Thai Passport / Residency

[Dankan]

I'm a Danish guy applying for residency, been married here for 8 years with Thai, we have one daughter, have work permit and one year visa for 5 years with out any upholds

My company's lawyer handle the case and to day I got a mail from them which also informed below

According to the new nationality act, if Khun X has registered his marriage with his wife for more than 2 years and have children he can apply for Thai passport without having to apply permanent residence first. I understand that his wife is Thai. Previously Thai passport applicant must hold permanent residence first before he can apply for Thai passport.

Would like to know idf that mean you change nationality or will you have the right to keep 2 passports and duo nationality?

Cheers

Dankan

[NHJ]

<br />I'm a Danish guy applying for residency, been married here for 8 years with Thai, we have one daughter, have work permit and one year visa for 5 years with out any upholds<br />My company's lawyer handle the case and to day I got a mail from them which also informed below<br /><br /><font color="#FF0000">According to the new nationality act, if Khun X has registered his marriage with his wife for more than 2 years and have children he can apply for Thai passport without having to apply permanent residence first. I understand that his wife is Thai. Previously Thai passport applicant must hold permanent residence first before he can apply for Thai passport.</font><br /><br />Would like to know idf that mean you change nationality or will you have the right to keep 2 passports and duo nationality?<br /><br /><br />Cheers<br />Dankan<br />

looks unlogic, thai passeport is for thai nationnal...

[simon43]

It may say that in the Nationality Act, but I have never heard of any foreigner getting Thai nationality without first having obtained PR.

What is written on paper is not neccessarily what is used when applying the law

Simon

[NHJ]

a lot of things are involved to become thai, it's in our western country that you become national after x years of mariage.

[grtaylor]

<br />I'm a Danish guy applying for residency, been married here for 8 years with Thai, we have one daughter, have work permit and one year visa for 5 years with out any upholds<br />My company's lawyer handle the case and to day I got a mail from them which also informed below<br /><br /><font color="#FF0000">According to the new nationality act, if Khun X has registered his marriage with his wife for more than 2 years and have children he can apply for Thai passport without having to apply permanent residence first. I understand that his wife is Thai. Previously Thai passport applicant must hold permanent residence first before he can apply for Thai passport.</font><br /><br />Would like to know idf that mean you change nationality or will you have the right to keep 2 passports and duo nationality?<br /><br /><br />Cheers<br />Dankan<br />

looks unlogic, thai passeport is for thai nationnal...

NHJ,

A Thai passport is for someone who has Thai nationality by birth, or becomes a naturalized Thai by the various (but difficult) means available.

[NHJ]

this is exactly what i was saying

[grtaylor]

this is exactly what i was saying

So, if that what you were saying, its not "unlogic" at all.

By the way, I think you mean "illogical".

[NHJ]

yes i meant illogical.

in thailand you don't get permanent residency nor thai nationality just by getting a spouse so the foreigner can't get a thai passeport based on those facts.

[lopburi3]

Actually in Thailand many foreign wives have quickly obtained citizenship and passports without PR delay. But have never heard of a male doing so.

[NHJ]

is the procedure for foreign female spouse the same as i read, sing the song in fron of officials, have an interview in thai language etc etc??

[lopburi3]

There is a set procedure but don't recall what it entails. Believe there are official signatures from some government officials that start the process.

[grtaylor]

yes i meant illogical.

in thailand you don't get permanent residency nor thai nationality just by getting a spouse so the foreigner can't get a thai passeport based on those facts.

Read the OPs post. He's saying his lawyer has told him that there is a change . . . . . .

[Maestro]

Read the OPs post. He's saying his lawyer has told him that there is a change . . . . . .

More precisely, his lawyer told him “According to the new nationality act”. In this context, “new” is relative:

In 1965, the Nationality Act B.E. 2508 was promulgated.

In 1992, the Nationality Acts B.E. 2535 No. 2 and No. 3 were promulgated. These changed some sections of the original Act B.E. 2508.

Therefore, “new” in the lawyer's message to the OP means 1992. Below are the relevant sections from the Nationality Act, as amended:

Section 10. An alien who possesses the following qualifications may apply for naturalisation as a Thai:

(1) becoming sui juris in accordance with Thai law and the law under which he has nationality;

(2) having good behaviour;

(3) having regular occupation;

(4) having a domicile in the Thai Kingdom for a consecutive period of not less than five years till the day of filing the application for naturalisation;

(5) having knowledge of Thai language as prescribed in the Regulations.

Section 11. The provisions of Section 10 (4) and (5) shall apply if the applicant for naturalisation as a Thai;

(1) has rendered distinguished service to Thailand or has done acts to the benefit of official service, which is deemed suitable by the Minister;

(2) is a child or wife of a person who has been naturalised as a Thai or has recovered Thai nationality; or

(3) is one who used to have Thai Nationality.

Section 12. Any person being desirous of applying for naturalisation as a Thai, shall file an application with the competent official according to the form and in the manner prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations.

Should the applicant for naturalisation as a Thai, under paragraph one, have children who are not sui juris in accordance with Thai law, and who have a domicile in Thailand, he may concurrently apply for such naturalisation for his children. In this case, such children shall be exempt from possessing the qualifications under Section 10 (1), (3), (4) and (5).

The granting or refusal of permission for naturalisation as a Thai shall lie with the discretion of the Minister. In case the Minister deems appropriate to grant permission, he shall submit the matter to the King for Royal Sanction. After the Royal Sanction, the applicant shall make an affirmation of loyalty to Thailand.

A person who has been naturalised as a Thai is entitled to apply for a certificate of naturalisation as a Thai.

As we can see, the law says nothing about having permanent residency – neither for the male nor the female spouse of a Thai national – and therefore the text passage “shall file an application with the competent official according to the form and in the manner prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations” becomes operative. The nitty-gritty details are all in these regulations, and in orders, decrees and guidelines based on the regulations.

--

Maestro

[gregb]

I just heard a similar rumor from a source (a low ranking Thai immigration official). Apparently announced to the police at a departmental meeting this week. Details are sketchy, but the rumor is that all farangs married to Thai nationals for a period of time (I thought 5 years, but the above seems to imply 2) will be eligible for Thai citizenship. This applies equally to males or females.

Looking for other sources of confirmation on this, as well as a timeframe for implementation and details of how it will be applied.

Anyone else hear something like this recently?

[Lite Beer]

I just heard a similar rumor from a source (a low ranking Thai immigration official). Apparently announced to the police at a departmental meeting this week. Details are sketchy, but the rumor is that all farangs married to Thai nationals for a period of time (I thought 5 years, but the above seems to imply 2) will be eligible for Thai citizenship. This applies equally to males or females.

Looking for other sources of confirmation on this, as well as a timeframe for implementation and details of how it will be applied.

Anyone else hear something like this recently?

Most of these rumours turn out to be only that.

Lets hope this one is true.

Foreign Men should at least be equal to foreign Women.

[tijnebijn]

Would be great , not that I believe it will get through in

real life bureaucracy , but it will give an immense confidence boost for mixed

racial families if implemented .

[apetley]

I just heard a similar rumor from a source (a low ranking Thai immigration official). Apparently announced to the police at a departmental meeting this week. Details are sketchy, but the rumor is that all farangs married to Thai nationals for a period of time (I thought 5 years, but the above seems to imply 2) will be eligible for Thai citizenship. This applies equally to males or females.

Looking for other sources of confirmation on this, as well as a timeframe for implementation and details of how it will be applied.

Anyone else hear something like this recently?

I would think it far more likely to be 'eligible to APPLY for Thai citizenship'.

Still great for those on retirement visa's if true.

My missus didn't score so high in 'Life in the UK Test', here's hoping I do better in 'Life in Thailand Test'.

[Lite Beer]

here's hoping I do better in 'Life in Thailand Test'.

Can you drink a lot of whiskey?

Can you drive the wrong way up a dual carriageway?

If yes you will pass.

[apetley]

here's hoping I do better in 'Life in Thailand Test'.

Can you drink a lot of whiskey?

Can you drive the wrong way up a dual carriageway?

If yes you will pass.

I'm Thai!!!!