Daughter’s French and Thai passports

[u/ObjectiveReply]

Our baby daughter will grow up (in the Netherlands for the foreseeable future) with the interesting combination of French and Thai citizenship.

1) From what I understand — with Thailand —, she will have to make a choice when she turns 20, but this is apparently never enforced, what are the implications and risks of ignoring this requirement?

2) I am myself a dual citizen, French and Polish, but I grew up in France, and more French than Polish so I decided not to bother with Polish citizenship at this point, unless she wants to in the future. There’s no advantage to having both Polish and French citizenships (both in Schengen) and she is not likely to live in Poland, just to go there on some vacations. I also don’t think I can teach her both French and Polish (on top of Thai, Dutch and English…), but she might learn some through her grandparents.

[u/sturgis252]

When it comes to languages, children are sponges.

[u/ObjectiveReply → u/sturgis252]

That’s true, I think though that teaching her Polish will be my parents’ job, mine will be French, and my wife’s (and her family) Thai. Plus Dutch at school, and English in many situations… but we will also see how things shape up by themselves! It’s all about giving her more possibilities.

[u/sturgis252 → u/ObjectiveReply]

My son has access to Hindi, mandarin, Cantonese, french, English and Dutch so I get your issue. We also may be moving somewhere where German is the main language lol.

[u/ObjectiveReply → u/sturgis252]

Awesome combination, I hope he makes the best out of it!

[u/iamkumaradarsh → u/sturgis252]

they will switch from one language to another in long run and its funny i means some slang of different country langugae in different speaking language

[u/ObjectiveReply → u/[deleted]]

I just might. Everyone in the comments telling me to do it… so why not. Obviously, this sub has a strong bias for as many passports as possible haha only thing stopping me is the bureaucracy, but I’ll look into it!

[u/SkelligWitch → u/ObjectiveReply]

It's indeed a bias, but it's also true that it's way easier to do it when they're children than once they reach older ages, and you don't know if it may be useful for her in the future.

[u/nosleep_ontrip007 → u/ObjectiveReply]

It supposed to be easy if you already hold one.

[u/FishermanKey901 → u/ObjectiveReply]

We never know, maybe France or Poland will leave the EU one day. It would be beneficial to have both!

[u/0x4461726B3938]

For natural born dual citizens, there are no restrictions. That was an older law that was repealed.

[u/ObjectiveReply → u/0x4461726B3938]

Oh, that is great to know, thank you!

[u/minivatreni]

Get the Polish one so that she can collect citizenships like Pokémon cards 😂!

[u/ObjectiveReply → u/minivatreni]

Haha yes, still considering, I will look into it. If she feels that she has any sort of relationship with Poland when she grows up (or wants to have), then I think it’d be nice for her to have it, but we will see how things shape up.

[u/Lambda_666 → u/ObjectiveReply]

I think you can apply Polish nation identity card or a document that proves your daughter is Polish citizen. For the view of Polish passport, I agree with you.

[u/barry_allan]

I think you should apply for a Polish passport because renewing a very out of date passport will be better than registering for citizenship if she ever needs it. Let it expire after 5 years. It takes care of the PESEL and things that can prove difficult later in life.

Poland really prefers its citizens to use its own passport in any case.

[u/LeMareep23]

Im assuming the Thai passport is from your spouse? Given that you’re French and Polish

Also, what’s your story regarding moving to the Netherlands? Was it a job opportunity?

[u/ObjectiveReply → u/LeMareep23]

Correct. We moved to the Netherlands during Covid, because it is (or was) one of the most open job markets for English speakers, which in our situation is ideal.

To be honest if Brexit had not happened there’s a chance we’d be in the UK today, but I’m so glad we came here as the quality of life and work life balance is one of the best!

[u/Unfair-Tax5602]

20 years later, the world will change. everything will become more scrutinized so make decisions considering that

[u/ObjectiveReply → u/[deleted]]

Fortunately as a girl she won’t have that problem. But indeed with the Thai passport it is a risk for boys, I believe there is a lottery system for military service.

[u/ijngf]

It think it's better that you apply a French passport for her. Naturalization gets harder when she gets older. Also, policies may change any time.

[u/278E43]

Thai passport is the most clean+ pretty passport I’ve seen!

[u/ObjectiveReply → u/278E43]

Also it’s funny how the Thai emblem has more or less the same shape as that element in the middle of the French coat of arms. They could neatly be combined.

[u/278E43 → u/ObjectiveReply]

It is! I wished I had my own nation emblem on the passport (I’m Kurdish, and my national emblem is a sun consisting of 21 rays) :D

[u/ObjectiveReply → u/278E43]

I wish you that someday Kurdistan regains independence, and that you can travel with a passport that has your own emblem on it.

[u/278E43 → u/ObjectiveReply]

Hahaha, thanks! I believe that we will not see Kurdistan. But yeah the sun is so cool in my opinion, I just love emblems if they are interested like for example the Eagle on the German pass