Expats and Retirees Excluded in Thailand's Citizenship Grants

[webfact]

 

Thailand is addressing the plight of stateless immigrants from neighbouring countries, with a new policy to grant citizenship to 483,000 such individuals. However, this initiative does not extend to western expats or retirees.

 

The Ministry of the Interior clarified that this effort is aimed at people from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia who have lived in Thailand for decades, often statelessly, writes Barry Kanyon for Pattaya Mail.

 

There had been some confusion, leading expats, particularly retirees from the UK and USA, to inquire about possible benefits for themselves. Some wrongly assumed it related to taxation on overseas income brought into Thailand.

 

Nonetheless, this policy strictly targets immigrants and ethnic minorities who have long been residing in Thailand without a defined status.

 

Ms Trisulee Traisanakul, secretary to the interior ministry, stated that most of those eligible are from Myanmar or stateless individuals from disputed border regions.

 

The objective is to grant them a proper legal status, which in turn should stimulate the economy and allow these groups to work legally.

 

Thailand is experiencing a demographic challenge with a dropping birth rate and an increasing elderly population. By 2074, the native population could halve to around 30 million.

 

The policy, therefore, also aims to address this fertility crisis by increasing the working-age population.

 

The Department of Provincial Administration has undertaken research on these immigrant groups, and the citizenship application process may include self-certification where necessary. Gaining Thai citizenship offers rights such as voting in elections and land ownership.

 

The citizenship eligibility for westerners generally requires permanent resident status, based on a solid history of legal employment or significant contributions to Thai society.

 

However, addressing the stateless immigrant issue has been a governmental focus and is now being actively pursued.

 

-- 2024-11-02

 

 

[Aviatorhi]

Look at that - a country doing something right instead of trying to start a mass deportation program.

[pacovl46]

How does the expat status of people from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia differ from expats from western countries? Theyrw both expats. Also, I'd say it's safe to say, that expats and retirees from western countries have more expendable income than any of the neighboring Asian countries. They therefore stimulate tue economy quote a bit more per capita...

[redwood1]

As I sit on my Soi Bukow bar stool all alone because I am to cheap to buy lady drinks....Let me tell you guys I feel as stateless as can be...
 

I think I am very well qualified for citizenship based on being in Thailand so long....

 

Retired expats are minority in Thailand...Who all deserve citizenship without having to sing the national anthem......

 

They could just substitute Hotel California for the national anthem....A song us old folks know the words too.....Allowing this change would be respecting our human rights.... 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by redwood1

[bradiston]

22 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

How does the expat status of people from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia differ from expats from western countries? Theyrw both expats. Also, I'd say it's safe to say, that expats and retirees from western countries have more expendable income than any of the neighboring Asian countries. They therefore stimulate tue economy quote a bit more per capita...

Refugees are expats? Are you kidding?

[BayArea]

19 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

as I sit on my Soi Bukow bar stool all alone because I am to cheap to buy lady drinks.

no offense, but this is why Thailand is excluding people like you. 

[daveAustin]

No surprise there. Just be thankful they don’t make it tougher. That is coming I guess. 
Citizenship: just so long as Thais don’t have it easy in my country. Property, voting, rights etc. Oh wait! 🙂

[spidermike007]

This is meant to address refugees and those who have spent their lives in Thailand, and are stateless. It is a decent thing to do. 

[prakhonchai nick]

Just like in the UK, 480,000 stateless people (effectively refugees)  once given citizenship, will clog up hospitals making waits even longer, since  seeing a doctor will now be free.

[ikke1959]

Another example/proof how Westerners and expats welcome are in Thailand..

[Geoffggi]

1 hour ago, pacovl46 said:

How does the expat status of people from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia differ from expats from western countries? Theyrw both expats. Also, I'd say it's safe to say, that expats and retirees from western countries have more expendable income than any of the neighboring Asian countries. They therefore stimulate tue economy quote a bit more per capita...

Absolutely correct, one of my main gripes is expats that have legally married & purchased properties & raised families even if they have been residing here for many years are always never considered for any legalisation to stay in the country

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

However, this initiative does not extend to western expats or retirees.

To be honest this doesn't bother me one bit..

I don't want Thai citizenship, I'm happy staying as a Brit

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, pacovl46 said:

How does the expat status of people from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia differ from expats from western countries? Theyrw both expats. Also, I'd say it's safe to say, that expats and retirees from western countries have more expendable income than any of the neighboring Asian countries. They therefore stimulate tue economy quote a bit more per capita...

Thailand needs a willing workforce, instead of chasing illegals, turn them into citizens and tax them.

This is about revenue, not human rights.

[Aviatorhi]

1 hour ago, pacovl46 said:

How does the expat status of people from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia differ from expats from western countries? Theyrw both expats. Also, I'd say it's safe to say, that expats and retirees from western countries have more expendable income than any of the neighboring Asian countries. They therefore stimulate tue economy quote a bit more per capita...

They have a state (citizenship) whereas these stateless people from disputed border regions do not. Try using more than the "me me me" part of your brain at least once in your life. 

[itsari]

2 hours ago, Aviatorhi said:

Look at that - a country doing something right instead of trying to start a mass deportation program.

It is a country showing there discrimination towards western foreigners.

Mass deportation program of the above mentioned is always on the cards.

[Lung Mark]

2 hours ago, bradiston said:

Refugees are expats? Are you kidding?Exp

Expats have a country they can go back to. They usually have a passport allowing them to travel. They had access to education and medical care. These people have no country, no identification, no rights, no future. Thailand did right.

Edited 30 minutes ago by Lung Mark
Mistakes

[bannork]

Already mentioned but perhaps needs driving home:

a stateless person is not the same as an expat clutching a passport of his own nation.

[BaslerBebbi]

I don’t understand why “Farangs” which are married with a Thai don’t have the possibility after several years to become Thai citizens. 
In many countries it is normal and family friendly. 

[mfd101]

For once the Thai government gets it right, though it might have been nice if the initial "I've been um thinking that um ... " announcement had not raised the silly expectations of clueless Falang expats.

[bradiston]

7 minutes ago, BaslerBebbi said:

I don’t understand why “Farangs” which are married with a Thai don’t have the possibility after several years to become Thai citizens. 
In many countries it is normal and family friendly. 

They do.

[bradiston]

1 hour ago, Geoffggi said:

Absolutely correct, one of my main gripes is expats that have legally married & purchased properties & raised families even if they have been residing here for many years are always never considered for any legalisation to stay in the country

Wrong. There is a citizenship application process for foreigners. Several on this forum have outlined the procedure and obtained Thai citizenship.

[Old Croc]

A sound humanitarian move designed to legalize stateless people closeted within Thailand. As stated, it also helps the host nation suffering from a declining birth rate and in need of economic stimulus.

This program has nothing to do with expats holding citizenship in their home country. A completely separate matter, but Thailand does need to make an easier pathway for these people to obtain citizenship or PR if wanted. 

 

 

[bradiston]

53 minutes ago, itsari said:

It is a country showing there discrimination towards western foreigners.

Mass deportation program of the above mentioned is always on the cards.

There is a crowd of ignorant fools in this thread who are conflating stateless persons and refugees who have been living in Thailand for decades, mostly, and foreigners who choose to retire here at their leisure, and can pack up and leave any time they want. They have nothing in common with stateless people and refugees. And of course there are the usual numbskulls dragging in the UK, the NHS and "illegal" immigrants there.

[thailand49]

The truth?  These are basically illegals here doing work Thai dont want or brought in by Thais for lower wages.

Reason coverup verbally is the decline in their own population 

It is even a race issue as an Expat I dont expect or want citizenship it isnt going to stop the discrimination I feel daily and Ive been here 2 decades and it isnt the duel pricing stuff.

But I do feel if you been here like 10 years clean history done all ask in obtaining Your visa for whatever reason thrown a bone so one dont have to jump through hoops, TM30, TM47, IMM-O!  

Im not asking for much am I?🤔

[Tarteso]

Well, Thailand only wants your money, not your rights or your democratic vote. And of course, I have no interest in having Thai nationality either.