Hello,

I was born in Thailand in 1990 to a British father and a Thai mother. At the time for some reason i wasn't eligible (don't know why) for Thai citizenship so i got a British citizenship. When my father and i got Australian citizenship we automatically lost our British ones because at the time Australia didn't recognize dual citizenship (they now do recognize dual citizenship). After talking to the Thai consulate in Sydney i was told i am eligible for Thai citizenship because my mother is Thai and has a Thai Passport and that my name is also on the house registration. One question they wouldn't answer in their reply email was if my application for Thai passport was approved would i lose my Australian citizenship.

What i would like to know is if i do apply for a Thai passport would i still have my Australian citizenship or would they ask me to renounce my Australian citizenship / lose it automatically.

Regards,

William

They will not reply to your question as you were querying Australian government policy. You will retain your Australian citizenship. When traveling to Thailand from Oz depart on your Oz passport and enter Thailand on the Thai passport. exit Thailand on the Thai passport re-enter Oz with Oz passport. Wife has done this many times. BTW there are no restrictions on acquiring property in Thailand if you have dual Australian/Thai nationality. Remember, once in Thailand you will need to obtain a Thai national ID card from the your Amphur (local council offices).

Some Thai immigration say you cannot have dual citizenship, as happened to my wife at the Thai Embassy in K.L.when her Thai & Oz passports were stolen; this is not correct and was overturned by a more knowledgeable member of consular services.

But be aware as a dual national you will be subject to Thai military service registration and draft. Not a serious concern for most but a factor you need to be aware of.

Thanks for both your replies! And i actually want to be drafted how ever i am overweight atm so they might not take me .

Edit: spelling mistake

Edited December 3, 201213 yr by Birreh

Birreh

I have a question about this (purely for interest's sake).

You say "When my father and i got Australian citizenship we automatically lost our British ones because at the time Australia didn't recognize dual citizenship (they now do recognize dual citizenship)."

But I don't understand how that could happen. The UK recognises dual citizenship, and I'm presuming the Australian position then was that they wouldn't recognise your UK citizenship.

However you could still just keep your UK passport, couldn't you? Then to the UK you would be a dual Australian/UK citizen, but to the Australians you would just be an Australian citizen?

How does Australia determine how the UK views you? It's not within their jurisdiction to tell the UK authorities how they should treat you?

Birreh

I have a question about this (purely for interest's sake).

You say "When my father and i got Australian citizenship we automatically lost our British ones because at the time Australia didn't recognize dual citizenship (they now do recognize dual citizenship)."

But I don't understand how that could happen. The UK recognises dual citizenship, and I'm presuming the Australian position then was that they wouldn't recognise your UK citizenship.

However you could still just keep your UK passport, couldn't you? Then to the UK you would be a dual Australian/UK citizen, but to the Australians you would just be an Australian citizen?

How does Australia determine how the UK views you? It's not within their jurisdiction to tell the UK authorities how they should treat you?

Good question. I have held UK/Oz dual citizenship from the early 1990s and my UK citizenship was not revoked. Even though it was not until 4 April 2002, that their were no restrictions (under Australian law) on Australians holding the citizenship of another country. However, HMG government advice is nationals who acquire the nationality of a country that does not allow dual nationality may be required by the other country to renounce British nationality to retain the other citizenship. In other words obliged to comply with the laws of your new country; again this was not a requirement when I obtained Australian citizenship.

Edited December 3, 201213 yr by simple1

I actually have no idea because my British passport was never renewed. Just repeating what my father told me; i will have to double check with him. If my British citizenship was not revoked would that make me ineligible for a Thai citizenship?

No, you have Thai nationality because your mother is Thai. Nothing chances that.

No, you have Thai nationality because your mother is Thai. Nothing chances that.

On my Thai birth certificate it says "not elligible for thai citizenship" but no one knows why not even the consulate. Does any one here have any idea?

regards,

William

That might be a misinterpretation by the local amphur. In the past a woman marrying to a foreigner probably lost her Thai nationality and acquired the nationality of her husband. That was common practise in many countries till the 1970's.

But if one of your parrents has Thai nationality at the time of your birth then so have you.

If you were born before 1992 your Thai BC will say that if your mother married a foreigner and had automatically lost Thai citizenship as a result. It was only with changes to the Thai nationality act in 1992 which reverted to Thai citizenship back to your mother, and automatically, you. That is why the consulate is saying you are eligible.

As for you losing your British nationality - becoming an Australian wouldn't have made you lose it. Just because you never renewed your passport (which is just a travel document) doesn't mean you stopped being British.

Up till 2004 Australia only had a problems with Australian citizens who voluntarily took out another citizenship. In that circumstance only did they forfeit Australian citizenship. That stopped in 2004 with revisions to Australian nationality law.

Australia has always allowed people to have multiple nationalities as well as Australian citizenship if those people were both with those other citizenships (like you) or had them before naturalising as an Australian.

Post 2004, the laws changed so that you no longer lost Australian citizenship when you voluntarily took out another citizenship.

Edited December 3, 201213 yr by samran

Thanks! So in theory i can have 3 Citizenships?

Regards

William

Thanks! So in theory i can have 3 Citizenships?

Regards

William

Sure - my daughter does. Thai OZ and NZ

Thanks for the help!

ps. My mothers name is also Samran

regards william

In addition to Thai citizenship, you are entitled to re-register for British citizenship, if you have renounced it in order to obtain or retain another citizenship. However, since you never formally renounced it, which involves submitting an application and paying a fee, you are still British and just need to apply for another British passport showing evidence of your eligibility.

Cpongratulations on being a trinational!

Edited December 10, 201213 yr by Arkady