Fees for obtaining Certificate of Residence

[Michelala]

I've got a story and I think this may be a good forum to share. 

 

First I did my research and even I'm Thai, the information about the fee is unclear so I finally made a call to government hotline 1111 to ask what documents I need exactly and how much the fee is. They told me that "to obtain it in Bangkok immigration is free, but other offices may have different rules, you should contact your provincial immigration office directly." (by Bangkok I think they meant at CW?)  

 

So my husband and I went to IO in our province. We went to room A and I handed all documents required, we were asked to pay 100 baht for the first paper. I thought it was for the certificate so I gave money to the lady and left the room and just realised I didn't get a receipt. 

 

We went to room B and handed that first paper, documents, passport etc to a middle-aged officer. We waited for a while. The officer came back and handed me the certificate and said 500 baht. I politely asked for a receipt then she said "you can talk to a captain/police." I walked to her desk and asked her if I can have the receipt please for this 500 baht fee. She answered "there's no receipt and the money is for, you know, paper, ink, etc BUT it's okay if you don't want to pay." I said thank you and we left that office.

 

This was 2019. He got his driving license okay. 

 

Again in 2020, my husband needed this freaking certificate of residence to proof that he still lives at the same place even though his driving license has this same address on it and was also issued by government authority (DLT). This time he needed it for his bike license. 

 

This time I met a different officer in room A and wasn't asked for 100 baht. I went to hand the documents in room B and was told straight away by a young lady that the service for this document is 500 baht. I told her that I didn't pay for it last time. She asked if it was last year (I assumed that she tried to convince me that it a new rule bla bla.) I said that last time I asked for a receipt and they didn't give me one so I didn't pay. We were asked to wait outside the room and then we were called by that same middle-aged officer from last year that the service is 500 baht or I can obtain it from an embassy. I explained that I don't think there's a fee for this etc. Then she told me to talk to the captain/police (she's the one who typed and signed the certificate) So I walked to her desk and talked to her.

 

I told her that I didn't pay for it last time and I understand what the money is for. She said she was being flexible last time. Then I tried to negotiate that "I know what this money is for, if there's no receipt, I'll give you 100 baht then."

She was upset and said she'll give me the certificate for free then. 

 

So what I'm trying to say is this is very dodgy. I have read stories that foreigners were asked to pay $$$ for this document which is free in Bangkok, so why it is 500 baht somewhere else? And once you use this certificate, it's gone. You have to get a new one to extend your license, buy/sell vehicles etc. (unfortunately I can't put him on a yellow house book cause we will move house, which should be more convenient - so I recommend putting your name in the yellow book if you can).

 

This is obvious tea money (as you already know of course). Some may think it's not a lot of money, but it annoys me to know that this money (that they're not supposed to get) will go to their pockets and it's not even against regulations. 

 

Why not?

Because the government hotline 1111 user posted on Pantip forum (Thai famous forum like Reddit) that immigration officers don't have authority to give you certificate of residence, if you ask them for the certificate, they do you a "favour" therefore the fees are vary. Period. 

 

PS. I understand that it is still cheaper that getting one from embassy and some of you are okay and not affected with this cause it's convenient. But this rule gives immigration officers an opportunity to rip off your money (500 baht for a piece of paper that takes 2 minutes or less to type!? I would undoubtedly give them 100 baht for that if they weren't greedy. 

 

Sorry if I sound angry, I don't want people to get ripped off ????

 

PS.2 Also #2pricethailand should end. 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 9, 2020 by Michelala

[Andrew Dwyer]

In my experience, which admittedly is limited to 2 different immigration offices only , it varies from office to office.

 

I paid 500 baht in Pathum Thani and zero baht in Ayutthaya, on both occasions it was issued immediately.

[Oldie]

I know it this way. If you want to have it quick then you have to pay. No idea how long you will have to wait if you don't pay. I always paid. 

[jackdd]

This is because the certificate of residence is not a standardized form (like for example a TM7 or TM30), but was probably invented as a crutch long time ago and nobody ever officially defined it.

For anything else you request from the government (applies to most other countries as well), there is a fee involved. The difference is that these fees are defined somewhere, for example the fee for a driving license, or the fee to register a marriage. If the certificate of residence was such a standardized document it would also have a set fee.

 

Since this is no officially regulated document you don't have any right to get it. If they just deny you the document there is nothing you can do.

They provide a service to you which they are not obliged to do and expect something in return for it. I agree that 500THB is over the top, but as this is a special service something like 100THB would be OK.

 

[Retfed50]

They don't charge anything here in Khon Kaen. Since I obtained my yellow house book, I have used that as proof of residence and have had no problems.

[thenewgoo]

The Certificate of Residence is free in CM, unless you want it within 2 weeks, in which case it is 500 B. (this is from recent reports - not my experience). It is a money making letter.

 

I went to renew my 5y driver's licence today. The lady told me I needed a letter from my embassy in Bangkok. Unbelievable! The information she showed my very clearly said that (wish I had thought of taking a photo of this information). I believe she meant the one issued by Thai immigration but the information she showed me clearly said my embassy. Luckily my Thai wife explained that has never been required before and after a supervisor came over, my work permit was accepted. I wonder how many foreigners have been sent on a wild goose chase mission?!

 

The video you need to sit through has a one month waiting list to view though. (Not because it is good!) so ultimately I came home empty handed.

[QPRFC]

In CM It is free but you have to wait SIX weeks for it....which is fine if you plan well. 

Otherwise it is now 1,000 baht and available the next day.

This is my experience in January 2020.

[jackdd]

20 minutes ago, QPRFC said:

In CM It is free but you have to wait SIX weeks for it....which is fine if you plan well. 

Otherwise it is now 1,000 baht and available the next day.

This is my experience in January 2020.

I wasn't offered a 6 weeks option, 500THB for next day, about 2-3 weeks ago in CM.

[The Theory]

Last year, I got it for free after a month in CM. I needed it for my DL and I did not care much about waiting time. 

[PJPom]

I read all these reports about fees for various services and shake my head at the blatant attitude of many offices. Nobody in power seems to care though I am sure it has been reported many times, big joke was the last chief who seemingly tried but where is he now. Luckily I live in the right place, my local Immigration only requires a polite request and a smile and a thank you five minutes later when they hand you the certificate.

Just counting I have had five over the past four years, no charge.

[andersonat]

On 7/10/2020 at 12:15 AM, jackdd said:

 

They provide a service to you which they are not obliged to do and expect something in return for it. I agree that 500THB is over the top, but as this is a special service something like 100THB would be OK.

 

 

The Immigration Dept. has been tasked by the Government to provide a document that other Government Depts. consider to be indispensable for the provision of various services to non-Thai Citizens.

 

 - And if I paid money to a Government-Agency, I would expect to get a receipt in return for my money.  

 

 

Edited July 11, 2020 by andersonat