Thai Citizenship For Child

[Gimbo]

I have a child with a thai citizen. I understand that Thailand, like my own country allows double citizenship for children up to age 18.

However the law in my country is that if a parent actively applies for, and is granted citizenship for a child in a foreign country, the child will automatically lose citizenship in my country. This is not valid if the other country (i.e Thailand) gives automatic citizenship.

As we will go back and forth between Europe and Thailand over the next 20 years, it would be very practical for the kid to have a Thai passport.

So my question is: Is thai citizenship for a child born of a Thai citizen overseas automatic, or do we have to apply for citizenship?

Dunno if this was clear enough to answer...

[howardprice]

If your son was born in England the benifits being British are far more advantages then being a Thai citizen. If I had to choose between the two. Bad luck they dont allow dual citizenship.

[TerryLH]

Citizenship is automatic, but you have to apply for the Thai passport.

Contact the Thai Embassy in the country your child was born. They will issue you a Thai birth certificate that can be used to apply for the pp. Both can be done at the same time.

Dual citizenship past 18 is not an issue for Thais.

[samran]

As Terry said, a child born to a Thai parent is automatically Thai. So there is 'no applying for citizenship'. You are only applying for a travel document (passport) which is not the same.

As for 'choosing'. Thai law states that a child born to a foreign parent, can if they chose torenounce Thai citizenship between the age of 20 and 21. There is no penalty under Thai law if they do not.

What is the childs other citizenship?

[Gimbo]

As Terry said, a child born to a Thai parent is automatically Thai. So there is 'no applying for citizenship'. You are only applying for a travel document (passport) which is not the same.

As for 'choosing'. Thai law states that a child born to a foreign parent, can if they chose torenounce Thai citizenship between the age of 20 and 21. There is no penalty under Thai law if they do not.

What is the childs other citizenship?

The Thai Royal Embassy here just told me that under current law, if the child have double citizenship, he would have to choose citizenship at age 18.

The same aplly to my country, but here you have to choose at age 22, my country, Norway, with a few exceptions, do not allow double citizenship for adults.

@howardprice: The thai passport for the child is for just a convenience issue. Where it would only be used for travel into Thailand to avoid the visa issues if we were to go for a longer stay sometime. For travel to any other country in the world we would use the passport from my country :-)

@samran in answer to: "There is no penalty under Thai law if they do not." - i do beleive that property rights in Thailand would be lost, and the mother owns quite a chunk of land and other assets that we won't like for the child to lose.

[Mario2008]

As Samran said, there is no penalty for not choosing and many, many Thais have dual nationality.

No, there is no loss of property rights involved. You are Thai or you are not Thai. Years ago, it was the case that a Thai woman married to a foreigner could not own property. That law was abolished years ago.

[samran]

As Terry said, a child born to a Thai parent is automatically Thai. So there is 'no applying for citizenship'. You are only applying for a travel document (passport) which is not the same.

As for 'choosing'. Thai law states that a child born to a foreign parent, can if they chose torenounce Thai citizenship between the age of 20 and 21. There is no penalty under Thai law if they do not.

What is the childs other citizenship?

The Thai Royal Embassy here just told me that under current law, if the child have double citizenship, he would have to choose citizenship at age 18.

The same aplly to my country, but here you have to choose at age 22, my country, Norway, with a few exceptions, do not allow double citizenship for adults.

@howardprice: The thai passport for the child is for just a convenience issue. Where it would only be used for travel into Thailand to avoid the visa issues if we were to go for a longer stay sometime. For travel to any other country in the world we would use the passport from my country :-)

@samran in answer to: "There is no penalty under Thai law if they do not." - i do beleive that property rights in Thailand would be lost, and the mother owns quite a chunk of land and other assets that we won't like for the child to lose.

The embassy clearly hasn't read the Nationality Act. Nowhere in the act is the age of 18 mentioned. As said, Between ages of 20 and 21 is when a dual national child who has been born to a foreign parent has the option to renounce Thai nationality. I am well into my 30's and have not renounced, with no problems.

As for penalties. Maybe you are confusing things. What I meant was that if you do not make a choice yourself, the Thai government won't automatically make this choice for you. Context is imporant here, as previous versions of the Nationality Act prior to 1993 did 'force' a choice, whereas the current versions of the law, post 1993, have no problems with dual nationality.

As such, if your citizenship isn't revoked, then you don't lose property rights in Thailand.

[lopburi3]

At any rate obtain a Thai birth certificate now at the Thai Embassy and a passport. Even if they are never used it is proof of her parent having been Thai and that is all that is required for one year extensions of stay in Thailand using a foreign passport. But as said until your country requires a choice she should not have any problem with Thailand unless laws change from what they are now.

2.23 In the case of visiting

family or return of a former Thai national or a person whose father or mother is or

once was a Thai:

Permission will be

granted for a period of

not more than 1 year at a time.

[Gimbo]

At any rate obtain a Thai birth certificate now at the Thai Embassy and a passport. Even if they are never used it is proof of her parent having been Thai and that is all that is required for one year extensions of stay in Thailand using a foreign passport. But as said until your country requires a choice she should not have any problem with Thailand unless laws change from what they are now.

2.23 In the case of visiting

family or return of a former Thai national or a person whose father or mother is or

once was a Thai:

Permission will be

granted for a period of

not more than 1 year at a time.

We have quite a ways to go to visit the embassy. (it involves a 2 hour flight), etc.

So I wonder if it would be easier to get the birth certificate at the mothers local amphur in Thailand on a holiday there? Then also fix the passport at the same time?

The first trip would not be for more than a few weeks anyway, so traveling to Thailand on the Norwegian passport would not be a problem.

As for the dual citizen problems...we'll look at that in 20 years time...he he

[Mario2008]

The child's birth certificate can only be gotten from the amphur where the child was born in, in case the child was born abroad, the Thai embassy for that country functions as the local amphur. You cannot obtain anywhere else.

Passport can be applied for at the same time.

Although I have heard it is possible to obtain the Birth certificate through the Thai Foreign Office, consular section, but they will send your application to the embassy in Norway, as that embassy is the only one authorized to issue the birth certificate. So it is a lengthy process that way.

[Gimbo]

The child's birth certificate can only be gotten from the amphur where the child was born in, in case the child was born abroad, the Thai embassy for that country functions as the local amphur. You cannot obtain anywhere else.

Passport can be applied for at the same time.

Although I have heard it is possible to obtain the Birth certificate through the Thai Foreign Office, consular section, but they will send your application to the embassy in Norway, as that embassy is the only one authorized to issue the birth certificate. So it is a lengthy process that way.

Okay, that complicates things.

Well, well, the mother need to renew her passport ina couple of years time. So we'll probably get this fixed then. As travel to the embassy would mean a flight and hotel costs + taking off-time from work for a couple of days at least...

I guess there is no easy way around beurocrazy both in Norway and Thailand...lol

[samran]

Doesn't have to be complicated.

Your wife can renew her passport her next trip back. Three day turn around and very efficient.

Childs birth certificate can be applied for via post at the embassy. With that in hand, next time you are going through the capital, you can apply for the passport then when it suits. The child can travel to thailand on the EU passport for the time being with no problems

[Gimbo]

Doesn't have to be complicated.

Your wife can renew her passport her next trip back. Three day turn around and very efficient.

Norway is not a meber of the EU

But yes, getting a passport is easy. Even up-country it takes just a week. However the Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok is not permitted to transfer her resident visa for Norway from her old passport to the new one. Only the (immigration) police in Norway is allowed to do that.

So she will have to apply for a new entry visa to Norway, from the embassy, wich takes a month to process, then travel to Norway to get her resident visa transfered to the new passport.

So the Norwegian authorities recomend that Thai passport holders living in Norway renew their passports at the Thai embassy in Norway, prior to going to Thailand, rather than doing it in Thailand if it is about to expire, or will expire when in Thailand.

So when it's time to get that done, we will secure the Thai passport for the little one at the same time

Childs birth certificate can be applied for via post at the embassy. With that in hand, next time you are going through the capital, you can apply for the passport then when it suits. The child can travel to thailand on the EU passport for the time being with no problems

Sorry but the Thai embassy in Norway does not allow application by post, they demand that the mother show up in person at the embassy according to an email I recieved from them:

1. Mother must come to the Embassy in person to apply for a Thai birth certificate.

2. Must bring: Norwegian birth certificate in English, it must be legalized by UDI (Norwegian Immigration Authority) and/or Notary Public. Mother's passport, Thai ID card, and house registration. Father's passport and marriage certificate.

So it is not that simple...

[samran]

Thanks for setting me straight Gimbo.

Looks like this is a massive PITA for you. Wish it wasn't so...

As for the EU comment, can i change that to the EEA? You all look the same anyway

[Gimbo]

Thanks for setting me straight Gimbo.

Looks like this is a massive PITA for you. Wish it wasn't so...

As for the EU comment, can i change that to the EEA? You all look the same anyway

555

Well, well, it's just the way it is. Just wish we had more business in Oslo, other than dealing with the paper gnomes...

[AussieKenny]

I hope the law has changed but here's what append to a buddy of mine when he left Thailand after 10 years here, to return to England.

England refused to grant his 3 year old son citizenship because he was born in Thailand.

His father had a Union Jack erected over the bed but apparently that custom was dropped many years ago.

Thailand refused the kid citizenship because in Thai law, the child follows the citizenship of the father. (this is what I hope for your sake has changed).

He was told at the time that this law was to stop Burmese, Laos etc women crossing the Thai border, dropping a baby and claiming Thai citizenship for it.

My buddy had done his time in the Black Watch and his adult life was clear of any "hanky panky".

He was at retirement a British banks manager (in Thailand and Uganda).

Eventually, and after much mucking about, the Brits offered the kid the right of abode in GB and then years later accepted him as a citizen.

Kenny

[Mario2008]

Thai citizenship always has been if one of the parents is Thai. In the past it was also if a person was born in Thailand.

British citizenship depends on where the child and the father were born, to prevent people from former colonies who still live their passing on British citizenship. If the father was born in the UK, the child is British.

[AussieKenny]

Thai citizenship always has been if one of the parents is Thai. In the past it was also if a person was born in Thailand.

British citizenship depends on where the child and the father were born, to prevent people from former colonies who still live their passing on British citizenship. If the father was born in the UK, the child is British.

I'm telling you for a fact that in the eighties a kid born in Thailand followed the nationality of the father.

Kenny

[samran]

I hope the law has changed but here's what append to a buddy of mine when he left Thailand after 10 years here, to return to England.

England refused to grant his 3 year old son citizenship because he was born in Thailand.

His father had a Union Jack erected over the bed but apparently that custom was dropped many years ago.

Thailand refused the kid citizenship because in Thai law, the child follows the citizenship of the father. (this is what I hope for your sake has changed).

He was told at the time that this law was to stop Burmese, Laos etc women crossing the Thai border, dropping a baby and claiming Thai citizenship for it.

My buddy had done his time in the Black Watch and his adult life was clear of any "hanky panky".

He was at retirement a British banks manager (in Thailand and Uganda).

Eventually, and after much mucking about, the Brits offered the kid the right of abode in GB and then years later accepted him as a citizen.

Kenny

If one of the parents were Thai, then the child should have been able to get Thai citizenship. Indeed, the birth certificate issued in Thailand would have stated as much.

As for the UK, as Mario has said, the usual reason for this is that the father too was born outside of the UK.

[samran]

Thai citizenship always has been if one of the parents is Thai. In the past it was also if a person was born in Thailand.

British citizenship depends on where the child and the father were born, to prevent people from former colonies who still live their passing on British citizenship. If the father was born in the UK, the child is British.

I'm telling you for a fact that in the eighties a kid born in Thailand followed the nationality of the father.

Kenny

And I was born in the 1970's to an Australian father and a Thai mother.

The Thai nationality act was changed in 1993. After that date children born to Thai mothers were recognised at being Thai citizens. I was issued a Thai birth certificate nearly 20 years after I was born and now have a Thai passport.