Thai Citizenship, Any Real Benefits?

[p_brownstone]

I don't speak Thai but yes i got an id and Thai passpoort...

On what basis did you acquire Thai nationality?

I would guess by birth - one or both parents being Thai Nationals but he was born overseas and never came to Thailand, or at least never had cause to learn the language.

I imagine there are many people in that situation.

Patrick

[lopburi3]

Actually believe he says he was born in Thailand in one post and refers to adoption in another so suspect he is Thai by birth but grew up in as a Dutch speaker so having to learn Thai now.

It appears the problem was proving Thai nationality rather than acquiring it.

[WebBangkok]

PR is the first step to citizenship in most cases, and has some benefits of its own.

Unless your friend is a close bosom buddy of the Interior Minister, though (and he's about to be out if a job himself), I think he's full of hot air. There are hundreds of people, many reasonably well-connected, still waiting for PR after submitting applications five years ago.

No my friend works in the department of employment ministry of labour. He is a close friend to the family, he said he can do this for me, whether he really can or not is anther question.

I might as well try. If he cant then he cant, if he can then thats just a bonus for me.

[p_brownstone]

PR is the first step to citizenship in most cases, and has some benefits of its own.

Unless your friend is a close bosom buddy of the Interior Minister, though (and he's about to be out if a job himself), I think he's full of hot air. There are hundreds of people, many reasonably well-connected, still waiting for PR after submitting applications five years ago.

No my friend works in the department of employment ministry of labour. He is a close friend to the family, he said he can do this for me, whether he really can or not is anther question.

I might as well try. If he cant then he cant, if he can then thats just a bonus for me.

Not at all sure what the "department of employment ministry of labour" is exactly, and the phrase you use - "works in" - does not inspire confidence that the chap has any significant influence there anyway.

Permanent Residence and Thai Citizenship decisions are the sole remit of the Interior Ministry - and as already been mentioned the first step to Thai Citizenship for a Foreigner with no birth links to claim Thai Nationality is to obtain Permanent Residence status - and many reports on this Forum indicate that no new Permanent Residence Permits have been released for some 5 years or so.

Just take care; don't pay money "up front" and - again as has already been mentioned - be careful that your "close friend to the family" does not in some clumsy way compromise your current and future ability to stay legally in Thailand.

Patrick

[Richard4849]

A small number of PR's have been signed, and a steady stream of naturalizations (including mine). Chavarat is just fine in my book.

[Arkady]

They did drop the name requirement, but I decided to take a Thai name anyway.

It seems to be handled in an odd way these days. The regulation to prepare a Thai name that has been approved by your local district office still applies and this approval document needs to be included with your application. However, the Interior Ministry apparently now issues the naturalization documents in the original foreign name of the applicant. Nevertheless, any Thai is free to change his name at his district office any time he likes. So, you have the option to use the name that you had chosen for your application (or another one) that way or retain your foreign name.

[Arkady]

PR is the first step to citizenship in most cases, and has some benefits of its own.

Unless your friend is a close bosom buddy of the Interior Minister, though (and he's about to be out if a job himself), I think he's full of hot air. There are hundreds of people, many reasonably well-connected, still waiting for PR after submitting applications five years ago.

Some well connected people (7 to be precise) from the 2006 and 2007 applications did indeed get PR but their connections were above the Interior Minister level, at least those of the one I know were. Anyway we are now living in a world of "de factos" and "de jures". The outgoing minister was de jure without any real power, while some one else was the de facto and called all the shots. Soon we will have a de jure and a de facto PM too.

[stbkk]

PR is the first step to citizenship in most cases, and has some benefits of its own.

Unless your friend is a close bosom buddy of the Interior Minister, though (and he's about to be out if a job himself), I think he's full of hot air. There are hundreds of people, many reasonably well-connected, still waiting for PR after submitting applications five years ago.

Some well connected people (7 to be precise) from the 2006 and 2007 applications did indeed get PR but their connections were above the Interior Minister level, at least those of the one I know were. Anyway we are now living in a world of "de factos" and "de jures". The outgoing minister was de jure without any real power, while some one else was the de facto and called all the shots. Soon we will have a de jure and a de facto PM too.

I'm one of the stalled 2006 PR applicants, and was considering bypassing that and going directly to citizenship under the new rules (I've been married to a Thai for 7 years).

But I read a posting somewhere about a new requirement that applicants must sign a letter confirming their intention to renounce their original nationality on approval, which in my case would be a show-stopper (personal opinion only, I have no intention of starting an argument as to the merits of various nationalities! ).

Does anybody have any updates on this aspect at all?

[Arkady]

Not at all sure what the "department of employment ministry of labour" is exactly, and the phrase you use - "works in" - does not inspire confidence that the chap has any significant influence there anyway.

Permanent Residence and Thai Citizenship decisions are the sole remit of the Interior Ministry - and as already been mentioned the first step to Thai Citizenship for a Foreigner with no birth links to claim Thai Nationality is to obtain Permanent Residence status - and many reports on this Forum indicate that no new Permanent Residence Permits have been released for some 5 years or so.

Just take care; don't pay money "up front" and - again as has already been mentioned - be careful that your "close friend to the family" does not in some clumsy way compromise your current and future ability to stay legally in Thailand.

Patrick

The Department of Employment is a division of the Labour Ministry. One of its sections is responsible for the issue of work permits. Actually PR is effectively no longer the first step to Thai nationality, particularly since PR has become virtually unobtainable since 2006. The majority of applicants for Thai citizenship nowadays are men and women with a Thai spouse but no PR. So marriage with a Thai is now the first step for most.

The Interior Ministry's guidelines on application for Thai citizenship contain a warning about persons who falsely claim to expedite applications for Thai citizenship in exchange for cash. I leave it to the reader's imagination what might be behind the warning.

[Arkady]

I'm one of the stalled 2006 PR applicants, and was considering bypassing that and going directly to citizenship under the new rules (I've been married to a Thai for 7 years).

But I read a posting somewhere about a new requirement that applicants must sign a letter confirming their intention to renounce their original nationality on approval, which in my case would be a show-stopper (personal opinion only, I have no intention of starting an argument as to the merits of various nationalities! ).

Does anybody have any updates on this aspect at all?

The requirement to submit a declaration of intent to renounce existing nationality on approval of Thai nationality appeared for the first time in the October 2009 Interior Ministry guidelines on application for Thai citizenship. The Interior Ministry interview panel also now routinely asks applicants whether they are willing to renounce their existing nationality, regardless of whether they applied before or after the declarations was required.

If you have interest at all in applying for Thai nationality, I strongly advise that you go to Police HQ at Pathumwan and talk to the staff in the Naturalization Section in Building 24 face to face. Requirements and interpretations come and go with the regime changes at the ministry and they are in the best position to advise you. They are also very helpful and friendly. If you want, you can take your personal documents and Thai spouse, if you have one, and they can give you an informal opinion on whether they think you qualify.

[jpinx]

They did drop the name requirement, but I decided to take a Thai name anyway.

:jap: