Uncertain Future for My Expat Family in Thailand

Thailand has been my home for many years. It’s where I built a life, raised my family, and felt the kind of freedom and quality of life that drew me here in the first place. But lately, I’ve been forced to think more deeply about our long-term future—and the truth is, it’s uncertain.

Like many expats living in Thailand with children, the issue comes down to one simple fact: my kids don’t hold Thai passports.

Because of this, they face visa limitations, lack access to certain local privileges, and most worryingly, could struggle to find meaningful work in the country they’ve grown up in. For them to legally work in Thailand in the future, they’d need work permits—just like any other foreign national. And those permits come with conditions: job categories, employer sponsorship, and minimum salary thresholds that don’t always fit the path a young adult might naturally take.

It’s a strange situation to be in. My kids are half-English, half-Russian—but they’re not Thai, despite having spent all of their lives here. Without Thai nationality, they’re outsiders in the system, even if they feel like insiders in every other way.

And so I find myself asking the hard question: Is our future really in Thailand?

For now, we’re settled. But long-term? I don’t know. It’s not just about me anymore—it’s about what kind of future my children can realistically have here. And if the road looks too difficult or too limiting for them, then it affects everything. It affects where we choose to live, work, and build our future as a family.

There’s no clear answer today. But the uncertainty is real—and it’s something more expat families in Thailand might need to face sooner rather than later.