How To Get The Residence Certificate In Chiang Mai

If you’re currently settling in Chiang Mai, you may need a residence certificate at some point. The good news is that it’s pretty easy to get one!

In this guide, we’ll explore how you can get proof of residence in Chiang Mai. We’ll discuss the reasons why you may need a residence certificate and the documents required.

Without further ado, let’s start with why you may need a Chiang Mai residence certificate in the first place.

Reasons To Get A Residence Certificate In Chiang Mai

When moving to Chiang Mai, you may want to open a bank account or get a driver’s license to avoid issues with police checkpoints.

There are other reasons why you may want to obtain a residence certificate, so let’s explore them!

• Driver’s license
• Vehicule registration
• Opening a bank account

You could also need one if you’re getting married in Thailand or seeking a work permit/visa.

Ways To Get The Residence Certificate

There are a few different ways to get the residency certificate:

1. Do it yourself (Go to the Immigration Office next to the airport in the morning)
2. Outsource it to an agent (many agencies in Chiang Mai offer this service)
3. Go to your Consulate or Embassy (if available in Chaing Mai)

Currently, it can take up to three weeks to receive your certificate at your address. Alternatively, you can pay an “express fee” to pick it up the next day.

That said, the fastest way to get the Residence certificate is to pay more.

To give you an idea, here are some of the fees you can expect to pay:

• At the Airport Immigration office, the “express fee” is THB 500.
• If you go to an agent, you’ll get the certificate the next day for THB 1000 (and you won’t need to go to the office yourself) Note that prices can vary depending on the agent chosen.
• If you go to your Embassy or Consulate, expect to pay around THB 1250 and you can get your certificate quicker (one hour).

Residence Certificate Process

To get the residence certificate in Chiang Mai, you’ll need to go to the Chiang Mai Immigration office next to the airport. Although, it’s not on the same floor as the visa extension one.

Alternatively, you can contact your Embassy/Consulate or use an agent to facilitate the process.

You’ll need the following documents:

• Passport (you’ll need a copy of the photo page and a copy of the stamp/visa)
• TM.30 (your accommodation should be able to provide this)
• Photo
• Arrival card (if you have one) – since 2022, I haven’t received any arrival cards in Thailand
• 90 days report (for those with long-term visas)
• Lease agreement (only required by Consulate, but it’s always good to bring it in case you need it)

Once you get the certificate, it will be valid for 30 days from the issuance date. Usually, the bank and DLT (Department of Land Transport) require the original certificate. So, you can order more than one certificate if you need it.

My Experience With An Agent

As I don’t enjoy waiting in long queues, I used an agent to facilitate the process. I chose The Colonel Company Visa, which is located across the road from the Immigration Office.

I contacted them online and was able to send them photos of all my documents.

For payment, I went to pay in person as I didn’t have a Thai bank account yet. However, if you have one, you can scan a QR code to send them the money and pick up the residence certificate the next day.

The cost was THB 1000.

The next day, I had to go pick up the certificate. The staff asked me to review the information and name. They had made a mistake in my name, so they fixed it and sent a courier to deliver the certificate on the same day.

However, my partner’s certificate was perfect.

Final Thoughts On Residence Certificate In Chiang Mai

Overall, getting the residency certificate was fairly easy. I’m glad I didn’t need to wait at the Immigration Office and would use an agent again next time I need to get a residence certificate.

As long as you have all the documents needed, it’s pretty easy!

Moving to Thailand soon? Learn more about Thailand money.

Visiting Chiang Mai soon? Read one of the following guides:

• How many days in Chiang Mai
• Is Chiang Mai safe
• Chiang Mai VS Chiang Rai