How to convert into Thai

[SleeplessAdrian]

In Malaysia,

Muslims: If you are a non-muslim, and if you marry a Muslim girl/guy, you must be converted into Muslim according to Malaysian Islamic Law (only in Malaysia) and your name must add a Muslim name.

Christian: If you want to be a Christian, just goto a church and ask that u want to be saved, and you will have to read the Sinners prayer, and do baptising (at a later stage) once you are ready to take up a new life as a Christian

Now what about non-thais,wanting to be Thai?

I only understand that majourity of the Thais are practicing Buddhistme, which we have Buddhistme here in Malaysia too (majourity is Chinese) but I feel the Buddhistme here is different than what the Thais practice.Just my 2 sens.

(but I have yet to hear Chinese Buddhistme temples here chanting and ringing bells in the morning, maybe I am unaware of it)

[johnno]

..

[johnno]

Christian: If you want to be a Christian, just goto a church and ask that u want to be saved, and you will have to read the Sinners prayer, and do baptising (at a later stage) once you are ready to take up a new life as a Christian

Now what about non-thais,wanting to be Thai?

I only understand that majourity of the Thais are practicing Buddhistme, which we have Buddhistme here in Malaysia too (majourity is Chinese) but I feel the Buddhistme here is different than what the Thais practice.Just my 2 sens.

(but I have yet to hear Chinese Buddhistme temples here chanting and ringing bells in the morning, maybe I am unaware of it)

what the "sinners prayer"? never heard of it. wanting to be saved? never heard of that either. non-thais wanting to be thai? i think they have to have an operation to have their eyes altered slightly and if they have curly hair, they have to have it died black and straightened also 8) :shock:

[MisterMatlock]

Sorry dude... There's NO way you can become Thai short of having a thai parent. Guess you're S O L...

[literature]

In Malaysia,

Muslims: If you are a non-muslim, and if you marry a Muslim girl/guy, you must be converted into Muslim according to Malaysian Islamic Law (only in Malaysia) and your name must add a Muslim name.

Christian: If you want to be a Christian, just goto a church and ask that u want to be saved, and you will have to read the Sinners prayer, and do baptising (at a later stage) once you are ready to take up a new life as a Christian

Now what about non-thais,wanting to be Thai?

I only understand that majourity of the Thais are practicing Buddhistme, which we have Buddhistme here in Malaysia too (majourity is Chinese) but I feel the Buddhistme here is different than what the Thais practice.Just my 2 sens.

(but I have yet to hear Chinese Buddhistme temples here chanting and ringing bells in the morning, maybe I am unaware of it)

U missed the point . From what u wrote, U had better ask that

" Now what about non-buddhists,wanting to be buddhists? "

Not "Now what about non-thais,wanting to be Thai?"

It's a matter of different sects, not nationality

[Niranahm]

Two points

* You don't need a formal cermony to convert to Buddhism and you can even practice other beliefs alongside Buddhism. No one starts wars or declares jihad because of Buddhism. That is one reason why Buddhism is seen as a peaceful religion and part of the explanation why Thailand absorbs and intermarries with foreigners like the Chinese rather than having internal relgious and civil strife.

* Foreigners can become Thais but this is totally separate from religion. It's easier for Chinese to historical reasons but applies to farangs too. I will apply in a few years -- it's not an easy or short process.

I believe foreigners changing to have a Thai ID must adopt a Thai surname, but can usually keep their first name.

Niranahm

[Niranahm]

To clarify some points confused below:

* To "convert" to Buddhism is really just a matter of saying that's what you believe in. No doubt there are ceremonies to help, but even practicing Buddhists often have mixture of other beliesfs. Believing in Buddhism does not exclude everything else.

* Retirement packages don't have to be "bought". They can be qualified for. Apart from being over 50, you can either show money in the bank once a year, or a steady source of funds, or a mixture of both. So if you have a pension of ~60,000 THB a month, that is sufficient. If you have 800,000 THB in the bank or can show it once a year with some evidence (preferably, not essentially) that you didn't just put in the acount the day before, or a mixture of cash and income such as 30 K a month and 400 K in the bank, you can qualify. Another possibility is an investment visa.

With a retirement visa you can't work legally and you have to meet the requirement every year -- the visa is only for one year. The requirements have been known to suddenly go up without warning, so if you are really retiring, best not to qualify minimally.

* Thai nationality. Contrary to what is written here, foreigners can become naturalized full Thai citizens, but it is a lengthy and arduous process which most people can't qualify for. The fastest route is generally 10 years if you have no relatives who are Thai naturalized.

Those ten years are made up as follows:

* Three years on the same work permit before apply for permanent residence

* One year minimum for the residence application to suceed

* Five years later you can apply for nationality

* At least one year beore you are approved

It is quite difficult to meet the residence requirements. Right now, they are very strict and the amount of new hurdles placed is mind-boggling. I am eight months into the application process and there are over 500 pages on file about me along with multiple videos and 50 photos. My girlfriend and baby have been interviewed twice and I have passed a Thai examination. Each month they come up with new requirements. This month I had to swear in writing with my gf that I give her 20 K a month to spend for her own use (There was no legal minimum but that was some advice). I had to swear in writing that I will legitimize my son as soon as he is old enough to make a letter of consent. I also had to submit photos of every room in my office, every room in my apartment, my title deeds to the condo, evidence of how much tax I have paid, charity work I have done and on and on. This all, despite the fact that I am applying for a residence permit on work grounds NOT family support grounds. If I suceed I have to pay another 200K.

You get the idea... it is not easy.

Five years after I (hopefully) get the residence permit I can apply to be Thai. The cost is minimal (5 K). But under the current government I believe NO westerners have been accepted for a few years. The Minister of the Interior has to personally approve each person. I will need letters of reference and support from powerful influential people and of course I have to swear to give up my current nationality and provide evidence of willingness to denounce it.

One thing in my favor is that I am from a small politically neutral country...

So generally if you have to ask how to qualify to become a Thai national, you are a very long way from qualifying...

[Kitschiguy]

Theravada means 'Doctrine of the Elders' Hinayana means 'Lesser Vehicle' a somewhat derogatory term given to Theravada by the Mahayana school, which means 'greater vehicle'. So, Therevada and Hinayana are essentially the same thing.

Buddhism is completely seperate from the state in Thailand as in all Buddhist countries. Although there is nothing to stop anyone practicing Buddhism. Although one does not 'convert' to Buddhism. The Buddhist philosophy does not ask any prerequisits or ask the practitioner to 'believe' in anything. There is no concept of a higher being or God in Buddhism.

Off topic but doesn't hurt to know.

[Niranahm]

The trend globally is away from allowing dual nationality. That aspect of Thailand's immigration laws is hard to criticize.

I might note that my "small politically neutral" country does not really allow me to meaningfully denounce my nationality so therefore in my case, becoming Thai does not have severe implications for my other nationality...

Thailand has avoided becoming a colony for many centuries and certainly there are very valid reasons to restrict 100% company ownership and land purchases to its own nationals. As a non-Thai I do often think that these rules and this protectionsim is taken too far, and most non-wealthy ordinary Thais would have nothing to lose and perhaps something to gain even if these restrictions were lifted. Nevertheless as long as Thai people believe that foreigners shouldnt 'be given a carte blanche to own land and businesses here, they need to be very strict on nationality -- else nationality would be abused as a "back door" for such purchases. As along as the buying power of foreigners is so much higher than Thais, I don't think these fears are unreasonable even if I don't personally agree with them. On the other hand, the other oft-cited reasoning of "protection of national security" seems a little meaningless to me.

The current governement is hardly the most pro-Western regime, and many of the other political choices dominated by the "dinosaur" politicians would have no motivation to relax these rules and procedures either.

Stil, I remain optimistic that my goal of nationality is achievable and that future regimes will be more amenable to it.

[sunsnow]

Because when Thais (or other non-western nationals) travel to The Netherlands for instance, they can be pretty sure that they'll get the 'door' slammed right in the face before even getting on a plane. This counts for every visit longer than 90 days (and lots of times even the tourist visa). If you please let me explain the rules so we can compare.

All this and more from a country which got it's wealth from robbing the non-western countries blind in the past.

Wow, what an eye opening information! I have naturally never had a need to check out Finlands requirements... Wow, maybe I could check out my country's visa requirements, out of curiosity.

Sorry, btw, these were requirements for what kind of visa? Seems too strick for just a tourist visa...

[CiaranM]

* This representative needs an income of somewhere near 1400,00 euros a month (which is more money than 50% of the working force is getting), every month. And literally not a euro less.

* The exam at the embassies will cost you 350,00 euros everytime you try, and expires after 6 months. I never heard of a school diploma which expires after a couple of months when you, for example don't find a job.

* The visa costs 830,00 euro, and is also valid for 6 months. And on arrival you must pay an additional 188,00 euro ( which you must pay each year to extend, for 5 years until you can apply for citizenship, which will cost you 201,00 euro)

i think u've got a problem with the 0 key on ur keyboard !!!