Taking Baby Out Of Thailand For First Time Since Birth

[gerryBScot]

We are bringing our 9 month old son out of the country tomorrow via Suvarnabhumi. This will be his first trip out of Thailand since being born here. He has a British passport, a British birth certificate, a Thai birth certificate, a translation of the latter into English. We will be returning in 3 weeks. Can anyone advise what will happen when we go through immigration and if we need to provide any other documentation. Many thanks and of course a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year to You All.

[InterestedObserver]

As long as both parents are accompanying the child there should be no problem. Your son will be traveling and returning as a UK citizen. Does he have a Thai passport he could use to leave and re-enter Thailand on?

Edited April 13, 2010 by InterestedObserver

[mizzi39]

As long as both parents are accompanying the child there should be no problem. Your son will be traveling and returning as a UK citizen. Does he have a Thai passport he could leave and re-enter Thailand on?

I was just thinking the same thing. We will be taking our son (19 months old) out of the country for the first time next week to the states. We applied and got US passport shortly after he was born and his Thai passport last month.

[thaiphoon]

Is not a problem for the child to re-enter Thailand using UK passport, but will be treated as a foreigner and receive appropriate permission to stay stamp. Overstay is not an issue for children under the age of 14 as is not charged, but passport will be marked on exit (but does not cause problem for re-entry or obtaining future visa). Longer term the Op may want to consider obtaining Thai passport for the child.

[gerryBScot]

Thanks for the responses; the boy's mother is a filipina so we can't get him a Thai passport. We both work as teachers. So we both have extensions on Non-Bs. As I understand it our boy can overstay on a standard 30 day visa on arrival without any overstay penalty when we next leave the kingdom. Once more thanks

[InterestedObserver]

Thanks for that crucial piece of information. Your son is not Thai, even though born in Thailand.

Edited April 13, 2010 by InterestedObserver

[thaiphoon]

Thanks for that crucial piece of information. Your son is not Thai, even though born in Thailand.

Well, he might be, and without further information we cannot say. Babies born with foreign parents pre 13th Dec 1971 on thai soil have Thai citizenship. Revolutionary decree 337 passed by government on 13th Dec 1971 changed this. Both foreign parents must have PR status for the child to claim Thai nationality. But there are exceptions where this rule does not apply (UN working etc).

[gerryBScot]

Thanks for the help. Not really seeking Thai citizenship for our son! Just not wanting to fall foul of immigration or encounter any difficulties as we come in and out with him.

[lopburi3]

The problem may be your return as he could need a visa without an outbound ticket within 30 days for airline if asked. You could have an issue on that if you do not obtain a tourist visa for him.

[InterestedObserver]

Thanks for that crucial piece of information. Your son is not Thai, even though born in Thailand.

Well, he might be, and without further information we cannot say. Babies born with foreign parents pre 13th Dec 1971 on thai soil have Thai citizenship. Revolutionary decree 337 passed by government on 13th Dec 1971 changed this. Both foreign parents must have PR status for the child to claim Thai nationality. But there are exceptions where this rule does not apply (UN working etc).

The child is 9 months old, born to foreign parents, both parents are teachers, both parents have non-immigrant "B" visas/extensions of stay. I'd say the child is not Thai.

[thaiphoon]

Thanks for that crucial piece of information. Your son is not Thai, even though born in Thailand.

Well, he might be, and without further information we cannot say. Babies born with foreign parents pre 13th Dec 1971 on thai soil have Thai citizenship. Revolutionary decree 337 passed by government on 13th Dec 1971 changed this. Both foreign parents must have PR status for the child to claim Thai nationality. But there are exceptions where this rule does not apply (UN working etc).

The child is 9 months old, born to foreign parents, both parents are teachers, both parents have non-immigrant "B" visas/extensions of stay. I'd say the child is not Thai.

I'm interested to know on what basis the Op's son has a Thai birth certificate, which was the premise for my comment.

[NanLaew]

^ All children born in Thailand regardless of the nationality of their parents, will get (or are entitled to) a Thai birth certificate. Same as a child born in the UK of non- UK parents both living and working in the UK is entitled to a British birth certificate.

A birth certificate is primarily a registration of date and place of birth. It is used in conjunction with other documentation and facts in any claim to nationality. By itself it does not convey any status or nationality.

Edited April 13, 2010 by NanLaew

[gerryBScot]

^ All children born in Thailand regardless of the nationality of their parents, will get (or are entitled to) a Thai birth certificate. Same as a child born in the UK of non- UK parents both living and working in the UK is entitled to a British birth certificate.

A birth certificate is primarily a registration of date and place of birth. It is used in conjunction with other documentation and facts in any claim to nationality. By itself it does not convey any status or nationality.

Yup that is exactly the position with our son; the translation of the Thai birth certificate is headed :"Form:Thor.Ror.3 For illegal or temporary resident in Thailand" and simply records the fact of our son's birth and the normal info. And this certificate plus the translation together with a hefty fee got Junior his Brit birth certificate and then for another hefty fee his passport.