Thai Official Passport Holders Visa Exemption To These Countries ?

[Nitnoi]

Need first hand/second hand experience !

My Thaifrend is a Thai official and he has this 'Offical passport" expire in 2010. He'd like to go to Italy for his holiday in April. Does he has to get a Shengen Visa or not? According to Thai Minister of Foreign Affair website, he doesn't need one. Anyone has any Thai friends who have done this before? Does it really work? Are there any hidden condition which might cause any problem at the Italian airport? He has lots of problem calling Italian visa section, all lines busy so it is hard to get appointment for visa application. If he can use his official passport, it will be great and safe him a lot of pain !

Thanks !

Sorry forgot the link

Here's the link

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2495

Edited March 5, 2007 by Nitnoi

[GU22]

Sorry, I can't find any confirmation or otherwise on any official Italian government website. I do know that holders of a Thai official passport do not need a visa to visit Switzerland, so what you say is possible.

I can only suggest that you keep trying to confirm this with the Italian embassy.

[vinny]

I believe that it will be possible for your friend to use his official passport for the visa exemption. However, it would be best to confirm with the Embassy that it's acceptable for tourist purposes.

From Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

Anyone holding a diplomatic or in-service passport is asked to contact the Italian Diplomatic/Consular Representations for specific information.

[the scouser]

Also, if your friend is visiting Italy in a private capacity, I'd check with the Italian authorities that his official passport will be acceptable. Under normal circumstances, official passports are for official business.

Scouse.

[samran]

Probably, if he was on official government business.

Thai officials need offical permission to travel out of the country. This is from past experience and was current as of 2004. I doubt things would have changed though. This is a legacy (I believe) of the 1997 crash where everyone was asked to tighten their belts, and not send any money offshore uneccessarily.

The key point here is that your friend would probably need some sort of official letter to even let him out of the country to begin with, and if he didn't need one for personal travel (ie on a regular thai passport) he'd definetly need one for an offical trip.

[Nitnoi]

Probably, if he was on official government business.

Thai officials need offical permission to travel out of the country. This is from past experience and was current as of 2004. I doubt things would have changed though. This is a legacy (I believe) of the 1997 crash where everyone was asked to tighten their belts, and not send any money offshore uneccessarily.

The key point here is that your friend would probably need some sort of official letter to even let him out of the country to begin with, and if he didn't need one for personal travel (ie on a regular thai passport) he'd definetly need one for an offical trip.

Tanks everyone for your replies.

I asked my friend and he told me he's got the permission from his boss to go overseas and his approval for his holidays. But is is a pain for him to fix an appointment with the embassy. So he's trying to find a solution. He also sent an email to a consular representative in Chieng Mai (he's Thai) got from this link

http://www.ambbangkok.esteri.it/Ambasciata...T=NoModifyGuest

The Consular Network

Honorary Consul in Chiang Mai (competent for the provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Lamphun, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Tak, Phitsamulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit and Phetchabun)

Dr. Vichit Leelamanit

19 Soi 9 Sirimungkalajarn Road

Muang District, Chiangmai 50200

Tel: +66-53-212925

Fax: +66-53-224832

Cell: +66-1-8825252

E-mail: [email protected]

But the email addr didn't work. He got the unknown name message.

Before this he also tried email the embassy but got no reply for 3 months now. What else could he do? Any one know anybody at the Italian embassy ?

THANKS

[samran]

to be honest, I think it is simply more than permission from the boss. I believe it is the civil service commission who has to issue the letter.

And, as for the use of the official passport, it would have to be in conjunction with an offical trip (I'd 99% suspect).

[Nitnoi]

to be honest, I think it is simply more than permission from the boss. I believe it is the civil service commission who has to issue the letter.

And, as for the use of the official passport, it would have to be in conjunction with an offical trip (I'd 99% suspect).

Just to update the lastest info !

My Thai friend decided to postpone his trip from April to June. He made the appointment for visa application just to make sure if his official passport is acceptable. However, he prepared all the nessessary document and completesd the visa application form in case his official passport in not acceptable.

The result....

His Thai official passport is acceptable for Italy ! He doesn't need a visa if he is not going to stay over 90 days. He also asked the lady at the Italian visa office that he was going for private matter. SHe said it was ok. Other Thai official had done that and they didn't apply for the visa at all. She also said they would stamp on his passport at the immigration at the airport when he enter to Italy.

Thank you guys for all your help. I would tell him to make a copy of his permission to take a vacation, his permission to go overseas and his letter of indentity saying he was still government official from his office with him at all time. Just in case Thai immegration at the airport needs to see it and for people at immigration in Italy too. Who knows what might happen !

I'm wondering if other countries with Visa Exemption for Thai Official Passport Holders would be like Italy in this case. But I would say it is best to make an appointment with the visa people just to make sure.

Will update again after his return !

Edited May 7, 2007 by Nitnoi

[Nitnoi]

Here is the update as promised.

There was no problem whatsoever using his official passport entering Italy through Germany. Fortunately Germany accepts Thai Official passport as well. The travel agency should have told him prior to his ticket purchasing that there would be a passport control in Germany NOT Italy. There would have hbeen a big problem if Germany did not accept Thai official passport. Anyway, the point of entry to the EU was Frankfurt. He said the passport control official was a guy. He asked him if he went to Italy for a conference. He told him no. He was visiting his friend for 2 weeks. That was it. He stamped his passport - no additional papers asked. When he reached Italy, there was no paper checking again. Then on the returning route, there was a passport control again in Germany. No question asked ! Then another stamp. It was very convenient and hassle free.

Now if any of you have some Thai friends who have official passport please let them know that it is no problem using it even for personal purposes. But then again, they might change their rules at any time. So please check their embassies for their latest info to be on the safe said. My Thai friend travelled in early June 2007 just for the record on this board.

Thanks for your help.