Hello,

My British wife and I have just had our first child here in BKK.

We are now looking to apply for his first passport, so I have a couple of questions:

I understand that he does not need a visa to remain in Thailand at the moment as he was born here. However how long is this the case? what if we do not leave Thailand until the end of 2012? will immigration get pissy because he would have been living here for 10 months without a visa?

Secondly, it seems that both myself and my wife are required to provide our original birth certificates to register the birth. I am not sure where mine is and my wife is the same! is there a solution/workaround?

Finally, does it make things easier to register the birth certificate with the British Consulate here? I already have English translations, so what is the point in registering it? does it simpllfy the passport application?

Thanks in advance.

No ideas?....

Get your birth certificates from the GRO online, takes about 3 weeks for them to arrive.

GRO online

You need the certificates to show your kid is entitled to be 'British by Descent', because he was born abroad he doesn't have full citizenship rights (but they are only limited if he also has children abroad)

He does need a Visa to be in Thailand, but there is no penalties until he is over 15, so it doesn't really matter.

Passport and Consular birth registration cost about 15,000bht

I think it is worth doing, because of the same reason you have

(you don't know where your birth certificate is, so can buy a replacement online)

Edited December 12, 201114 yr by ludditeman

Upon leaving Thailand simply show the Thai birthcertificate, that will make it clear why there is no visa and no record of the childs entry into the Kingdom. It is no problem that you will not leave till the end of next year.

Opinions differ over the usefullnes of registering the child through the embassy. I believe it is cheaper if you wait and do it yourself once returning to the UK.

Hello, thanks for the replies!

I am just wondering if anyone knows whether I am able to register my child's birth with the GRO in the UK with a Thai birth certificate?

I need to return to the UK for a funeral tomorrow and would like to arrange this whilst in the UK if possible. My child will NOT be travelling with me to the UK though.... Also I have not applied for my child's passport yet...

Is this possible? if so, where, how, how much?

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I think the Thai birth certificate must be translated and certified by the Thai MFA and British Embassy. But check with the embassy first.

Whilst in England apply for the passport there, saves a lot of money.

Am sure you can try to get a UK Birth Certificate at the local Government office, try there, worst they can do is say no.

Edited January 25, 201214 yr by beano2274

Whilst in England apply for the passport there, saves a lot of money.

Am sure you can try to get a UK Birth Certificate at the local Government office, try there, worst they can do is say no.

I was hoping to apply for a passport in the UK but the child needs to be in the country to apply. My son is staying here....

Could your child have dual nationality as He / She was born in Thailand?

That might be a stupid question but I would like to know

Being born in Thailand does not make one a Thai national, (outside a few very exceptional cases).

What makes one a Thai national is if at least one of the parents is a Thai national at the time of birth of the child. Where you are born or if the Thai parent has dual nationality is of no consequence.

Whilst in England apply for the passport there, saves a lot of money.

Am sure you can try to get a UK Birth Certificate at the local Government office, try there, worst they can do is say no.

I was hoping to apply for a passport in the UK but the child needs to be in the country to apply. My son is staying here....

Am sure the child does not need to be in the UK, as the child does not need to attend an interview, if asked the child is having check ups in the hospital with the mother.