Hello. My son is on a 1 year multi-entry ed visa. He wants to get a visa to go to Bulgaria in January. The Bulgarian embassy said that he can get the visa in Hanoi (rather than in his home country, the USA) by showing that he has a "resident card in Thailand" as proof that he is living in Thailand this year. From what I've read elsewhere, you need to live in the Kingdom for 3 years to get a resident card. Am I correct? Is there some other form of resident card in Thailand for foreigners living in Thailand for 1 year to attend university? He has been in Thailand since July.

Thank you!

Edited October 18, 201411 yr by ubonjoe
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It's impossible for your son to obtain a Thai ID card, or permanent residence status. So either the embassy is satisfied with alternative documents, or he will have to obtain a visa somewhere else.

You will just have to talk to them again to see if they will accept a visa for Thailand in lieu of residency.

In some countries having residency is equal to a one year visa.

Thailand only has permanent residency an it takes many years to get and even then there is no resident card issued.

How about a certificate of residency from thai immigration. He has a long term visa.

As he has a Passport of the USA he can enter the Schengen Area without a Visa. Bulgaria is in the Schengen Area since end of 2012. I might be mistaken, but he should be able to visit Bulgaria without a Visa for a period of 3 month.

Bulgaria is, as far as I know, not yet part of the Schengen area.

http://www.euractiv.com/justice/bulgaria-admits-schengen-accessi-news-532883

I think the OP's son wants a visa to continue study in Bulgaria after Thailand.

Bulgaria is, as far as I know, not yet part of the Schengen area.

http://www.euractiv.com/justice/bulgaria-admits-schengen-accessi-news-532883

You are right. They are not a full member yet, but they are bound by it. That means still passport control but, as far as I understood, no extra visa.

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How about a certificate of residency from thai immigration. He has a long term visa.

For the OP. This is meaning more like a letter issued at a certain date, usually for the purpose of proof of actual full address / proof of actual place of living in Thailand.

Why? In many scenarios in Thailand, official documents, application for a credit card and many more broad situations you must prove your ID and you must prove your actual full address. Non Thai people have to do the same, so in some cases the Thai immigration offices issue this so called 'certificate of residency', but in reality it's a letter.

It is not a visa or anything like that.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

How about a certificate of residency from thai immigration. He has a long term visa.

For the OP. This is meaning more like a letter issued at a certain date, usually for the purpose of proof of actual full address / proof of actual place of living in Thailand.

Why? In many scenarios in Thailand, official documents, application for a credit card and many more broad situations you must prove your ID and you must prove your actual full address. Non Thai people have to do the same, so in some cases the Thai immigration offices issue this so called 'certificate of residency', but in reality it's a letter.

It is not a visa or anything like that.

Thank you, and thanks everyone!