If You Had to Choose your Child's Nationality

[EmptyHead]

Hello all,

Many of us have come to Thailand and started families. Most of us can get dual nationality for our kids (except a few countries which don't allow or restrict it to their citizens).

Our daughter is Thai/British.

If a decision day came, it would probably be sad and tough day for mixed race familes living in Thailand (or maybe not).

My question is: which nationality would you choose if you had to and why?

There are probably many things to consider, including:

owning houses and land

work

education

health care

ease of living in Thailand

ease of living elsewhere

ease of travel

future and current opportunities

There are probably many more.

I wonder if any parents of mixed race kids have ever thought of it. But anyway, for the sake of it, which would you choose?

[Mario2008]

Your daughter doesn't have to choose but UK and Thailand allow dual nationality.

Some indeed have to choose, for instance if you are Malaysia or from Singapore, but most western nationalities you do not have to choose. They make a clear distinction between being born with dual nationality and acquiring another nationality. if you had to choose, you should make a decision based on the situation at that moment and how you see the future at that moment. Speculating at something that is maybe 10 or more years away for someone while you can wait to decide till the day comes there.

[EmptyHead]

I know, I just thought it would interesting to see what answers were given.

Nevermind.

[pinkpanther99]

It would depend on what you had planned for the future.

My daughter is also Thai/British but if I had to choose, I dare say I'd choose Thai as I see our family living here long term and my daughter having Thai nationality would make things easier for the reasons you mention in your OP.

[impulse]

I'd like mine to be at least 1/2 American.

Otherwise, someone has some 'splaining to do...

[smotherb]

I would want my child to have the nationality which offered the best future. Unfortunately, I have seen far too many farang-local children who have no choice other than being, by culture and language, locals. Nationality is much more than a passport, it's a frame of mind, a cultural dimension. If your child cannot hope to be able to go to your home country and do well--hold down a good job, acclimate to the socio-cultural environment, and comfortably exist--then you have done them a disservice. I say local, instead of Thai, because I see this same problem in Vietnam and the Philippines with farang-local unions. You need to spend enough time with your children for them to develop identities as nationals of your home country--that is if you want them to be able to choose where to live.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Sweden, Norway, or Switzerland (in no particular order). Maybe France.

Most of the other western countries are well down the toilet.

Edited November 12, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[bkk_mike]

For my daughters, if push came to shove, it would be British.

But that's because of the far lower glass ceiling in Thailand. You generally don't see woman bosses, except where they own the business, or where it's a multinational that had transferred someone from abroad.

If it was easier for Thai nationals to travel and work abroad, then it would be Thai so they kept the right to own land, etc.

But fortunately, they don't have to choose.

[schweizer]

Martian, best to get in before the land grab

[khunPer]

»I wonder if any parents of mixed race kids have ever thought of it. But anyway, for the sake of it, which would you choose?«

I had not much choice with my luk keung (half Thai) daughter, as my European home country, Denmark, did not accept dual nationality and as I’m not married to the Thai mum I could not even choose between two nationalities. However I considered the options and if I had to choose one only between the two, I would choose Thai nationality, as we are living in Thailand and also because that I see a better future in Asia than Europe.

Things has changed this year after an EU court verdict (the so-called Malta Case), as from 1st July I can apply for nationality in my European home country that will also allow dual nationality from next year. A long lasting process that will take a couple of years to proceed, but I’m using that option, as it gives my daughter a better choice to decide her own in the future.

Edited November 12, 2014 by khunPer

[BigBadGeordie]

Swedish would be my option, but that is a bit of a non starter as I am a Brit and my wife is Thai

[davidmann]

Thai british is better than i got ,come go thailand ,come go the world ,

[manarak]

Sweden, Norway, or Switzerland (in no particular order). Maybe France.

Most of the other western countries are well down the toilet.

France is not down the toilet in your opinion?

It's one of the most hopelessly screwed up countries in Europe.

I see some posters' thoughts revolve around assistance from the state for when the "shit hits the fan", but I wonder if one's home country such as Sweden, Switzerland or France will really be in a position to help if the shit really hits the fan. hard.

Famines have been recorded in Europe in modern times, but I can't remember ever reading about a famine in Thailand.

I find the thought about state assistance to be a bit depressing, i.e. which country will support me best for sitting on my ass without a job or if I have disabilities, other problems or no money left for pension age.

From an opportunities point of view, I think Thailand leads easily, but I'm not able to assess how many of the opportunities can only be pursued with a Thai passport.

On the other hand, the Western passport opens up possibilities of free or cheap university education and also provides the right to enter the western corporate threadmill.

A western passport is more comfortable for traveling, but Thais with a decent income can also travel quite easily.

If I had to make such a decision (I won't ever have to, read the end of the post), I would weigh opportunities against state assistance.

I guess a safe choice could be to first go with a western passport and to then acquire Thai nationality when the bases are covered.

The case of "having to choose" is also a very theoretical one, since governments can't/won't do anything against citizens with another citizenship inspite of regulations banning it.

The easy thing to do is to just take the other citizenship without telling the other country anything about it.

That has been my situation for a long time, and I know several Western/Thai dual citizens in that situation too.

Edited November 12, 2014 by manarak

[David48]

Sweden, Norway, or Switzerland (in no particular order). Maybe France.

Most of the other western countries are well down the toilet.

France is not down the toilet in your opinion?

It's one of the most hopelessly screwed up countries in Europe.

Indeed it is.

France has MAJOR issues, but it's not that recognised outside the financial world.

But let's not be hard on AOA ... choices can sometimes not be economic.

One of the cities around the world I could live is Aix-en-Provence just above Marseille (which is a dump IMHO).

But, this is a question about Nationalities. Surprised that Australian didn't make that aforementioned list.

.

[Patsycat]

That's because we are too polite, David. And its too far from home...

[David48]

That's because we are too polite, David. And its too far from home...

Ouch ...

Christmas Card List

Patsycat

.

[Patsycat]

I've gone over my quota of likes!!!

[eezergood]

My little one has Thai/UK/Aus - I would choose any of those as long as it wasn't Thai