House panel allows same-sex foreign couples to register civil partnership in Thailand

[snoop1130]

 

The House committee vetting the Civil Partnership Bill decided today (Wednesday) to amend the bill to make it possible for same-sex couples who are both foreigners to register their partnership in Thailand, instead of one of them having to be a Thai national.

 

Spokesperson for the House scrutiny panel, Thanikarn Pornpongsarote, said that the committee decided to scrap the entire Section 8 of the bill, which stipulates that one of the same-sex couples who are eligible to register their partnership here must be a Thai national.

 

The deletion of the clause means that the door is open for same-sex couples who are both non-Thais to register their union, which can help boost tourism, said Thanikarn.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/house-panel-allows-same-sex-foreign-couples-to-register-civil-partnership-in-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-07-27

 

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[DezLez]

Good news if true but my understanding from previous reports was that this bill was NOT going to be enacted in this parliamentary session and would be carried forward yet again!

[KannikaP]

38 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

the door is open for same-sex couples who are both non-Thais to register their union, which can help boost tourism, said Thanikarn.

How will that boost tourism, anyone, please? How many non-registered same-sex couples will come over here in order to register it?

[Laughing Gravy]

Possible, could, maybe, potentially etc etc etc.

[ikke1959]

There is no Civil Union Bill or Gay marriage yet, so no good news too.... If Thailand accept the Gay Marriage or Civil Union Bill it has to be according to the international standards. With  1 Thai and a foreigner it does not meet theinternational criteria for recognizing in sthe other countries... They have found out now after 8 years?? How long still waiting till it becomes a law?? 

[brianthainess]

Why does a same foreign sex couple need to register in Thailand anyway, for what reason ???

[HarrySeaman]

49 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Why does a same foreign sex couple need to register in Thailand anyway, for what reason ???

As a legal couple your partner can control your medical care in hospital if you are not able to do it yourself.  For instance, if you have no wish to be kept on life support if you can never recover consciousness following a stroke your legal partner can stop you receiving medical care to extend your life in a vegetative state.

 

The same can be done by having a legal Thai living will appointing your partner to these duties but they must present the living will to the hospital first.  It is automatic and immediate if you are legally partners. 

 

I had a Thai lawyer make me a legal Thai will naming my 20 year long Thai partner my beneficiary and executor, then we made a living will placing her in charge of my care if I am incapable of making those decisions myself.  Note that the partner must be present and agree to this and both of you sign the living will in front of witnesses.

 

This decision will extend the same rights to a same sex partnership as to a mixed sex marriage.

Edited July 28, 2022 by HarrySeaman

[Jen65]

48 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Why does a same foreign sex couple need to register in Thailand anyway, for what reason ???

totally agree , what's the point unless there is some amendment to allow same sex foreign couples to live/stay in Thailand on the equivalent basis as married couples .

 

[jak2002003]

49 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Why does a same foreign sex couple need to register in Thailand anyway, for what reason ???

Expat same sex  couples could register for legal or visa reasons, medical care / next of kin, wills, etc.  

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The deletion of the clause means that the door is open for same-sex couples who are both non-Thais to register their union, which can help boost tourism, said Thanikarn.

Would that be the back door?

[Scott Tracy]

Do straight people have to register their marriage in Thailand? Do they have to carry their certificate of marriage, translated into Thai if something goes wrong while in Thailand? Present that to the hospital? 

 

[ikke1959]

6 hours ago, Jen65 said:

totally agree , what's the point unless there is some amendment to allow same sex foreign couples to live/stay in Thailand on the equivalent basis as married couples .

 

THat is easy if you think.... Thailand want that foreign gay couples come to Thailand to et married and party and stay for holiday.... Marrying with only a Thai partner they will miss this whole group, and besides probably the marriage/partnership will not be international recognized

[brianthainess]

On 7/28/2022 at 9:02 AM, jak2002003 said:

Expat same sex  couples could register for legal or visa reasons, medical care / next of kin, wills, etc.  

And what visa would that be ? Medical care is done with a living will and power of attorney documents, IMO registering a same sex couple  would still not be of any use.

Edited July 29, 2022 by brianthainess

[brianthainess]

On 7/28/2022 at 1:47 PM, Scott Tracy said:

Do straight people have to register their marriage in Thailand? Do they have to carry their certificate of marriage, translated into Thai if something goes wrong while in Thailand? Present that to the hospital? 

 

I presume you mean a foreign couple. A foreigner can produce any document they like at a hospital you will still pay full price+.

However If you get married to a Thai in Thailand it is registered and written in Thai, a Kor Ror 2 document to say you are still married is available from ANY town counsel office in Thailand for about 20b. If they are Thai they only need their ID card for medical care. 

[jak2002003]

31 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

And what visa would that be ? Medical care is done with a living will and power of attorney documents, IMO registering a same sex couple  would still not be of any use.

But they won't have to bother paying a solicitor or taking the time to do the living will, power of attorney etc. If they are registered as same sex couple.

 

No visa as yet...but this is a step in the right direction.  There would be no chance of that if this stage was not approved. 

 

Anyway, now they could have the choice....which is more the point.  

 

[brianthainess]

5 minutes ago, jak2002003 said:

But they won't have to bother paying a solicitor or taking the time to do the living will, power of attorney etc. If they are registered as same sex couple.

Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but your wearing rose tinted glasses if you believe that even strait falang married to a Thai lady, use solicitors for wills and living wills.

[mikebike]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

And what visa would that be ?

Dependant. 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

And what visa would that be ? Medical care is done with a living will and power of attorney documents, IMO registering a same sex couple  would still not be of any use.

Really?

 

My information says that the change will allow foreign same sex couples to apply JOINTLY for retirement and marriage extensions.

 

That would be a <deleted>' big deal.

 

 

Edited July 29, 2022 by Jingthing

[jak2002003]

51 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but your wearing rose tinted glasses if you believe that even strait falang married to a Thai lady, use solicitors for wills and living wills.

Ok......  Yes.....but they are legally next of kin.   If same sex marriage was not registered or recognised in a country as legal then their partner would not be next of kin and would have no right against family / hospitals, assets etc etc....even a will wil have a higher chance to be contested by family.  

 

Would you be happy if your marriage or was not legal?  

 

[Bobbie Davies]

Several benefits for same-sex “marriage”, not so much for same-sex domestic partnerships for foreigners. Unless expats of course. Several issues tied into this.

— it is not just the ceremony ( you can do that, meaningless as it is) or even the registration (cannot yet) it is the “recognition” on the part of Thailand, of valid domestic partnerships and or marriages from other countries. Think condos. Inheritance rights. From US think business ownership, investment, etc…

— The idea of “marriage tourism” as opposed to “sex tourism” is much more palatable to the Tourist Authority. And brings in “cleaner”, “ family friendly” high quality Baht. Especially, as it can be billed as not just wedding, but also honeymoon destination. 
— Thailand has been billing itself as a marriage destination for a while now. It would be useful if foreigners, esp. those that come from countries that do not allow gay marriage yet, read: all other ASEAN countries, could get hitched in Thailand for a shorter and cheaper trip than say, having to run to US. Example. A Japanese ( put in your ASEAN country of choice) and American, want to get married and eventually move to US. A lot cheaper to get married in Thailand. Then work on Visa to bring ASEAN husband or wife on family visa. Can get married in US on a tourist Visa but then ASEAN must go back and you must file for Married Visa, often need to wait three years after marriage or looked on with suspicion by US immigration. With marriage Visa comes green card in US. Much much less work to get already done valid marriage recognized in your country of origin.

 

 

[mikebike]

On 7/29/2022 at 5:11 PM, brianthainess said:

And what visa would that be ?

Yes, dependant. Legally married can follow on retirement visa and extensions. Saves some dosh in the bank. 

[Jen65]

On 7/29/2022 at 6:17 PM, Jingthing said:

Really?

 

My information says that the change will allow foreign same sex couples to apply JOINTLY for retirement and marriage extensions.

 

That would be a <deleted>' big deal.

 

 

to be valid then foreign same sex couples would have to produce internationally recognised marriage or civil partnership documents for immigration in order for consideration of the retirement / marriage extensions . This immediately poses the problem of how ones legal civil partner is able to initially enter Thailand if say one partner is retired but the other below retirement age ?  Lots of issues here to resolve and be confirmed before embarking on such proposals    

[Neeranam]

19 hours ago, mikebike said:

Yes, dependant. Legally married can follow on retirement visa and extensions. Saves some dosh in the bank. 

This visa you need to have dependents who are Thai.