Dual Citizen, Expired Thai Passport, Entering Thailand

[jcates29]

I have a friend who is a dual U.S. and Thai citizen.  My friend has traveled here in the past on their U.S. passport, and on their last visit renewed their Thai ID card, but did not have time to apply for and receive a new Thai passport.  Their Thai passport is expired.  Now they are preparing to travel here again, in the near future, and they do not have time to apply for a Thai passport through the Thai Embassy in the U.S. before they travel. 

 

Can they depart the U.S. (using their U.S. passport) and enter Thailand using their expired Thai passport? 

 

I do realize if they did that they would have to be sure to apply for and receive a new Thai passport while they were in Thailand.  Otherwise they would not be able to leave using their expired Thai passport.  They are planning to do just that. 

 

The main reason for doing this (instead of their previous practice of using their U.S. passport throughout) is so they would not have to go through the hassle of obtaining a visa in their U.S. passport.  They are planning staying for about 90 days.  In addition, they want to get into the proper practice of using the passport for the country they are entering (U.S. passport for U.S. entry/exit; Thai passport for Thailand entry/exit). 

 

Thanks in advance for your help!

[glegolo]

So Just enter Thailand on US passport, go and get a new thai passport, and if needed buy a cheap in and out ticket to i.e. Laos, and use the new thai passport on the return.

 

Case closed.

Glegolo

[Maestro]

17 minutes ago, jcates29 said:

Can they depart the U.S. (using their U.S. passport) and enter Thailand using their expired Thai passport? 

 

Yes, they can, without any problem. The expired Thai passport is valid for entry into Thailand. This is routine and immigration officials are familiar with it.

[blue eyes]

Entering Thailand on an expired Thai passport will not be a problem.Immigration sees this all the time.Leaving the US on an expired passport wont happen Thai or US.The problem with trying to use the US passport to leave the US to go to Thailand with a stay of over 30 days the airline will not let you board the plane with out a visa. Our daughter did not have a visa in her US passport and the return ticket was for 2 1/2 months later.She was traveling with her Thai mother I was to follow later.Delta airlines would not let her board,oh she was only 3 years old at the time. She has a Thai passport also.So we gave Delta her Thai passport and said use this.They gave us a funny look but she got on the plane. She entered Thailand with her Thai passport and when she left 2 1/2 months later she left with her US passport due to no Visa in the Thai passport for the US.Thai Immigration wanted to know why no stamp in to Thailand in US passport.We explained what happened in US and showed Thai passport and they said not to do again but let her travel to US with no overstay due to she is Thai.

[JackThompson]

35 minutes ago, blue eyes said:

Entering Thailand on an expired Thai passport will not be a problem.Immigration sees this all the time.Leaving the US on an expired passport wont happen Thai or US.The problem with trying to use the US passport to leave the US to go to Thailand with a stay of over 30 days the airline will not let you board the plane with out a visa. Our daughter did not have a visa in her US passport and the return ticket was for 2 1/2 months later.She was traveling with her Thai mother I was to follow later.Delta airlines would not let her board,oh she was only 3 years old at the time. She has a Thai passport also.So we gave Delta her Thai passport and said use this.They gave us a funny look but she got on the plane.

Yes, she would enter Thailand showing her Thai passport to Thai immigration.

 

35 minutes ago, blue eyes said:

She entered Thailand with her Thai passport and when she left 2 1/2 months later she left with her US passport due to no Visa in the Thai passport for the US.Thai Immigration wanted to know why no stamp in to Thailand in US passport.We explained what happened in US and showed Thai passport and they said not to do again but let her travel to US with no overstay due to she is Thai.

On the trip back to the USA - you can show the US-Passport to the Airline personnel to qualify for your boarding-pass (proof you don't need a visa), but only show the Thai passport to Thai immigration. 

 

Done right, there will be no Thai-stamps in the US-passport.