Thai Military Service for my Dual National son.(Not living in Thailand)

[joedee]

I am a British National I have a son with a Thai national.

Our son was born in India.

He was registered with The British Consulate 

and also The Thai Consulate in India

We have Passports and Birth certificates for both Countries plus an Indian Birth certificate

We also applied for a Thai ID card and renewed his Thai passport in Thailand 

during short trips to Thailand.

We also registered him in the house registration book at his mother's local town in Thailand.

 

My son and Thai Mother have permanently lived in India since 2005 other than annual short trips to Thailand.

My son has been educated fully at private school in India. He is now past 16 years old.

(His Mother and I both work in India)

 

He has decided on a career in The British Army. He has started the application process which has all been fine.

Now The British Army require a Military Service Letter from the Thai government informing that they will release 

my son from Conscription into The Thai Army and will not call upon him in the event of war or other reason.

 

I have contacted the Thai consulate in India and London.

In India they told me there is no process for this and he has to 

contact the local Military registration center where conscription is handled.

London have not replied despite 2 Emails and using a UK address and telephone number.

 

I have googled this and the information is very unclear if indeed it can be done at all...

 

In a nutshell, My son has never LIVED in Thailand since birth, doesn't speak or read/write Thai.

Has no intention of living in Thailand other than for vacation in the foreseeable future.

Has limited career opportunity in Thailand. Plans to move to the UK in July this year.

Wants to enroll for a career in The British Army this year.

 

Has anyone got any experience in this matter or can offer any "sensible" suggestions regarding this process.

Or happens to know where/who to contact directly for this matter.

 

I look forward to helpful comments.

 

Many thanks

 

Joe 

[KhunLA]

If not plans to live in TH, why not just rescind his citizenship.  Actually might be the easiest way.

 

https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-law/renunciation-of-thai-citizenship-application-process/#:~:text=Applicant applies with competent officials,of Bangkok (30 days).

[JBChiangRai]

I don’t have any experience with this, but I remember reading some time ago that you can pay ฿30,000 to skip the selection process, it might be worth doing that.

[joedee]

13 hours ago, KhunLA said:

If not plans to live in TH, why not just rescind his citizenship.  Actually might be the easiest way.

 

https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-law/renunciation-of-thai-citizenship-application-process/#:~:text=Applicant applies with competent officials,of Bangkok (30 days).

Yes, I did think about this as he will always be able to stay in Thailand if he later chooses to, based on his Mother being Thai. 

But having seen the link you gave it seems like it would take 15 to 18 months to arrange.

 

At this point I would prefer to pursue trying to obtain a military exemption letter.

I hope to be able to find out where to start with this process..

 

Thank you for the suggestion.

 

Joe

 

[joedee]

4 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I don’t have any experience with this, but I remember reading some time ago that you can pay ฿30,000 to skip the selection process, it might be worth doing that.

Yes, I would happily pay to get what he needs. But I need to find out where I can do this. 

Also , it is not just about skipping the process. I need a Military Exemption Letter or similar from the Thai Military or Government to satisfy The British Army recruitment process.

A letter stating that my son will not be called into Thai Military service if he is enrolled in The British Army (or similar)..

 

Thank you for your suggestion.

 

Joe

[Gaccha]

I'm afraid I don't believe he will be able to obtain an exemption.

 

As a male citizen he has a duty that is not avoided by being a dual or triple citizen, or by living abroad: 

 

 

In fact he could even lose his Thai citizenship if he does not comply: 

 

 

There are only very few exemptions. 

 

 

The best possibility looks like walking into the consulate and getting a meeting. If they're not answering the phone I don't see any other option. It is there where the exemption is typically issued.

[Dante99]

16 hours ago, joedee said:

I have contacted the Thai consulate in India and London.

In India they told me there is no process for this and he has to 

contact the local Military registration center where conscription is handled.

Have you done that?  If not, why not?

 

Another person’s experience may not be relevant but the Military registration center probably has the last word since it is their paperwork.  30,000 Baht, possibly not that expensive to get somebody to write the letter.

 

 

[Jonathan Swift]

16 hours ago, joedee said:

I am a British National I have a son with a Thai national.

Our son was born in India.

He was registered with The British Consulate 

and also The Thai Consulate in India

We have Passports and Birth certificates for both Countries plus an Indian Birth certificate

We also applied for a Thai ID card and renewed his Thai passport in Thailand 

during short trips to Thailand.

We also registered him in the house registration book at his mother's local town in Thailand.

 

My son and Thai Mother have permanently lived in India since 2005 other than annual short trips to Thailand.

My son has been educated fully at private school in India. He is now past 16 years old.

(His Mother and I both work in India)

 

He has decided on a career in The British Army. He has started the application process which has all been fine.

Now The British Army require a Military Service Letter from the Thai government informing that they will release 

my son from Conscription into The Thai Army and will not call upon him in the event of war or other reason.

 

I have contacted the Thai consulate in India and London.

In India they told me there is no process for this and he has to 

contact the local Military registration center where conscription is handled.

London have not replied despite 2 Emails and using a UK address and telephone number.

 

I have googled this and the information is very unclear if indeed it can be done at all...

 

In a nutshell, My son has never LIVED in Thailand since birth, doesn't speak or read/write Thai.

Has no intention of living in Thailand other than for vacation in the foreseeable future.

Has limited career opportunity in Thailand. Plans to move to the UK in July this year.

Wants to enroll for a career in The British Army this year.

 

Has anyone got any experience in this matter or can offer any "sensible" suggestions regarding this process.

Or happens to know where/who to contact directly for this matter.

 

I look forward to helpful comments.

 

Many thanks

 

Joe 

I wouldn't rely on a forum like this for legal advice of any sort, let alone something as complicated as this. I would try to contact a military lawyer. Also a good Thai law firm. It sounds like some low level bureaucratic clerk doesn't know what they're talking about. I've had Thai immigration officers tell me things that weren't true, and I just asked for a supervisor and got things sorted. Regardless of where you go for answers, you must confirm everything using a lawyer who knows these things up and down. 

[joedee]

21 minutes ago, Dante99 said:

Have you done that?  If not, why not?

 

Another person’s experience may not be relevant but the Military registration center probably has the last word since it is their paperwork.  30,000 Baht, possibly not that expensive to get somebody to write the letter.

 

 

Yes, This is probably next step...

I have not done this yet as we have not been in Thailand for some time..

I was hoping to understand all of the options (if any) before I make any requests to relevant departments.

I think it may be better for his mother to make the application and show that he is not living in Thailand.

He can give power of attorney to her to make the application. We will then provide necessary documentation if its possible...

 

I wonder what happens with dual nationals where both countries insist on military conscription. ???

 

Thank you for your  suggestions.

 

Joe

 

[joedee]

9 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

I wouldn't rely on a forum like this for legal advice of any sort, let alone something as complicated as this. I would try to contact a military lawyer. Also a good Thai law firm. It sounds like some low level bureaucratic clerk doesn't know what they're talking about. I've had Thai immigration officers tell me things that weren't true, and I just asked for a supervisor and got things sorted. Regardless of where you go for answers, you must confirm everything using a lawyer who knows these things up and down. 

Yes, I agree. But I was hoping I may find someone who has actually overcome this problem personally or with their own son. I am seeking options to pursue .

If I get no definite feedback I will tackle this locally in his Mothers town first.

She is pretty good at dealing with local level authorities, is very polite and knows how to keep them happy. 

If I do not get a positive outcome I will seek legal opinion.

Ultimately if nothing else works then he will have to enquire if renouncing Thai nationality will be acceptable to The British Army..

Hopefully there will be a better option somewhere...

 

There are a lot of countries that still have military conscription. What happens to Dual Nationals with Thailand when that happens. ???.

 

Thanks for your suggestions

 

Joe  

 

[joedee]

51 minutes ago, Dante99 said:

Have you done that?  If not, why not?

 

Another person’s experience may not be relevant but the Military registration center probably has the last word since it is their paperwork.  30,000 Baht, possibly not that expensive to get somebody to write the letter.

 

 

Yes, I will get round to the local offices if no better solution is advised.

 

thank you

 

Joe

[joedee]

1 hour ago, Gaccha said:

I'm afraid I don't believe he will be able to obtain an exemption.

 

As a male citizen he has a duty that is not avoided by being a dual or triple citizen, or by living abroad: 

 

 

In fact he could even lose his Thai citizenship if he does not comply: 

 

 

There are only very few exemptions. 

 

 

The best possibility looks like walking into the consulate and getting a meeting. If they're not answering the phone I don't see any other option. It is there where the exemption is typically issued.

Yes. It seems like there is no option when I check online.

But I think there will be ...somewhere..

 

Thank you for the info.

 

Joe

 

[davb]

5 hours ago, joedee said:

Yes, This is probably next step...

I have not done this yet as we have not been in Thailand for some time..

I was hoping to understand all of the options (if any) before I make any requests to relevant departments.

I think it may be better for his mother to make the application and show that he is not living in Thailand.

He can give power of attorney to her to make the application. We will then provide necessary documentation if its possible...

 

I wonder what happens with dual nationals where both countries insist on military conscription. ???

 

Thank you for your  suggestions.

 

Joe

 

This happened to my wife's son. He was in boot camp for the US Marines when the Thai military said he needed to report. He gave the letter to a superior, they handled it and he was permanently excused from Thai service.