In Thailand with British passport with less than 6 months to expiry

[scubascuba3]

A friend (not me) is on a non imm O retirement extension, only 3 months until the passport expires. He wants to get a new one when he flies back to UK.

 

- Can he fly back to UK with less than 6 months left on passport?

 

- If not, can he get a new passport in Thailand? (i recall the passport office in Bangkok had closed recently)

[ubonjoe]

He can fly into the UK with any amount of time left on his passport.

The passport office is open now. Been open for several weeks now.

[blackcab]

Three months should be more than enough time to apply for and receive a British passport.

 

Current applications are taking approximately 2 months to process due to working restrictions in the UK.

[chang50]

32 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

He can fly into the UK with any amount of time left on his passport.

The passport office is open now. Been open for several weeks now.

Just to clarify Joe do you mean the UK passport office in Bangkok at the Trendy building?

[steve187]

the current extension in his passport will only be to when his passport expires, or before, if he flies back to the UK on his current passport will he be able to return ( arrival restrictions) prior to his extension expiring, i may be jumping the gun as you did not post if he is coming back. if not returning then please disregard this post.

[Raphus]

As a British national, he can fly back after it expires with a letter from the local UK embassy..

No issue. No problem. It is his citizenship and country....

Strange question !!!

[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, chang50 said:

Just to clarify Joe do you mean the UK passport office in Bangkok at the Trendy building?

Yes

They are open now.

[chang50]

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Yes

They are open now.

Thank you.

[crazykopite]

e can renew at the British Embassy Bangkok turn around is a couple of weeks 

[Mutt Daeng]

4 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

e can renew at the British Embassy Bangkok turn around is a couple of weeks 

I don't think so. You can get an emergency travel document at the embassy but not a passport. You have to go to the Trendy Building as already stated.

Edited June 12, 2020 by Mutt Daeng

[Scouse123]

23 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

He can fly into the UK with any amount of time left on his passport.

The passport office is open now. Been open for several weeks now.

 

 

A long time ago in 2008 I flew back to the UK and my passport had expired. The British Embassy had to get me an emergency travel document, (ETD) which cost more than a passport!

 

If his passport has any validity, sure he can travel,

 

If it was me, I would be ordering a new one right now from Thailand to be safe.

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

A long time ago in 2008 I flew back to the UK and my passport had expired. The British Embassy had to get me an emergency travel document, (ETD) which cost more than a passport!

You need a valid passport to stay in the country and to leave it. That is why you had to get a ETD.

 

9 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

If it was me, I would be ordering a new one right now from Thailand to be safe.

I am not aware of any country having a minimum amount time remaining on a passport to enter the country that issued it.  Most allow entry with a expired passport (Thailand included in that).

[Scouse123]

7 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You need a valid passport to stay in the country and to leave it. That is why you had to get a ETD.

 

I am not aware of any country having a minimum amount time remaining on a passport to enter the country that issued it.  Most allow entry with a expired passport (Thailand included in that).

 

No,

 

What I was meaning if the person ends up delayed here for months on end ( Nobody knows and everybody is getting mixed messages when Thailand will actually reopen ) then he could enter territory where his passport expires whilst he is still in Thailand.

 

To be honest, many only come to ask advice on TVF when it is already too late and they are having a problem with Immigration.

 

I already said if his passport has any validity he can travel on it in my previous post.

 

 

 

Edited June 12, 2020 by Scouse123

[4737 Carlin]

On 6/11/2020 at 9:55 AM, ubonjoe said:

He can fly into the UK with any amount of time left on his passport.

The passport office is open now. Been open for several weeks now.

I presume its VFS Global who handle the passport renewals. The one here in Chiang mai is still closed and they tell me they're all still closed because of the virus. Can anyone confirm thw one in Bangkok is definitely open ? Trying to get a straight answer about anything from VFS is difficult -  from experience, its incredibly frustrating dealing with them.

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, 4737 Carlin said:

I presume its VFS Global who handle the passport renewals. The one here in Chiang mai is still closed and they tell me they're all still closed because of the virus. Can anyone confirm thw one in Bangkok is definitely open ? Trying to get a straight answer about anything from VFS is difficult -  from experience, its incredibly frustrating dealing with them.

It is certainly open. Go through the steps here and you will see it is open. https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports

It will also tell you if the office in Chiang Mai is open or not.

[sanuk711]

46 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A long time ago in 2008 I flew back to the UK and my passport had expired. The British Embassy had to get me an emergency travel document, (ETD) which cost more than a passport!

I have flown back on an expired UK passport......about 5 years ago---no problem. But wouldn't your Thai Visa expire the moment your passport expires. They don't usually issue a visa longer than the life of a passport.

[Jaxxper]

The British Passport service in Bangkok is now open again. The outfit they use is VFS from memory. Check the British Embassy website for details.

[4737 Carlin]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It is certainly open. Go through the steps here and you will see it is open. https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports

It will also tell you if the office in Chiang Mai is open or not.

Thanks. This is the email I got back yesterday from VFS :

 

The worldwide response to COVID-19 continues to affect the UK’s Visa and Immigration Service. Our Visa Application Centre and HMPO passport office in Thailand and Laos are closed to new applications and the processing of current applications will be delayed.
 
We will reschedule your appointment after we resume to work. For information regarding the status of outstanding passport application, please visit thegov.uk / https://www.gov.uk/passport-advice-linewebsite for contact details for UKVI. 
 
In case you have passport pending with us, please kindly come to collect passportby this Tuesday 31st March 2020 otherwise you will be able to come to collect your passport again after we resume to work.
 
We apologize for any inconvenience thismay  cause you.
 

[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, sanuk711 said:

I have flown back on an expired UK passport......about 5 years ago---no problem. But wouldn't your Thai Visa expire the moment your passport expires. They don't usually issue a visa longer than the life of a passport.

You quoted my reply not the original poster.

 

3 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

A long time ago in 2008 I flew back to the UK and my passport had expired. The British Embassy had to get me an emergency travel document, (ETD) which cost more than a passport!

 

[Yme]

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You need a valid passport to stay in the country and to leave it. That is why you had to get a ETD.

 

I am not aware of any country having a minimum amount time remaining on a passport to enter the country that issued it.  Most allow entry with a expired passport (Thailand included in that).

Any idea or thoughts on how Thailand is going to/ might handle people with expired passports (or less than 6 months validity) who do not have an embassy locally if this continues? 



 

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, 4737 Carlin said:

Thanks. This is the email I got back yesterday from VFS :

The page I posted a link ot states they are open.

Also the link they sent you is bad. I get an error that it is could not be found.

Have a look at this topic. https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1162655-uk-passport-issues-during-covid-19/

 

[Saltire]

 

[4737 Carlin]

I can confirm VFS at Chiangmai is still closed for anyone else it affects - went this morning.

Reopens 22nd according to the above post.

 

 

 

 

[pontious]

It begs the question - why are they closed.!  Bangkok is open.

Edited June 12, 2020 by pontious

[AlfHuy]

3 weeks ago, applied for a new Belgian passport at the Embassy in BKK.

Appointment on Wednesday, picture taken. The following Thursday, I got email that new passport was ready to be picked up.

[RobFord]

I’ve renewed my Canadian passport twice through the consulate in Chiang Mai. No big deal. Simply states issued in BKK.