Hey Everyone,

I'm 26 years old. My father is Thai. I'd like to get a Thai passport. What's the process for making that happen?

One issue might be that I was born in the US. On my US birth certificate, it lists my father's nationality as US and not Thai. I heard that I can actually get a birth certificate retroactively by going to my father's home town with my father. Is that true? Is it necessary for me to do so? (My dad is a dual citizen.)

Basically, if someone could walk me through the steps I'd need to go through to get a Thai passport, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

- Derek

Edited September 4, 201411 yr by DerekP

If you were born in the states the embassy or one of the consulates (NY, LA, or Chicago) there is only place that can issue you a Thai birth certificate.

You can start the paperwork to get it at the Ministry fo Foreign Affairs consular affairs bureau in Bangkok Location info here: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/organize/19719-%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B1%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88-%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%97%E0%B9%8C-%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%8C.html

His nationality shown on your US birth certificate should not matter. You will just need proof he is Thai.

Wait, so:

1) Can I get the passport without the Thai birth certificate? If I have a US birth certificate showing that he's my father, and that he can prove he's Thai with his Thai ID card?

2) So I cannot get a Thai birth certificate in Thailand?

Please read post 2 again.

You will not get a passport without a Thai birth certificate, house book registry and a Thai ID card.

The birth certificate has to be done in the states but you can start the process of getting it in Bangkok at the MFA.

Wait, so:

1) Can I get the passport without the Thai birth certificate? If I have a US birth certificate showing that he's my father, and that he can prove he's Thai with his Thai ID card?

2) So I cannot get a Thai birth certificate in Thailand?

I think you can only get the Thai birth certificate from the Thai embassy or consulate, if you were born overseas. Once you have got that, you can get a passport from the Thai embassy or consulate without having a Thai ID card and tabien baan. If you apply for a passport in Thailand, you must have the tabien baan and ID card first because the system is designed for Thais living in Thailand. If you have a Thai passport issued overseas the district office will accept that as evidence that you are Thai and it will be easier to get on a tabien baan and get and ID card, which you will need, if you are going to live in Thailand. Males under 30 are liable for military service, if they are on a tabien baan. So for them it is better to defer getting that, if you are a male under 30, unless you need it to live in Thailand. Having a passport but no tabien baan leaves you under the military's radar. You can get on anyone's tabien baan anywhere but, if you apply without getting a passport first some district offices might insist you apply for a house where relatives live, as they are terrified of getting into trouble for issuing Thai ID cards to non-Thai citizens. There are plenty of Chinese, Burmese, Nepalese etc willing to pay bribes for this and the officials don't want to get into trouble when they haven't even benefitted.