The Cabinet has approved a proposal made by the National Security Council (NSC) to expedite the citizenship and permanent residency application process for immigrants who have been in Thailand for at least 15 years and ethnic minority children.

According to a Cabinet Resolution issued on Tuesday (30 October), the NSC’s proposal aims to solve immigration status issues for 483,626 long-term immigrants and ethnic minority children born in Thailand but still waiting for permanent residency or citizenship. Under the new criteria, the process of requesting permanent residency for immigrants and citizenship for children is now expected to take 5 - instead of around 270 - days.

The new criteria will apply to

1. registered immigrants who came to Thailand before 1999 and registered immigrants living in Thailand between 2005 – 2011;
2. Undocumented migrants who came to Thailand before 1999, undocumented children who are studying in or have graduated from Thai educational institutions, or undocumented people who have done something beneficial for the country;
3. Children of ethnic minority groups who were born in Thailand but do not have Thai citizenship, provided they speak Thai or the local dialect of their area of residence.

Individuals are eligible to apply if they

1. Have a 13-digit ID number and a household or personal registration;
2. Have been living in Thailand for at least 15 consecutive years;
3. Can certify that they are loyal to Thailand, believe in the democratic regime with the King as the head of state, have good behaviour, cannot return to and no longer have connection with their country of origin, and are not the citizen of another country.

Applications for permanent residency from people living in Bangkok will be considered by the Internal Security Affairs Bureau, Ministry of the Interior.  District chiefs are responsible for those living outside of Bangkok. In cases of ethnic minority children requesting citizenship, applications from those living in Bangkok will be considered by the Bureau of Registration while district chiefs will examine applications from those living elsewhere.

Jirayu Huangsap, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, explained that many migrants have lived in Thailand for a long time, are employed and have identification documents. The Thai government therefore decided that they should be given legal status so that they may travel around the country, help boost the economy, and have a record of their residence.

Chatchai Bangchuad, Secretary-General of the NSC, told ThaiPBS that the NSC aims to give legal status to long-term immigrants who are unable to return to their country and already co-exist with people in Thai society. He said the NSC expects that being granted legal status will give more security and rights to these people.

Chatchai added that the new procedure will not apply to migrant workers who have recently arrived in Thailand after fleeing war in their home country, but only to individuals who have lived here for at least 15 years to qualify.

Traisulee Traisoranakul, secretary to Interior Minister Anutin Charnveerakul and spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, told Matichon Online that, contrary to misunderstandings and criticisms spread after the resolution was passed, the government is not automatically granting citizenship to immigrants. It only aims to make the process of granting legal status to long-term immigrants and their Thailand-born children more efficient.

The estimated group of 483,626 people will still have to go through the application process, Traisulee said, and they could have their citizenship or residency status revoked if they become a danger to society or national security.