Camerata's Guide To The Permanent Residence Process

[rimmae2]

17 hours ago, ctsm23 said:

I read through the last few pages and can't find an answer...

Is there any way for PR holders to use the Thai nationality line when entering/exiting at Suvarnabhumi Airport? Last time I tried to go into the Thai line exiting the country and the lady manning the lines said only Thai passports can be used for the machine  (and reading here it seems PR hasn't been added to these new machines). But is there any of the old fashioned stations with an officer stamping either at the entry/exit points in the Thai line at BKK like at DMK?

Thanks

 

 

PR holders can depart and enter using manned lanes for Thai Nationals. There are several manned lanes for both purposes.

 

As far as the autogates are concerned the last time that I used on arrival was in December 2019, having used them with about 98% success rate for about 4 years. PR holders cannot use autogates currently due to system upgrade as I was informed yesterday when I departed and last few times since September 2022. 

 

There are definitely some gates which are not used at all in the west departure area and maybe those are being used for upgrade? Previously all autogates were available for use by Thai Nationals and PR holders (except for gates for other Nationals (HK,....).   

[onthemoon]

17 hours ago, ctsm23 said:

I read through the last few pages and can't find an answer...

Is there any way for PR holders to use the Thai nationality line when entering/exiting at Suvarnabhumi Airport? Last time I tried to go into the Thai line exiting the country and the lady manning the lines said only Thai passports can be used for the machine  (and reading here it seems PR hasn't been added to these new machines). But is there any of the old fashioned stations with an officer stamping either at the entry/exit points in the Thai line at BKK like at DMK?

 

 

I always use the Thai line at BKK. Once I arrived at DMK and there was a long queue at the Thai line and an even longer queue at the foreigners' line. When it was my turn, the lady officer said in a friendly voice that I should really use the foreigners' line, but she is being nice and will stamp for me. I advised here that this is not really correct, I have the right to use the Thai line, but she did not believe me. (She stamped my passport anyway, even though a bit irritated).

 

If we now hear that immigration officers in Phuket also think that PR holders have to use the foreigners' line, it is just another case of officers not being properly trained. Does anybody have the regulation which states that PR holders can use the Thai line? In my experience, officers will be happy to learn something new when you show them. Of course, you always have to be polite and respectful.

 

Oh, the machines currently only work with Thai passports, as I reported last month or so. That's a different issue.

[Dogmatix]

3 hours ago, onthemoon said:

I always use the Thai line at BKK. Once I arrived at DMK and there was a long queue at the Thai line and an even longer queue at the foreigners' line. When it was my turn, the lady officer said in a friendly voice that I should really use the foreigners' line, but she is being nice and will stamp for me. I advised here that this is not really correct, I have the right to use the Thai line, but she did not believe me. (She stamped my passport anyway, even though a bit irritated).

 

If we now hear that immigration officers in Phuket also think that PR holders have to use the foreigners' line, it is just another case of officers not being properly trained. Does anybody have the regulation which states that PR holders can use the Thai line? In my experience, officers will be happy to learn something new when you show them. Of course, you always have to be polite and respectful.

 

Oh, the machines currently only work with Thai passports, as I reported last month or so. That's a different issue.

I don't know about any specific regulation but years ago, before e-gates, I was told by an IO at the foreigners counter that, as a PR, I should have gone to the Thiai counter.  So I used that thereafter with just the odd snide look from Thais in the queue.  The problem was that seeing me in the Thai queue seemed to attract foreigners without PR to caome and wait behind me.  Once there were a couple of Indians in front of me and because I was in a hurry I mentioned to them the queue was for Thais and PRs only.  They ignored my advice but got sent away by the IO when they got to the front of the queue. I allowed myself a little smile at them, as they shuffled past. 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, onthemoon said:

I always use the Thai line at BKK. Once I arrived at DMK and there was a long queue at the Thai line and an even longer queue at the foreigners' line. When it was my turn, the lady officer said in a friendly voice that I should really use the foreigners' line, but she is being nice and will stamp for me. I advised here that this is not really correct, I have the right to use the Thai line, but she did not believe me. (She stamped my passport anyway, even though a bit irritated).

 

If we now hear that immigration officers in Phuket also think that PR holders have to use the foreigners' line, it is just another case of officers not being properly trained. Does anybody have the regulation which states that PR holders can use the Thai line? In my experience, officers will be happy to learn something new when you show them. Of course, you always have to be polite and respectful.

 

Oh, the machines currently only work with Thai passports, as I reported last month or so. That's a different issue.

Just after I got my first PR book I did a quick trip to SIngapore. On arrival bak in Thailand I automatically joined the 'foreign passports' line.

 

A moment later an Immigration officer asked to see my documents, he spoke in very good English, and said 'please move across to the Thai Citizens line and join that line every time you return to Thailand, the immigration officers on the Thai Citizens lines are more knowledgeable about how to process PR holders documents. Then he escorted me (just a few seconds ) across to a Thai line.

 

That's 25 years ago, at that time I was doing day trips to Spore, KL, HK once or twice every week.

 

When I get to the actual passport desk I have never once (in 25 years) been told I should be on the foreigners line.

 

Several other PR holders have mentioned the exact same situation - asked to always join the Thai line, and the same point has been mentioned here in ThaiVisa/Asean many times before over many years.

 

I have a few times had a Thai person in the line tell me, politely, 'Foreigners line' and point across to the foreigners in line.

 

Every time this has happened I show the cover of my PR book. Instantly no further discussion. 

[scorecard]

25 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

I don't know about any specific regulation but years ago, before e-gates, I was told by an IO at the foreigners counter that, as a PR, I should have gone to the Thiai counter.  So I used that thereafter with just the odd snide look from Thais in the queue.  The problem was that seeing me in the Thai queue seemed to attract foreigners without PR to caome and wait behind me.  Once there were a couple of Indians in front of me and because I was in a hurry I mentioned to them the queue was for Thais and PRs only.  They ignored my advice but got sent away by the IO when they got to the front of the queue. I allowed myself a little smile at them, as they shuffled past. 

I've arrived in Both Mumbai and Delhi and Indian immigration officers yelling rudely at arriving  passengers. One time in Mumbai the roaming Imm. officer rudely yelled at me 'not this line, can't you read'. I challenged one officer at Mumbai 'where's the sign in regard to what you're saying?

 

I just got more abuse and when I got to the actual desk the passport man claimed I had been very abusive to his boss and told me to stand aside. After he processed maybe 10 more arrivees he called me back to his desk and gave me another tyrade about being rude and asked many silly questions about why I was coming to India.

 

The reality was that my company had just gained a big contract to advise one of India's giant global conglomorates which would require many trips into Mumbai and Delhi.

 

When I got to the office in Mumbai I shared my immigration experience with the private secretary of the patriach of the company. An hour later she found me and shared that her boss had given her an instruction to arrange for a snr. officer to meet me and my colleagues at the aircraft door on arrival, every trip, and escort me/us through arrival procedures.

 

Next trip, snr man waiting at aircraft door, his young assistant with a decent size sign showing the very well known Indian company name and my name. 

 

Lots of silly examination and re-examination of a couple of simple documents and silly questions when we got to a more private immigration arrivals office ('You have travelled today from Bangkok, is that correct?' YES, then many notes written on several documents) but all completed in 5 minutes, meanwhile company staff collecting our bags (i'm talking about many many years ago when on arrival in Mumbai all check-in bags were thrown on an unattended heap about 15/20 metres outside of the terminal building. Many bags never found and zero assistance from airport staff.

 

In those days It was possible, on some airlines, to pay a fee to take several bags into the cabin. That helped to keep all bags in sight. 

 

Edited December 29, 2022 by scorecard

[jacko45k]

On 12/9/2022 at 12:03 AM, Naiyana said:

Hello all,

 

I did my first re-entry permit and endorsement in April 2022. I do not plan to leave Thailand until June 2023.

Should I do a new re-entry and endorsement before the current one expire? Or doing it after April / before I leave would be ok?

Thank you.

Latter is fine.....

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Latter is fine.....

Following is a re-send of an answer I posted a few months back:

There is no requirement at all to renew it before the current exit/re-entry permit expires.

 

Let's put this subject in a different light; there's no legal need to have an exit/re-entry stamp in your passport and PR book until you need it.

 

Many PR holders (an example - those you travel infrequently) don't get the stamp, a single journey stamp, until just before they travel. That's how it's intended to work.

 

This means there could a time period of years / many years with no exit/re-entry stamps in your books. No problem whatever - this won't raise any concerns with immigration because it's the way it's intended to work.

 

The other possibility is that you travel out of Thailand and return many times every year (probably business trips - typically a foreigner who attends meetings/projects etc., regularly in many countries).  For folks in this situation it's better to get a multiple entry stamp which covers an unlimited number an out/in trips for 12 months starting from the day the stamp is placed in your books.

 

If you have a multiple entry stamp there's no need to advise immigration in advance for every trip. You use it any date you want but it expires after 12 months.

 

So a question: when do I have to renew my multiple entry stamp if I wish to continue with another multiple entry stamp? 

 

Answer: Totally up to you:

 

• You can renew it any time before the currrent multiple entry stamp expires, but there is no requirement whatever to do this. 
• You can renew it anytime in the future. Many PR holders in this situation just wait until the next out/in trip comes up and then go to an immigration office and get a new multiple entry stamp. Or perhaps they revert to single entry exit/re-entry stamps. The just wait period could be a few days or a few years. 

You can find many PR holders who haven't had an exit/re-entry stamp in their books for years/many years because they haevn't travelled, and that's all OK, no concern whatever. 

 

I had multiple entry stamps in my books for years. I'm now retired and I have no family whatever left in my birth country. There's a good chance I'll never ever again have a need to have an exit/re-entry stamp in my books. 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Good advice. I am one of those who travel out of the country at least once a month, so I have a multiple-entry anyway.

 

However, even if a trip weren't planned, I'd feel better with the re-entry in the passport. The reason is that I have family overseas and you never know when you get a call on Friday afternoon that you have to jump on a plane the next day. Sometimes business can require very urgent trips too. 

• Naiyana
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Naiyana

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Posted December 9

Thank you Scorecard, rimmae2 and onthemoon for the clarification - no such thing as 'renewal', I need to do them only when it is needed. Good to know, I will do mine just before my next trip. I may do like onthemove - I have my elderly parents back home. Thank you all.

[ctsm23]

Thank you for the answers. I thought the reason could only be that on exiting at the particular wing I was in at BKK they only had the E-Gates.

 

The only online government paper I can find stating the right of foreigners to use the Thai line at the moment is from the dept. of trade negotiations, page two row 3.

https://api.dtn.go.th/files/v3/5d776ff5ef41406e2a4ee3de/download

 

 

[Naiyana]

On 12/23/2022 at 7:48 PM, scorecard said:

Agree, the regulations say must notify change of addrees 1n 10 / 14 days, not sure which.

 

Also, it's possible the new address comes under the juristiction (for PR holders) of a different police station.

 

In this case the PR holder must report to the 'old' police station and tell them he's moved/moving and the old police station prepares some appropriate documents and puts it in a sealed envelope, gives that to the PR holder who has a deadline time to hand the unopened envelope to the appropriate office at the new police station.

 

At new station they will bring the PR into their district records, place a new photo (provided by the PR holder) into the pages where each 5 year/new photo is recorded in the RED book. 

 

Failure to do all this can mean fines. 

 

The reporting would only be necessary if I actually move to another blue book, no? I’m under my friend’s blue book in Bangkok, now I live in Surat province but I do not own any house here..

Edited December 29, 2022 by Naiyana

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Naiyana said:

The reporting would only be necessary if I actually move to another blue book, no? I’m under my friend’s blue book in Bangkok, now I live in Surat province but I do not own any house here..

Perhaps we're confusing 2 books:

 

1. The RED Police Registration book which must be updated (new photo - report that the person is still alive) at an appropriate police staion every 5 years and if the PR moves residence (let's say from Bkk to Chiang Mai then the PR must tell the BKK police station 'I'm moving to CM to live'. The BKK police station prepares an envelope of documens and the PR takes this to the appropriate police staion in CM. And there is a time limit to get this completed, can be fines for being late.

 

2. The Tabien Baan (TB) Book, which is administered by the hundreds of Amphur offices across Thailand all linked to a central database. The RED police book / police stations and Thai Immigration are totally NOT involved in any way with gaining/updating the TB book. But if you need to replace your full PR book at Immigration they might ask to see the RED book and check that the 5 year reporting is up to date. But Thai immigration does NOT administer the RED police registration book.

 

A Thai citizen or a foreigner with PR or some types of visas which give the holder a pink Thai  ID card can be registered in any Tabien Baan book but generally a Tabien Baan book associated with their abode. 

 

Some foreigners get a yellow covered Tabien Baan book for various reasons, one being ownership of a condo. Typically the foreigners name would be in the yellow covered TB book

 

Every TB book has a 'house master' typically on the first page of the TB book (after the page which shows the full address). The house master is responsible to keep this book up to date. However it can be that some members of the family are recorded in the TB book at a different location (e.g. a uni student from Hat Yai who is living in Bkk with her aunt while she attends uni). But it would also be typical that the uni students name is still recorded in the family TB book at Hat Yai. This is all OK.

 

If a friend asks the House master 'I'm moving to your city for my job, can I put my name in your TB book?' then this is very normal and is NOT breaking any laws or regulations.

 

I have PR (25 years). I live permenantly with my Thai adult son and the land/house property is recorded in his name at the lands titles office, and my Thai son is the house master therefors his name is the first 'resident' listed in the TB book.

 

Son's wife is next in the TB book, then me, then son's 3 kids. 

 

I hope this is not confusing. 

[DrJoy]

2 hours ago, Naiyana said:

but I do not own any house here

As a PR you still cannot buy land, only condos.

[scorecard]

12 hours ago, scorecard said:

Perhaps we're confusing 2 books:

 

1. The RED Police Registration book which must be updated (new photo - report that the person is still alive) at an appropriate police staion every 5 years and if the PR moves residence (let's say from Bkk to Chiang Mai then the PR must tell the BKK police station 'I'm moving to CM to live'. The BKK police station prepares an envelope of documens and the PR takes this to the appropriate police staion in CM. And there is a time limit to get this completed, can be fines for being late.

 

2. The Tabien Baan (TB) Book, which is administered by the hundreds of Amphur offices across Thailand all linked to a central database. The RED police book / police stations and Thai Immigration are totally NOT involved in any way with gaining/updating the TB book. But if you need to replace your full PR book at Immigration they might ask to see the RED book and check that the 5 year reporting is up to date. But Thai immigration does NOT administer the RED police registration book.

 

A Thai citizen or a foreigner with PR or some types of visas which give the holder a pink Thai  ID card can be registered in any Tabien Baan book but generally a Tabien Baan book associated with their abode. 

 

Some foreigners get a yellow covered Tabien Baan book for various reasons, one being ownership of a condo. Typically the foreigners name would be in the yellow covered TB book

 

Every TB book has a 'house master' typically on the first page of the TB book (after the page which shows the full address). The house master is responsible to keep this book up to date. However it can be that some members of the family are recorded in the TB book at a different location (e.g. a uni student from Hat Yai who is living in Bkk with her aunt while she attends uni). But it would also be typical that the uni students name is still recorded in the family TB book at Hat Yai. This is all OK.

 

If a friend asks the House master 'I'm moving to your city for my job, can I put my name in your TB book?' then this is very normal and is NOT breaking any laws or regulations.

 

I have PR (25 years). I live permenantly with my Thai adult son and the land/house property is recorded in his name at the lands titles office, and my Thai son is the house master therefors his name is the first 'resident' listed in the TB book.

 

Son's wife is next in the TB book, then me, then son's 3 kids. 

 

I hope this is not confusing. 

One point to clarify; the 'house master' recorded in the Tabien Baan DOESN'T have to be the owner of the house. In many TB books the house master is an adult family member but it can be any Thai citizen indicated by the owner. 

[Arkady]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

One point to clarify; the 'house master' recorded in the Tabien Baan DOESN'T have to be the owner of the house. In many TB books the house master is an adult family member but it can be any Thai citizen indicated by the owner. 

Correct it doesn't have to be the house owner.  It also doesn't have to be a Thai citizen.  As a PR I was "householder" for many years of my house that was owned first by a company and then by my Thai wife (and now by the two of us jointly).  All that is required to appoint a householder is a signed consent form from the property owner.  Of course most Thai landlords will refuse to do this for tenants, as they mistakenly believe it conveys some sort of ownership rights. It may, in fact, also be hard to rescind, if the tenant leaves the property but wants to keep the tabien baan.

 

BTW personally I prefer the translation "householder" for "เจ้าบ้าน - jaobaan".  "House master" is not technically incorrect but is not a commonly used English phrase, whereas householder conveys the correct meaning of a head of a household who is not necessarily the property owner.

[Naiyana]

On 12/29/2022 at 9:47 PM, scorecard said:

Perhaps we're confusing 2 books:

 

1. The RED Police Registration book which must be updated (new photo - report that the person is still alive) at an appropriate police staion every 5 years and if the PR moves residence (let's say from Bkk to Chiang Mai then the PR must tell the BKK police station 'I'm moving to CM to live'. The BKK police station prepares an envelope of documens and the PR takes this to the appropriate police staion in CM. And there is a time limit to get this completed, can be fines for being late.

 

2. The Tabien Baan (TB) Book, which is administered by the hundreds of Amphur offices across Thailand all linked to a central database. The RED police book / police stations and Thai Immigration are totally NOT involved in any way with gaining/updating the TB book. But if you need to replace your full PR book at Immigration they might ask to see the RED book and check that the 5 year reporting is up to date. But Thai immigration does NOT administer the RED police registration book.

 

A Thai citizen or a foreigner with PR or some types of visas which give the holder a pink Thai  ID card can be registered in any Tabien Baan book but generally a Tabien Baan book associated with their abode. 

 

Some foreigners get a yellow covered Tabien Baan book for various reasons, one being ownership of a condo. Typically the foreigners name would be in the yellow covered TB book

 

Every TB book has a 'house master' typically on the first page of the TB book (after the page which shows the full address). The house master is responsible to keep this book up to date. However it can be that some members of the family are recorded in the TB book at a different location (e.g. a uni student from Hat Yai who is living in Bkk with her aunt while she attends uni). But it would also be typical that the uni students name is still recorded in the family TB book at Hat Yai. This is all OK.

 

If a friend asks the House master 'I'm moving to your city for my job, can I put my name in your TB book?' then this is very normal and is NOT breaking any laws or regulations.

 

I have PR (25 years). I live permenantly with my Thai adult son and the land/house property is recorded in his name at the lands titles office, and my Thai son is the house master therefors his name is the first 'resident' listed in the TB book.

 

Son's wife is next in the TB book, then me, then son's 3 kids. 

 

I hope this is not confusing. 

Thank you Scorecard. But I’m still confused - if I report my actual residence to the police or not who’d care, who’d even notice it? I don’t have anything ‘official’ that can show my actual address in Surat, no more TM30 or anything.. I plan to do it when I have my house here and have my own blue book. 

[scorecard]

41 minutes ago, Naiyana said:

Thank you Scorecard. But I’m still confused - if I report my actual residence to the police or not who’d care, who’d even notice it? I don’t have anything ‘official’ that can show my actual address in Surat, no more TM30 or anything.. I plan to do it when I have my house here and have my own blue book. 

Nice question and I don't know a specific answer.

 

One point that come to mind, do you have a specific date that you will have a house? 

 

You say 'when I have my house'. Does that mean:

 

- Own a house (just the house building) on land owned by a Thai national (perhaps wife) or could be owned by any Thai person? Or...

 

- Have a controlling interest in a house and land owned by a Thai registered company? Or...

 

- Persoally own a condominium (your personal name on the land title dodument)?

 

A different point, as a Thailand PR holder do you have a RED Police Registration book? 

[Naiyana]

@scorecard Yes I do have a Red book, registered in Khlong Tan in Bangkok. I’m under my friend’s Tabien Baan now, at the time of PR process completion I didn’t own a house, still I don’t. I plan to build a house in Surat province. I set up a company, and I plan to lease the land from my own company (well 51% Thai) as an additional security measure. I think in this case I will be able to have the Tabien Baan under my name, not 100% sure. To be honest - unless my friend in Bangkok who allowed me to be under her Tabien Baan sells her house, I would keep my PR address in hers in Bangkok. Too much hassle to change anything, whether it is the Red book or Tabien Baan.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Naiyana said:

@scorecard Yes I do have a Red book, registered in Khlong Tan in Bangkok. I’m under my friend’s Tabien Baan now, at the time of PR process completion I didn’t own a house, still I don’t. I plan to build a house in Surat province. I set up a company, and I plan to lease the land from my own company (well 51% Thai) as an additional security measure. I think in this case I will be able to have the Tabien Baan under my name, not 100% sure. To be honest - unless my friend in Bangkok who allowed me to be under her Tabien Baan sells her house, I would keep my PR address in hers in Bangkok. Too much hassle to change anything, whether it is the Red book or Tabien Baan.

You mentioned "To be honest - unless my friend in Bangkok who allowed me to be under her Tabien Baan sells her house, I would keep my PR address in hers in Bangkok."

 

This reminds me, when I got PR (25 years ago) I was renting an apartment in Bkk.

 

I went with my PR agent (more friend than agent) to the amphur office to get issued a PR dark blue book. The amphur officer suggested if we had time to walk to another room (2 minutes) to get the Tabien Baan item done.

 

The Tabien Baan officer asked for the details of th address etc., where I was to be recorded. My agnent and I looked at each other, we didn't have an answer.

 

A Thai acquaintance was with us, he had offered to drive us around various places for the day. He spoke up quickly 'would it be OK if the farang goes on the Tabien Baan pages* for my house?

 

The Tabien Baan man at the amphur office responded to the acquaitance immediately with no questions and no hesitation,  'sure, do you have your Tabien Baan document with you now?'

 

One second later Tabien Baan officer writing my name etc., on the Tabien Baan pages for my acquaintance. My name stayed there for many years until I bought (paid for) a house and land, land title recorded in my Thai sons' name. My name then moved to the Tabien Baan book for 'son's house'.

 

* Tabien Baan pages - This was before the Tabien Baan computerised book, linked to the new national database was introduced. The old system was just loose/stapled pages on very long paper with hand written entries.

[Naiyana]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

You mentioned "To be honest - unless my friend in Bangkok who allowed me to be under her Tabien Baan sells her house, I would keep my PR address in hers in Bangkok."

 

This reminds me, when I got PR (25 years ago) I was renting an apartment in Bkk.

 

I went with my PR agent (more friend than agent) to the amphur office to get issued a PR dark blue book. The amphur officer suggested if we had time to walk to another room (2 minutes) to get the Tabien Baan item done.

 

The Tabien Baan officer asked for the details of th address etc., where I was to be recorded. My agnent and I looked at each other, we didn't have an answer.

 

A Thai acquaintance was with us, he had offered to drive us around various places for the day. He spoke up quickly 'would it be OK if the farang goes on the Tabien Baan pages* for my house?

 

The Tabien Baan man at the amphur office responded to the acquaitance immediately with no questions and no hesitation,  'sure, do you have your Tabien Baan document with you now?'

 

One second later Tabien Baan officer writing my name etc., on the Tabien Baan pages for my acquaintance. My name stayed there for many years until I bought (paid for) a house and land, land title recorded in my Thai sons' name. My name then moved to the Tabien Baan book for 'son's house'.

 

* Tabien Baan pages - This was before the Tabien Baan computerised book, linked to the new national database was introduced. The old system was just loose/stapled pages on very long paper with hand written entries.

Yep same story. So until I move to another Tabien Baan whether it is mine or friend’s, I have no plan to report to the police station and update my address in RED book, because absolutely no one cares. The local police officers here - have absolutely no clue what PR is ???? Probably the bigger one in main town does.

Edited January 3, 2023 by Naiyana

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, Naiyana said:

Yep same story. So until I move to another Tabien Baan whether it is mine or friend’s, I have no plan to report to the police station and update my address in RED book, because absolutely no one cares. The local police officers here - have absolutely no clue what PR is ???? Probably the bigger one in main town does.

The local police officers here - have absolutely no clue what PR is  Probably the bigger one in main town does.

Edited 1 hour ago by Naiyana"

 

True. WHEN son's house completed we went to local bigger police station (in Chiang Mai) to update my RED book. Snr. cop at that station said "NO, NO, RED book is administered by Immigration because the actual PR book in linked to an embassy' Total complete confusion.  Eventually found the police station in CM which did take care of RED books.

 

Years earlier I got stopped for runnin a red light (absolutely no tue) when moving from RAMA 4 Rd to freeway going to Chonburi. Cop demands my passport, my aware son hands cop my PR book, second cop now at car window says, "This (white PR book) is from an embassy". Lots of salutes and apologies.

 

First cop asks 'Where are you going". Son responds "Chonburi City". First and second cop then asking if we would like a police escort. Son responds "No thanks, bye". Sons tells me to drive on.

 

Lots of salutes. 

 

Yearly tax due on family car. I tell son to get the name in the blue book changed from my name to son's name.

Sons' takes every document in existance with him to the land transport office including my white PR book an RED police book.

 

Dragon lady at land transport asks my son 'what is this book (white PR book)?Son answers "my father has permanent residence of Thailand"

 

Dragon lady now yelling tells my son "there is no such thing so this book is fake".

 

Edited January 3, 2023 by scorecard

[scorecard]

On 12/29/2022 at 9:47 PM, scorecard said:

Perhaps we're confusing 2 books:

 

1. The RED Police Registration book which must be updated (new photo - report that the person is still alive) at an appropriate police staion every 5 years and if the PR moves residence (let's say from Bkk to Chiang Mai then the PR must tell the BKK police station 'I'm moving to CM to live'. The BKK police station prepares an envelope of documens and the PR takes this to the appropriate police staion in CM. And there is a time limit to get this completed, can be fines for being late.

 

2. The Tabien Baan (TB) Book, which is administered by the hundreds of Amphur offices across Thailand all linked to a central database. The RED police book / police stations and Thai Immigration are totally NOT involved in any way with gaining/updating the TB book. But if you need to replace your full PR book at Immigration they might ask to see the RED book and check that the 5 year reporting is up to date. But Thai immigration does NOT administer the RED police registration book.

 

A Thai citizen or a foreigner with PR or some types of visas which give the holder a pink Thai  ID card can be registered in any Tabien Baan book but generally a Tabien Baan book associated with their abode. 

 

Some foreigners get a yellow covered Tabien Baan book for various reasons, one being ownership of a condo. Typically the foreigners name would be in the yellow covered TB book

 

Every TB book has a 'house master' typically on the first page of the TB book (after the page which shows the full address). The house master is responsible to keep this book up to date. However it can be that some members of the family are recorded in the TB book at a different location (e.g. a uni student from Hat Yai who is living in Bkk with her aunt while she attends uni). But it would also be typical that the uni students name is still recorded in the family TB book at Hat Yai. This is all OK.

 

If a friend asks the House master 'I'm moving to your city for my job, can I put my name in your TB book?' then this is very normal and is NOT breaking any laws or regulations.

 

I have PR (25 years). I live permenantly with my Thai adult son and the land/house property is recorded in his name at the lands titles office, and my Thai son is the house master therefors his name is the first 'resident' listed in the TB book.

 

Son's wife is next in the TB book, then me, then son's 3 kids. 

 

I hope this is not confusing. 

Clarification: In my post just above I wrote:  

 

my Thai son is the house master therefore his name is the first 'resident' listed in the TB book.

 

Son's wife is next in the TB book, then me, then son's 3 kids. 

 

That order of being entered into the TB book is by coincidence, not by any regulation.

 

[Arkady]

15 hours ago, Naiyana said:

@scorecard Yes I do have a Red book, registered in Khlong Tan in Bangkok. I’m under my friend’s Tabien Baan now, at the time of PR process completion I didn’t own a house, still I don’t. I plan to build a house in Surat province. I set up a company, and I plan to lease the land from my own company (well 51% Thai) as an additional security measure. I think in this case I will be able to have the Tabien Baan under my name, not 100% sure. To be honest - unless my friend in Bangkok who allowed me to be under her Tabien Baan sells her house, I would keep my PR address in hers in Bangkok. Too much hassle to change anything, whether it is the Red book or Tabien Baan.

You should be able to get a tabien baan as 'householder' in a company owned house with consent from the company, or perhaps yourself as the lessee, or both. I did it some years ago and the district officers didn't bat an eyelid.

 

Not sure what buying land is like in your area through a company with foreign shareholding. Apparently it varies in different land offices. Often you have to be invisible at the time of the transfer, as any foreign shareholders or directors or suspicion of same can result in the case being forwarded to the director general of the Land Office for perusal. Buying raw land should be less suspicious than buying a house.  Thai directors of a company, who don't seem very well to do or educated blowing the company's entire capital plus debt on an infinity pool villa in Samui with no clue how this will fit into  a business plan are more of give away.

[Bangel72]

"the PR must tell the BKK police station 'I'm moving to CM to live"

 

My police station is in village sticks and its a painful renewal  process with limited English and almost no awareness of PR's, first time they sent me to three other police stations before going back to original one, then had to source a book for them and then a stamp as they did not have one.  Not to mention it needed the big bosses signature which took a couple of appointments.

 

Last time I renewed, initially it was a point blank "no we do not do that here, go to immigration office at the border", luckily same police officer from before was able to be contacted and arranged another day for big boss signing again.

 

Both times needed a live call with CW PR department.

 

Chances of them understanding they need to do anything if I tell them I am moving are very very low. I'd hope if new place they could deal with that step missing or it will be very time consuming.

 

It should also really allow registration of living in rented apartment otherwise its just made up and finding someone who will let you register on their books.

 

I have two registered addresses, one for PR and one for BOI and suspect multiple people in this situation.

 

 

[thedemon]

Does anyone know how early the 5 yearly renewal of the red book can be done? Can it be done several months before expiry?

[Arkady]

18 hours ago, thedemon said:

Does anyone know how early the 5 yearly renewal of the red book can be done? Can it be done several months before expiry?

I believe so. I was told to do it early once to renew a WP as the Labour Ministry didn't like the idea the red book would expire during the term of the WP. That was only a few weeks early but I think a few months would also not be a problem.

[thedemon]

3 hours ago, Arkady said:

I believe so. I was told to do it early once to renew a WP as the Labour Ministry didn't like the idea the red book would expire during the term of the WP. That was only a few weeks early but I think a few months would also not be a problem.

Thanks very much. I'll give it a go.

[scorecard]

4 minutes ago, thedemon said:

Thanks very much. I'll give it a go.

As well known, diferent rules at each office.

 

I've renewed work permits at: Din Daeng, Rayong, Rangsit, Chiang Mai, after I received PR. Every time had to show my original passport and PR book. Never once been asked to show my RED Police Registration book. 

Edited January 5, 2023 by scorecard

[blackcab]

Has anyone taken the Thai language test recently when applying for PR?

 

If you have, could you let me know whether the test was oral, written or both; what type of questions were asked; how long did the test take; level of Thai needed, etc.

 

Thank you.

[rimmae2]

Departing today and having used fast track, enquired about the status of autochannel. I was informed that system upgrade is now complete and Immigration is waiting for the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[jayboy]

On 1/5/2023 at 2:39 PM, scorecard said:

As well known, diferent rules at each office.

 

I've renewed work permits at: Din Daeng, Rayong, Rangsit, Chiang Mai, after I received PR. Every time had to show my original passport and PR book. Never once been asked to show my RED Police Registration book. 

I'm trying to think of any occasion I've had to show my Red Book other than the usual annual (or so) ritual at Immigration.The only one I can remember is when I had to apply for an international driving license.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, jayboy said:

I'm trying to think of any occasion I've had to show my Red Book other than the usual annual (or so) ritual at Immigration.The only one I can remember is when I had to apply for an international driving license.

Same, very rarely used / requested to be viewed by any Thai agency.