If you stay in Chiang Mai long-term, sooner or later you will come across the need to get a so-called Residence Certificate from Immigration. You may need it for a variety of purposes, for example:
(Surprisingly, you don't need it to to buy a house or condominium, which of course is of much more value than a motorcyle, but there isn't that much logic to Thai red tape.)
The easiest way to get a Residence Certificate (or otherwise called proof of address or address declaration) is from the Immigration office, but you can also get it from your Consulate or Embassy. Normally, the fees at Consulates and Embassies are higher, while the conditions to get it can be stricter. This is because often, your Thai papers need to be officially translated, then legalised by a Thai legalisation office (both steps can sometimes be combined in one if you choose the right translation office) and finally legalised or certified by the Consulate or Embassy, but of course this depends on your country's policy. Also, not all countries have Consulates in Chiang Mai, so you'd have to travel to Bangkok to get it. For this reason, most people just resort to Immigration to get it done as the paperwork needed is fairly simply and straightforward and it's free (or nearly free).
If you have a Work permit or a Yellow House Book with your name in it, you don't need a Residence Certificate anymore, these documents can serve a a proof of address as well.
If you're absolutely not in a hurry or you can plan well ahead, you can get a Residence Certificate entirely free of charge, following these steps below. The only thing you need is time to wait and time to queue up.
A free Residence Certificate can be obtained from the Immigration office at the airport. The approximate waiting time varies greatly, depending on the work load, but as a rough average it usually takes 3 weeks (when it's very busy, it can take a staggering 5 weeks!). You need to apply for this between 8:30 - 12:00 am, outside of these hours Immigration does not take in any requests for this and when it's busy there is a queue (but since covid-19, there is hardly any queue anymore). The counter for this is at the 1/F. Walk inside the building and go to the right or enter the building from the side entrance on the right where you find the staircases and go up 1 floor.
What to bring?
Bring 1 copy of all these documents.
If you need 2 residence certificates at the same time, for example one for renewing your driving license and one for buying a new vehicle, you only need to bring one set of copies but 2 passport photos.
In the past, you would have to pick up your residence certificate in a few weeks, but since covid Immigration also has seen the light and they realize things can be easier for both sides, so you just pay 40 baht for registered postal fees and they'll send it to your home address.
If you don't have the time to wait for weeks, then there are ways to get it done faster by going through a visa agent. Literally all visa agents in town will be able to get it for you after 1 day usually at THB 1,000 fee, they all have a connection with Immigration and will share the 'convenience fee' or ค่าน้ำชา kha naam cha with their contacts to expedite your request faster.
There are even a few visa agents across the road from the Immigration office at the airport that will be able to help you: The Colonel and ABC Visa, for example.
Across the road from the Immigration office at the airport you already find some visa agents
What to bring?
For the expedited service you would need the same documents, but sometimes the agent is able to sideskip some strict requirements, such as the TM.30 slip. That could be a big advantage if you happened to have forgotten to arrange for that when you entered Thailand.
The typical fee for the expedited service is THB 500-1,000 but some agents may add a surcharge to that. You can usually pick up your Residence Certificate the next day or 2 days later after 2pm.
So if you don't have the TM.30 you can actually save yourself some money (THB 1,600 - THB 1,000 = THB 600) and trouble by just using a special agent and be done with it.
Old bill of 500 baht by special agent for quick Residence Certificate in the Promenada days
Note that the residence certificate you get from Immigration is only 30 days.
Getting a Residence Certificate is easy with the right approach
Do you have other experiences with getting your Residence Certificate? Share it here as a comment
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 | Allen Posted on December 22, 2023 at 03:52:46 Regulations regarding photo are not right size is 6cmx4cm,background is white only |
 | Denis Yudin Posted on November 22, 2022 at 04:48:49 Hello, i need CERTIFICATE OF RESIDENCE |
 | Stevo Posted on October 05, 2022 at 06:00:04 Great intel, thank you..! With Promenada bolted up and unknown situation at Central, best to just go to the source… I use the copy shop across the road for photos and copies, generally pretty quiet and always cool inside. The actual process is a piece of piss…. Tidy earner they have with the, ahem, express service… I think it used to be a grand when they had that shit show at that run down place where all the Burmese would get their work permits, across from Promenada.. |
 | Plastic_Brontosaurus Posted on March 30, 2022 at 07:18:38 The information above is now several years old and partially incorrect. I've done the process twice this year (last month and today) to get the Residence Certificate at Chiang Mai immigration. What you should bring: proof of address as mentioned in the article above (I brought a letter from my condominium). TM30. Photocopy of passport details page, and photocopies of relevant stamped pages (all stamps related to current stay). Photocopy of TM6. One passport photo. 500 baht (for expedited service; just ask for that, and you can collect the next day). This is on the first floor of the immigration building near the airport; just go up the stairs and you see the desk right there. Hours are 8:30 until 12:00 noon. Collection (in case of expedited service) next working day, between the same hours. I don't know if they still open in the afternoon. I also don't know the current waiting time for the free service (on some other sites they say it is between several weeks and one to two months, but it seems to vary with the time of year). |
 | Geo Posted on September 19, 2020 at 03:18:29 I needed one to renew my driving licence in Phitsanulok. My worry was I only had 24 days until my birthday and would I get the letter beforehand. After reading others posts on the internet about the tie it takes I went there with no confidence. 30 minutes later I walked out with proof of residence and got my new licence the next day. |
 | Patraeus Posted on January 23, 2019 at 18:46:54 I paid a fee at the pattaya immigration office and was able to open a thai bank account on my 30 day tourist visa. Just smile and act naive and talk money. |
 | jkt Posted on November 22, 2018 at 11:41:22 great article , I know you are based in CM , but are you aware of any agents in BKK that offer this service |
 | Chris Posted on October 10, 2018 at 06:11:29 Regarding your update, who do I need to speak to to get the expedited service and do I need a TM 30? |
 | Jason Posted on October 04, 2018 at 05:20:05 UPDATE Oct 2018: it’s now possible to get residence certificate same day at the new immigration building, pickup at 5:30pm. Charge is 1000 baht. The old service of picking up next day is still available, pickup at 5:30pm, charge is 500 baht. I presume the “free” one is still available if you want to wait 2 weeks, but I didn’t ask. |
| Jason Posted on October 04, 2018 at 03:06:00 How does this apply now that Chiang Mai immigration is no longer at Promenada? I don't want to wait 2 weeks, I need the certificate so I can renew my driving license and buy a new car. |
 | chiangmaicharlies Posted on August 18, 2018 at 10:41:50 I went to 'no name office, and it was fast but cost B1500. B1000 basic charge, B200 for 6x4 cm photos from the copy shop as passport size were refused. and B300 for no name getting the TM30 slip using my docs. I went upstairs to do it myself, but at 11 am was told to come back at 1:30 pm! |
 | Tony Posted on August 15, 2018 at 04:49:45 Note: immigration need to have 30 days left on your visa to get a residency certificate. I was 45 days into my 60 days (multiple entry) and was turned away by the special service based on this. |
 | AK Posted on August 03, 2018 at 14:05:56 Went to the 'no name' place next to the photocopy shop on the ground floor today, Friday, 3 August, 2018. The required documents were: 1) original passport and its photocopies of relevant pages as mentioned above; 2) a photocopy of TM 30 slip (now they ask for it!); 3) 2 passport-sized photos for the 1st certificate (and one additional if you need one more certificate); and 4) 1000 baht per certificate. I wasn't asked for the proof of address. The place was closing, so they couldn't be bothered to check perhaps. I had to write down the address on the form myself. They said I can collect mine on the next working day at 4:30pm. |
 | Ragabob Posted on May 21, 2018 at 05:48:15 Fee for Residence Certificate is now 1000baht. Just been there today Monday 21 May 2018. Apparently they doubled the fee after Songkran |
 | Matthew Posted on October 24, 2017 at 08:27:51 My wife just applied last week for the residence certificate, and it will be ready in 4 weeks. No Fee. Promenada 2nd floor, apply 9-11AM. If you want it faster, it's 500 Baht, and you get it the next day. In that case, apply downstairs at Immigration, Promenada. |
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