Obtaining citizenship by investment in Thailand in 2023

Thailand is one of the hearts of the Asian world. The country has a positive relationship with many nations worldwide, and its citizens have a nice reputation internationally.

Benefits of being a Thai citizen

However, there are many benefits of being a citizen of this country, which include, but are not limited to:

1. Freedom to vote in national elections: The law mandates that only Thai citizens and citizens by naturalization (who have stayed for over 5 years as a citizen) are eligible to participate in the country’s election.
2. Freedom to own property in its entirety: Thai law stipulates that only citizens have the right to own 100% equity in landed properties in the country. As such, foreigners can only own landed property partly, by a maximum of 49% per property. So as a foreigner searching for property for sale in Thailand in 2023, you may want to keep this fact in mind. An alternative measure that foreigners use in owning properties is by purchasing through a local company which must also be at least 51% owned by Thai citizens. But as a citizen, you can buy any landed property and have the equity transferred to you fully.
3. Freedom to work and to move freely: as a Thai citizen, you will no longer require a work permit to take on jobs in the country. The right to earn a living is inherent in all Thai citizens, and they do not need any form of permit to do so.
4. Freedom to travel in and out of the country without visa restrictions, etc.
5. Lastly, you will enjoy some tax concessions as a citizen, which will be ordinarily imposed on non-citizens and migrants.

The various kinds of citizenship in Thailand

 The primary citizenship in Thailand is by birth, otherwise known as a citizen by blood right. People who have Thais as a parent (father or mother) attain citizenship by right. Regardless of where they were born, where they are domiciled or based, or where they reside.

• The second class of citizenship is people whose neither parent is a citizen but who were born in Thailand and have lived there for an extensive period of time (this nature of citizenship is fragile and can be lost if a person is domiciled outside Thailand).
• Citizenship by naturalization; this process is quite cumbersome and involves a rigorous filling of forms, payment of fees, declaration of earnings, etc. You have to be eighteen years and above to be qualified to apply for this kind of citizenship. For this latter category, you need to be able to speak the Thai language and have no criminal record in the country. You must also have stayed in the country as a permanent resident for at least 5 years before and have a job.
• Honorary citizenship
• Citizenship by spousal connections /marriage.

How to become a Thai citizen by investing in real estate

You cannot become a Thai Citizen by investing in real estate in the country. As sad as this may be, it is true. Citizenship in Thailand is a very revered topic, and the government, over the years, has struggled with the incorporation of non-Thais into the citizenship rolls. At this juncture, it is a subject of policy even to have citizenship by naturalization.

However, according to Thailand-Real.Estate, you can obtain a residency permit through investment. This route does not require any form of descent from a Thai lineage and can be attained by anyone who can afford to purchase real estate valued up to 10 million Thai Baht, approximately $300 000 at the current official exchange rate.

How to use this method

Firstly, you must purchase a ready-to-move-in apartment or building worth at least 10 million baht, which must have been paid in cash. Off-plan properties or units under construction are exempted from this policy. Also, you will only have a residency permit for five (5) years; after that, you will have to reapply as an immigrant for a permit.