The Thai Ministry of Interior has revoked the Thai nationality of a naturalized citizen, Ariel Blastein, after discovering he continued to use his original passport and concealed an additional Uruguayan citizenship.
According to a report from Krungthep Turakij, the individual was found to be maintaining his original citizenship alongside the undisclosed Uruguayan nationality. This discovery prompted the Ministry to formally strip him of his Thai citizenship.
What this means for you
For expats on the long path to Thai citizenship, this case is a concrete reminder of Thailand's strict enforcement regarding dual nationality for naturalized citizens. While natural-born Thais often hold multiple passports without issue, the expectations for foreigners naturalizing as Thai are entirely different.
If you are pursuing or already hold naturalized Thai citizenship, keep these practical points in mind:
- Renunciation expectations: When applying for Thai citizenship, applicants are required to state their intention to renounce their original nationality.
- Passport usage: Continuing to renew and travel on your original passport after naturalization carries a severe risk of revocation, as demonstrated by this case.
- Full disclosure: Concealing additional nationalities is treated as a serious violation by the Ministry of Interior and can trigger an immediate loss of status.
If you are currently holding naturalized Thai citizenship, you must carefully navigate the renunciation requirements of your home country and avoid using non-Thai travel documents.
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