How to Prepare for Thailand’s Permanent Residence Interview
A little guide to help you pass your Thailand’s permanent residence interview.
Thailand Permanent Residency
Obtaining this status in Thailand is ideal for foreigners who want to make the country their home.
A Thai permanent residency status offers many benefits. It will allow you to live in Thailand permanently, so you can avoid dealing with a bureaucratic visa system that often includes complicated processes, paperwork, and long queues. In addition, it will also make the process of buying property in the country easier.
However, getting permanent resident status is not easy and can be confusing. The process may take a long time, and you will have to go through an interview and a test, which is often seen as the most challenging part for some people.
If you are interested in getting a Thai permanent residency, keep reading to find out how to prepare yourself for the interview process.
Key Points
- A permanent resident status comes with many benefits for foreigners who plan to make Thailand their home.
- You don’t have to be fluent in Thai to pass the interview.
- The best way to prepare yourself for the interview is to do a mock interview with your Thai friends.
Who can apply for Thailand permanent residency?
There’s a quota for expatriates who want to apply for residence permits. Only 100 people per nationality may apply. In some years, you can only apply for permanent residency during a few months of the year.
You may apply for a Thai residence permit if:
- You need permanent residency for investment purposes.
- You are retired in Thailand.
- You need Thai citizenship for employment or business reasons.
- You are accompanying your family member who’s already a Thai permanent resident.
- You are an academic or an expert doing research.
- You are supporting your children or spouse who are Thai citizens.
- You are dependent on a Thai citizen.
There are also some prerequisites for applying for permanent residency in Thailand. These include:
- You have held a Non-Immigrant Visa in Thailand for three consecutive years.
- You can speak, read, and understand basic Thai.
- You have no criminal record.
- You have a residence in Thailand.
Do you need to be fluent in Thai?
You don’t have to be fluent in Thai in order to pass the permanent residency interview. You are mainly expected to be able to communicate in Thai in daily activities. As long as you can somehow answer the questions, you should be able to pass the interview.
You don’t have to be fluent in Thai, but you should at least be able to communicate in daily situations.
What are the common questions asked by the interviewers?
The questions asked during the interview will mainly revolve around you, your family, and your work. There will also be some general discussions about your visa and permanent residence requirements.
The interviewer may ask some additional questions based on your answers as well. For instance, if you tell them that you have kids, they may ask you about them, such as their names, ages, and grades.
Here are some of the most common questions asked by immigration officers during permanent residency interviews:
| Pronunciation | Thai Translation | English Translation |
| Khun Choeur A Rai? | คุณชื่ออะไร | What’s your name? |
| Khun Pen Khon Pa Tet A Rai? | คุณเป็นคนประเทศอะไร | What is your nationality? |
| A Yu Thao Rai? | อายุเท่าไหร่ | How old are you? |
| Yu Ti Nai? | อยู่ที่ไหน | Where do you live? |
| Tam Mai Thung Yak Yu Pra Tet Thai? | ทำไมถึงอยากอยู่ปรเทศไทย | Why do you want to live in Thailand? |
| Ar Han Thai Ti Chop Kin? | อาหารไทยที่ชอบกิน | What Thai food do you like? |
| Yu Pra Tet Thai ma Gi Phee? | อยู่ประเทศไทยมากี่ปี | How long have you been in Thailand? |
| Tam Ngan Ti Nai Yu? | ทำงานที่ไหนอยู่ | What is your current workplace? |
| Tam Ngan Tum Nang A Rai? | ทำงานตำแหน่งอะไร | What is your position? |
| Chop Ti Nai Nai Pra Tet Thai? | ชอบที่ไหนในประเทศไทย | What is your favourite place in Thailand? |
| Muang Luang Kong Thai Chuer Wa A Rai? | เมืองหลวงของไทยชื่อว่าอะไร | What is the capital city of Thailand? |
| Chop Oak Kam Lang Gai Mai? | ชอบออกกำลังกายไหม | Do you usually exercise? |
| Khun Mee Pragun Sukapap Mai? | คุณมีประกันสุขภาพในประเทศไทยไหม | Do you have health insurance in Thailand? |
| Khun Kao Jai Wisconsin Kamm Luy Di Mai? | คุณเข้าใจวัฒนธรรมไทยไหม | Do you understand Thai culture well? |
Keep in mind that these are just sample questions. Your interviewers may ask additional questions or even different questions.
Do the mock interview with your Thai friends more often as the interview day is closer.
What’s the best way to prepare for the interview?
The best way to prepare yourself for the interview is to do a mock interview with your Thai friends. Let them ask the questions in their style and ask you additional questions they can think of based on the answers you give.
If you have multiple Thai friends, it is good to ask more than one person to do the mock interview with you because people have their own way of asking questions. This means that different people may use different words or sentences to ask the same thing. Thus, you will have a broader vocabulary. Do the mock interview more often as the interview day is closer. By practicing with your Thai friends frequently, you will prepare yourself for the interview and familiarise yourself more with the language.
What will support you to get approval?
Showing respect and following Thai etiquette may help increase your opportunities as you can. Moreover, while having basic Thai language skills is important, the immigration officers will also factor in your personality, attitude, and relationship with Thai citizens. Therefore, put your best foot forward. Good luck!