How to emigrate for permanent residence to a warm exotic country? Can a long-term visa be obtained legally? Anyone who has asked such questions at least once should know the rules and the process of collecting documents for entering a new state.
Exotic thailand
Thailand is the kingdom of Southeast Asia. The favorable geographical position and mild climate make it a year-round tourist center. Choosing Thailand as a place of permanent residence, one should take into account its diverse climate:
- In the northern regions in the winter-spring period, the air temperature can drop to +10 degrees, and in the southern regions it remains unchanged and comfortable throughout the year;
- Heavy rain falls from May to November;
- Bangkok and other cities below sea level can be flooded during the monsoon season.
Most Thais are Buddhist. The culture, architecture and lifestyle of the indigenous people are associated with this religion. The main industry in the agricultural regions of the country is the cultivation and export of rice, as well as bananas, sweet potatoes, coconuts, and pineapples. The state receives a large share of its income from tourism.
Thai cuisine is very varied. A large number of vegetables, fruits, rice and seafood - these are its distinctive features. There are no strict requirements for the consumption of meat and fish in the country. In cities and tourist settlements there are establishments with European, Thai and even Russian cuisine.
Prices in Thailand for food, housing, public transport are low compared to Russia and European countries. The standard of living of the indigenous population can be called heterogeneous. The overwhelming majority of the population lives in poverty.
Professionals make good money:
- Doctors;
- Programmers;
- Engineers.
Moving to Thailand (general information)
If the decision to move to Thailand for permanent residence (permanent residence) is made, then the first step to making the dream come true will be to ensure your financial security. Renting out housing in Russia will bring a stable income and become a safety cushion. You need to have an amount of money that will ensure financial well-being in a new country in the first months of residence.
The minimum amount for entry is 20,000 baht per person, 40,000 baht per family.
The main items of expenditure in the new place: rent of housing, meals, education of children in school. Without basic knowledge of the English language, it is difficult to find a formal job, therefore, at the stage of preparing for the move, you should improve your English.
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Departure documents
The visa-free regime of entry into the country applies only to tourists. To move to permanent residence, a Non-Immigrant visa is required.
When moving to Thailand, you must have the following package of documents:
- A valid foreign passport;
- Non-Immigrant Visa;
- International migration card (arrival card);
- Documents proving the purpose of the visit to the country (marriage certificate, work contract, papers on referral / training to an educational organization, an act of establishing a company);
- A document proving the presence of a minimum amount of money;
- Police clearance certificate in Thailand;
- A document proving the existence of a temporary residence.
Important! All documentation must be translated into Thai. Visa forms are filled out in English.
Many Russians leaving for Thailand on vacation or permanent residence are interested in the list of mandatory and recommended vaccinations. There are no strict requirements for entering the country, all vaccinations can be set at will. You need to start vaccinating in advance.
Vaccination against diseases is recommended:
- Hepatitis A;
- Hepatitis B;
- DTP;
- Typhoid fever;
- Rabies.
Immigration methods
The authorities of this state restrict immigration, so obtaining a Thai passport is a difficult task. The quota for obtaining permanent residence for other states is 100 people per year. Having lived in this country for more than 3 years on nonimmigrant visas, you can apply for a residence permit (residence permit). With a residence permit in the country, you can stay for an unlimited time.
The first step when moving is to apply to the Thai Embassy for a Non-Immigrant visa. Average processing time - 15-20 days. The visa is valid for one year with the possibility of annual renewal. After three years of residence, you can apply for a residence permit.
After about 7-10 years of residence in the Kingdom, it becomes possible to apply for permanent resident status. After another 5 years, apply for Thai citizenship.
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The final stage of immigration is naturalization.
Briefly about the stages of immigration
Upon entering the country, a migration card is filled in. It is issued on the plane or at the airport in Thailand. The card is double-sided: "arrival in the country" and "departure from the country." It is filled in in English. If you do not have basic knowledge of English, then you can ask a Russian-speaking flight attendant for help in filling out or save a sample of filling out a card with a Russian translation in your mobile phone.
New arrivals should register with the migration service within a few days. For this procedure, documents on the availability of residence are required (lease agreement or paper from the hotel).
To apply for a Non-Immigrant visa, the following are provided:
- International passport (valid for at least 6 months);
- Photos 4 x 6 cm;
- A document confirming the presence of a minimum amount of funds.
Immigration through employment
To leave for permanent residence in Thailand through employment, you must have basic knowledge of English or Thai.
There are few vacancies for foreigners, mainly:
- English or Russian language teachers;
- Programmers;
- Designers;
- Engineers;
- Other highly qualified specialists.
The list of professions prohibited for foreigners consists of 39 positions. This:
- Chefs;
- Confectioners;
- Hairdressers;
- Masseurs;
- Waiters;
- Tour guides;
- Guides;
- Accountant;
- Cashiers, etc.
When applying for such a visa (category "B"), you will additionally need to provide papers confirming the purpose of arrival. This can be an official appeal from the employer, documents confirming the legality of the organization's activities. Thai employer needs to apply for "Work Permit" - work permit.
After entering the country on a work visa within up to 30 days, you need to issue a work permit. Violators are subject to a fine.
Immigration through business and investment
Starting or buying a business by foreigners is welcome in the Kingdom. A business visa is issued outside the country and for a period of 3 months to 3 years with the possibility of extension. If the company generates income, then the entrepreneur can apply for a residence permit.
It is important to know that a controlling stake in any company (this is 51% or more) must be owned by a Thai citizen.
The economy of this state is booming and there are many programs and investment offers on the market. The most popular industries are construction and tourism. Investing in the economy of the Kingdom of funds in the amount of from $ 200,000 you can get a temporary residence permit. For especially large investors, there is an exception in the form of obtaining citizenship.
Immigration through the acquisition of real estate
This is another way to legally live in the country. The purchase of real estate with a value of $ 200,000 or more is the basis for the owner to obtain a residence permit.
When buying property in Thailand, you should know a few rules:
- You can buy housing through the creation of a resident company.This method allows you to legally resell, lease or donate your property in the future;
- You can buy real estate from developers on the condition that most of the shareholding (more than 51%) belongs to a citizen of the Kingdom (except for the cities of Bangkok and Pattaya);
- The simplest one is to conclude a lease for a period of 30 years. But in this case, you cannot sell, donate, or lease such real estate.
Immigration through education
Those wishing to study in Thailand are allowed to legally reside in the country from 3 months to 1 year. There is a possibility of extension. To obtain a visa (category "ED"), you need a document confirming training in an educational organization.
A student visa is paid, the average cost of registration is 20,000 baht. You can issue it in Thailand, get it at the Thai consulate in Laos.
You can study English / Thai in the linguistic schools of the country. List of popular schools:
- THE Language School (Pattaya);
- PLC School (has branches in different cities of the country);
- Walen (has branches in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and other cities of the country);
- Easu ABC (the program also includes German);
- Siam sunrise (Pattaya).
Foreign graduates of educational institutions of the Kingdom can apply to change the visa category from student to work (category "B") subject to official employment.
Immigration through kinship and marriage
One of the easiest ways to get a residence permit in the Kingdom is to create a Russian-Thai family. Foreigners have more serious requirements for men than for women. Proof of income is required - you need to have it on the account 400,000 baht or official income in the institution of this state over 40,000 baht. Foreign spouses of a Thai in a short time receive a residence permit with the possibility of obtaining citizenship. Children from such a marriage are eligible for Thai citizenship.
To obtain a visa, a marriage certificate and a child's birth / adoption certificate are required. If Russian children study in a Thai international school or attend a Thai kindergarten, parents are provided with a family visa (category "O"). The same rule applies to family members of a person who works or has a business in this country.
Refugee immigration
Thailand is a country that has a refugee protection program. It is difficult to obtain such a status, but its owners can apply for a residence permit for a period of 5 years. For registration, you will need to submit an application for protection and asylum and documents confirming that stay in Russia is impossible due to reasons that threaten the life of a foreigner.
Such documents can be:
- Newspaper clippings;
- Letters;
- Video recordings.
Life in Thailand after immigration
Migration to Thailand has a number of significant advantages:
- Low food prices;
- Mild climate and access to the sea;
- Good conditions for businessmen.
There are also a number of disadvantages:
- Low standard of living in the country;
- Underdeveloped infrastructure;
- Few vacancies for foreigners.
But all these shortcomings do not stop the flow of emigration from Russia. The policy of the state in relation to emigrants can be called neutral, checks by the migration service are formal in nature.
Most Russians live with a regularly renewed temporary residence permit, which can be obtained in special centers in Thailand.
Inna:“Once I decided that I must definitely live in this wonderful country. And then it happened. My husband and I live on about. Phangan for over a year now. All horror stories about the weather are a myth. The climate is comfortable. The food is delicious, you can pay by card or cash. Seafood is something here. We rent a house 10 minutes from the sea. We are not planning to move back to Russia. "
Evgeniy:“I started preparing for the trip to Tai six months earlier. I studied many sites and blogs and decided to stay in Hua Hin city. Real estate here turned out to be much cheaper. My wife and I have a student visa, we attend a Thai language school, I had to go to Wientian for an extension. Zero problems with registration, only funds are needed to pay. We like the city very much, life is in full swing in the evening, there is a large selection of restaurants, cafes, clubs, parks. Hua Hin is now my second home and I am happy to live here. And my wife and I just have no time to want to return to our homeland. "
Conclusion
Do not believe the scary stories from the Internet about the hard life of Russians in Thailand. You can only form an opinion about this country after living in it for a month or more. If the living conditions turn out to be better than in the home country, you can apply for a long-term visa. The list of documents for its registration must be checked with the Immigration Service.
