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Multiple Entry Visa for Sightseeing, Visiting Relatives and Other Purposes (for Thai Nationals Only)

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For where and how to apply, fees etc. see Japan Visa Application Centre (JVAC).

An English couple were driving through Wales when they stopped for lunch in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogoch.

In the restaurant they said to a member of staff; "Can you settle an argument for us; how do you pronounce where we are?"

The staff member leaned over and said................





















"Burrr   gerrrrr  kiiiiiiing!"

The main purpose of this post is to explain how someone may become British through naturalisation. But first, for the benefit of those Thai/British couples who have children, a brief explanation of whether those children are already British.

There are basically two forms of British citizenship; British by descent or British otherwise than by descent.

British by descent means that you inherited your British nationality from one or both of your parents; usually because you were born outside the UK or a qualifying territory.

British nationality can only descend one generation, so if you are British by descent then your children will only be British if they qualify in their own right by being born in the UK or a qualifying territory; unless their other parent is British otherwise than by descent, in which case see below.

British otherwise than by descent means that you are British in your own right; usually because you were born in the UK or a qualifying territory and at least one of your parents is British or is legally settled in the UK or the qualifying territory where you were born, or by some other means such as naturalisation.

If you are British otherwise than by descent then your children will be British no matter where they are born and no matter the nationality of the other parent.

That is the basics, there are variations depending on when you were born etc. For the full picture see Who already has British citizenship?

If your child is born in Thailand and is British you may wish to register the birth at the British embassy. This is not compulsory and does not replace registration in Thailand nor their Thai birth certificate. Their Thai certificate, plus a notorised translation, should be used whenever their birth certificate is required in the UK; including in British passport applications. See How to register a birth.

To obtain your child's first British passport, see How to apply from Thailand (First time applications) and Steps to apply for a child passport

Naturalisation

The requirements for this can be found at Standard requirements for naturalisation. Note that these are the standard requirements. Those for the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen are slightly different and can be found at Requirements for naturalisation if you are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen.

You will see that the main differences are the free from immigration time restrictions and the residential requirements.

The standard requirements are that the applicant must have been free from immigration time restrictions, i.e. held ILR or the equivalent, for at least the last 12 months prior to applying, must have been legally present in the UK on the exact day 5 years prior to applying (the type of visa held at that time doesn't matter) and during the past 5 years have spent no more than 450 days out of the UK with no more than 90 days in the final year.

The requirements as a spouse or civil partner of a British citizen are that the applicant must be free from immigration time restrictions, i.e. hold ILR or the equivalent (how long they have held it doesn't matter), must have been legally present in the UK on the exact day 3 years prior to applying (the type of visa held at that time doesn't matter) and during the past 3 years have spent no more than 270 days out of the UK with no more than 90 days in the final year.

Note that only spouses and civil partners can apply as such; unmarried partners etc. have to apply under the standard requirements.

One of the other requirements for naturalisation is that the applicant has demonstrated sufficient knowledge of life and language in the UK (KOL). However, if the applicant has already done this to obtain ILR or ILE then they do not need to do so again for naturalisation.

Applying

See How do I apply for British citizenship or another form of British nationality?

Once a decision has been made you will receive notification of same and your documents will be returned; unless you applied through the Nationality Checking Service in which case they would have been copied and the originals returned at the time of applying.

Registration of a child

Children under the age of 18 cannot be naturalised as British; they can, however, be registered as such.

From Can I register a child aged under 18 as a British citizen? you will see that this can be a complicated matter.

However, for most of the members here it is relatively simple. The child has a British step-parent and a Thai natural parent. The child lives in the UK with them. The Thai parent already has British nationality or is applying for it at the same time as the child.

In such cases registration of the child will be at the Home Secretary's discretion (in reality at the UKBA's discretion!). See Other cases where it is considered to be in the child's best interests to be granted British citizenship. I have never heard of a case where parent and child live together in the UK and the parent has been granted British citizenship but the child refused.

Children do have to be free of immigration time restrictions, but there is no minimum residential requirement. Neither do they need to satisfy KOL.

Once a child has been registered as British that is it; they are British. They do not apply again for naturalisation when they reach 18.

Children aged 18 or over are classed as adults and so apply for naturalisation as above..

Citizenship Ceremonies.

If your application is successful then you will receive an invitation to arrange a citizenship ceremony. Here you will either swear an oath or make an affirmation of allegiance and receive your citizenship certificate. Children under 18 do not have to swear or affirm, but may do so if they wish.

See Citizenship ceremonies.

Passport

Once you have your citizenship certificate you can apply for your first British passport. Note that all adult first time passport applicants have to attend an identity interview, whether they are British by birth, naturalisation or some other means. Therefore it can take up to 6 weeks to obtain the passport.

See Applying for your first adult passport.

Children do not need an identity interview, but until they are 16 their passports will be valid for only 5 years not 10. See Applying for a new or renewed child passport

Finally

This can be a lengthy process. The naturalisation application may take at least 3 months to be decided, possibly 6 or even longer. Once naturalised you may have to wait up to three months for a citizenship ceremony, though usually less, and then up to 6 weeks for a passport interview.

Both Thailand and the UK allow dual nationality and have for many years. Therefore obtaining British citizenship will not affect someone's Thai nationality nor their rights as a Thai citizen in any way.

As ever, E&OE.

Comments and questions on the process are welcome, but if you have specific questions on an individual case please do not post here but start a new topic instead. Thanks.

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