Link to citizenship 'points system' thread

[simon43]

My apologies, but I have been unable to locate the forum thread from several years ago which discussed/summarised how appraisal for Thai citizenship was assessed, based on the number of points allocated for eg - age, academic qualifications, donations to charity etc.

I think maybe Arkady was the OP for this thread, but my searches have not located this very useful infiormation.

Can someone who remembers the thread or has knowledge of the points system please provide a link. (Also, if you're aware of any updates/changes to the points system etc).

Thanks

Simon

[ubonjoe]

You should be able to find it here in this 37 page topic; Story Of My Thai Citizenship Application

[simon43]

Thanks Ubonjoe.

I re-read that thread and the best summary of the point system is that which Arkady attached to his post in late 2012.

I reproduce the text below, since I'm sure it will be of interest.

Thai Citizenship - Points Allocation (minimum 50/100 required for further consideration) 2010

AGE AND EDUCATION

Age:
20 t0 30 - 2 points
30 to 40 – 5 points
40 to 50 – 10 points
50 to 60 – 8 points
Over 60 – 5 points

Education:
Mor 6 and above – 3 points
Diploma – 5 points
Bachelors Degree – 8 points
Masters Degree – 10 points
Doctrate – 15 points

SECURITY OF PROFESSION

Income (monthly):
80,000 to 90,000 – 15 points
90,000 to 100,000 – 20 points
Over 100,000 – 25 points

OR

Income (monthly) in the case of ethnic minorities (e.g. stateless persons of hill tribe, Burmese, Vietnamese origin – Arkady’s note):
40,000 to 50,000 – 15 points
50,000 to 60,000 – 20 points
Over 60,000 – 25 points

OR

Income (monthly) in the case of ethnic minorities holding an Alien ID Card (type issued to stateless persons – Arkady’s note) for 10 years or more:
20,000 to 30,000 – 15 points
30,000 to 40,000 – 20 points
Over 40,000 – 25 points

OR

Income (monthly) in the case of those married to a Thai national, or having Thai children, or having graduated from high school in Thailand:
40,000 to 50,000 – 15 points
50,000 to 60,000 – 20 points
Over 60,000 – 25 points

OR

Income (monthly) in the case of ethnic minorities married to a Thai national, or having Thai children, or having graduated from high school in Thailand:
20,000 to 30,000 – 15 points
30,000 to 40,000 – 20 points
Over 40,000 – 25 points

Alternatively points for security of profession based on salary tax paid in the year before application and this is somewhat confusingly based on salary rather than amount of tax paid. Points for payment of tax used to be allocated over and above those allocated for salary and it is not clear what is the purpose of this alternative in the 2010 points section, unless it is just a surreptitious way to raise the bar slightly. If anyone knows, please post. Omitting the minorities this time, it is thus.Income (monthly) on which tax paid:
80,000 to 100,000 – 15 points
100,000 to 120,000 – 20 points
Over 120,000 – 25 pointsORIncome (monthly) on which tax paid in the case of those married to a Thai national, or having Thai children, or having graduated from high school in Thailand:
40,000 to 60,000 – 15 points
60,000 to 80,000 – 20 points
Over 80,000 – 25 pointsRESIDENCE IN THAILAND

Domicile:
Has evidence of civil registration showing domicile in Thailand for at least 5 years but no Certificate of Residence or Alien Registration Certificate – 5 points

Has evidence of civil registration showing domicile in Thailand for at least 5 years and has Certificate of Residence or Alien Registration Certificate for at least 5 years – 10 points

Has evidence of civil registration showing domicile in Thailand for at least 5 years and has Certificate of Residence or Alien Registration Certificate for at least 7 years – 15 points
Has evidence of civil registration showing domicile in Thailand for at least 5 years and has Certificate of Residence or Alien Registration Certificate for at least 10 years – 20 points(Arkady’s note: “evidence of civil registration” refers to the Civil Registration Act which, as amended in 2008, requires all residents to be registered in House Registration Books or tabian baan, including foreigners residing temporarily in Thailand).

KNOWLEDGE OF THAI LANGUAGE

Thai Language Ability:

Able to speak and understand spoken Thai – 8 points

Able to speak and understand spoken Thai and sing the National and Royal Anthems – 10 points

Able to speak and understand spoken Thai, sing the National and Royal Anthems, and read Thai – 13 points

Able to speak and understand spoken Thai, sing the National and Royal Anthems, and read and write Thai – 15 points

KNOWLEDGE OF THAILAND

Has a medium level knowledge of Thailand

(1-5 correct answers) – 5 points

Has a good knowledge of Thailand

(6-8 correct answers) – 8 points

Has a very good knowledge of Thailand

(9-10 correct answers) -10 points

PERSONALITY

Assessment based on personality, physical appearance and bearing, speech, Thai manners, attitude towards Thailand, Thai culture and ceremonies. 5 - points

I'm not sure if anything has changed since that post - anyone care to comment?

Simon

[PattayaPhom]

Good info...scrape in 58-63 and writing skills plus knowledge of Thailand could achieve another 15..although I remember reading somewhere that those married to a National are not tested on language skills???

[Maestro]

simon43, that's the same post by Arkady that I remembered and was going to look it up if you hadn't beaten me to it. It is post #339 in that topic and worth recalling every once in while for the benefit of people interest in Permanent Residence.

[ubonjoe]

simon43, that's the same post by Arkady that I remembered and was going to look it up if you hadn't beaten me to it. It is post #339 in that topic and worth recalling every once in while for the benefit of people interest in Permanent Residence.

I think you mean citizenship.

[CaptHaddock]

Can a retired person qualify for citizenship? It looks like the list assumes the candidate has been working in Thailand. Does non-labor income received from abroad qualify as "income" under this point system?

[ubonjoe]

Can a retired person qualify for citizenship? It looks like the list assumes the candidate has been working in Thailand. Does non-labor income received from abroad qualify as "income" under this point system?

You have to be working here in order to apply for citizenship or permanent residency.

Unless married to a Thai you also must have obtained permanent residency before you can apply for citizenship.

[Arkady]

Good info...scrape in 58-63 and writing skills plus knowledge of Thailand could achieve another 15..although I remember reading somewhere that those married to a National are not tested on language skills???

Special Branch tests all applicants for naturalisation on their Thai language skills. However, poor scores in Thai language would not be a reason to reject those who apply on the basis of having a Thai wife, as long as they can still get at least 50 points overall. The rub is that everything is conducted in Thai, so it might be quite hard to get 50 points if you can't understand or speak Thai at all and don't have PR. Tests like general knowledge of Thai are multiple choice in Thai but are not considered tests of Thai language. Also you need to be interviewed by the department director to assess the points for your pesonality. When I was tested at Special Branch they weren't going to bother to give me the reading and writing tests, which were new then under new rules in 2010, on the assumption that hardly any applicants can read or write. I had to request them and they turned out to be quite simple. If you don't take them you don't get the points.

The real significance of the exemption from having to demonstrate knowledge of the Thai language for husbands of Thai citizens is that they are not required to sing the National and Royal Anthems. There again you just lose the points, if you don't sing while being tested at Special Branch. The officers hate being subjected to torturous singing by tone deaf applicants and do not want to hear you sing, if they don't absolutely have to. Where this exemption comes into its own is that you will not have to sing at your interview at the Interior Ministry. This is high pressure stuff singing into a mic unaccompanied in front of a room full of government officials. Also your wife will be interviewed with you which will make it much less stressful than being interviewed in Thai alone for 15 or so minutes.

Foreign wives of Thai males applying to adopt their husbands' Thai nationality (not considered naturalisation under the Act) don't need to do any tests or singing. They need to be interviewed with their husbands but can get away with very basic Thai.