SUB-REGIONAL OVERVIEW: SOUTHEAST ASIA delaying stateless persons’ enjoyment of rights.3160 Additionally, travel to offices to process citizenship applications is long and costly, creating further barriers to accessing the application process.3161 Stateless persons have only been allowed to travel within and outside of their province freely since 2016.3162 There are also reports that village heads, district officials, and police often demand a bribe to process a stateless person’s application for citizenship as well as to pass through checkpoints during travel.3163 A 2008 amendment to the Civil Registration Act increased access to birth registration for many hill tribe members.3164 Before the amendment, Stateless persons have only been allowed to travel within and outside of their province freely since 2016. SUB-REGIONAL OVERVIEW: SOUTHEAST ASIA identity documentation, household registration, and official birth notifications were required for birth registration, which the hill tribe members were mostly unable to provide.3165 Now, such documents are not required and births can be registered in any District Office, regardless of birthplace.3166 However, while Thailand reported a birth registration rate of 100% in 2021,3167 a study the same year supported by UNICEF found that among a sample group of Thai-born children of migrant’s birth registration rates were only 50.2%.3168 However, while Thailand reported a birth registration rate of 100% in 2021, a study the same year supported by UNICEF found that among a sample group of Thaiborn children of migrant’s birth registration rates were only 50.2%. Timor-Leste Laws Citizenship Law Jus sanguinis provisions Timor-Leste’s citizenship law, stipulated by the Law on Citizenship (2002), operates through the principle of jus sanguinis, providing that children born to at least one citizen parent, regardless of birthplace, will be considered a citizen.3169 A child born to “incognito parents”, stateless parents or parents with undetermined nationality are granted citizenship, according to Section 1(b) of the Law.3170 There is no interpretation or definition of “incognito parents” provided in Timor-Leste’s legislation.3171 Children born to a foreign parent who “declares to become an East Timorese national of his or her own accord” will also be citizens.3172 Timor-Leste’s citizenship law, stipulated by the Law on Citizenship (2002), operates through the principle of jus sanguinis, providing that children born to at least one citizen parent, regardless of birthplace, will be considered a citizen. Further, the Law on Citizenship defines a stateless person as “an individual who is not able to demonstrate a legal bond of citizenship with any State”.3173 This definition does not align with the definition provided by the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, which determines the status of a potential stateless person by referring to national legislation on the citizenship of the country the person has or had ties with.3174 Further, the Law on Citizenship defines a stateless person as “an individual who is not able to demonstrate a legal bond of citizenship with any State”. This definition does not align with the definition provided by the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons Naturalized citizenship Citizenship may also be acquired by naturalization in TimorLeste.3175 To be eligible for this process, one must “be a usual and regular resident” for at least ten years before December 7, 1975, or after May 20, 2002, as well as speak one of the official 272 STATELESSNESS ENCYCLOPEDIA ASIA PACIFIC (DETAILED VERSION) REPORT 2024 273