Residence certificate

[DUS]

Good morning from Europe!

I honestly hesitated to open this thread because I wouldn´t be surprised to get blamed for being either too lazy or too stupid (or both) to use the search function. But even after reading some of the various threads on TV and other sources on the internet, I am still a bit unsure if I could get a resident certificate or not. So, here´s my situation:

I will arrive in TH on a METV next week. My intention is to stay for a few years but we´ll see about that. Anyway, I am renting the condo of a friend. For my application for the METV she send me a letter saying that I will be staying at her apartment from 11 May 2016 onwards. This was to satisfy the consulate´s request for a hotel booking. My questions are:

1/ Can I use this one-pager/letter as my proof of address, which, as far as I understand it, I need when applying for a residence certificate? It is not a detailed "rental contract" just a letter from the owner confirming that I stay at this place. It also lists my full name and my passport number.

2/ Equally important and more fundamental is this question: Can resident certificates be issued for someone who is on a TR and not on a Non-O visa?

When starting to read up on the general topic of obtaining a residence certificate, I also read a few comments about going to your Embassy. What is this about? What could my embassy do for me in terms of my "residence certficate"?

Lastly, if I wanted to apply for a Thai driving license (I currently hold a German DL), can this be done on a TR visa? I think this formally requires a Non-O or B visa but what is your experience with it on the ground? Is there a "decent" chance of getting a Thai license even if I only have a METV?

I would be grateful for your thoughts and comments on the above questions. Cheers!

DUS

[elviajero]

• Unfortunately there is no definitive answer to your questions. Each immigration office and DLT will have their own rules/requirements so it's best that you ask at your local offices.

I doubt a letter from the owner would be accepted.

If you can't get a certificate from Immigration you could try the local Amphur. The owner of the property would need to go with you.

It is possible, depending on the DLT office, to get a DL with a TR/METV.

[BobTH]

Typically most immigration offices here require that you have done at least one 90 day report before they will issue you a residence certificate but they are a lot less expensive there than most embassies. Around 300 baht at immigration compared to 1,756 baht at my embassy.

[ukrules]

Considering you won't be in the country for more than 90 days at a time due to the METV you might have problems getting any kind of driving license because you don't really need one.

An international driving license is good for multiple stays of up to 90 days each - you will definitely need to get one of these international driving permits just in case you have a problem getting a proper local license - this is essential. Don't come without it because it's too late to get one when you're already here !

They do appear to make up the rules as they go along so what one DLT (Department of Land Transport) says possibly won't apply at another.

I have heard of people getting diving licenses and renewing them based on their foreign license while here as tourists but most are on some kind of other visa like 50+ retirement type visa, Ed visa or Thailand Elite visa.

I got my first driving license while I was on an Ed visa a few years ago.

Edit : There are various different types of 'certificates of residence'. I've had different 'certificates' for car purchase, driving license and opening a bank account. All different of course and I needed to pay for each one of them separately.

[overherebc]

Considering you won't be in the country for more than 90 days at a time due to the METV you might have problems getting any kind of driving license because you don't really need one.

An international driving license is good for multiple stays of up to 90 days each - you will definitely need to get one of these international driving permits just in case you have a problem getting a proper local license - this is essential. Don't come without it because it's too late to get one when you're already here !

They do appear to make up the rules as they go along so what one DLT (Department of Land Transport) says possibly won't apply at another.

I have heard of people getting diving licenses and renewing them based on their foreign license while here as tourists but most are on some kind of other visa like 50+ retirement type visa, Ed visa or Thailand Elite visa.

I got my first driving license while I was on an Ed visa a few years ago.

Rayong DLT are asking for WP or Res'Cert' so fairly sure they won't accept anything else.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

"An international driving license is good for multiple stays of up to 90 days each - you will definitely need to get one of these international driving permits just in case you have a problem getting a proper local license - this is essential. Don't come without it because it's too late to get one when you're already here !"

I don't know about UK or FRG automobile association rules for issuing an IDP, but at least in the U.S., Oregon in my case, I've been renewing my Oregon AAA IDP for 20 years via mail from here. Just need a current Oregon license to do so.

Mac

[JayBird]

In Bangkok:

Can not get a residence permit, without doing a 90-day report. You can't do a 90-day report with only a tourist visa as the longest you can stay is 90 days. This is what was explained to me when I tried

You CAN get a document from your Embassy saying that you live in Thailand (show your condo lease). You can then use this document do get a driver's license. The one I got from my embassy even had a special check-box for 'get driver's license, buy car, sell car'.

I believe (if this document can be trusted) that this can be used to get a driver's license. I have not done so yet but plan to do so in the nearish future.

[DUS]

You CAN get a document from your Embassy saying that you live in Thailand (show your condo lease). You can then use this document do get a driver's license. The one I got from my embassy even had a special check-box for 'get driver's license, buy car, sell car'.

Hi,

Would the letter I mentioned in my first post satisfy the embassy as I don´t have a formal rental agreement / condo lease?

DUS

[BobTH]

You CAN get a document from your Embassy saying that you live in Thailand (show your condo lease). You can then use this document do get a driver's license. The one I got from my embassy even had a special check-box for 'get driver's license, buy car, sell car'.

Hi,

Would the letter I mentioned in my first post satisfy the embassy as I don´t have a formal rental agreement / condo lease?

DUS

When I got mine from the embassy they didn't ask for a receipt or anything, although I took a rental and a couple utility receipts with me, that was the US Embassy a couple of years ago. I had to fill out a form that they gave me then raise my hand and answer yes to the fact that I gave them true information. If your friend is going to give you a rental receipt that has your name on it, I would think that would be good to take also or probably even better but take the letter also. You will find it is best to take more than you might need here just to be safe. Here is the immigration form that is used, but I had it filled out and my embassy had their own form that I had to fill out and the other one was not needed there or used.

res_cert.pdf

[BobTH]

"An international driving license is good for multiple stays of up to 90 days each - you will definitely need to get one of these international driving permits just in case you have a problem getting a proper local license - this is essential. Don't come without it because it's too late to get one when you're already here !"

I don't know about UK or FRG automobile association rules for issuing an IDP, but at least in the U.S., Oregon in my case, I've been renewing my Oregon AAA IDP for 20 years via mail from here. Just need a current Oregon license to do so.

Mac

When I moved here I let my valid US drivers license expire which was a mistake because it happened before I got my Thai license. I had to take the both the practical and written tests to get one here. I then tried to get a new one in the US and was told that I had to be a resident of the state that I wanted to apply for it in. Since I am not a resident there anymore someone said to just use my parents address, but after thinking about it I thought what if I get called for jury duty, or what if they say why aren't you paying state taxes if you are a resident, or what about Obama Care, if you are a resident of the US you have to have it. What may I ask are your thoughts on this?

[andy9469]

A residence certificate can be issued on a tourist visa but always depends on the immigration and the officer in charge. Therefore you should have mentioned where you are renting the Condo.

When arriving in Thailand you should file form TM30 to notify the immigration about your address. Maybe this helps to get the residence certificate. Otherwise you could stay in a hotel for one night and use the bill to get the residence certificate. You can probably get a residence certificate from the German embassy easily but expensive. You could also try the local amphoe to get a residence certificate.

A Thai driving license can be issued on a tourist visa but will be valid only for one year. Your first Thai driving license is only valid for one year anyway.

Recently a friend of mine had to pay a fine because he was using his German driving license and not the international driving license.

Maybe you get the first the international driving license in Germany. I think it costs about 30 Euros and is valid for 3 years.

[JayBird]

You CAN get a document from your Embassy saying that you live in Thailand (show your condo lease). You can then use this document do get a driver's license. The one I got from my embassy even had a special check-box for 'get driver's license, buy car, sell car'.

Hi,

Would the letter I mentioned in my first post satisfy the embassy as I don´t have a formal rental agreement / condo lease?

DUS

It might (I would suggest you ask your embassy for specific rules). They did not confirm my condo contract so it could have been 'faked' and accepted, so I don't see a reason to not accept yours.

The document from my embassy is an Affidavit, so you are honour bound to tell the truth and take a solemn oath.

[andytyl]

If you are a Malaysian it will be dead simple. The embassy staff jus request a freestyle handwritten letter on why I require residence certificate, a photocopy of my passport and identify card. In 2hours i had my certificate cost 600baht for 2copies.