The problems involved in being "mixed race" in Thailand

[Puccini]

17 hours ago, JAG said:

So many Thai systems, web based and bureaucratic, are simply unable to cope with "Lok khreung"...

 

I can't understand why a father refers to his child of mixed race as "Lok khreung". 

[JAG]

5 hours ago, Puccini said:

 

I can't understand why a father refers to his child of mixed race as "Lok khreung". 

It is a common, almost universal colloquialism in Thailand. That doesn't mean I like it.

[harryviking]

On 6/22/2025 at 2:50 AM, JAG said:

So many Thai systems, web based and bureaucratic, are simply unable to cope with "Lok khreung".  My daughter is trying to get a motorcycle license - she is 19, a Thai national and has an English name and looks Caucasian. The system initially refused her because her Thai ID card photo "didn't look like her".

 

Off we went to the Amphur office for a new one, because she is under 20 I had to accompany her, much group examination of my passport, sucking of teeth, phone calls to higher ups and photocopying of many pages of the passport and her birth certificate. Eventually, armed with a new ID card she went back to the driving license office. Refused - the system (computer and human) wouldn't accept she was Thai!

 

Probably going to have to hire one of those agent chappies to get her one!

 

Just about all Thai systems and their operators are unable to cope with the combination of an English name, western features and Thai nationality. There was the occasion some years ago when her school ordered her to get her hair dyed black! Some may remember the mushroom cloud over Chiang Rai! She wasn't allowed to join the army cadets at school ( didn't mind that one). She was initially refused by the COVID vaccination programme, then when she had COVID the health system tried to charge her as a foreigner. 

 

She works part time as a waitress in a restaurant. She has already been interrogated by the Labour Department for working without a work permit!

 

About the only organisation which seems to have no problems is her University - but then they have plenty of International Students, and probably regard her as one!

 

It is petty, venal, ignorant, annoys me and upsets her, although she is quite stoic about that. Xenophobia, petty nationalism, racism (certainly had that at school) or just ignorance, perhaps even stupidity?

Sadly, not all those behind an office desk in Thailand are of the "bright" kind. 

[LittleBear57]

I have a 17 year old daughter here with brown hair, but haven't as yet encountered the issues you have.

However I have heard that mixed race kids are not allowed to join the armed forces. She wants to work in a hospital as Dentist, nurse, radiographers or pharmacist.  She was interested in being on these in the Navy but missus has been told not allowed. Anyone have a mixed race child in the Thai forces, not conscripted.

[spidermike007]

I wonder if the highly revered mixed race movie stars have to go through all that nonsense? 

[impulse]

On 6/22/2025 at 8:50 AM, JAG said:

Probably going to have to hire one of those agent chappies to get her one!

 

There's your answer.  Sucks, I know.  But I'd rather pay someone a few bucks than to waste hours or even days fighting the system.

 

 

[norsurin]

On 6/22/2025 at 4:25 AM, BritManToo said:

My 13yo son doesn't have any problems and he doesn't look like a Thai either.

Not sure why the amphur office would want to see your passport, after registering his birth I've not been there when he got his ID card.

I have 2 kids with thai mother.Now their 19 and 20 years old.Lived in my country for 18 years now.They didn't get any problems make a thai id card and a thai passport.Both have norwegian names and have dual citizenship.

The story to the OP makes it strange to me.I never ever heard of this kind of problems.

[IvorBiggun2]

56 minutes ago, LittleBear57 said:

However I have heard that mixed race kids are not allowed to join the armed forces.

 

Total tosh. I've three children of dual race and have never heard of that. My son is currently in the army cadets.

 

Quote

No, people of mixed race are not banned from the Thai military. In Thailand, military service is mandatory for all Thai male citizens. Individuals with dual citizenship, including those of mixed race, are also subject to conscription if they possess Thai nationality. However, there might be some limitations for those with dual citizenship regarding officer positions. 

 

[soalbundy]

On 6/22/2025 at 4:38 PM, NickyLouie said:

 

 

Total BS

 

If she has a Thai ID , she is Thai and can do anything else a Thai national can.

 

BS Post ........

My son (18) could be taken for both Thai and falang (white skin, falang nose, his dark eyes are a bit Thai, a bit falang, black hair. He's never had any problems. He speaks both Thai and English fluently, his English teacher has given over the English class to him to teach because his own pronunciation is so abysmal (he once introduced himself to me as "I am a teacher", I understood, I am a tee shirt). He wouldn't look foreign in London or Bangkok.

[cdemundo]

It isn't just Thailand, Bureaucrats the world over are rigid in their thinking and sometime just plain stupid.

I have read of cases in the USA where people from New Mexico and Indiana have been initially refused application for driver's license in another state because they "didn't have a driver's license from a US state. Apparently the DMV types thought they were from Mexico and India respectively.

[richard_smith237]

43 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

1 hour ago, LittleBear57 said:

However I have heard that mixed race kids are not allowed to join the armed forces.

 

Total tosh. I've three children of dual race and have never heard of that. My son is currently in the army cadets.

 

Quote

No, people of mixed race are not banned from the Thai military. In Thailand, military service is mandatory for all Thai male citizens. Individuals with dual citizenship, including those of mixed race, are also subject to conscription if they possess Thai nationality. However, there might be some limitations for those with dual citizenship regarding officer positions. 

 

 

To confirm... 

 

Those of Thai / Thai parentage can rise to commissioned ranks of Officer within Thailands Military. 

Those of Thai / Foreign parentage cannot rise to commissioned ranks within Thailands Military. 

 

This double standard along ought to be sufficient for a those with Thai / Foreign parentage to avoid the military conscription (ballot).

 

Our son will be schooled in the UK by that time and will miss it.

He already has Thai ID, registered in the house book etc - but by the time conscription rolls around, he'll be in the middle of his A-Levels through to Uni - so there is no way to do this

 

I'm sure we'll find away around its - such has him joining the Air-Training-Core in the UK and getting a letter of exclusion from them (or some such similar documentation).

[richard_smith237]

On 6/23/2025 at 1:35 AM, Puccini said:

I can't understand why a father refers to his child of mixed race as "c". 

 

Laziness and for some unknown reason, copying the Thai's as if it makes them feel more assimilated into local culture...   Just like those who refer to themselves as 'Farangs' rather than by their Nationality or as a foreigner or Westerner...

 

Regarding Children of mixed heritage - I refer to our son as British and Thai, for he is both British and Thai, by both parentage, Nationality and Citizenship - he is not 'half anything'... 

[brewsterbudgen]

I'm in an even worse position, my poor son is half British and half Lao, but has lived in Thailand all his life.

[newbee2022]

Sorry to hear this.

Xenophobia, petty nationalism, racism (certainly had that at school) or just ignorance, perhaps even stupidity?

Probably everything together.

Ploychompoo (a German/Thai Google it) is another positive example without having met any hurdles.

[Magictoad]

On 6/22/2025 at 7:50 AM, JAG said:

So many Thai systems, web based and bureaucratic, are simply unable to cope with "Lok khreung".  My daughter is trying to get a motorcycle license - she is 19, a Thai national and has an English name and looks Caucasian. The system initially refused her because her Thai ID card photo "didn't look like her".

 

Off we went to the Amphur office for a new one, because she is under 20 I had to accompany her, much group examination of my passport, sucking of teeth, phone calls to higher ups and photocopying of many pages of the passport and her birth certificate. Eventually, armed with a new ID card she went back to the driving license office. Refused - the system (computer and human) wouldn't accept she was Thai!

 

Probably going to have to hire one of those agent chappies to get her one!

 

Just about all Thai systems and their operators are unable to cope with the combination of an English name, western features and Thai nationality. There was the occasion some years ago when her school ordered her to get her hair dyed black! Some may remember the mushroom cloud over Chiang Rai! She wasn't allowed to join the army cadets at school ( didn't mind that one). She was initially refused by the COVID vaccination programme, then when she had COVID the health system tried to charge her as a foreigner. 

 

She works part time as a waitress in a restaurant. She has already been interrogated by the Labour Department for working without a work permit!

 

About the only organisation which seems to have no problems is her University - but then they have plenty of International Students, and probably regard her as one!

 

It is petty, venal, ignorant, annoys me and upsets her, although she is quite stoic about that. Xenophobia, petty nationalism, racism (certainly had that at school) or just ignorance, perhaps even stupidity?

Now you know the problem; just get an agent in future to sort it out.

[GarryP]

On 6/22/2025 at 5:22 PM, youreavinalaff said:

Our daughter, now 23, has never had any issues at any time with regards to what you've posted. Even when I've been with her, she's been treated just as if she was Thai.

 

She does have a Thai Christian name. It certainly helps to keep her Thai identity.I wanted that for her. A Thai name, my surname and an English nickname. Best of both worlds.

My son, now 36, has never had those problems either. He has both an English first name and my family name. Always been treated as a Thai. Never a problem getting his first ID card and Thai passport.   

[Freddy42OZ]

On 6/22/2025 at 5:12 PM, JAG said:

Thank you - with my "Pollyanna of the internet" head on, the thumbs down emojis may have been because they think it is a shame.

 

Anyone using the Thumbs down to indicate something is a 'shame' is a muppet. 

Thumbs down means "I don't like this post"

[BangkokReady]

On 6/22/2025 at 2:55 PM, ThreeCardMonte said:

Look like young farang

 

I think it's more that they look Thai, but with light skin and pointy nose.  When Thais get skin whitening and nose implants, it's more about looking like a different kind of Asian than looking "farang".

[BangkokReady]

On 6/22/2025 at 7:50 AM, JAG said:

It is petty, venal, ignorant, annoys me and upsets her, although she is quite stoic about that. Xenophobia, petty nationalism, racism (certainly had that at school) or just ignorance, perhaps even stupidity?

 

All of the above.  TiT.

[BangkokReady]

On 6/23/2025 at 1:35 AM, Puccini said:

I can't understand why a father refers to his child of mixed race as "Lok khreung". 

 

The use of quotes suggests that someone else says this and he is repeating it.  He likely doesn't agree.

[black tabby12345]

Thai ID card photo "didn't look like her".

 

ID photos on taxi/bus drivers registration rare!my look like  themselves though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[metisdead]

Baiting troll posts and the replies have been removed.