Hi all I need a little help how and where can I get a resident permit in Surat Thani. I'm using a tourist visa at the moment but I will will staying for around 6 months so I will need to buy a car to get around.

I think you want a certificate of residence.

You may be able to get one at immigration office in Surat Thani. Not sure what their policy is for doing them for those on tourist visas.

If not at immigration you can get one from your embassy.

Most immigration offices charge around 300 Baht per certificate of residence but the cost varies between 0 and 500 Baht.

You may be asked for proof of residence such as rental agreement or, in the case of Sri Racha, a copy of the landlord's I.D. card.

It's a letter of residence. It is a free service.

If you pay anything for it you are paying a bribe.

It's a letter of residence. It is a free service.

If you pay anything for it you are paying a bribe.

I don't know if that statement is exactly correct. I recently paid I believe 200 baht at the main Division 1 immigration office here in Bangkok and to my knowledge it was a service fee and not a bribe. Also I believe you have to have done at least one 90 day report before they will issue them at least at Division 1.

It may well be a free service but the Immigration Office is also free to decline to do it. As I said and BobTH said, there is usually an administration fee. This is usually 200 or 300 Baht but varies.

How about the 2500 Baht the British Embassy charges for the same service? Is that too a bribe but of 10 times the magnitude? I think you should be sending some furious letters to David Cameron, Ferguston. This is a travesty by your reasoning.

Edited January 8, 201511 yr by Briggsy