Written by the Thai Legal & Immigration legal team · Last reviewed · Editorial policy
Basic eligibility
The applicant must hold a passport of their current nationality endorsed with a Non-Immigrant visa and must have been permitted to stay on one-year extensions for at least three consecutive years up to the application date. Visa-exempt stays, tourist visas and some special visa programmes do not count towards the three years.
The five categories
- Investment.
- Working or business.
- Humanitarian reasons: a legal spouse, legal parent, or unmarried child under 20 of a Thai citizen or an existing residence-permit holder.
- Expert.
- Other special circumstances considered case by case.
Not sure this route fits you?
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Quota and filing window
The Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Interior announce the number of foreigners who may be granted residence each year. For the 2025 quota year, announced on 26 February 2026, the ceiling was 100 people per nationality and 50 stateless persons, and applications were accepted from 9 March to 3 April 2026. That window has closed; wait for the next official announcement. A quota is a ceiling, not an assurance that any application will be approved.
Where to file
In Bangkok, applications go to the residency section of Immigration Division 1 at the Government Complex, Chaeng Wattana Road. In other provinces, file at the immigration office for your area of residence. Applicants file in person with every document required for their category.
What makes PR applications difficult
- Gaps in the three-year chain of extensions, including changes of visa type.
- Tax, income or employment records that are inconsistent across years.
- Thai-language ability and the interview stage.
- Long processing times, often measured in years, during which status must be maintained.
How we help
We check your extension history and category fit well before the window opens, assemble documents and translations in the order the residency section expects, and prepare you for the interview. The Immigration Commission and the Minister decide each application.
Related services
Frequently asked
Can I apply for PR after three years on a retirement extension?
When is the next filing window?
Do I keep my visa while PR is pending?
Sources & references
- Thai Immigration Bureau — checked 2026-11-03
- Department of Provincial Administration — checked 2026-11-03
General information only, not legal advice. Immigration decisions rest with the Thai authorities.