Will I have to serve Thai Military Service with a Dual Nationality?

[AdamTH]

Hi everyone,

 

I am worried about something. First I'll introduce myself.

 

My name is Adam and I am 13 years old. 3 months ago I moved from the Netherlands to Thailand. I have a Dutch and Thai passport. In December I wil get a Thai ID.

My father is from South America and my mom is Thai.

 

Will I have to serve the Thai Military Service?

I rather not serve. I'd like to study and make something of my life, then serving the military. Is there anything to avoid serving the Military? Because I see that every male Thai citizen is required from the age of 20 to serve the Military by determined by the lottery.

 

All the replies/help would be very kind of you! Thank you...

 

 

[Fruit Trader]

I was in Europe at service age and stayed well beyond 30 so avoided military service. I think rules have changed since I passed service age and this web page appears to have decent info. http://www.thaicitizenship.com/thai-military-service/
 

Edited November 25, 2018 by Fruit Trader

[mogandave]

I think if you attend the military course in high school you can avoid military service.

[Snow Leopard]

I can tell you the UK passport side. The UK government cannot protect you if military service is required, In this case, it would be Thailand. So you will have to go if you had a UK passport. I am fairly sure it would be the same for having a Dutch passport as well. 

[mogandave]

I believe when you turn 18 you will have to decide which country you want to be a citizen of.

[elgenon]

Then again, it seems ladyboys don't have to serve. But i would never suggest........

[lust]

You would rather make something of your life rather than join the military? Like what? Some of my best experiences came from being a soldier. 

[Spidey]

13 minutes ago, lust said:

You would rather make something of your life rather than join the military? Like what? Some of my best experiences came from being a soldier. 

I'll wager you weren't a Thai conscript. Different ball game, not a happy experience.

 

Best advice from mogandave, find a school that has a military unit. Circumvents national service.

 

Of course you could always find a doctor to diagnose you with "bone spurs". 555

Edited November 26, 2018 by Spidey

[GLewis]

15 hours ago, mogandave said:

I believe when you turn 18 you will have to decide which country you want to be a citizen of.

You may believe it but its not true. You may hold dual nationality with no problems at all. Both my kids are 21 and hold two passports and have no plans to renounce either one.  

[Chicken George]

15 hours ago, mogandave said:

I believe when you turn 18 you will have to decide which country you want to be a citizen of.

That is just not true. 

[Chicken George]

Ive heard thst even if you do 3 years part time as in one day a week from school at around 18 this still dors not exempt you now from military service.. Heard from a student last year who did the three years. 

Medical grounds will exempt you or stay out of Thailand till you are thirty. 

[Chicken George]

20 hours ago, Fruit Trader said:

I was in Europe at service age and stayed well beyond 30 so avoided military service. I think rules have changed since I passed service age and this web page appears to have decent info. http://www.thaicitizenship.com/thai-military-service/
 

Excellent link. Although it is ambigous saying Dual citizens are exempt from Natiinal Service. I expect the word Not has been left out.. Education. Three years part time while at school. Mefical grounds. Or staying abroad untill after you are 30 are the main options.

[catman20]

59 minutes ago, lust said:

You would rather make something of your life rather than join the military? Like what? Some of my best experiences came from being a soldier. 

yes but not in Thailand 555

[thaibook]

There are two further potential options, one is to do an officer short service commission, if there is such a thing in Thailand, which would probably give you a good introduction for any future endevours.  The other is to volunteer.  Earlier this yer, my wife and I spent a week or so driving around the three southern restless provinces visiting some of the camps and giving out goodies to soldiers there and to those on checkpoints.  We talked to a number of them and all the "jungle soldiers" as they called themselves and the Border Security units were volunteers.  They had contracts that were renewed annually.  Actually, I was quite impressed by the calibre of some of the NCOs and junior officers.

[mogandave]

You may believe it but its not true. You may hold dual nationality with no problems at all. Both my kids are 21 and hold two passports and have no plans to renounce either one.  

How did you do it?

I know the US recognizes duel citizenship but I thought Thailand did not.

My boy is 15 and I would like home to keep both.

[thaibook]

5 minutes ago, mogandave said:

 

 

How did you do it?

I know the US recognizes duel citizenship but I thought Thailand did not.

My boy is 15 and I would like home to keep both.

It may be different but numerous Thai women have dual nationalities.  At least they have two passports and they do not seem shy of letting the Thai authorities know.

 

 

[AlQaholic]

Thai conscripts do such useful work, such as cutting grass at army golf courses, cleaning swamps, cleaning toilets, cleaning in general, raking beaches, lubricating machines and weapons, cleaning weapons, cleaning machines.

[dcmcp]

To the OP...I have two boys, over 20 years old, both dual passport holders, Thai and Australian. Neither country has a a problem with that, but being a dual passport holder does not grant you exemption from being conscripted.

 

They attended high school here in Thailand and from Years Matayom 4 through to 6, they were enrolled in army cadet training (Lor Dor), which required them to turn up to the provincial cadet training centre one afternoon once per week during the school term. Upon successful completion of the 3 years of cadet training, they are issued a certificate that exempts them from military conscription...they may be called up in a time of war however. Cadet training is not difficult and most high schools offer it to their male & female students.

 

Another way to exempt yourself from the conscription lottery is $$$   

Edited November 26, 2018 by dcmcp

[Brunolem]

1 minute ago, dcmcp said:

To the OP...I have two boys, over 20 years old, both dual passport holders, Thai and Australian. Neither country has a a problem with that.

 

They attended high school here in Thailand and from Years Matayom 4 through to 6, they were enrolled in army cadet training (Lor Dor), which required them to turn up to the provincial cadet training centre one afternoon once per week during the school term. Upon successful completion of the 3 years of cadet training, they are issued a certificate that exempts them from military conscription...they may be called up in a time of war however. Cadet training is not difficult and most high schools offer it to their male & female students.

 

 

That is probably the best way to avoid wasting 2 years in military service...

[sawadeeken]

29 minutes ago, mogandave said:

 

 

How did you do it?

I know the US recognizes duel citizenship but I thought Thailand did not.

My boy is 15 and I would like home to keep both.

 

 

My 35 year old son in the USA was born Thai, immigrated to USA age 12...... My Thai wife got US passport via citizenship when the son was under 17 so he automatically got US passport....... So now he has 2 citizenships........

When the son was in High School he met a Thai Girl who had immigrated to New Zealand similar to him (The girl visited the US to visit a friend in his school).... My son got aquainted with that girl and it led to him marrying her, moving to New Zealand, Having 2 lovely daughters (full blooded Thai)...... and he immigrated to NZ thereby obtaining a 'third nationality' and NOW HAS 3 DIFFERENT PASSPORTS........ 

As it all works out.... He is totally legal and 'recognized by most 'first-world countries' as well as his 'birth country Thailand.......

A few years ago the family all moved to the USA and now his wife has acquired a US passport......

In your case, I'm not sure about your son getting citizenship in YOUR country, without living there..... Maybe YOU already know that answer........

As far as 'Military service obligation'..... my son did not come to Thailand for several years after being 17 years old..... My wife had some of her family in Thailand talk to the 'right-people' and 'Pay some undertable fees'..... AND the son got listed as drawing-the-lottery and not having to serve............ TIT ..........

[seabass69]

1 hour ago, Chicken George said:

Excellent link. Although it is ambigous saying Dual citizens are exempt from Natiinal Service. I expect the word Not has been left out.. Education. Three years part time while at school. Mefical grounds. Or staying abroad untill after you are 30 are the main options.

Saying that dual citizens are exempt was one of the misconceptions, therefore no ambiguity 

[mogandave]

It may be different but numerous Thai women have dual nationalities.  At least they have two passports and they do not seem shy of letting the Thai authorities know.
 
 

My boy has two passports, my concern is whether or not (when push come to shove) Thailand actually legally recognizes duel citizenship.

[lust]

3 hours ago, Spidey said:

I'll wager you weren't a Thai conscript. Different ball game, not a happy experience.

I volunteered of course. Served 4 years in the infantry and did a tour in Afghanistan. I’d join the Thai army for 2 years if it gave me citizenship. ????

[sawadeeken]

1 hour ago, mogandave said:

 

My boy has two passports, my concern is whether or not (when push come to shove) Thailand actually legally recognizes duel citizenship.
 

 

Several of my THAI family and friends have two or more and they can enter Thailand using which ever one they choose.......

Each having different 'conditions'...... example..... enter on Thai passport and stay here as long as you like..... enter on US passport and have to leave in 30 days (unless however they got a visa for longer).........

[mogandave]

Several of my THAI family and friends have two or more and they can enter Thailand using which ever one they choose.......
Each having different 'conditions'...... example..... enter on Thai passport and stay here as long as you like..... enter on US passport and have to leave in 30 days (unless however they got a visa for longer).........

Yeah, we do that now.

[Snow Leopard]

I think that you should check this very carefully. You might have bigger issues here than just military service. You could lose your Dutch passport if you spend a long time out of Holland.

[Media1]

if Future Foward come into power it will be abolished. It's purely a money scam. They target wealthy so they pay to avoid the sons service. A huge waste of the people's money and if you stay outside the country or family pays. You won't need to serve in dad's army.

[Khlong Lan]

Yes if you are a Thai male citizen then you will be subject to the draft.  So long as you are in full time school you can send a notice of such and be exempted for that year.  Your have to do every year.  My step son forgot one year and his name was posted as a no show.   next year he reported and was marched over to the police station and fined 300 baht.  2 days later he pulled an exempt chip from the bag.  there was Only 1 chip in the bag for entry into the military.  If you try to dodge it you may have serious problems down the road.  No Bank Account, No passport renewal, no inheritance of land etc.

[DJ54]

Your 13 years 3 mmonths old. Give it a couple 2-3 years and look at options at that time. You never know what happens during that time...

[grollies]

10 hours ago, mogandave said:

 

 

How did you do it?

I know the US recognizes duel citizenship but I thought Thailand did not.

My boy is 15 and I would like home to keep both.

 

 

My wife and stepson are dual British/Thai nationals. Are you saying Thailand does not recognise dual nationality? Must be one of the only countries in the world that doesn't - I'll have to google that.