Nationality

[Nampeung]

Hi,

A British male friend of mine whi is currently resident in UK has a Thai girlfirend in Bangkok who will give birth to their child next month. He will be in Thailand for the birth.

He wants to know if he can/should register the baby as both British and Thai?

In the future the family plan to move to UK.

Thanks in advance

[boiledegg]

My friend who is English, Thai wife has just given birth in BKK registered the birth right away with the embassy and applied for a British passport, aparantly he can even get family allowance from the British taxpayer for the baby.

[Boo]

Yes, should be straightforward, as long as he is named as father on the birth certifiacate then he can apply for the babies british passport at the embassy in bangkok & the thai can be done at the same time in bangkok passport office too.

[Boo]

aparantly he can even get family allowance from the British taxpayer for the baby.

only if he lives full time in the UK, otherwise he is breaking the law.

[colino]

Yes, should be straightforward, as long as he is named as father on the birth certifiacate then he can apply for the babies british passport at the embassy in bangkok & the thai can be done at the same time in bangkok passport office too.

The father can fill in the forms from the embassy in bangkok but he must have his full english birth certifiacate, not the short one and its about 14000 baht fee

when the child is born the hospital gives the mum a letter to take to register the birth at her amphur its no problem having his name on the birth certifiacate but make sure they spell it right in Thai and in her blue family book

colino

Edited June 18, 2008 by colino

[Nampeung]

Thanks folks. Is it true that it costs 14000 Baht?

Boo did you mean that they can register the Thai side at the Brit Emb too or do you mean at the Umpher office of the woman's home?

[esprit]

aparantly he can even get family allowance from the British taxpayer for the baby.

only if he lives full time in the UK, otherwise he is breaking the law.

Not quite correct. Actually it is the child and the person claiming, albeit either parent or guardian to whom the allowance is being claimed/paid to that requires to reside in the UK although temporary absence is acceptable without withdrawal of benefit. The rules state loss of benfit occurs when:-

1) you or your partner leave the UK permanently or for more than 52 weeks

2) you leave the UK temporarily for more than eight weeks, or more than 12 weeks because you or a member of your family is ill, or died

3) you lose your right to reside in the UK

[Nampeung]

So Esprit, he can apply for Child Benefit in UK even though his child still lives in Thailand? Is that correct? Thx

[Boo]

Thai passport can be applied for at the thai passport office, British embassy has nothing to do with applying for a thai passport.

[Boo]

^^He is best to check with the child benefit office to be 100% sure.

espirit, i read it that boiledeggs freind was living in thailand which is why I said;

only if he lives full time in the UK

The rules you posted are clear though.

[esprit]

So Esprit, he can apply for Child Benefit in UK even though his child still lives in Thailand? Is that correct? Thx

No. You have to live in the UK when making application. It allows the child to be out of the UK for up to 8 weeks continuously to maintain a benefit claim.

Best to go to this UK Gov. site for further elaboration:-

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/need-to-report.htm

Edited June 18, 2008 by esprit

[the scouser]

Also bear in mind that there is no requirement to actually register the birth at the British embassy if the baby otherwise automatically qualifies for British citizenship. It's sufficient to simply apply for a passport at a cost of 4000-and-odd baht.

Scouse.

[Nampeung]

Thx all. I am meeting him later to have a chat about it. He's a very hardworking taxi driver and needs a bit of advice

[distortedlink]

aparantly he can even get family allowance from the British taxpayer for the baby.

only if he lives full time in the UK, otherwise he is breaking the law.

Correct.

Child allowance cannot be claimed from the UK by any parent of a British national child, if that child is not resident in an EEC country after a period of 9 weeks.

I have an 18 year old daughter with my Thai wife. My daughter was born in the Uk, the birth registered with a registry office in England.

When my daughter was 1 year old, we visited Thailand and registered the birth of my daughter in Chiang Mai. We now live in Thailand. My daughter holds a British birth certificate, a Thai birth certificate, a Thai passport & ID card, plus a British passport, all legal.

Edited June 18, 2008 by distortedlink

[boiledegg]

Europeans can claim child benefit and tax credits from the British taxpayer for their kids back in whatever country they are from even if the kid has never stepped foot in England.

If a British man can play the system and get a little bit of money then good luck to him.