National Id Card

[doontp]

I have questions about getting a Thai National ID Card. What is the process? Where do I go? What must I do? I am almost 37 and was born in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. My mom was Thai and father American. I am a US Citizen with a Thai Birth Certificate. My mom passed away eight years ago. Her relatives live in Amnatchareon, whom I've met for the first time three years ago. I have been living and working in Thailand for the last three years. My company always renews my visa and work permit with no hassles. I have a Thai driver's license and would like to get a Thai National ID Card. I am having difficulty trusting my mom's relatives. I would like them to assist me, but I feel they will tell me it cost lots of money. I have been more than generous to them, financially speaking. A Thai lady recently told me it only costs 20 baht to get a National ID Card and that it takes about 10 minutes by going to an "amper" office or something like that. Could someone explain to me what to do, because I have caught my Thai relatives lying to me several times in order to get money out of me, but I prefer to keep quiet. I associate with them as little as possible. I do consider them shiny, little, happy people:) I just want to know what to do. I appreciate any advice.

[Crossy]

Probably going to work best in the Thai visas section.

[Canada]

My wife says that you should take your birth certificate to the Amphoe and ask to apply for your ID card. She says if there are problems that they will tell you what you must do. She says it will cost less then 100 baht. Can you speak Thai? If you can, it should be relatively easy. She says you should be able to go to any Amphoe Office, however it may be easier if you go to the Amphoe in your place of birth.

Good luck.

[Mario2008]

If one of your parents is Thai, so are you. Look at your birth ceritficate, it should also state your nationality. If it clearly states Thai, than simply go to the amphur and apply for a Thai ID-card.

You will need to take some relatives with you and or village headman, just in case they will question that you are indeed the person on the birth certificate. Also you will need a person along (or their household registration book) at which adress you will be registered.

Once you have the Thai ID-card, it is easy to apply for a Thai passport. Next time you leave Thailand, do it on your US-passport. When you return, you enetr on your Thai passport and are no longer subjct to immirgation rules. You will not need a work permit anymore once you have your Thai ID-card. Till you re-enter on a Thai paspsort you cna easily obtain yearly extensions from immirgaiton upon showing your Thai ID-card.

[asiaexpat]

My son was required to produce his Thai birth certificate and Tambien Baan. Since he was not originally in his mother's Tambien Baan when he applied for the ID, the District Office added him to her Tambien Baan and then issued an ID.

[meatboy]

where have you been living the last three years? if its with a thai friend get them to add you to the house register,my wife done the same when she got a new id.card after not renewing for 10years,its pretty straight forward,regarding your inlaws,shiny,happy little people,now they have seen you they are smileing,but they want to be big wealthy people,good luck to you.

[lockman]

Same sort of thing, but I don't know what to do. Our son was born in USA. We never did anything until this year after we were told at Amphur that his American birth certificate had to be done to Thai in USA. So we did all that paperwork and finally received his Thai birth certificate. So we took that to Amphur where we were told NO as he is 36 and ?? too old. All we wanted to do was add him to the house book, nothing else.

Our thoughts are (now that we found out things later) is once he is in the house book, he can at a later date, apply for a Thai passport when (someday) he and his wife (from Udon) come here to live. At that point, with the passport, he should be able to get an ID card.

So what do we do? Is there some rule that after a certain age you (the parents) can place him in your house book?

Ideas?

[lopburi3]

Not sure what "too old" would be about but he does have to be on a home register and that would require the Thai Embassy certificate of birth overseas and that should lead to ID card which will allow passport. He can then exit and return on passport as a Thai and be done with visas. If you have an Amphur issue perhaps find another member of family/friend and have him entered on that home register at a different office?

[samran]

Same sort of thing, but I don't know what to do. Our son was born in USA. We never did anything until this year after we were told at Amphur that his American birth certificate had to be done to Thai in USA. So we did all that paperwork and finally received his Thai birth certificate. So we took that to Amphur where we were told NO as he is 36 and ?? too old. All we wanted to do was add him to the house book, nothing else.

Our thoughts are (now that we found out things later) is once he is in the house book, he can at a later date, apply for a Thai passport when (someday) he and his wife (from Udon) come here to live. At that point, with the passport, he should be able to get an ID card.

So what do we do? Is there some rule that after a certain age you (the parents) can place him in your house book?

Ideas?

You've been told fibs. I wasn't added to our Tabieen baan until I was 30.

given your son was born int he US, probably best for him to have his first Thai passport issued there (does he still live there?). If applying via the embassy, his Washington DC issued birth cert from the Thai embassy should ensure he gets that.

He then enters Thailand on the Thai passport, and goes to any ampur where someone will allow him to go on the house register. Someone senior who can vouch for him will be needed as well. He gets on the house register and then after that the ID can be issued.

[Mario2008]

You seem to be saying that your son lives in the US. Are you sure they didn't refuse to register him because he lives in the US and is not in Thailand. In that case they might not want to register him on a tabien baan and thus he can get no Thai ID-card. He better applies for a Thai passport in the US first.

[lockman]

You seem to be saying that your son lives in the US. Are you sure they didn't refuse to register him because he lives in the US and is not in Thailand. In that case they might not want to register him on a tabien baan and thus he can get no Thai ID-card. He better applies for a Thai passport in the US first.

Yes he lives in the US at present. The consulate in USA told me he needed to be on the house book to get a passport. Yep..confusing.

[lopburi3]

Two posters - first is first person and second seems to be parents without the applicant so refusal was probably because son is no longer a minor so must do the registration himself?

[lopburi3]

You seem to be saying that your son lives in the US. Are you sure they didn't refuse to register him because he lives in the US and is not in Thailand. In that case they might not want to register him on a tabien baan and thus he can get no Thai ID-card. He better applies for a Thai passport in the US first.

Yes he lives in the US at present. The consulate in USA told me he needed to be on the house book to get a passport. Yep..confusing.

What Consulate told you this? He does have Embassy birth certificate?

[Mario2008]

Have seen that rule before and it is officially in the books. But I would suggest trying another Thai consulate in the US, which is less strict. Not all Thai consulates seem to demand that one has a Thai ID-card.

[lockman]

What Consulate told you this? He does have Embassy birth certificate?

LA consulate told me this in reference to passport, but could not issue birth certificate as he was born in Ohio..had to send to New York. So sent package to New York to get Thai birth certificate so we could register him in our house as we live here now (while he works in US.) I'm thinking he may eventually come and live here in 15 years or so and this way he can get a passport when he decides to do that, as well as he can inherit under Thai Law our house and property.

[lopburi3]

Believe once he gets the birth certificate paperwork a passport can be issued (but might require parents help). But suspect he will have to do his own home register and ID card paperwork during a visit as he is not a minor anymore.

[lockman]

Believe once he gets the birth certificate paperwork a passport can be issued (but might require parents help). But suspect he will have to do his own home register and ID card paperwork during a visit as he is not a minor anymore.

I'll ask consulate for sure. Didn't want him to do anything right now but make him eligible for this as he has a number of years to work yet. But if something ever happens to us, he is in line to inherit and keep her family out of it.

Wonder if we saw a lawyer and did a will (with copy of birth certificate attached) if that would suffice.

[doontp]

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I can speak some Thai. I can also read and write a little... www.learningthai.com has been and continues to be a very useful site.

My wife says that you should take your birth certificate to the Amphoe and ask to apply for your ID card. She says if there are problems that they will tell you what you must do. She says it will cost less then 100 baht. Can you speak Thai? If you can, it should be relatively easy. She says you should be able to go to any Amphoe Office, however it may be easier if you go to the Amphoe in your place of birth.

Good luck.

[doontp]

Thank you for the reply and wishing me luck. I live alone and work in Nakhon Pathom, just outside of Bangkok. My employer provides the housing.

Yes, I understand the feelings of my mother's family. Images of the US on TV preys on the hopes and dreams of third-world people. I have provided funding, which they used to construct two houses in their village in Isaan. I have curtailed additional monies, due to integrity issues. I expect relations to improve as I learn to speak the Thai language better.

I know my mom's little brother and his wife (my aunt & uncle) will assist by accompanying me to the "Amphoe" in my province of birth. I just want to be equipped with as much knowledge as I can get. Thank you again for the reply.

where have you been living the last three years? if its with a thai friend get them to add you to the house register,my wife done the same when she got a new id.card after not renewing for 10years,its pretty straight forward,regarding your inlaws,shiny,happy little people,now they have seen you they are smileing,but they want to be big wealthy people,good luck to you.

[doontp]

Thank you for the reply. Yes, my Thai birth certificate with official translation clearly lists my nationality as "Thai." In addition, it clearly lists my mom, who was Thai.

I will be able to take my mom's little brother and his wife, along with their household registration book. Thank you for the information.

If one of your parents is Thai, so are you. Look at your birth ceritficate, it should also state your nationality. If it clearly states Thai, than simply go to the amphur and apply for a Thai ID-card.

You will need to take some relatives with you and or village headman, just in case they will question that you are indeed the person on the birth certificate. Also you will need a person along (or their household registration book) at which adress you will be registered.

Once you have the Thai ID-card, it is easy to apply for a Thai passport. Next time you leave Thailand, do it on your US-passport. When you return, you enetr on your Thai passport and are no longer subjct to immirgation rules. You will not need a work permit anymore once you have your Thai ID-card. Till you re-enter on a Thai paspsort you cna easily obtain yearly extensions from immirgaiton upon showing your Thai ID-card.

[doontp]

Thank you for the reply. I am new to this site. Several individuals did reply and were very helpful.

Probably going to work best in the Thai visas section.