Taking Thai/uk Baby Back To Uk

[krisInThailand]

Can I take my daughter who holds both a thai and UK passport through Bangkok imigration without any problems if her mother is not coming to the UK with us ? Just want to check before I book tickets?

[MJP]

Last time I got visas for daughter and 'the evil one', it took six months, went to court and even then it was stated that daughter must be accompanied by 'the evil one'.

I too would like to know the answer to this as well as permanent relocation of daughter, nearly 6, to the UK sans 'the evil one'.

As much as this country, Thailand, is quirky and has it's charms . . . you get the idea.

Edited January 15, 2010 by MJP

[thairat]

Last time I got visas for daughter and 'the evil one', it took six months, went to court and even then it was stated that daughter must be accompanied by 'the evil one'.

I too would like to know the answer to this as well as permanent relocation of daughter, nearly 6, to the UK sans 'the evil one'.

As much as this country, Thailand, is quirky and has it's charms . . . you get the idea.

If your daughter has UK passport, why do you need a visa? Or is the visa only for "the sii daam evil one"?

On what grounds can Thai Immigration stop you (child trafficking?)

At what age is it permitted?

[MJP]

Last time I got visas for daughter and 'the evil one', it took six months, went to court and even then it was stated that daughter must be accompanied by 'the evil one'.

I too would like to know the answer to this as well as permanent relocation of daughter, nearly 6, to the UK sans 'the evil one'.

As much as this country, Thailand, is quirky and has it's charms . . . you get the idea.

If your daughter has UK passport, why do you need a visa? Or is the visa only for "the sii daam evil one"?

On what grounds can Thai Immigration stop you (child trafficking?)

At what age is it permitted?

As a 'farang' I believe we have no legal parental rights in the first place. Guess I could get her a UK passport would be a start, but settlement?

It's a right mess.

[ukrules]

As a 'farang' I believe we have no legal parental rights in the first place. Guess I could get her a UK passport would be a start, but settlement?

It's a right mess.

From what I understand you have no rights whatsoever, never mind parental rights.

[Mario2008]

MJP seems a bit bitter. But Thai courts are not biased towards foreigners and will consider the wellbeing of the child as their primary concern.

As to the OP's question. There will be no problem, but advice you to take a copy of the birt certificate with you to show you are the father.

[thaimate]

I was married to a thai girl before,after our divorce she came back to Thailand and had a baby by her now husband ,when they wanted to come to Britain the authoroties would not let her take the child out of the country untill i sent over our divorce papers to prove that the baby wasnt mine .(lucky for her we are friends) but the authoroties seem quite strict

[Mario2008]

There is no indication that OP is divorced.

[krisInThailand]

There is no indication that OP is divorced.

thanks for the info.. We still married at the moment. I think I'll take both certificates just in case. Any idea where I can confirm this with the thai authorities??? Thanks

[Mario2008]

Thailand doesn't have parental abduction laws, so immigration cannot stop you when having parental rights over the child to take your own child out of the country.

The advice is for parents traveling alone with a child to take the birth certificate, to confirm you re the parent.

[GuestHouse]

While Thailand is not a signatory of the Hague Convention (Child Abduction) the UK certainly is, moreover the UK has enacted laws that make the airlines responsible for ensuring that people travelling with them to the UK have the right to do so.

Depending whether the OP intends to move permanently to the UK or just for a visit, the OP needs to obtain custody + written approval from the mother to emigrate or simply written approval to travel (for a holiday).

It is important to note that having custody alone does not give the right to travel since the child/other parent almost always have rights to contact that are not excluded by Custody.

As a father who often travels alone with his children I can assure you that you will be stopped and you will be asked to provide evidence of agreement to take your child overseas.

Mothers seldom are.

Lesson to be learned here - if you want to traffic children, get a woman to do the trafficking.

[mjperry]

I have recently done this myself, took my 3 month old son alone to the UK, he having both Thai and British citizenship and both passports. My experience of actually doing this was, I got stopped at Thai immigration and they asked to speak with his mother, who luckily was seeing us off from the airport, she confirmed she was allowing me to take him alone. Then on the UK side they asked to see his British birth certificate and asked me questions about why his mother was not joining us before they would let me through into the UK.

The return trip from London to Bangkok was far easier, passport control at Heathrow did not seem to care I was travelling with him alone and Bangkok immigration stamped us both back in without any questions or fuss.

Martin

[omlagus]

I have frequently taken my son out ov Thailand since he was just over 18months old, and 9 times out ov ten.., Thai immigration would stop me and ask 'where is his mother?' mainly because I used his Thai passport. My answer was always 'she's in Thailand.' 'I'm his father.' 'He has my family name.' I never once carried his B'Cert. with me. On the computer screen at immigration it always came up 'NO ALERT.' I even spent just over a year living and working in Indonesia. No problems.

My wife disappeared, and I never once had any written permission from her.

However, I would certainly follow 'GuestHouse' advice....as she could stop you taken the child out ov the country. In the eyes ov Thai law...you have no right to the child.....they are Thai !! Although, I was always lucky...............you should get written permission with a signed copy ov her I.D. card and carry a copy ov the B'cert. with your name on it.

Good luck..........