Australian Baby Thai Mum

[dennisn]

Hello

I am hoping someone can advise me.

I am an Australian citizen, I married my Thai fiance in Australia and later on we were blessed with a baby boy. He was born in Australia and has an Australian passport.

His mom left us and returned to Thailand.

I have been bringing up my son on my own, he is just under 2 years old.

I have decided to move to Thailand, I have absolutely no intention of getting back with my wife but I do want her to be a part of her sons life on a more regular basis than once a year. I have family in Thailand on my side and this is another contributing factor in my decision to make the move.

Can my son be recognised as Thai as well as Australian, can he obtain a Thai ID and have a Thai passport? I have been told that because his mother is Thai he can, but I'm not at all sure and I'm wondering if perhaps someone has been down this road.

If this is possible can someone point me in the right direction as to where to start.

Many Thanks,

[InterestedObserver]

Your son is also Thai by virtue of his mother being a Thai citizen. Before you leave Australia, try to get him a Thai passport from the Royal Thailand Embassy. Did you register the birth with the Thai embassy? Do you have legal sole custody of him?

[dennisn]

Thank you interested observer.

Sorry I have been slow coming back to you, Internet down right after I posted.

To answer your questions, no the birth wasn't registered with the Thai Embassy. His birth is registered in Australia with a birth certificate issued. He has an Australian passport.

And I guess I don't have legal custody as such, my wife up and left with a one way ticket to Thailand, and left the baby with me.

From reading your comments I guess I need to visit the Thai embassy.

[Mario2008]

You do have legal custody over the child, as you are married to the mother. If the mother has disapeared, you could even try to get sole custody in Australia. (That you would need to do seperately in Thailand, as Thai courts don't recognise foreign court decisions).

The childs Australian birth certificate can be used to register the birth wih the Thai embassy in Australia. In your case that is complicated, as the details and probably signatures of both parents are needed. I would suggest contacting the Thai embassy and see what they can do. The child is Thai, as one of its parents is Thai. Try contacting your wife's family to see if they can help with getting her details and permission. (For a Thai passport both parents need to sign, unless you would have sole custody).