SUB-REGIONAL OVERVIEW: SOUTHEAST ASIA Administrative barriers While there are many varied experiences and causes of statelessness in Singapore, administrative barriers due to a lack of documentation (which was either lost, destroyed or never possessed) are a major cause of statelessness, specifically among older populations who were born in preIndependence Singapore.3088 In 2016, it was reported by a member of Parliament that 74% of the stateless population in Singapore were over 50 years of age.3089 While there are many varied experiences and causes of statelessness in Singapore, administrative barriers due to a lack of documentation (which was either lost, destroyed or never possessed) are a major cause of statelessness, specifically among older populations who were born in pre-Independence Singapore. Additionally, the criteria considered by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority when evaluating applications for citizenship are intentionally opaque. The Minister for Home Affairs & Minister for Law, K. Shanmugam, commented in October 2016 that “we do not reveal the detailed criteria for granting PR and SC as it is not in our interest to do so”.3090 However, it is clear that “family profile” will be considered a factor, and it is therefore likely that a birth registration will be a piece of supporting evidence SUB-REGIONAL OVERVIEW: SOUTHEAST ASIA for acquiring citizenship. Media reports over the recent years raising the profile of stateless persons have highlighted a considerable number of profiles of people whose applications have failed due to lack of documentation, for instance, because of an inability to provide parents’ identity documents due to no longer being in contact with them, or because of an inability to provide a birth certificate, either as a result of not being registered at birth because parents did not provide their marriage certificate, or simply because it was lost.3091 These examples, of which there are many, highlight that a lack of administrative documentation remains an important barrier for stateless persons seeking to obtain citizenship. With regard to birth registration, failure to register a child’s birth within 42 days of the date of birth can result in a fine and/or imprisonment.3092 These late penalties present a major barrier to ensuring universal birth registration. Further, Singapore does not register births that occurred overseas.3093 If a child is born overseas, the parents must register the child’s birth and obtain a birth certificate from the foreign authorities in the country where the child is born.3094 Despite these barriers, Singapore reported a 100% birth registration rate in 2021.3095 Thailand Laws Citizenship Law Jus sanguinis and jus soli provisions Thai nationality laws, stipulated mainly by the Nationality Act (1965), operate through jus sanguinis and limited jus soli provisions.3096 The law provides that children born to a Thai national parent or parents will be considered citizens no matter the location of their birth.3097 Further, children born in Thailand automatically acquire Thai citizenship under jus soli provisions unless they are born to alien parents, one of whom is a temporary resident, residing in Thailand illegally, or a diplomat.3098 In 2008, the citizenship law was amended to remove some gender discriminatory provisions that denied women the right to confer citizenship to their children on an equal basis as men; however, there still exists a discriminatory provision that is detailed in the administrative barriers section below.3099 There is no definition of or explicit mentioning of a stateless person or statelessness in Thailand’s national citizenship legislation. Thai nationality laws, stipulated mainly by the Nationality Act (1965), operate through jus sanguinis and limited jus soli provisions. Naturalized citizenship Despite these barriers, Singapore reported a 100% birth registration rate in 2021. Aliens may apply for naturalization as Thai citizens if they have a domicile in Thailand for at least five years before the date of application, have knowledge of the Thai language, have a steady occupation and good behavior.3100 A simplified process is available to those who have provided a distinguished service to Thailand, are a child or spouse of a Thai citizen, or previously had Thai citizenship.3101 There is no simplified or expedited procedure for naturalization for stateless persons or refugees specifically. Dual citizenship Dual citizenship is generally recognized for those with jus soli citizenship in Thailand, although the law tends to be inconsistently implemented.3102 There are no requirements to renounce prior nationality upon naturalization. 266 STATELESSNESS ENCYCLOPEDIA ASIA PACIFIC (DETAILED VERSION) REPORT 2024 267