Can I obtain a Thai visa as a father of a Thai citizen child if I am not married to the mother?

May 17, 2018
6 years ago
Zlat ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
My partner and I recently had a child 2 months ago in Koh Phangan. My partner and child both have Thai Citizenship, I hold a Australian Citizenship (age 36).

We are not married.

I would like to find out if it's possible to get a Thai visa based on parental grounds for myself. Ideally I would prefer to get a multiple entry visa that can be renewed yearly. I'm not sure if nominal amounts of cash need to be shown in bank accounts. We have the money to show in an Australian Bank account, but not a Thai one.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An Australian father of a Thai citizen child can apply for a year-long, multi-entry Non-immigrant Type O visa from the Thai consulate in Penang, Malaysia. Required documents include the child's birth certificate, the mother's Thai ID, a house book listing, and proof of funds (400,000 THB or equivalent) in a bank account, which does not have to be a Thai bank. However, due to being unmarried, the father may not have automatic parental rights, and may need to go through family court to gain legal recognition as the father, which is required to obtain a yearly extension based on the child.
Dazza *******
In similar boat but want to know they other way bringing them to Australia
Zlat ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
In the process at the moment. You need to apply for citizen by decent. It can be done either at the Embassy in Bangkok or online.

You will need the thai birth certificate translated and notarized.

Signed passport photos of child by a witness who knows the child since birth ie nurse.

Form 118 & 1195 filled out

Also you will need your documents certified by a witness.

passport

bio page

12 months of previous travel pages in passport before their birth

It shouldnt be hard just follow the steps. Here are some links to get you started.

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%20Citizenship%20by%20Descent_Jun17.pdf
Tod *********
You can get a year-long, multi-entry Non-immigrant Type O visa from the thai consulate in Penang Malaysia by showing the birth certificate with your name on it, the mother's thai i/d, the house book listing and 400K baht (or the equivalent) in a bank account in your name (it doesn't have to be in a thai bank). This visa requires you exit/re-enter the country every 90 days to get another 90 day stamp. You do that for the whole year the visa is valid for. You can get 15 months of stay (in 3 month increments) out of it.

That is the ONLY consulate you can get that visa from in S/E Asia. All the other consulates in the area will only issue a 90 day, single entry Non-O visa.

Unfortunately because you had the child out of wedlock you cannot get any yearly extension based on supporting children from the immigration office inside the country. That's because when children are born out of wedlock the father has NOT parental rights. (NO matter if your name is on the birth certificate or the child has a passport from your country) 100% of the parental rights are granted to the mother.

The only way to get recognized as the legal father is to go thru family court and get recognized that way. Once you are recognized as the legal father and granted parental rights you can then use the child as the reason to get a year-long extension of stay inside the country at the immigration office.
Tod *********
Mark Stanley Seeing as I have neither a thai significant other or a half thai child by one I couldn't speak from experience. Only from my time at the family court with mixed couples trying to get the foreign father parental rights.
Tod *********
@Zlat ***********
You use signed copies of the house book listings, they don't need the original book, pick one of the books and use that entry.
Tod *********
@Zlat ***********
It takes about 6 months to get it thru family court IF the mother of your child is okay with you doing this.

You should both go to the family court office in the city you live in and see what's involved in granting you parental rights.

In the mean time, I'd say you should snap up that year-long, multi-entry Non-O visa from Penang IF you meet the financial requirements OR at least get a 90 day single entry Non-O (which don't have any financial requirements from the thai consulates in Penang, Vientiane or Savannakhet. That would give you 90 days when you stamp in and you could extend that by 60 more days based on visiting family at the immigration office for 1900baht which requires NO financial proof
Zlat ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Also is it going to be a problem if the the mother and child are on 2 different house books, and is a copy sufficient or do they need the originals?
Zlat ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does anyone know the process involved of getting a court order?
Tod *********
Valère you have to be married when the child is born. :/
Mike ********
@Valère ************************
still have to go to court.
Valère *************************
Just out of curiosity. If they get married now or later. Does he then get parental rights automatically or does he still have to go trough court?
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