VISA for 5 year old child

[glegolo18]

A friend of mine married to a thai-lady who have a child from an earlier marriage. This child is only 5 year old and mom and the son have gone to Thailand (from Sweden) and entered on the swedish passport. Even though they both have passports from both Thailand and Sweden.

 

I am wondering, and my question is therefore. If entered on swedish passport do the 5 year old have to have VISA?

 

Child have stayed the 30 days with mother and mother returning to Sweden without the child. The 5 year old will stay another 2 month with the thai-father....

 

Will there be a problem with Immigration and VISA??... Can anybody help out here??

 

Thank you,

glegolo

Edited April 30, 2023 by glegolo18

[brewsterbudgen]

Children are not fined or banned for overstaying, so he can just overstay. When he goes back to Sweden with his Thai dad, his passport will be stamped as overstaying but no fine or ban.  He should always enter Thailand on his Thai passport in future!

Edited April 30, 2023 by brewsterbudgen

[glegolo18]

10 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Children are not fined or banned for overstaying, so he can just overstay. When he goes back to Sweden with his Thai dad, his passport will be stamped as overstaying but no fine or ban.  He should always enter Thailand on his Thai passport in future!

Thank you so much...

[kiwiaussie]

If the mum and the child both entered on foreign passports they are both subject to Thai immigration rules. The mum will be fined for overstay despite the fact she is also a Thai citizen. Strange but true. 

 

The child also should get a visa, but will not be fined for overstay until the age of 15. 

 

Both of them can easily get this yearly extension of stay stamp in their swedish passport simply by showing proof of Thai citizenship. 

 

Next time, they should just enter on their Thai passport to save any fuss. 

 

https://www.thaicitizenship.com/thai-ancestry-visas/

[NativeBob]

a slight confusion: I've been told by IMO lady at CW that kid (born in Thailand) can stay in Thailand without Visa but not leaving. 

But at the day he turn 14 (not 15) he must obtain valid visa or face penalties including imprisonment. And she laughed watching kid crying because he didn't understand why prison if he is not guilty. 

 

[brewsterbudgen]

16 hours ago, NativeBob said:

a slight confusion: I've been told by IMO lady at CW that kid (born in Thailand) can stay in Thailand without Visa but not leaving. 

But at the day he turn 14 (not 15) he must obtain valid visa or face penalties including imprisonment. And she laughed watching kid crying because he didn't understand why prison if he is not guilty. 

 

Why the confusion?  Just because kids can't be fined or banned (or imprisoned!) for overstaying, doesn't mean that they shouldn't get a proper visa/extension.  If they are to be schooled in Thailand, most schools (international ones particularly international schools) will expect the child to be legally in Thailand.

Edited May 2, 2023 by brewsterbudgen

[NativeBob]

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Why the confusion?  Just because kids can't be fined or banned (or imprisoned!) for overstaying, doesn't mean that they shouldn't get a proper visa/extension.  If they are to be schooled in Thailand, most schools (international ones particularly international schools) will expect the child to be legally in Thailand.

Yes, this makes perfect sense. The confusion is only about age limitations. However that story is irrelevant for today, but gave us hell back then. None of schools gave any papers to obtain student visa except once office lady issued printout "this kid is attending school" + stamp and unreadable signature. 

[Jackbenimble]

20 hours ago, NativeBob said:

a slight confusion: I've been told by IMO lady at CW that kid (born in Thailand) can stay in Thailand without Visa but not leaving. 

But at the day he turn 14 (not 15) he must obtain valid visa or face penalties including imprisonment. And she laughed watching kid crying because he didn't understand why prison if he is not guilty. 

 

why are you writing in broken English? 

[NativeBob]

Just now, Jackbenimble said:

why are you writing in broken English? 

You noticed too?

[Highlandman]

21 hours ago, NativeBob said:

a slight confusion: I've been told by IMO lady at CW that kid (born in Thailand) can stay in Thailand without Visa but not leaving. 

But at the day he turn 14 (not 15) he must obtain valid visa or face penalties including imprisonment. And she laughed watching kid crying because he didn't understand why prison if he is not guilty. 

 

Why does Thailand allows its nationals to enter the country on a foreign passport? Any decent country would not allow this and in the rare case something like an overstay situation were to come to light, proving citizenship would be enough to get out of any penalties.

[Highlandman]

4 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Why the confusion?  Just because kids can't be fined or banned (or imprisoned!) for overstaying, doesn't mean that they shouldn't get a proper visa/extension.  If they are to be schooled in Thailand, most schools (international ones particularly international schools) will expect the child to be legally in Thailand.

Obviously. A dual citizen who holds Thai nationality should of course be registered as Thai and won't need any special paperwork or face such issues. 

[Jackbenimble]

23 hours ago, Highlandman said:

Why does Thailand allows its nationals to enter the country on a foreign passport? Any decent country would not allow this and in the rare case something like an overstay situation were to come to light, proving citizenship would be enough to get out of any penalties.

What? if someone has acquired citizenship to another country they're equally as free to travel on that passport as their original one. You think that should be stopped?  

[Dazkkk]

On 5/2/2023 at 8:37 AM, Highlandman said:

Why does Thailand allows its nationals to enter the country on a foreign passport? Any decent country would not allow this and in the rare case something like an overstay situation were to come to light, proving citizenship would be enough to get out of any penalties.

My wife and son both hold dual citizenship (Thai & British) and depending on how long they will be staying in Thailand, often enter Thailand on their British passports. Sometimes she chooses which passport to use on entry to Thailand based on the length of queues at immigration. ????

It’s completely legal. Many other countries allow dual citizenship to those holding two passports, what’s your problem with that?
 

We often travel to other countries from the UK and they either travel on British passports or Thai passports, no problem. 

[BritTim]

On 5/2/2023 at 2:37 PM, Highlandman said:

Why does Thailand allows its nationals to enter the country on a foreign passport? Any decent country would not allow this and in the rare case something like an overstay situation were to come to light, proving citizenship would be enough to get out of any penalties.

Assuming a country wanted to enforce such a rule, how easy do you think that would be? When you arrive at Thai immigration, and one of the questions is "how do I know you are not Thai" what proof will you be able to provide?