48 year old Thai man gets first ID card after a lifetime of trying

A 48 year old Thai man finally got his first ID card after a lifetime of trying, thanks to a little help from the Thai media.

The man, Sena Sriphet, is from the Koh Chan district in Chon Buri province, but he moved to live with his wife in the Nong Bua sub-district, Pa Kam district, in the Isaan province of Buriram 10 years ago.

Sena informed the media that he has never had an ID card even though all his relatives and siblings have one.

The issue only became a problem when his wife died and he had to pay for surgery for leaky gut syndrome after an accident at work.

He revealed he couldn’t get any welfare help because he did not have an ID card and the government did not recognize he existed.

Government officials recommended he took a DNA test to prove his Thai nationality. He completed the DNA test, and the result matched with his relatives, but he still didn’t get an ID card.

Sena said he had to pay for the DNA test by himself too, which generally costs between 6,500 baht and 11,000 baht.

Sena revealed he was at a loss and didn’t know what to do so, he turned to the Thai media for help. It worked because yesterday he finally got his ID card.

He told the media that he was pleased to be a Thai citizen and added he had already applied for several government-launched projects to aid in reducing the cost of living during the post-Covid-19 pandemic.

Sena said he felt thankful for the help and support from people in every department. Now, he has the same rights as other Thai people.

It seems quite remarkable Sena’s mother did not register his birth at a district office. Moreover, the fact he got married and was able to work without an ID card is even more bizarre.

Thai citizens are usually issued their first ID card at the age of 7 years old. To get the ID card, the person is required to prove their Thai nationality with a birth certificate or house registration. Anyone who fails to issue the ID card within 60 days after their 7th birthday could face a fine of up to 100 baht.

Thai people who don’t need ID cards are members of the royal family, monks and priests, people with disabilities, Thai people in prison, and Thai people who are abroad and could not process the ID card.

SOURCE: Khaosod