My Thai wife has both a Thai passport and US passport. She's currently in the US and planning to return in March, but her Thai passport just expired. The US one is still good. She also as a valid Thai ID card.

Will she have a problem flying back to Thailand? Will she need to enter on a US tourist visa, or does immigration let her in anyway with the old passport and current Thai ID?

Returning to Thailand with expired Thai passport is the correct way to go.

No problems.

No problem, particularly with a valid Thai ID on top.

Could she not renew her Thai Passport at the Thai Embassy or at a US Consulate in the USA?

4 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Could she not renew her Thai Passport at the Thai Embassy or at a US Consulate in the USA?

Yes, that's a possibility and there is enough time to do it if necessary. It's just a lot of work for her because no car, she's visiting various family members and moving a lot, and it takes things like photographs and some other paperwork, all done by the mail. Was trying to find an easier way.

My two adult children returned to Thailand with expired passports and valid ID card. Were just told to get new passports at the immigration desk. No problem at all.

On 1/15/2026 at 8:46 AM, davb said:

My Thai wife has both a Thai passport and US passport. She's currently in the US and planning to return in March, but her Thai passport just expired. The US one is still good. She also as a valid Thai ID card.

Will she have a problem flying back to Thailand? Will she need to enter on a US tourist visa, or does immigration let her in anyway with the old passport and current Thai ID?

On 1/16/2026 at 8:24 AM, JimHuaHin said:

Could she not renew her Thai Passport at the Thai Embassy or at a US Consulate in the USA?

I asked Gemini at it said the average time is 4 weeks to 6 weeks because the passport is actually printed in Thailand and shipped to US.

A couple of problems are the appointments fill up fast and she would most likely already need a booked appointment. Additionally Thais are required to appear in person to submit biometric data, fingerprints, face scan, etc.

As people might have mentioned Some airlines might have a problem boarding a passenger with an expired passport.(Airlines use IATA/Timatic rules requiring valid travel documents)

Since she has a valid US Passport she should be okay.

The other two options a one year Emergency Passport or One time use travel document may be required but I believe mostly for people who have Lost their passport, not whose passport has expired.

As others have mentioned she should be okay. According to AI

In Thailand, citizenship overrides standard international passport expiration rules that apply to foreigners

Sometimes I just find these, lost, expired passport topics a bit hard to believe....a simple email to the relevant embassy answers all questions. Maybe being 71, I just look a t simple, logical, solutions.

23 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Sometimes I just find these, lost, expired passport topics a bit hard to believe....a simple email to the relevant embassy answers all questions. Maybe being 71, I just look a t simple, logical, solutions.

What will the embassy staff know about airline boarding requirements and arrival immigration precedures? (Rhetorical question).

1 hour ago, treetops said:

What will the embassy staff know about airline boarding requirements and arrival immigration precedures? (Rhetorical question).

Embassies are there to help their citizens. I can't imagine they won't know about passport rules when entering Thailand.

Are both passports in the same name? My ex wife can't renew her UK passport at the moment as she rather stupidly produced her Thai passport in her maiden name at the Post Office when renewing the UK passport. The UK PP office refused to renew the UK passport unless she changed her name in the UK or Thailand. She has elected to change her name in Thailand. Either way it is being right pain for her. Nothing to do with me of course. Just pointing out if the names are different then which ever passport she uses the flight booking must be the same.

10 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

Are both passports in the same name? My ex wife can't renew her UK passport at the moment as she rather stupidly produced her Thai passport in her maiden name at the Post Office when renewing the UK passport. The UK PP office refused to renew the UK passport unless she changed her name in the UK or Thailand. She has elected to change her name in Thailand. Either way it is being right pain for her. Nothing to do with me of course. Just pointing out if the names are different then which ever passport she uses the flight booking must be the same.

Ah got a a real pain there!🤣🤣

I am not having this comment so a thai girl wants to renew her British passport but rocks up and produces an thai passport, why not just use the expired uk passport ?

1 hour ago, cowellandrew said:

Ah got a a real pain there!🤣🤣

I am not having this comment so a thai girl wants to renew her British passport but rocks up and produces an thai passport, why not just use the expired uk passport ?

She lives in the UK so needs a UK passport for travel to Europe otherwise she needs a schengan visa in the Thai passport

Sometimes I just find these, lost, expired passport topics a bit hard to believe....a simple email to the relevant embassy answers all questions. Maybe being 71, I just look a t simple, logical, solutions.

On 1/23/2026 at 2:49 PM, treetops said:

What will the embassy staff know about airline boarding requirements and arrival immigration precedures? (Rhetorical question).

Where was that even nentioned

12 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Where was that even nentioned

You posted "a simple email to the relevant embassy answers all questions".

That would indicate expecting a response from embassy staff who will know about as much about the queries in the OP as Elmer Fudd. To remind you, this is what the OP asked.

On 1/15/2026 at 1:46 AM, davb said:

Will she have a problem flying back to Thailand? Will she need to enter on a US tourist visa, or does immigration let her in anyway with the old passport and current Thai ID?

15 hours ago, cowellandrew said:

I am not having this comment so a thai girl wants to renew her British passport but rocks up and produces a thai passport, why not just use the expired uk passport ?

Holders of an expired UK passport have always been able to travel to the UK using an expired UK Passport, on the basis that whilst the passport may have expired their citizenship hasn’t and thus are not subject to immigration controls.

However many of the mainstream UK media are reporting that UK Citizens must use a valid passport to enter the UK, duel nationals must have have a Certificate of Entitlement, costing £589, in their foreign passport if they don’t have a valid UK Passport.

The UKBA requires that carriers check passport and evisa validity, including the CoE requirements.

ICE might give the wife a free trip back to Thailand....

Just now, rickudon said:

ICE might give the wife a free trip back to Thailand....

If they don't shoot her first.

On 1/23/2026 at 7:22 AM, Aussie999 said:

Sometimes I just find these, lost, expired passport topics a bit hard to believe....a simple email to the relevant embassy answers all questions. Maybe being 71, I just look a t simple, logical, solutions.

agree, surely the first place to seek information is from the people whose job it is to provide that information and facilitate the solution. but instead people come here. bizarre.

22 hours ago, treetops said:

You posted "a simple email to the relevant embassy answers all questions".

That would indicate expecting a response from embassy staff who will know about as much about the queries in the OP as Elmer Fudd. To remind you, this is what the OP asked.

What are you on about...

15 hours ago, it is what it is said:

agree, surely the first place to seek information is from the people whose job it is to provide that information and facilitate the solution. but instead people come here. bizarre.

@treetops seems to disagree...but I suspect he's just looking for attention...a lost soul.

24 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

@treetops seems to disagree...but I suspect he's just looking for attention...a lost soul.

Of course I disagree.

Anyone who writes an email to an embassy to get information on airline boarding requirements and airport arrival immigration rules is wasting their time.

Lost soul my ar5e, just helping the OP avoid the drivel that often follows such questions on here.

Perhaps you could re-read the thread and maybe contribute something useful. Here's the questions again as you seem to have missed them twice.

On 1/15/2026 at 1:46 AM, davb said:

Will she have a problem flying back to Thailand? Will she need to enter on a US tourist visa, or does immigration let her in anyway with the old passport and current Thai ID?

On 1/23/2026 at 3:56 PM, youreavinalaff said:

Embassies are there to help their citizens. I can't imagine they won't know about passport rules when entering Thailand.

My Thai son studied high school in Singapore with a 3 year student visa in his Thai passport. Came backwards and forwards S'pore - Bkk many times. Je needed 1 more year and because of the comments of a stupid Thai girl in Singapore he decided he would be arrested on next arrival in Bkk.

He called in panic, I listened and said 'go tomorrow to the Thai embasssy in S'pore - his day off from school - and ask them what to do. Thai embassy in S'pore quickly said 'we don't issue student visas for S'pre, go to the Singapore Border Control office and they gave him the address and a bus voucher. On arrival at the S'pore Border control they listened and calmed him down and 1 minute later an extension of his student visa in his Thai passport. And the S'pore lady said 'you are entitled to 2 more years of visa if needed, and she gave him her business card and said 'call me anytime you have any questions'.

He went outside and called me and said 'now I remeber why I love S'pore'.

Thanks everyone. She's going to try the expired passport and if it doesn't work, she'll use the US one and we'll go from there.

Was interested in real-world experiences because that doesn't always match the official policies in Thailand.

On 1/23/2026 at 2:22 PM, Aussie999 said:

Sometimes I just find these, lost, expired passport topics a bit hard to believe....a simple email to the relevant embassy answers all questions. Maybe being 71, I just look a t simple, logical, solutions.

You've obviously never emailed an embassy/ consulate

1 hour ago, davb said:

Thanks everyone. She's going to try the expired passport and if it doesn't work, she'll use the US one and we'll go from there.

Was interested in real-world experiences because that doesn't always match the official policies in Thailand.

She's doing the right thing. Over the years I have seen this question many, many times, and always the answer is enter on the expired Thai passport. Of course she will need to fly out (and return) on her US passport.

18 hours ago, Nurf said:

You've obviously never emailed an embassy/ consulate

No doubt every embassy has a slightly different attitude / approach. Plus what staff are on duty makes a difference.

However I've always found the Aust. embassy very polite and focused and helpful. and same comment the several times I've emailed them.

After the incident with my Thai son in Singapore I have only positive comments re the Thai embassy.

I'll also share another incident, a Thai outer family member wanted to get a visa to enter Australia. His 'friend' called the Oz embassy in Bkk and they said 'the Australian embassy in Bkk does not issue visas for any situation / reason, you will have to go to xxx in Bkk and make the application there.

My family member called my Thai son and complained saying:

1. Why can't you (my Thai son) call the embassy and tell them your father is an Australian therefore they should issue him a visa. My Thai son spoke to me and I repeated 'Oz Embassy in Bkk does not have any authority and it's not their work to issue visas, need to go to a different organization in Bkk to apply for Oz visa'.

2. Extension of above; the family member then called me and got really angry saying 'why don't you take care of your family, you are a dr. (Ph.D. holder) so you can order the Oz embassy to issue a visa. I repeated 'Oz Embassy in Bkk does not have any authority and it's not their work to issue visas, need to go to a different organization in Bkk to apply for Oz visa.' He called again to the Oz embassy and spoke to a Thai staff member saying Oz embassy tells many lies then hung up.

On 1/15/2026 at 8:46 AM, davb said:

My Thai wife has both a Thai passport and US passport. She's currently in the US and planning to return in March, but her Thai passport just expired. The US one is still good. She also as a valid Thai ID card.

Will she have a problem flying back to Thailand? Will she need to enter on a US tourist visa, or does immigration let her in anyway with the old passport and current Thai ID?

Leave US on US passport, show Thai passport there that she doesn't need a visa.

In Thailand enter with expired Thai passport. Get it renewed there, takes a couple of days.

On 1/25/2026 at 4:08 PM, treetops said:

Of course I disagree.

Anyone who writes an email to an embassy to get information on airline boarding requirements and airport arrival immigration rules is wasting their time.

Lost soul my ar5e, just helping the OP avoid the drivel that often follows such questions on here.

Perhaps you could re-read the thread and maybe contribute something useful. Here's the questions again as you seem to have missed them twice.

Nothing to do with aircraft boarding requirements... it's to do with arrival immigration requirements.

I think your treetop has a few leaves missing.

On 1/25/2026 at 5:59 PM, Nurf said:

You've obviously never emailed an embassy/ consulate

Actually I have...a few times..the kast time, about 3 months ago, because I lost my passport.