Camerata's Guide To The Permanent Residence Process

[rimmae2]

After using TG fast track immigration on departure about an hour ago I went to the main Immigration and asked if PRs can use autogates. I was informed that PRs can use autogates on departure (if passport has an e chip), but on arrival have to use the manual lanes and get a stamp in the passport and PR book. 

 

There was no queue at the autogates on departure in the above area at 8:00 pm and more than 20 auogates I would think for non-Thai Nationals.

 

Currently autogates are being installed in the area adjacent to the existing fast track (A and B).

 

 

[onthemoon]

1 hour ago, rimmae2 said:

After using TG fast track immigration on departure about an hour ago I went to the main Immigration and asked if PRs can use autogates. I was informed that PRs can use autogates on departure (if passport has an e chip), but on arrival have to use the manual lanes and get a stamp in the passport and PR book. 

 

There was no queue at the autogates on departure in the above area at 8:00 pm and more than 20 auogates I would think for non-Thai Nationals.

 

Currently autogates are being installed in the area adjacent to the existing fast track (A and B).

 

 

 

I also asked and was told that we have to register at CW to use the autogates.

[rimmae2]

On 10/25/2024 at 6:57 PM, onthemoon said:

 

I also asked and was told that we have to register at CW to use the autogates.

Did register or chedck what needs to be done at CW?

[Bangel72]

A couple of questions regarding the police book updates.

 

Currently registered in the back of beyond, 5 year period.

 

Last couple of times its gone like this. No we cannot do that here, go to immigration. After a lot of thai back and forth, connecting them with someone from chaeng wattana they confirm they can do it but need big boss to sign it, we'll call you when he is next in office. Basically it got done but a couple of days process and discussion to achieve that. 

 

Recently moved elsewhere and no longer in contact with house owner of blue book and cannot contact them.

 

Now living in long term hotel situation with long contract.

 

A couple of challenges I see, if anyone has been through something similar I'd appreciate some thoughts.

 

It would be a painful journey to go back and try and explain I have moved at the police station particularly without the Thai house owner and blue book being available even before the communication and general reluctance situation.   Any suggestions on this, do it through a lawyer perhaps without needing to go in person?

 

In new location, do long term hotels have blue books, has anyone been added to one? I don't know anyone in the area yet to be added to a "friends" blue book so unsure of options, though again likely a legal company may have a stash of blue book properties but at a cost.

 

Can the first step be skipped even if is not the recommended approach and just go and register at new location?

Are there any other options than blue book or is that a must?

Has anyone done it via the lawyers blue book stash approach?

 

Any real experience in this would be appreciated?

 

 

 

 

[Bubbha]

Blue book is a must have document.

I doubt the police (or immigration) would negotiate that. 

if I were in your situation, I would hold off registering your transfer of address in the red police book until I had my name in a blue book in their area.

 

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

I believe you will need the blue book of the new residence in order to update your red police book at your new local police station. I think it is the only document the police examine each time I show up for my 5-year check-in.

 

I don't think you need to have the old blue book to register in a different blue book at a different amphur. Family members registered in a different amphur without removing themselves from our blue book a couple of years ago. 

 

I don't know whether hotels have blue books, but I don't know why they wouldn't.  If the hotel is managed by a third party management company, it may require some effort to locate and obtain permission from the owner. It certainly wouldn't hurt to look into this, however.

 

You also could ask a lawyer if they have a solution for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Bubbha said:

Blue book is a must have document.

I doubt the police (or immigration) would negotiate that. 

if I were in your situation, I would hold off registering your transfer of address in the red police book until I had my name in a blue book in their area.

 

Good points, but let me share, the first address entered in my police Red book was at the big Banglamung police centre. Then the whole family moved to Chiang Mai (CM). I went to the Banglamung office 14 days after we moved to Chiang Mai to tell the Banglamung staff I had moved to Chiang Mai. This conversation was initially with a civilian clerical worker who spoke good English; when I told her I had moved to CM14 days earlier she went pale and said 'you are very late and I need to report this to a police snr. Police snr came quickly, he was polite, he told me that I had broken the transfer address rules and he told the civilian lady (in good English) to fine me 2,00Baht, then he disappeared. A few minutes later he returned and asked me 'do you have any further comments or explanation why you are so late?  I shared 'yes, I had to go to China quickly for an important project with the Chinese / Thai governments'. He then said 'change the fine to 200Baht' . I thanked him and said 'I've been worried I might lose my PR. He smiled and said 'NO NO, that cannot happen because of being late to change address, but you have really broken a regulation'. He concluded by saying 'if you change address again please be careful about this, you don't want a 'late' note twice in your police book.' All done. 

[anthonyT]

Good afternoon.

It will be the first time since receiving my PR that i will be flying to my home country for annual leave. Would anyone know if i would be able to do the TM 13 and TM 22 in Pattaya (Jomtien) immigration or if this is only possible at the Chaeng Wattana office?

 

Many thanks in advance for any reply

 

Ant.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, anthonyT said:

Good afternoon.

It will be the first time since receiving my PR that i will be flying to my home country for annual leave. Would anyone know if i would be able to do the TM 13 and TM 22 in Pattaya (Jomtien) immigration or if this is only possible at the Chaeng Wattana office?

 

Many thanks in advance for any reply

 

Ant.

 

I got PR 27 years ago ago I'm out of date about form numbers.

What is TM 13 and TM 22?

 

Then maybe you'll get some responses.

[scorecard]

3 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

I got PR 27 years ago ago I'm out of date about form numbers.

What is TM 13 and TM 22?

 

Then maybe you'll get some responses.

Google says:  "TM 13 is the application form for a Thai Certificate of Residence, and TM 22 is the application form for a Non-Quota Immigrant Visa"

 

Did you get a letter indicating that your PR (Lifetime Residence) has been approved?

 

Did you Get a letter indicating that your Thai PR had been approved?

 

Did you take that letter to an appropriate gov't office (often a bigger amphur office but other offices can also issue the book) to get issued with your dark blue Certificate of Residence book? 

 

Also they should record your name and your Thai ID number in the Tabien Baan book for the place where you reside.

 

Twenty seven years ago I did all of the above at the Pattaya city Hall. A long time ago so I don't know if they still do it. 

 

The dark blue Certificate of Residence book is your official proof that you hold lifetime PR for Thailand. This book is your official document to prove you are a lifetime Permanent Resident of Thailand. It's your document for life. The Certificate of Residence does NOT show an expiry date because it's for lifetime. It does not need annual REVIEW OR CHECK. 

 

Before you depart Thailand for a holiday or for meeting etc., you must go to an immigration office* and get an Exit and Re-entry stamp in your PR book and your passport. * You might read that foreigners can get the Exit / Re-entry stamps at the airport after you check in. That's true for some other types of visas but NOT TRUE for PR holders. PR holders must get these stamps before travel at an immigration office.  

 

Getting the Exit / Re-entry stamps in both books does not involve any recheck or review of your PR status, it's a no pain administrative process. On departure from Thailand you must present both books (Certificate of Residence book and your passport) at the immigration desk and they will add another stamp (usually close to the the Exit / Re-entry stamps placed in both books at an immigration office.) to indicate that the Exit / Re-entry stamp issued at the immigration office has now been used for the departure leg of your immediate travels.

 

CRITICAL: If you don't follow these steps correctly there is a risk that you could lose your PR status. 

 

If you do lose your PR status there is no 'quick fix' and you will need to start again to apply for PR.

 

CRITICAL: You must get the Exit / Re-entry stamp in both books (Cert. of Residency book and passport) before going to the airport. 

 

                     >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Another AN member can answer your question better than I can about visa. I got PR 27 years ago so I'm not up to date about PR and visas. 

 

Good luck. 

[anthonyT]

12 hours ago, scorecard said:

Google says:  "TM 13 is the application form for a Thai Certificate of Residence, and TM 22 is the application form for a Non-Quota Immigrant Visa"

 

Did you get a letter indicating that your PR (Lifetime Residence) has been approved?

 

Did you Get a letter indicating that your Thai PR had been approved?

 

Did you take that letter to an appropriate gov't office (often a bigger amphur office but other offices can also issue the book) to get issued with your dark blue Certificate of Residence book? 

 

Also they should record your name and your Thai ID number in the Tabien Baan book for the place where you reside.

 

Twenty seven years ago I did all of the above at the Pattaya city Hall. A long time ago so I don't know if they still do it. 

 

The dark blue Certificate of Residence book is your official proof that you hold lifetime PR for Thailand. This book is your official document to prove you are a lifetime Permanent Resident of Thailand. It's your document for life. The Certificate of Residence does NOT show an expiry date because it's for lifetime. It does not need annual REVIEW OR CHECK. 

 

Before you depart Thailand for a holiday or for meeting etc., you must go to an immigration office* and get an Exit and Re-entry stamp in your PR book and your passport. * You might read that foreigners can get the Exit / Re-entry stamps at the airport after you check in. That's true for some other types of visas but NOT TRUE for PR holders. PR holders must get these stamps before travel at an immigration office.  

 

Getting the Exit / Re-entry stamps in both books does not involve any recheck or review of your PR status, it's a no pain administrative process. On departure from Thailand you must present both books (Certificate of Residence book and your passport) at the immigration desk and they will add another stamp (usually close to the the Exit / Re-entry stamps placed in both books at an immigration office.) to indicate that the Exit / Re-entry stamp issued at the immigration office has now been used for the departure leg of your immediate travels.

 

CRITICAL: If you don't follow these steps correctly there is a risk that you could lose your PR status. 

 

If you do lose your PR status there is no 'quick fix' and you will need to start again to apply for PR.

 

CRITICAL: You must get the Exit / Re-entry stamp in both books (Cert. of Residency book and passport) before going to the airport. 

 

                     >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Another AN member can answer your question better than I can about visa. I got PR 27 years ago so I'm not up to date about PR and visas. 

 

Good luck. 

Thank you for the reply Scorecard. Yes, i received my blue PR book, Red police book and am written into the blue tabiaan baan of our house, so am all good for that  xD.

 

My question is for when i want to travel overseas and want to retain my PR (obviously after all the pain getting it xD), if i can do the required paperwork for this at Pattaya immigration or if this can only be done in Bangkok? I did not travel since receiving my PR a few years ago and would like to save myself a few hours of traveling xD.

for the record TM 13 as per the immigration link is the application for endorsement of re-entry permit as SS below which, not the application for permament residence in the kingdom (TM 9), which i think you are referring too.

 

https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/downloads_en/

 

Thank you for the reply.

 

Ant.

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, anthonyT said:

Thank you for the reply Scorecard. Yes, i received my blue PR book, Red police book and am written into the blue tabiaan baan of our house, so am all good for that  xD.

 

My question is for when i want to travel overseas and want to retain my PR (obviously after all the pain getting it xD), if i can do the required paperwork for this at Pattaya immigration or if this can only be done in Bangkok? I did not travel since receiving my PR a few years ago and would like to save myself a few hours of traveling xD.

for the record TM 13 as per the immigration link is the application for endorsement of re-entry permit as SS below which, not the application for permament residence in the kingdom (TM 9), which i think you are referring too.

 

https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/downloads_en/

 

Thank you for the reply.

 

Ant.

 

Sorry I can't answer whether you can obtain an Exit / Re-entry stamps (in both books) at Pattaya immigration.  For the last 10 years I got the stamps at Chiang Mai Immigration. Before that it was all done by an agent used by my employer. 

 

Pure guess but I can't see any reason why it couldn't be done at Jomtien Immigration. Do they give clear answers on the phone? (I asked the question in that manner because at Chiang Mai Immigration (a big Immigration office), there's a small team, about 2 of 3 staff who only handle PR matters incl. gaining Exit / Re-entry stamps, but asked about this at the main walk-in counter and they will very likely say 'not at this office, have to go to Bkk. I had this situation one time, but luckily one of the dedicated PR team noticed me and quickly came out of the office area and greeted me and immediately took me to her area. The boy at the walk in desk objected saying NO NO, Bangkok only. The PR team leader pulled him aside, sat him down and gave him a polite education about the subject). 

[anthonyT]

On 1/23/2025 at 12:38 PM, scorecard said:

 

Sorry I can't answer whether you can obtain an Exit / Re-entry stamps (in both books) at Pattaya immigration.  For the last 10 years I got the stamps at Chiang Mai Immigration. Before that it was all done by an agent used by my employer. 

 

Pure guess but I can't see any reason why it couldn't be done at Jomtien Immigration. Do they give clear answers on the phone? (I asked the question in that manner because at Chiang Mai Immigration (a big Immigration office), there's a small team, about 2 of 3 staff who only handle PR matters incl. gaining Exit / Re-entry stamps, but asked about this at the main walk-in counter and they will very likely say 'not at this office, have to go to Bkk. I had this situation one time, but luckily one of the dedicated PR team noticed me and quickly came out of the office area and greeted me and immediately took me to her area. The boy at the walk in desk objected saying NO NO, Bangkok only. The PR team leader pulled him aside, sat him down and gave him a polite education about the subject). 

Thank you for the reply scorecard.

 

For who needs the Info, Jomtien immigration was able to do it, so that will save me 2 trip's to Bangkok thankfully now and in the future.

 

Ant.

 

 

[Michael Hare]

Three weeks ago my wife and I flew up to Luang Prabang for a long weekend. It was my first time out of Thailand since 2019. Since then I have got a brand new passport in 2020 and a new certificate of residence book in 2021 (blue one was full up. The new book is white). I have had PR since 2004. Immigration in Ubon Ratchathani where I live, took over one hour to do the reentry permits in the passport and white book. The application forms were first written and then all the data put into the computer. 

 

We flew out of Don Muang on Air Asia. When I went through departure immigration my PR confused the person there. I was drawn aside and told to wait. My books were carried to another desk and the guy there looked into his computer. Finally after 15 mintues the departure stamps were put into both books and I could go.

 

Coming back on arrivial I had similar problems. I think the young officer at the desk had never seen a PR certificate of residence book before. She took the books to a more senior officer. After carefully looking at both books he asked me "Don't you travel out the country very often these days"? I replied that was correct, but I do a lot of traveling within Thailand. 

 

My wife now wants us to travel more to avoid these small problems again. I often think that with all these special visa being issued, that us PR holders have been forgotten.

[jayboy]

On 2/13/2025 at 2:59 PM, Michael Hare said:

PR holders have been forgotten.

 

We were never a priority.Pleased/grateful to have PR but I doubt whether there are many countries which offer so little for PR status

[rimmae2]

FYI I have departed from and arrived at SVB 3 times in recent weeks.  Each time I haved used the autogates on departure and the non autogates for Thai citizens on arrival.

[scorecard]

On 2/17/2025 at 12:07 PM, jayboy said:

 

We were never a priority.Pleased/grateful to have PR but I doubt whether there are many countries which offer so little for PR status

 

And still no plastic card stating:

'Permanent Resident'

with name in English and

the applicable geographical area on the back of the card changed / adjusted / removed.

[onthemoon]

16 hours ago, rimmae2 said:

FYI I have departed from and arrived at SVB 3 times in recent weeks.  Each time I haved used the autogates on departure and the non autogates for Thai citizens on arrival.

Did you have to register at CW for the auto-gates?

[onthemoon]

15 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

And still no plastic card stating:

'Permanent Resident'

with name in English and

the applicable geographical area on the back of the card changed / adjusted / removed.

 

True. Actually, the ID for PR holders should have another  colour, as pink IDs are associated with migrant workers. Also, foreigners with non-B and without PR can get the pink ID now.

 

And the White Book has no meaning anymore since the introduction of computers at immigration (see auto-gates: no stamp).

And the brownish-red  Police Book has no meaning since the police use computers, and since the pink IDs have been introduced.

These books are just a waste of money. I wonder why they don't just streamline it and do away with those books. They don't even need to be replaced with anything - all data is in the computers already. Priority for PR holders or not, this is government money that can be saved. 

 

Just my idea to help the Thai government.

 

 

 

 

[scorecard]

3 minutes ago, onthemoon said:

 

True. Actually, the ID for PR holders should have another  colour, as pink IDs are associated with migrant workers. Also, foreigners with non-B and without PR can get the pink ID now.

 

And the White Book has no meaning anymore since the introduction of computers at immigration (see auto-gates: no stamp).

And the brownish-red  Police Book has no meaning since the police use computers, and since the pink IDs have been introduced.

These books are just a waste of money. I wonder why they don't just streamline it and do away with those books. They don't even need to be replaced with anything - all data is in the computers already. Priority for PR holders or not, this is government money that can be saved. 

 

Just my idea to help the Thai government.

 

 

 

 

All valid points.

 

The special section of the police (Rama I Road, Bkk) who are involved in the PR applications process also have an up to date list of all PR holders.

[rimmae2]

4 hours ago, onthemoon said:

Did you have to register at CW for the auto-gates?

No.

[onthemoon]

6 hours ago, rimmae2 said:

No.

Thanks.