A new regulation aimed at granting Thai citizenship to children of stateless individuals and members of ethnic minority groups living in Thailand has officially come into effect following its publication in the Royal Gazette on Monday, June 30.
Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich said the regulation aligns with a cabinet resolution designed to fast-track the legal recognition of stateless individuals who have lived in the country for an extended period.
Under the new rules, Thai citizenship can now be granted to individual born in Thailand to stateless parents whose personal information was recorded in official population surveys conducted before 1999.
It also covers stateless persons identified in surveys carried out between 2005 and 2011 as part of the Strategic Plan to Address Legal Status and Rights Issues. This includes eligible members of the Moken ethnic group who meet the outlined criteria.
Mr. Theerarat added that the regulation will be in effect for one year from June 30, unless extended by a future cabinet decision.
Interior Ministry permanent secretary Unsit Sampantarat said Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s government had directed the ministry to implement the regulation in accordance with a cabinet resolution approved on October 29 last year under the Srettha Thavisin administration.
“This marks the first time Thailand has taken practical and swift action to address these long-standing issues,” Mr. Unsit said.
He explained that the regulation targets ethnic minority groups who have lived in Thailand for years and whose biometric records are already stored in the national database.
He clarified that these approximately 140,000 individuals are not undocumented migrants or illegal foreign nationals.
The regulation does not apply to migrant workers, displaced individuals residing in temporary shelters, or foreign passport holders.
Eligible applicants must meet the criteria outlined in the regulation and file their applications through the proper administrative channels.
In Bangkok, applications must be submitted to the Bureau of Registration Administration at the Department of Provincial Administration. In other provinces, applicants are required to contact their local district office.
