[outsitWrord]

Can someone please advise the benefits (and cons) of having dual citizenship?
Currently i'm an Australian citizen. I was born in Thailand and came to Australia when i was 7.
I'll probably plan on visiting my relos in Thailand yearly now that i'm making decent money. I guess having a Thai passport will save me organising a visa everytime i visit (i usually go for about 5 weeks)
I'm 22 now - am i still eligable to get a Thai passport? and what do i need to do?

Thanks~

[Broker15015]

Thai Gov. does not mind you carry 2 Passports, 4 months ago I entered Thailand with American passport and traveling to Cambodia with Thai Passport before boarding the plane the immigration officer asked me how did I get to Thailand I told him I used American passport he let me go (My passport was issued in LA.)

Thai passport will allow you to own property or do bussiness as Thai person, but you don't have to go that far all you need is Thai ID. go to your home town apply for Thai ID. that is all you need and traveling with Aus. passport.

If you use Thai passport to enter Australia you have to have visa from Thailand to go to there and it is little bit risky because at immigration they have your data as Aus citizen if they check on you, you could lose your citizenship.

Australia does not allow their citizens to apply for another country citizenship just yet.

[kimaddison]

^That is not true my friend, Australians are eligible for dual citizenship. I'm 22 and I've got Thai and Australian citizenship.

As for applying for a Thai passport, I guess one of your relos can sort it out. I guess you renounced your Thai citizenship eventhough you were born in Thailand. About 7 years ago I renewed my Thai passport at the Thai consulate in Sydney so it might be an option to contact them.

Cons of Thai citizenship: Compulsary military service!!! Well, its not exactly compulsary but it is a lottery whether you get picked for the army if you
don't know the right ppl to help you "sort it out". I'm assuming you are a guy, if you girl then you won't have to worry about the military service.


Cheerz

[Unergerah]

A couple of my friends have dual citizenship (Thai and U.S.) and when we went to China from Thailand they didn't have to go through even half so much of the paperwork that I did having only a U.S. passport.

If you are eligible to have two passports, I'd say go for it. You never know when it's going to come in handy.

[Broker15015]

Thank you for correcting me, the law was changed in 2002 information I have was out date.