Anyone in Udon got Naturalized Thai Citizenship

[Neeranam]

I'm the first farang in Khon Kaen to have applied and halfway through the process of getting Thai citizenship. I'm wondering if anyone in Udon Thani is in the process, or has done it already.
If anyone is interested, it pretty straightforward if you are married and have a job paying over 40k a month. Only 5,000 baht to get and a 2/3 year wait.

[GT93]

I thought it was almost impossible. Presumably you can maintain dual citizenships?

[Stantheman]

I thought it was almost impossible. Presumably you can maintain dual citizenships?

Dual citizenship is a very goid question for Naturalized Thai, but I know they allow my 2 granddaughters to have as they were born in U S. so hold that citizenship plus they were issued Thai passport based on both parents being Thai.

[Neeranam]

I thought it was almost impossible. Presumably you can maintain dual citizenships?

It's strange how many people think it is hard. For some reason, people emigrating to Thailand don't look into citizenship like they do in other countries. The reasons I applied are that I want to buy land in my name and tell immigration where to go When I'm old, I certainly would hate to mess around with visas.
Yes, dual citizenship is OK, it's a kinda grey area but all I had to do was get a letter from the UK embassy saying I intend to renounce British citizenship, but they never enforce it.

[newtovillagelife]

I am assuming you can also read, write and speak Thai, or is that not necessary, and if so, that is quite a challenge for most of us.

[pal52]

I was told by someone who seriously looked into the test for Naturalized Thai Citizenship it was not easy.
He was quite fluent in spoken Thai but not confident in written Thai.

One of the tests is they give you is a copy of the Thai local /or National newspapers which was printed that day.
Then you must translate it into English accurately.

I suppose it is like the UK test.
Which you can check on websites where you have to show a proficiency in English.

By the way I personally failed the test for UK Citizenship only marginally.

It was ridiculous probably the same as the Thai test only you have to do it on the latest daily news.

[lovetheDuc]

Get back to us in ten years and let us know how you went.

[Brian Davis]

There's Thai citizenship and also Permanent Residency, information about on both if one wants to research and it seems some applicants weigh up the pros and cons of both. I distinctly remember reading an article from a guy who went through one of the processes - it might even have been in Udon Map, the magazine? It seems there is research done on you, so no mileage in me applying . In honesty, it would also partly seem like going over to the opposition, following what I've said about some Thai people and things.

[FrazeeDK]

Thai Immigration's website info on attaining permanent residency http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/2notic ... ail_en.pdf

the fees are a bit hefty..
5.1 A non-refundable fee for each application is 7,600 baht. (whether permission is granted or not. Application fee is not refund able.)
5.2 If the application is approved, the fee for the residence permit is 191,400 baht. However, the residence permit fee for spouses and
children (under 20 years of age) of aliens who already had the residence permit or Thai citizens is 95,700 baht.

[Laan Yaa Mo]

In other words, it is like paying sinsod. However, once you are Thai the chances of being re-born as a human and avoiding becoming a rat, frog or flea are increased.

[bkkaussie]

Indeed, it isn't as hard as people make it out to be. The normal turn around time is about three years or so. It is particularly more straight forward if you are married to a Thai national. Here is a good article which sets it out for you step by step in a manner which should take away much of the mystery of applying for Thai nationality:

http://www.thaicitizenship.com/thai-cit ... ai-spouse/

[Neeranam]

Get back to us in ten years and let us know how you went.

No need to wait 10 years. It took me 3 years, got it last year.

[bluejets]

I think the point was, wait for it to sink in and any "seemed like a good idea at the time" moments to arrive.

[tamada]

The OP is unlikely to be called up for service so if he doesn't have to renounce his birth citizenship, I honestly can't see any downside.