A residence certificate is an official one-page document that states you are living in Thailand. It formally recognizes your current home address (permanently or semi-permanently), whether it be a house, apartment, or long-term stay at guesthouse or hotel. It’s a necessary document if you want to buy a vehicle in Thailand, get a Thai driver’s license, and sign up for a Thai bank account. Here’s how to apply for one:
Residence Certificate Requirements
One way to get a residence certificate in Chiang Mai is to go to the Provincial Immigration Office, which is in the new grey and white building just before the Chiang Mai Internation Airport. It is no longer on the third floor of Building A in the Promenada Mall.
Bring the following items to apply for a residence certificate between 8 am and 10 am, Monday through Friday (excluding Thai holidays because the office is closed):
- Photocopy of lease agreement, blue/yellow house book, letter from the landlord
- NEW REQUIREMENT: Photocopy of TM.30 form signed by your landlord
- NEW REQUIREMENT: Two 4 cm x 6 cm passport photos (NOT 2 inch x 2 inch)
- Actual passport (to confirm authenticity)
- Photocopy of the following passport pages: main photo page, visa page, TM.6 departure card (all pages must be signed)
- Completed application form of Residence Certificate in Thailand. Blank copies are provided at the office.
If you do not have photos (or do not have the correct photos) you can obtain them from the nearby Photo &Â Copy office that issues residence certificates provide six passport photos for 200 baht and photocopies for 2 baht per page.Â
Once you’ve dropped off the photocopies, filled out the application form, and submitted your passport photos, you will be given a receipt. The processing time takes two to three weeks (ten to fifteen business days).Â
Bring this receipt with you to pick up the residence certificate between 1 pm and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
Here’s what one of our residence certificates looked like:
NOTE: Be mindful of Thai holidays because the Chiang Mai Immigration Service Center is closed on these days. |
Chiang Mai Residence Certificate Office Information
Application Drop Off Times: 8:00 am to 10:00 am
Residence Certificate Pick Up Times: 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Phone:Â (053) 142-788
Cost:Â FREE
Processing Time: Two to three weeks (ten to fifteen business days) **There are no longer expedited services for 500 THB
Validity:Â 1 month from the issued date
The office that processes Thai residence certificates is in a grey and white building on Mahidol Road on your way to the Chiang Mai International Airport. It is across the street from an LPG gas station.
Why We Needed a Thai Residence Certificate
When we first arrived in Chiang Mai, one of our priorities was to buy a motorbike. We had our eyes on a bike at the Honda dealership, but before we were able to make any final purchases, the dealership required a residence certificate from us.
We also later applied for a Thai license, first a one-year temporary license and then a five-year Thai license when that expired. Both times we were required to give a residence certificate.
Make sure your photos are large with a blue background if you want this done for free on the 3rd floor! Otherwise the service on the ground floor will accept white background but their service is 500THB. Good luck!
You can still get one at One Stop Shop on the second floor, just round the corner from G4T, however there is a 4 week waiting list at the moment. A much better way is to go the the ‘Man’ on the ground floor next to the photocopy shop. Pay him 500 baht and give him your documents and he will get you one the next working day. It’s a bit difficult to find. From the ground floor go outside the doors opposite the car park and turn right. Just passed the tunnel to the car park is the photocopy… Read more »
Thanks for this extra info, Matt. We’ll keep this in mind whenever we need to get another residence certificate.
Thanks for the article guys! Just 2 questions:
1. Where can I get a copy of your proof of residence letter?
2. If you mention the requirements “Photocopy of lease agreement, blue/yellow house book, letter from landlord”, you do mean 1 of the 3 and not all 3, right?
Cheers!
1. You can print out the image of our ‘sample’ proof of residence letter to reference but we purposefully don’t provide the original letter without the watermark.
2. One of the three, not all three.
Hi guys, Can anyone tell me whether this residence certificate can use to buy a condominium in Thailand ?
We don’t know (don’t have experience buying a condo, only a motorbike). Maybe someone else know. Sorry!
Resident Certificates are no longer being issued by Immigration or G4T. G4T was the small office 2 doors down from Immigration (they are now located on the 2nd floor next to Big Camera). You now have to get the Resident Certificate from your Consulate or Embassy. Note: The US Consulate in Chiang Mai will be closed from September 10 to November 1 for renovations. For now you must obtain the Certificate from the Embassy in Bangkok.
Thanks for the heads up, Don. Soon after you posted this we saw a notice in a FB group, too. Can you believe that since writing this article the office has changed FIVE times? It’s hard to keep the post up to date. Time for another round of changes…
Hi, I am a retired farang living with my Thai fiancee in her families home in Huai Koeng so there is no lease contract or documents for my address. What documentation would I need for my residence certificate, I hold a non-immigrant “O” visa
We don’t know off hand without contacting the office ourselves. Go ahead and call them (or have your wife do it) and ask what you can submit in lieu of a lease agreement or tabien baan.
Yes, we’ve applied for a residence certificate on a tourist visa before. Just be sure you have a written agreement or lease from your landlord/property manager.
Ok, no worries. Thanks for answering.
Hi Chris and Angela. My husband and I (both Farangs), are buying a new bike and want to register it in both names. Do you know how we go about doing this?
Oh no, sorry :/
Thanks for the wishes!
I now have got another potential hurdle. The dealer did not give me a number plate. He said, it will take about 30-45 days to get the number plate; He also mentioned that I could ride around Thailand without a number plate.
However, I am a bit concerned. Is it not illegal to ride a vehicle without proper number plates?
If it would take 30-45 days, should I just keep the bike in the garage till I get the plates?
We don’t know the official rules, but if you are stopped by the police tell them it’s a new vehicle. We didn’t have tags immediately either and didn’t worry and didn’t get in trouble. Just make sure to wear your helmet so it gives them less reason to pull you over (because that is a violation)!
Hi is a single entry tourist visa ok or has it got be multiple entry to apply for this cert?
There was no information explicitly stating which visa (tourist or non immigrant) or length (single or multi entry) was eligible or ineligible. We assume you can get it on a single entry tourist visa (and that they ask for the visa page bc they want to make sure you are in the country legally) but don’t know for sure. Please let us know what you find out!
Thanks for the response. The Honda dealer (Bigwing Rama 3) requested only for my passport & work permit.
I booked the bike yesterday and waiting for it to arrive tomorrow – can’t wait :)
Well, that was easy! Have a blast on your new bike.
Hi!
Can my work permit combined with lease agreement / contract serve as a proof of residence for buying a bike?
Thanks!
Mmm, when we bought our bike we had to provide a Thai Residence Certificate to the Honda dealer, not a lease agreement and work permit. It’s best to ask the bike shop directly to see what they are willing to accept.
Can someone else do the process for you? Or do you need to do it all by yourself?
There are Thai visa service centers (usually small offices) that handle all sorts of things related to foreign passports. Although we’ve never used one ourselves, that’s where we’d go first to see if they can apply for a Thai residence certificate on your behalf.
I am Farang with yellow house book. Do you think I can use that book for foreigner friend for his residence requirement to obtain residency certificate
Is his name in the yellow book? If not, use a lease agreement instead when applying for a residence certificate.
can someone please help me with a template for a lease agreement?
I see you were able to buy a vehicle m a tourist visa. We’re you able to get your thai drivers permit with a tourist visa?
Yup!
Hiya, latest update 20 November 2015.
Residents certificate are back in the Promodanda building A shopping mall. But they are handheld by a agent in an office next to the copy shop.
Ps your directions to the building are very good.
Thank you kindly for letting us know. We will be sure to update this post with the new location!
Hi!
Thanks for the article and all the information about Thailand. I have an online business and ‘m planning to go to Chiang Mai, for an indefinite time, after July this year!!! :)
Regarding the certificate of residency, I assume that a job contract or anything else is not needed? Because, of course, I will be managing my online business, with no job, and I want to know if I can get this certificate.
Thank you again! :)
Nope, no job contract required. Just the completed form, passport and photo copies of visa page and TM6 departure card, twp photos, and photocopy of lease. But now it costs 500 baht. Congrats on the move – and take note that the office moved to near the Promenada Mall (call 053-277156 for directions) and is no longer at Chiang Mai Immigration Office as of May 2014.
Thanks for the information! Maybe I’ll see you guys in Chiang Mai soon! :D
You’re very welcome :)
Hi Chris and Angela, great article that explains the process. Do you have any suggestions in relation to how someone would get on (such as myself) who is actually staying with a friend in his house, the lease is in his name, I’m just renting a room. So basically my question is how do you get around the requirement for providing a Photocopy of lease agreement or owner’s house book if you only renting a room from the leaseholder?
If we were in your position, we’d write up a contract between you and your roommate (the leaseholder). One page, simple, and sign it. Make sure to include the address. Good luck!
What kind of visa did you need?
You can buy a vehicle on a tourist visa as long as you can also provide a residency certificate. We both had tourist visas when we bought our Forza motorbike and had no problems.
Hey guys great site and article! Can you make any recommendations people who are NOT staying at a long-term dwelling? My wife and I are at a hostel in Chiang Mai which charges daily rent.
Great article guys! I followed the process as you described and it all went totally smoothly, submitted the papers on 31 March, pick up will be 10 April. I gave my landlord a copy of your proof of residence letter which she copied (substituting the appropriate address details of my name and address of course). Keep up the good work!
Sweet! Glad it went well :)