Thai Language Requirement

[tracker]

Hi,

I'm 6.5 years in thailand, married to a thai and worked 95% of the time. Now still employed.

I want to apply for thai citizenship and found out I need thai language skills. I recently started to learn this (read/write/speak). I read that process time for citizenship can run up to 3 years.

Does anybody know how long it takes, after applying, before the language test is taken?

In other words, Must I wait until I fully command the thai language before applying? Or could I save time starting the application now and wait (maybe a couple of months) before the test is taken...

Since I have decided to stay in thailand for the rest of my life, I want to take thai citizenship. I guess there would be no need for going through permenant residency, since the cost are very high, and it delays my citizenship application... As far as I understand it is not necessary to go through p.r. if you want citizenship. Right or wrong?

T.

[simon43]

AFAIK, the chances of obtaining Thai citizenship are remote if you have not obtained PR first - although I don't think this is written down anywhere in the rules.

What I cannot understand is that you say you lived in Thailand for 6.5 years with your Thai wife and have just started to learn to speak/read/write Thai. Why?

Is that purely because you need to learn it for PR/citizenship?

Simon

[sbk]

If you are a woman married to a Thai man PR is not necessary, but if you are a man then it is.

There is a page here on Thaivisa listing the requirments for citizenship.

Also, if you do a search in this forum you will find several topics discussing requirements for citizenship.

[tracker]

Simon, I do speak a little thai... good for survival. Over the time, I reached the decision to stay forever. As I do not wish to be dependent on translators whole my life and experience the pittfalls which might hide in not knowing the language, i want to read, write as well (contracts etc.).

Now I want to complete command of the language, citizenship or not.

sbk, I'm a man. I cannot find on that page from thaivisa on citizenship that a man must have pr first....

I did the search, and read a bunch of topics.

thanks for the replies.

t.

[samran]

If you haven't already, I hightly recommend you reading this article by one of our members who has outlined the process for becoming a PR:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=74654

As to becoming a citizen, I know someone who has been waiting more than 8 years for his application to be approved. It is soley within the discression on the Minister of Interior I belive to personally approve applications. Not that it is impossible either, as I personally know at least three naturalised Thai citizens.

If you are looking for long term stabilty in Thailand, then PR is the first and most realistic step. It may or may not be a requisite for citizenship, but it is the most likely avenue for you to remain permanently here for the time being.

[geoffphuket]

If you haven't already, I hightly recommend you reading this article by one of our members who has outlined the process for becoming a PR:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=74654

As to becoming a citizen, I know someone who has been waiting more than 8 years for his application to be approved. It is soley within the discression on the Minister of Interior I belive to personally approve applications. Not that it is impossible either, as I personally know at least three naturalised Thai citizens.

If you are looking for long term stabilty in Thailand, then PR is the first and most realistic step. It may or may not be a requisite for citizenship, but it is the most likely avenue for you to remain permanently here for the time being.

Sorry Samran, but I couldn't help myself laughing at that line

[samran]

If you haven't already, I hightly recommend you reading this article by one of our members who has outlined the process for becoming a PR:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=74654

As to becoming a citizen, I know someone who has been waiting more than 8 years for his application to be approved. It is soley within the discression on the Minister of Interior I belive to personally approve applications. Not that it is impossible either, as I personally know at least three naturalised Thai citizens.

If you are looking for long term stabilty in Thailand, then PR is the first and most realistic step. It may or may not be a requisite for citizenship, but it is the most likely avenue for you to remain permanently here for the time being.

Sorry Samran, but I couldn't help myself laughing at that line

mate, if you think thats bad, I'll give you a peek at my meeting notes sometime. Notes that people actually rely on to make commercial decisions........