Thailand Immigration Requirements and Settling in Thailand
Thailand Immigration Requirements and Settling in Thailand
Thailand does not receive many international migrants, in line with a policy of promoting more balanced regional development that it has been pursuing since 2002.
According to 2020 UNESCAP data, Thailand's population is 69.8 million, and immigrants make up about 7% of the population. According to Worldbank data, Thailand received 97,222 immigrants in 2017, and according to 2017 UNDESA data, there are about 4.5 million immigrants in Thailand. The Thai immigration rate is calculated as -0.03 per 1000 people.
The countries that Thailand receives the most immigrants from are Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Vietnam and Myanmar. The most preferred regions by those who want to settle in Thailand are the Bangkok Metropolis and the Central region.
What are the Thailand Immigration Requirements?
Thailand immigration requirements are listed below.
- A valid reason must be present when applying for a long-term Thailand visa, such as work, education, family reunification, marriage or retirement.
- A valid passport is required.
- There must be no criminal elements in the criminal record.
- There should be no threat to society.
- It is necessary to have sufficient financial resources to support one's living in Thailand.
What Visas Are Available to Settle in Thailand?
Visas that can be obtained to settle in Thailand are listed below.
- Thailand work visa
- Thailand retirement visa
- Thailand family reunification visa
- Thailand marriage visa
- Thailand student visa
- Thailand elite visa
How to Apply for Immigration to Thailand for Work Purposes?
In order to apply for immigration to Thailand for work purposes, you must first apply for a work visa.
To obtain a Thailand work visa; applicants must find a suitable job in Thailand, apply for it, and after their application is accepted, apply for a work visa at the Thai Embassy in Ankara.
A Thailand work visa allows people who are going to Thailand for work purposes to enter the country, but after going to Thailand with a work visa, the applicant or their employer must apply for a Thailand work permit. After obtaining a Thailand work permit, foreigners can start working in Thailand.
How to Apply for Thailand Immigration Through Retirement?
To apply for Thailand immigration through retirement; people who are over 50 years of age, have sufficient financial resources and meet the general immigration requirements must apply for a retirement visa at the Thai Embassy in Ankara.
If the Thai Embassy approves the retirement visa application, it is possible to immigrate to Thailand through retirement.
How to Apply for Thailand Immigration through Family Reunification?
To apply for Thai immigration through family reunification, the applicant's spouse or parent must be a Thai citizen or a foreign national living, working, retired or studying in Thailand.
People who meet the general visa criteria and the family reunification condition can apply for a Thailand family reunification visa in person or through accredited agencies at the Thai Embassy in Ankara and, if approved, can go to Thailand as immigrants.
How to Apply for Immigration to Thailand Through Marriage?
To apply for immigration to Thailand through marriage, the applicant's spouse must be a Thai citizen or a foreign national living, working, retired or studying in Thailand.
People who meet the general visa criteria and the spouse condition can apply for a Thailand marriage visa in person or through accredited agencies at the Thai Embassy in Ankara and, if approved, can immigrate to Thailand.
How to Immigrate to Thailand for Education Purposes?
To immigrate to Thailand for education purposes, a student visa application must be made to the Thai Embassy in Ankara. Those who will go to Thailand as immigrants with a student visa must have an acceptance letter from the institution where they will receive education.
Those who apply for a Thailand student visa by receiving an acceptance letter and get approved can go to Thailand as immigrants and receive education.
How to Immigrate to Thailand with Elite Card?
The Thailand Elite card is a type of visa introduced by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in 2003, aimed at attracting wealthy visitors, businessmen and investors to stay in Thailand for the long term. Applications for the Thailand elite visa must be made to the Thai Embassy in Ankara.
People who will immigrate to Thailand by obtaining an elite visa can have a residence permit in Thailand for 5, 10 or 20 years, depending on the membership package they purchase, and people who have a Thai elite visa can go to Thailand as immigrants.
What are the Required Documents for Thailand Immigration Application?
The documents required for Thailand immigration application are listed below.
- Passport: A passport issued within the last 10 years, with sufficient validity period for the type of visa applied for, and a copy of the passport must be submitted.
- Thailand visa application form: A visa application form must be fully completed and signed by the applicant.
- Photo: Two passport-sized photographs of the applicant, 4 x 6 cm in size, taken within the last 6 months must be submitted.
- Proof of transportation: A one-way ticket for the plane or vehicle to be traveled must be presented.
- Additional documents required for a Thailand work visa: An invitation letter from the employing company in Thailand, including the job position, salary and employment dates, and an approval letter from the Ministry of Labor must be submitted.
- Additional documents required for a Thailand student visa : A bank account proving the financial flow of the last 6 months and containing at least $800, a letter of recommendation addressed to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand in Ankara, an acceptance letter from the institution where the education will be received, an official letter from the Ministry of Education of Thailand or other relevant subordinate authorities approving the student's registration for those who want to study at a private institution, a copy of the registration document of the relevant academic institute, an academic record and student ID if education is being received at the time of application, and a letter of recommendation addressed to the embassy from the relevant institution for those who want to attend a seminar, training session or internship.
- Additional documents required for a Thailand family reunification visa: A bank account showing the financial flow of the last 6 months and containing at least $800, a copy of the passport of the person living in Thailand, a letter from the institution of the person working or studying in Thailand addressed to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand in Ankara indicating the degree of relationship of the applicant to the person in Thailand, a copy of the work permit for family members working in Thailand, a copy of the student ID for family members studying, a copy of the marriage certificate for married family members, and a birth certificate for children or parents of the person living in Thailand.
- Additional documents required for the Thailand retirement visa : A personal data form, a copy of a 6-month bank statement showing a deposit of at least 800,000 baht or an income document proving a monthly income of at least 65,000 baht or a combination of the income document and the bank statement showing an income of at least 800,000 baht, a guarantee letter from the bank if a bank account is to be presented, a criminal record approved by a notary public within the last 3 months, a medical report taken within the last 3 months and health insurance with a coverage of at least 40,000 baht for outpatient treatment and 400,000 baht for inpatient treatment.
- Additional documents required for Thailand elite visa: Thailand Privilege Card Co.ltd authorization certificate is required.
The documents required for a Thailand visa that must be submitted to the embassy may vary depending on the purpose of immigration.
How to Apply for Immigration in the Kingdom of Thailand?
Immigration applications to the Kingdom of Thailand are made through long-term Thailand visa applications, and the Thailand visa application is made to the Thai Embassy in Ankara in person or through accredited agencies.
When applying for a Thailand visa; an online visa appointment must be made and the necessary visa documents must be prepared completely according to the Thailand visa to be applied for. When the Thailand visa appointment day arrives, the necessary documents are submitted to the consulate and the visa application process is completed by paying the visa fee.
How Much Is The Thailand Immigration Application Fee?
Thailand immigration application fees vary depending on the type of visa to be applied for.
The fee for a 3-month single-entry tourist visa in Thailand is $40, while the fee for a 6-month multiple-entry tourist visa is $200. The Thai visa fee for employees is $80 for a 90-day single-entry visa and $200 for a 1-year multiple-entry visa.
The fee for a 1-year multiple entry Thailand visa for retirees is $200, a 3-month single entry visa for family reunification is $80, and a 3-month single entry visa for students is $80.
Thailand visa fee is paid in dollars to the relevant officer during the visa appointment at the Thai Embassy.
For 2022, the cost of a Thailand visa, including all visa application fees, application form filling, travel health insurance, accommodation and transportation reservations, and, if necessary, sworn translation and consultancy fees, varies between 185 and 295 dollars.
What to Do After Immigrating to Thailand?
The first thing to do after migrating to Thailand is to apply for a visa extension and get a re-entry permit. Immigrants who have received a re-entry permit can re-enter the country after leaving Thailand.
Every 90 days spent in Thailand, the immigrant must report his/her address to the Immigration Office, and those who immigrate with a work visa must also obtain a work permit.
How Long Are Immigrants Granted a Residence Permit in Thailand?
Thailand grants immigrants a residence permit for a maximum of 1 year, but the duration of the residence permit varies depending on the type of visa applied for.
The visa and residence permit obtained for Thailand can be renewed. People who have lived in Thailand continuously for 3 years can obtain a permanent residence permit in Thailand .
Can People Who Immigrate to the Kingdom of Thailand Obtain Citizenship?
People who immigrate to the Kingdom of Thailand can obtain citizenship.
To obtain Thai citizenship through marriage, one must reside in Thailand for at least 3 years without interruption and have an income of at least 40,000 baht per month; while to obtain Thai citizenship through work, one must work in Thailand for at least 3 years without interruption and have an income of at least 80,000 baht.
For permanent residents, Thai citizenship can be obtained after 5 years of uninterrupted residence.
2026 Application Checklist
- Valid Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond stay.
- Proof of Funds: Bank statements or Blocked Account confirmation (2026 rates).
- Biometrics: Appointment confirmation and receipt.
- Health Insurance: Travel or private insurance covering €30,000+.
- Form IMM 5645: Fully completed Family Information form.