somchaimaidai]

My application went in last Thursday and the officers have confirmed the lawyers warning without prompting at the point of application fee payment. Essentially the WP will be tied in with the PR if the application is successful.

I have still applied as its a small amount of money to invest but just a word of warning to any viewers of this thread that a significant number of the replies are inaccurate (at least to the current regulations).

[brianinbangkok]

My application went in last Thursday and the officers have confirmed the lawyers warning without prompting at the point of application fee payment. Essentially the WP will be tied in with the PR if the application is successful.

I have still applied as its a small amount of money to invest but just a word of warning to any viewers of this thread that a significant number of the replies are inaccurate (at least to the current regulations).

Not sure what they told you but I assure plenty of people with a PR , have been without a work permit without the PR being revoked.

I have PR sinds 2006 and did not have work permit the following year. As all PR are the same it does not matter if a PR application was based on work or thai family.

If I would believe the information they told you then people who applied based on family would also lose it after a divorce.

And that also did not cause me to lose my PR.

But believe what you want, however if you believe your information to be true, why did you proceed with the application?

Just keep renewing your wp and extend the visa that goes with it as it would be the same as a PR according to your info. Visa or PR end when you lose the wp.

Sent from my A101IT using Thaivisa Connect App

[ubonjoe]

Essentially the WP will be tied in with the PR if the application is successful.

I think that statement would mean that the work permit is tied to PR. If you loose PR for some strange reason then your work permit would go away also.

[NewlyMintedThai]

Essentially the WP will be tied in with the PR if the application is successful.

I think that statement would mean that the work permit is tied to PR. If you loose PR for some strange reason then your work permit would go away also.

Personally, I don't think they guy's lawyer has any idea what he's talking about.

[samran]

My application went in last Thursday and the officers have confirmed the lawyers warning without prompting at the point of application fee payment. Essentially the WP will be tied in with the PR if the application is successful.

I have still applied as its a small amount of money to invest but just a word of warning to any viewers of this thread that a significant number of the replies are inaccurate (at least to the current regulations).

I'm not sure what you are saying...

If all that is being said is that if the work permit remains valid if you get PR then that is fine.

But I think you are drawing a long bow there if you are saying you lose PR if your work permit lapses. For starters it fails the common sense test, and the experience of just about everyone else here would tel you otherwise.

But, if you believe it to be true, then you may as well just stay employed on your non-b and work permit combo, and PR is certainly not for you.

[ubonjoe]

OP should read chapter 5 and other chapters of Immigration Act 2522 to see if he find any info that states that he will loose PR if his work permit runs out.

[nekigosu]

anyone has the address of the place in Bangkok where i need to go to apply for Permanent Residence?

[lopburi3]

Are you asking where to submit paperwork or where to get specific requirements such as finger printing? Below is the translated list of requirements from Immigration.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/doc/residence/26122546_regulation_notice_en.pdf

[nekigosu]

Are you asking where to submit paperwork or where to get specific requirements such as finger printing? Below is the translated list of requirements from Immigration.

http://www.immigrati...n_notice_en.pdf

Are you asking where to submit paperwork or where to get specific requirements such as finger printing? Below is the translated list of requirements from Immigration.

http://www.immigrati...n_notice_en.pdf

i am asking for both. Where to submit paperwork and get specific requirements. I am residing in Pattani now and so i am hoping to get all the information before i fly to Bangkok

[Mario2008]

Application for PR is only open for a limited time each year, most times two weeks in December. You will have to wait for the announcement that you can apply, but must prepare the paperwork well in advance.

Address:

Sub-division 1 ,Immigration Division 1, The Government Complex Commemorating His Majesty The King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary,5th December, B.E. 2550 (2007), Building B, 2 Floor, Counter D, 120 Moo 3, Chaengwattana Road, Thungsonghong Sub-District, Bangkok 10210

[bigginhill]

Hi to all,

is there anyway of asking for permanent residency coming from 3 retirement visas?

Thanks

[lopburi3]

Not unless you were allowed a work permit on those retirement stays (which normally is not allowed). So would say the chance is very small.

[bigginhill]

Hi to all,

is there anyway of asking for permanent residency coming from 3 retirement visas?

Thanks

Not unless you were allowed a work permit on those retirement stays (which normally is not allowed). So would say the chance is very small.

Hi, thanks,

Yes I have read that retirees can't work

what about 2years retirement and the 3rd year changing it to employement, would that count? or would it be a new visa and have to start again?

[lopburi3]

You need proof of tax payments/employment for the full time I believe.