Hi everybody,

I will be going to Thailand in January and will be marrying my TGF. We have a son together who was born on 4th July 2006.

I have all the proof of contact, that I am supporting them and DNA proof that the child is mine.

Once we are married I want to apply for a Visa to bring them both back to the UK with me.

What do I need to do?

Do I need a seperate Visa for each of them?

Will my son automatically get dual nationality?

How long does it take?

What will be the cost for everything?

Basically, I need to know everything that I need to do and any possible setbacks.

Is there anything I can do before I go to Thailand that will save me time when I am over there. I will be in Thailand for 3 weeks and desperately hope to get it all sorted when I am over there.

HELP!!!!

Many thanks in advance

If you plan to marry in Thailand, see also:

Royal Thai Embassy's General Guidance for British Nationals wishing to marry in Thailand

British Embassy's Guidance for British Nationals Wishing to Marry in Thailand

Department of Local Administration's Marriage Registration.

After marriage, your wife may qualify for a spouse visa. See also UK Visa Application Centre's Settlement - Spouse checklist. See also How long will my application take?

With regards to your son, see also Consular Birth Registration and Baby Born One Day Too Soon For A British Passport, ......left without citizenship.

Unfortunately, the British Embassy have not yet updated their Consular Birth Registration webpage to reflect the better changes in the Law relating to unmarried UK fathers and their children born on or after 1 July 2006. Note that the following is now out of date:

British fathers cannot transmit their nationality to illegitimate children automatically (see below). If the parents marry after the child's birth, it is possible that the child's birth will be "legitimated" by its parents' marriage. In order for us to establish whether or not legitimation has taken place, we require both parents to sign paternity declarations in person at the Embassy (the fee for which is Baht 5,250) and the father to complete a "domicile questionnaire". Please ask for the declarations of paternity forms and the domicile questionnaire.

However, the Home Office have updated their information on Legitimacy and Meaning of "parent" (Chapter 6: General Information, Annex F: Explanation of terms, section 22).

In summary, if you are British "otherwise than by descent", then your child may claim British citizenship by descent under section s2(1)(a) of the British Nationality Act, as amended. If your child's mother is Thai, then your child may also automatically aquire Thai citizenship under section 7 of the Thai Nationality Act.

A Thai baby may apply (in person only) for a Thai passport at one of the passport offices. The cost is around 1005 Baht and takes around 3 working days at the Head passport office. This should be used to exit/enter Thailand.

A dual British/Thai baby may apply for a British passport or/and a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode to be placed in his Thai passport. One of these should be used to enter/exit the UK.

From Consular Birth Registration:

The fee for registration plus one certified copy of the entry is Baht 7,913 Additional copies of the entry can be obtained at a cost of Baht 3,075 per certificate.

The fee for a child's passport (valid for five years) is Baht 4,425.

It takes us 5 working days to process a birth registration application and 10 working days for a passport application.

See also Entry Clearance Fees - Thai Baht:

Settlement; marriage (fiancé(e)) 19,500.00

Certificate of Entitlement 6,375.00

and Service charge:

A service charge of Baht 425 (plus 7% VAT) per passport will be levied

Hi Vinny,

Just to clarify. My 4 month old (Thai) daughter has a Thai passport & we have just got her UK passport. in order to enter the UK all she has to do is show her uk passport. no right of abode stamp is needed in her Thai passport?

Cheers

Paul

Hi Vinny,

Just to clarify. My 4 month old (Thai) daughter has a Thai passport & we have just got her UK passport. in order to enter the UK all she has to do is show her uk passport. no right of abode stamp is needed in her Thai passport?

Cheers

Paul

exit thailand on the Thai PP.

flash the UK PP when arriving in the UK.

Right of abode sticker can be used if you want to, but the UK passport IMHO is the ultimate proof of this anyway.

Hi Vinny,

Just to clarify. My 4 month old (Thai) daughter has a Thai passport & we have just got her UK passport. in order to enter the UK all she has to do is show her uk passport. no right of abode stamp is needed in her Thai passport?

Cheers

Paul

exit thailand on the Thai PP.

flash the UK PP when arriving in the UK.

Right of abode sticker can be used if you want to, but the UK passport IMHO is the ultimate proof of this anyway.

Gotta consider what name she will be travelling on

If same on BOTH then No problem......