Call for citizenship applications

“Based on preliminary documents available at the Office of Central Registration, these children are qualified to apply for Thai nationality,” the ministry’s permanent secretary Grisada Boonrach said yesterday. He said his ministry had implemented the project to grant citizenship to qualified people to ease the problems many stateless children face.
“Only when they get a proper registration status can they claim basic rights including the right to receive free education,” Grisada said.
About 78,715 students in Thailand do not hold Thai citizenship, he said, adding that more than a quarter – 20,337 – of those are qualified for citizenship based on available documents. “We have informed the district chiefs in their areas to inform them that they are eligible to apply and should apply,” Grisada said.
In response to the initiative, some 9,272 children have come forward, and more than half – 5,728 – of them have already been granted citizenship.
“We will try to reach out to children who have not yet filed their applications for Thai citizenship, even if they have relocated,” Grisada said.