Thailand is the kingdom of Southeast Asia, surrounded by two seas, with a climate that many associates only with paradise. It is one of the tourist destinations one wants to stay in forever. However, the Thai government is in no hurry to issue passports and visas to all applicants.

If you are thinking of obtaining Thai citizenship, you should put the idea off until better times. Thai law effectively prohibits the granting of citizenship to foreigners. However, a legal right to a permanent residence permit in Thailand is quite realistic.

When the story of permanent residency/temporary migration to Indochina comes up, many people start gathering information from their acquaintances on the Internet. But one answer to the question "what happens when you move to Thailand", no one will just give you the answer. A lot of material is studied for analysis, and conclusions are drawn only based on experience and feedback from real citizens.

So how do you move to Thailand?

1) The Thailand Elite Visa. It can be extended for 5, 10, or 20 years, and you can enter and leave the country unlimited. The key condition: foreigners need to cross the border at least once a year and at least once every three months to visit the immigration office for checks. What you need to know about VIP Elite Thai visas.

•  Very expensive, but with it, you can get permanent residency (without citizenship). Thai Elite members can expect free airport transfers 24 times a year, discounts at shopping malls, help at the immigration office, and more. You only need three documents to apply for a Thai elite visa: passport, photo, and application. When applying for a family member visa with a child under 20 years old, a birth certificate is required.

2) Work visa (Non-B)

Valid for 3 months to 1 year and allows you to work in the UK for a virtually unlimited period. You may obtain a permit to work in Thailand in your home country before you leave for Thailand by submitting documents to the Thai Embassy.

3) A tourist visa. It is valid for 90 days with the possibility of an extension. However, you will not be able to work with this visa.

4) Student visa

This is kind of like a permanent residence permit in Thailand. However, as long as you do not break attendance and performance standards, you will be able to live in the kingdom for three years without any problems.

5) Long-term visas for pensioners allow elderly people to move to Thailand. Non-resident pensioners can obtain permanent residency and citizenship if they have savings of US$26,000 or more.

6) Marriage to a Thai citizen/citizen

The most advantageous option for obtaining a residence permit and a Thai passport. However, to marry and live permanently in Thailand, non-resident men need to have a 400,000 baht account and apply for citizenship 12 years after marriage, while women are not subject to Thai financial security requirements.

7) Business

You need to invest in an established business or start your own business, but you must have at least 51% Thai ownership. To obtain a residence permit in Thailand through a business, foreign entrepreneurs need to consider the following:

- The registered capital of the company is equivalent to 2 million baht or dollars.

- Thai business visas are issued for one year and can be renewed after that.

- Extensions are not allowed for salaried employees with zero income.

- Investing in the Thai economy and real estate gives you not only a residence permit but also rights such as stable income and interest payments from rental properties. The conditions are quite high.

8) Elite Ultimate Privilege Program - the visa is valid for up to 20 years and starts at $60,000.

9) Elite Easy Access is a program that offers a 5-year investment visa with a minimum investment of USD 15,000.

10) Investor Visa (1 year renewable) buys a property in Thailand worth 10 million baht or more, deposits 10 million baht in a local bank, or invests the same amount (10 million baht) in government bonds of Thailand. 

Thus, it is possible to move to Thailand, but it is necessary to consider the positive and negative aspects, such as the Asian mentality and local laws.