Urgent UK / Thai passport renewal advice !

[jasonr3255]

My stepson is 24 and is now living in Thailand. 

He was born Thai and does have both Thai & English passports.

4 years ago he returned from England back to Thailand. Upon arrival in Bangkok at the time, he passed through Immigration with his UK passport as his Thai passport had expired. He was given the usual Tourist visa stamp for thirty days in his UK passport.

     He would now like to return to the UK to work but his UK passport has expired (2 years) and his Thai passport is now 4 years passed expiry. While we understand that renewing his Thai passport will not be problematic, we are concerned that if he attends the UK embassy for a temporary travel passport they may question why he is effectively 4yrs on overstay with his UK passport, and he is worried the UK embassy will alert the Thai Authorities who will deal with him accordingly ? Please could someone offer some sound advice on the best course of action for him to return to the UK.

Many Thanks

[richard_smith237]

Firstly, your step son is Thai (half Thai have British) so he can't be blacklisted or refused entry to Thailand as he is a Thai Citizen, so thats not a concern, though theoretically he is on overstay. 

 

Your son should be able to apply for a new British Passport Via the usual route (VFS - Trendy, it takes about 3 weeks). On the application he will have to indicate that he holds a Thai Passport so that answers any questions regarding over-stay etc.

 

Once your son has his British Passport and Thai Passports, he simply exits Thailand on his Thai Passport and enters the UK on his British. 

 

 

[theoldgit]

He could get a new Thai passport and leave on that, he could enter the UK on his expired UK passport, the UK passport may have expired but his citizenship hasn't and thus his right of entry.

 

It should work, but there maybe issues I've not considered, but he can certainly enter the UK on an expired UK passport.

 

He would need to check in for his flight using his Thai passport and show the check in staff his expired UK passport to confirm that a visa ism't required.

 

Exiting the country he should pass immigration on his new Thai passport, I don't think that they'll pick up the fact he entered on a UK one, I'm not sure that with Thai Citizenship he could be classed as an overstayer.

 

He would then need to enter the UK using his expired UK passport, and renew whilst he's in the UK.

 

This is my understanding of the rules and procedures. 

[richard_smith237]

15 minutes ago, jasonr3255 said:

 

4 years ago he returned from England back to Thailand. Upon arrival in Bangkok at the time, he passed through Immigration with his UK passport as his Thai passport had expired.

 

I may be wrong, but even though his Thai Passport had expired he could still have entered Thailand with his Thai Passport, he is Thai and can't be rejected based on Passport, he is a Thai Citizen. 

[theoldgit]

Nonsense post removed, people come onto this forum for meaningful advice.

[theoldgit]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I may be wrong, but even though his Thai Passport had expired he could still have entered Thailand with his Thai Passport, he is Thai and can't be rejected based on Passport, he is a Thai Citizen. 

Yes you're spot on, I won't ask the obvious question as why he allowed both of his passports to expire, I'm sure the OP has already done that.

[jasonr3255]

Thanks for the advice everyone !