Drew Noyes Holds Seminar of How to Obtain a Thai Permanent Residency Visa

On Sunday Pattaya City Expats Club Master of Ceremonies (Emcee) Les Edmonds welcomed everyone to the regular Sunday meeting of the Club. After the usual announcements, he introduced the guest speaker Drew Noyes. Drew, in addition to being a member and former founding Chairman of the Club, is also a well known businessman in Pattaya.

More than 145 people attended the seminar which was the largest group ever to come to listen to a speaker except when Drew Noyes of PAPPA Co., Ltd. Spoke in October about how to buy property legally in Thailand.  At that meeting 151 foreigners came to listen to Drew Noyes. 

For 12 years Drew Noyes has been the Managing Director of PAPPA Legal & Visa Services and is one of the owners and the manager of Pattaya Times Media Group. Drew is very knowledgeable on many aspects of living in Thailand that impact on foreigners and has spoken to the Club on numerous occasions on various subjects of interest. 

Drew wanted to discuss becoming a Thai Permanent Resident including the costs, benefits, and requirements. Drew said that most would be surprised at how easy it can be.
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->

As with many things in Thailand, one gets different answers from Government officials. Drew and his PAPPA Co., Ltd. staff made several inquiries with the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok that oversees the process as well as with others knowledgeable about the process. Based on the law, published regulations in the Government Gazette, guidelines, and the results of their inquiries, he believes that the information he will be sharing is as complete and accurate as it can be.

Drew Noyes said that the law that governs Permanent Residency in Thailand is the Immigration Act of 2522. The Thai Immigration Act of 2522 empowers the Immigration Commission to set the requirements for application and approval of Residency.

The PAPPA Co., Ltd. boss listed the members of this Commission noting that they were all high ranking Government officials, including the Under Secretary of the Minister of the Interior, Under Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director General of the Police Department, Secretary General of the National Security Council, and the Commander of the Immigration Division. 

<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->

Drew further explained that the number is limited to 100 persons per year from each foreign country. The application period is open during a period in December and that the initial application fee is 7,600 Baht. The current application period ends December 31. 

<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->

Before you can apply, you must have been permitted to stay in Thailand for three consecutive years up to the time of application. Drew Noyes said that so long as your permission to stay is consecutive, it does not matter that you may have left Thailand to visit your home country or other countries during the three year period.
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->

However, although applications have been received since the 2006 coup, the Government has not awarded Permanent Residency to anyone during that period. When they do, he said it will not be a first in first out approval basis. Instead, all applicants will be reviewed together and those aliens considered most desirable, will be approved. He went on to say that although none have been approved for the past two years, those that have December 4, 2009 to December 10, 2009 applied do have a benefit.

This is because the law allows a person under consideration a stay in Thailand of 180 days. If the application has not been approved at the end of that period, they will be granted another 180 days and so on until action is taken on their application.

So, no filling out the paperwork for extensions of stay each year or paying the 1,900 Baht each year for the extension so long as the application is pending. One requirement is that applicants must speak Thai. Drew said that this should not scare people off.

The test for this ability is quite easy. Based on his discussions with people who have gone through the process, they were not required to be fluent.

In most cases it was the ability to understand some basic Thai such as “What is your name?” “Where are you from?”  “Where do you live?” In other words, Drew said the officials wanted to know that the applicant had made some effort to understand the language and culture of Thailand.

Drew Noyes then described the qualifications to become a Permanent Resident. These qualifications relate to certain categories such as an investment in Thailand of 10 million Baht, being related to or supporting a Thai national, or being an expert in a an internationally recognized field. Drew said that although one might be a professional in their own country, to qualify as an expert they must have practiced their profession in Thailand.

Drew listed the various forms that are required to accompany the application including information and documents to show income and assets. They also require criminal background checks in Thailand and the applicant’s home country. The applicant must also provide their fingerprints, which are checked against Thai criminal records.

Once the application is approved, the fee if you are married to Thai citizen or you are used to be married and have children or you are the spouse of someone already granted Permanent Residency you will pay the fee 95,700 baht. Otherwise the additional fee upon approval is 191,400 baht.  

Drew then cited some of the benefits of being a Thai Permanent Resident. There is no annual application for extension of stay in the Kingdom. There is no requirement for 90 day reporting of residence. The Land Office does not require proof of money coming from outside Thailand when purchasing a condominium. A Permanent Resident has the right to be listed in a Thai House Book, which can be beneficial if applying for credit from Thai banks. Although the Permanent Residency is limited to five years, most people apply for Thai citizenship. Drew Noyes of PAPPA Co., Ltd. said that once you have been a Permanent Resident for three years; you are eligible to apply for Thai citizenship.