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How to Obtain Thai Citizenship: Requirements, Documents, Application Process

How to become a Thai citizen is a question I'm regularly asked. People with plans for retirement wonder if they might be awarded citizenship after a number of years living in Thailand, and what the process is to achieve this status.

The reality is that it's not an easy process, and one most expats give up on once they see the requirements.

However, if you're willing to jump through the hoops, Thai citizenship comes with the perks of being able to buy property, own any type of business, and apply for any kind of job. Not to mention fast tracking through the airport in the “Thai” queue.

If you have your heart set on “being Thai”, here's exactly what you need to do to become a naturalized Thai citizen.

Thai Citizenship Requirements

You can apply for Thai Citizenship if you meet the following requirements:

  • You must be at least 18 years old.
  • You must have lived in Thailand as a Permanent Resident for at least five years. Or, if you are a male married to a Thai female national, you don't need PR but do need to have had 3 consecutive visa extensions on the same visa.
  • You must have a clean criminal record and no history of trouble with the police.
  • You must be employed in Thailand.
  • You must be able to speak and write Thai.
  • You must be able to sing the Thai National Anthem.
  • You must score at least 50 points (out of 100) on the Points Based System.

*  Note that some of these things will not be required if you fall into one of the following categories:

  • You are the spouse or child of someone who obtained Thai Citizenship through naturalization
  • You are the husband of a Thai wife
  • You at one time held Thai citizenship
  • You have performed a duty that has been of major benefit to Thailand
  • If you fall into one these categories, you may be able to obtain Thai Citizenship after three years living on visa extensions, and without having obtained Permanent Residency (PR).

Thai Citizenship Scoring Criteria

In the requirements above I mentioned the points-based system. This is designed to assess how suited you are to receiving Thai Citizenship. The criteria covers age, education, income and even personality, would you believe.

  • Age: If you are aged 40-50 years old you will receive the maximum number of points in this category.
  • Education: Ph.D. holders will receive the maximum points in this category.
  • Monthly income (money talks, as always).
  • The type and duration of residence: maximum points will be earned by those who have been a resident for a long time and have a House Registration Book.
  • Your level of knowledge of the Thai language.
  • Your knowledge of Thailand.
  • Personality: The officers  handling your application will assess how you act, dress, and talk. (Don't walk in wearing a pair of Speedo trunks and sipping on a Chang Beer:)

What Documents Are Required?

The officers at the Police Headquarters where you apply will provide you with a checklist. This may have some additional documentation I haven't listed here because, as always, these things are subject to change.

  1. Copies of your passport.
  2. Certificate of legal age, certified by your embassy and translated into Thai.
  3. 5 copies of your Residence Certificate.
  4. 5 copies of your Alien Book.
  5. 5 copies of the House Registration.
  6. 5 copies of your Work Permit.
  7. Evidence of education for the applicant and any children: overseas degrees/certificates must be certified by the relevant authority in the home country.
  8. Letter confirming employment: should include your position, length of time employed, and salary information.
  9. 12 pictures (2 x2.5 inches) of you dressed in a suit with necktie. Females must be dressed politely.
  10. Proof of personal income tax return for the previous 3 years.
  11. Proof of employment or proof of company ownership.
  12. Proof of corporate tax return for the previous 3 years.
  13. If married 5 copies of the marriage certificate (Kor Ror 2 and Kor Ror 3).
  14. If you married overseas you will need Kor Ror 22 from your local district office. This is a recognition of your foreign marriage.
  15. If you have children, 1 copy of the child(s) birth certificate. If there has been a name change then you must provide copies of the documents relating to that.
  16. 2 copies of the personal ID card or Alien book of the married partner.
  17. Proof of money in the bank by way of a bank certificate: not less than 80,000 Baht.
  18. Proof of a donation to charity of not less than 5,000 Baht. This should have been done some time ago and not just recently for the sake of the application.
  19. Copies of the identity cards of two Thai citizens (your guarantors). These persons must not be relatives.
  20. A letter showing your intent to renounce your foreign citizenship (if this needs to be the case).

Additional documents may be asked for at any time during the application process.

How to Submit Your Thai Citizenship Application

The application is made at a Special Division of the Police Headquarters, either in Bangkok or your home province.

If everything is in order, your application will be accepted and you will have your fingerprints taken. You will then pay the fee.

You will be given an appointment to visit the Ministry of Interior to attend an interview conducted in Thai. If you pass, you will be asked to come back again and sing the National Anthem.

At some point during the application process, immigration officers will come to your home to ascertain that the details you have provided are correct.

You will also have to take the Citizenship Oath at the Police Headquarters, for which you need to appear smartly dressed and holding a candle, flowers and incense (I'm not kidding). You will have to swear allegiance to the King and Thailand.

Once this is all done, you will have to wait for the result of your application from the Ministry of the Interior.

How Long Does it Take to Obtain Thai Citizenship?

The application processing time takes 6-12 months from the date you submit your documentation. This is not set in stone, though, as a number of things pertaining to your application could delay this process.

Can I Have Dual Citizenship?

Yes. You don't need to renounce your home country citizenship and go full Thai. You can become a dual national and hold two passports. That said, before applying, do check with your home country if you are allowed to hold dual citizenship.

How Much Does the Thai Citizenship Application Process Cost?

When you consider the cost of obtaining US or British Citizenship, which runs into thousands of Dollars/Pounds, the cost of Thai Citizenship is very reasonable:

  • 10,000 Baht for applicants who are 18+
  • 5,000 Baht for the children of applicants (per child)
  • 1,000 Baht for the Certificate of Naturalization

In Summary

Having read this, I'm sure you can now understand why very few expats end up obtaining Thai Citizenship. It's a long route with a number of hoops to jump through.

Some people find aspects of the process to be a tad unnecessary, while others might argue that it's a good barrier to entry and ensures those who apply are serious about their intent to be upstanding citizens.

Have you been through the process to get Thai Citizenship? Or are you thinking of doing it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.



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  3. John says

    If I was a war refugee born in Thailand and now living in the US may I apply for dual Thai citizenship? I am not Thai descent and neither of my parents. The only proof I have is my US naturalization certificate declaring my birthplace to be Thailand.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Based I what I know, I don't think so. Were you adopted in Thailand by a Thai family? Or was one of your adoptive parents Thai, or had/has Thai citizenship? Children born in Thailand are only able to obtain Thai nationality if one of the parents is Thai.
      Reply

      • John says

        Thank you so much this really helps. I was born a "stateless child" as my origin is one of the hill tribes called the Hmong. My family was granted asylum to the US in the late 1970's due to the Vietnam war fallout. I was not adopted nor do I have any Thai blood or ancestry that I am aware of. With the economic turmoil on the horizon here in the US, I am leaning heavily towards moving back to Thailand to live out the rest of my life. One of my parents is deceased and the other is too old and can barely speak any English nor Thai, just our native Hmong dialect. I have no other documentation aside from my US citizenship naturatilization certificate for country of birth. Would you know if the Thai government would accept American federal documentation? I already have my US citizenship but would like to have dual Thai citizenship as well for possible relocation.
        Reply

        • TheThailandLife says

          You may have a case but you would need to prove you were born in Thailand. Do you still have family living there? You would need some legal advice on this, as it is quite a unique case. Perhaps drop an email to Siam Legal and see what they advise. Failing this, you could always get a retirement visa, if you are over 50.
          Reply

          • John says

            Thank you again. It's at least assuring that there is a possibility that I may have a case to obtain Thai citizenship, even if it is slim at best. I will first reach out to the Thai Embassy in Los Angeles first to find what my options are as well as to Siam Legal. My entire family migrated to the US. I only have distant relatives, whom I don't know and have no way of contacting, probably living in the hills and mountain villages of Thailand. As far as documentation goes I only have my US citizen naturalization stating Thailand as my country of birth. And possibly some old pictures of me as a baby in a Thai refugee camp. But I know photos cannot be accepted as proof. There are many tens, if not hundreds of thousands of other "stateless children" who were also born in Thailand who made their way to other countries through asylum. But the majority of them are not looking to return to Thailand as a citizen. I'm close to age 50 but not quite there yet. Retirement visa sounds great at least there is that option. However, I'd like to buy property, start a business, and raise my future children with full rights as Thai citizens if possible.
            Reply

  4. Robin Virant says

    PR for 17 yrs, would like to know if I can get some leniency on the language. I'm deaf (80%) and can't sing well.
    I can speak rudimentary Thai but only my family really listen and understand me well.
    Worked here for 8 yrs but been retired for over 8 yrs now.
    On a good Vets pension from Australian Defence.
    Reply

  5. Somphone Xayaosa says

    I was born in Thailand. My mom is Laos and dad is Thai. We left Thailand in 1983 to come to USA.
    I have gone to Thailand several times, and I love it. I am an American citizen.
    Can I also get a dual citizenship in Thailand.
    And are the requirements the same?
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Somphone, yes, you can get citizenship. Any person who is a child of a mother or a father who possesses Thai nationality is a Thai national at birth under Section 7 of the Thailand Nationality Act. However, you were born before 1992, so you won't have it automatically and will need to apply. The process in this post is mainly focussed on foreigners living in Thailand getting citizenship. In your case it will be easier. Contact your local Thai embassy to find out exactly what's required.
      Reply

    • Jim says

      Yes you can. You will need to prove a biological connection to one of your parents who holds Thai citizenship.. You should also be able to spell your name in Thai and you need to register with a house or family in Thailand. My daughter applied when she was 24 and aside from the hassle of getting it done during Covid it was not terribly difficult.
      Reply

  6. Carol yong says

    I just to know i live in brunei looking for a country to migrate. I m canadian citizen and family husband 3 sons two daughter in-law. Which is the eaiest way to live in thailand for good. By bussiness if is eaiest.
    We do not want to be forced to vacine like here
    If we enter with negative test and quarantine when arive thailand
    .we planing not now but see where we are going for good.tqvm
    Reply

  7. Thomas Lekhal says

    Thx for publishing this article.

    I'm a bit confused by the 2nd bullet point: 'You must have lived in Thailand as a PR for at least 5 years on the same type of visa that you have at the time of application'.

    Could you please help clarify?

    I hold PR and therefore I don't have a Visa anymore, my B extension was cancelled after I received my PR book. I went to the Police naturalization desk near Siam, and they didn't mention this requirement either...
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      I have amended that sentence, as it some how got confused with the requirement for those going down the marriage route: You must have lived in Thailand as a Permanent Resident for at least five years. Or, if you are a male foreign national married to a Thai female national, you don't need PR but do need to have had three consecutive visa extensions on the same visa. My apologies. Bad editing.
      Reply

  8. Maria says

    Hello there I'm Maria
    For Myanmar and i leave in Thailand
    And i lives with my boyfriend and i get baby girl now she's 9 years old but my boyfriend is more 😥
    And my daughter she get Thai national id card already
    And if i apply for Thai ID i have chance to get or not
    Thank you for advice 😃
    Reply

    • Jim says

      Hi Maria,
      If you want Thai citizenship for your daughter they will likely require one of the parents to hold Thai citizenship already and you will need a DNA test to prove your daughter is related to the Thai citizen. I understand Thai citizenship is now offered for farangs (non thai) but there is a quite a few years of residency requirement for this. Also, you need to register with a house, preferably - maybe necessary a Thai citizen. My father in law vouched for our daughter (his grand daughter) and registered with his household. Chok Dee!
      Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Her daughter already has citizenship and is eligible for a passport. Maria, the pathway to citizenship for foreign nationals is quite long. I hope you can understand the details in my article, but if not perhaps you can find someone to help in your native language. The good news is that you will be able to get a visa to stay in Thailand because you have a Thai daughter
      Reply

  9. Jim says

    We recently obtained Thai citizenship for our daughter. She is 24. We should have done it sooner but the US did not allow dual citizanship then. They do now. My wife is a dual citizen - (Thai American). The process in Thailand took 6 days!. But we had worked with the consulate in Los Angeles for some time to be sure we had all the documents. Bring plenty of document copies and if necessary notarized copies with approved translations. Normally there is an interview (in Thai) my daughter speaks some Thai and she can write her name in Thai (a requirement). The advice about dress and manners are very important. You must be courteous and respectful of the Thai authorities or you are done. In Thailand you must be registered to an address. My father in law was with us and provided proof (besides the DNA testing) that this was his granddaughter and she would be registered in his house. This is a little different than expat citizenship but there are parallels. If you want Thai citizenship there are plenty of hoops to jump through, but if you are patient and have your ducks in order it will happen. We can now pass on my wife's property inheritance to our daughter.
    Reply

    • Patrick says

      Well, that seems to be a bit different/easier situation. Because, by Thai law, your daughter is Thai through the mother. It just never was paperworked. Still, they make sure to cover you in copies of copies legalized this that such so.
      Reply

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