My Thai girlfriend, born in Phuket, who is now an American citizen, just booked a flight to Thailand for a stay of 43 days. She doesn't really have enough time to apply by mail to the nearest consulate. She has a valid US passport, but her Thai passport is expired.

She is now considering cancelling her trip because she doesn't want to pay any penalties... but I am wondering:

Does she really need a visa to visit the country she was born in?

Will the airline prevent her from travelling?

Couldn't she just renew her Thai passport while she is there? Would that be sufficient for her exit, since she would enter under a 30 day tourist stamp?

Can she enter Thailand her expired Thai passport?

Enquiring minds want to know...

I think she can enter on her expired passport. She can use the US passport to board the fllight. A call to a Thai consulate might get an answer to this question.

If she plans on staying more than 30 days using her US passport on entry could be a problem later.

Edited October 22, 200817 yr by ubonjoe

i think that she could depart on her us passport and enter on her expired thai passpot, immigration would probably note that she does not need a visa for entry as she is thai citizen. however without a return ticket and proper visa the airlines may not let her board as she would only be able to stay on 30 day visa exempt entry on her us passpot. have her call the thai counsulate and make inquiries and the airlines to see what they can suggest. worst case is she gets here on us passport, renews her thai passport and then does a border crossing leaving on her us passport and showing her thai passport as well. this would clear her us passport entry without an overstay, and then she could reenter on her new thai passport. she needs to get an exit stamp on her thai passport prior to returning to thailand.

Here is a link to the embassy in DC. There have been reports that they don't answer the phone. If she uses the pull down menu at top of page she can get contact info for the other 4 consulates in the US.

Also she might be able to find her answer on website. Everything about passports is in Thai.

http://www.thaiembdc.org/AboutEmb/EmbDirect.aspx

Edited October 22, 200817 yr by ubonjoe

I think she can enter on her expired passport. She can use the US passport to board the fllight. A call to a Thai consulate might get an answer to this question.

If she plans on staying more than 30 days using her US passport on entry could be a problem later.

Disagree, she will not be allowed to enter Thailand on an expired Thai passport, she will need a valid travel document.

1. Renew her Thai passport before she travels and can enter, with no problem

2. Travel on her US passport, can do the 30 day visa waiver and do a "visa run" for another 30 days

3. Or get a 60 day tourist visa before she travels based on he US passport.

I have run into this problem before with my two passports from different countries (not US/Thai), and its not worth the argument with immigration, as the requirement to enter a country is based on having a valid travel document, irrespective if you are a citizen of that country or not

okay she enters on her us passport, visa exempt, 30 days,then she either makes another border run for another 30 visa exempt. or gets a new thai passport in the initial 30 day stay, then she still departs on her valid us passport and reenters on her new thai passport.

For a Thai national to be allowed to enter Thailand proving one is Thai is enough. The combination with a US passport might be enough to convince immigration she is the same person as on the expired Thai passport, or the combination with a valid Thai ID.

Think the biggest problem will be with the airline.

I agree that the only potential problem is with the Airline. I do believe that she will have to use the US passport to enter Thailand but that she will be able to get a new Thai passport while here. She may then need to do a border run and likely re-enter still using the US passport. (I don't think you can switch passports during land crossings for some reason .. but she could try)

For a Thai national to be allowed to enter Thailand proving one is Thai is enough. The combination with a US passport might be enough to convince immigration she is the same person as on the expired Thai passport, or the combination with a valid Thai ID.

Think the biggest problem will be with the airline.

From OP's post it sounds like she may a have a return ticket ("stay of 43 days").

If thats the case then her US passport is enough to get her on the flight.

You forget that with the US passport she will need to show a visa. It is unclear what the airline will do when someone has an expired Thai passport or if they will accept the combination.

Simple don't show the Thai passport. She qualifies for a 30 day entry with her US passport so no visa is needed. So no problem with airline.

And she is going 43 days.

Doesn't matter that your intended stay is longer than the 30 day stamp. The airline does not know what Thai immigration will do. What about if the person travelling had an Elite Card ? They would get 90 days. ASEAN get 90 also I think.

I found the answer. This from Delta airlines. (info comes from IATA website)

/ 22OCT08 / 1350 UTC

National Thailand (TH) /Destination Thailand (TH)

Thailand (TH)

Passport required.

- Expired passports issued to nationals of Thailand are

accepted.

Passport Exemptions:

- Nationals of Thailand holding a Certificate of Identity.

VISA NOT REQUIRED.

Additional Information:

- All passports must be in good condition.

Link: http://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_webs...ubuser=DELTAB2C

Edited October 22, 200817 yr by ubonjoe

Why complicate matters? Either:

1. Get her a new Thai passport through the nearest consulate via "expedited" service (if necessary). I live in Ohio and we sent me wife's passport renewal in to the New York City consulate and had the new one back in about 1 week.

2. Get her a 60 day tourist visa based on her US passport and have her travel on that.

At any rate, she should get a new Thai passport whether before departing or while in country.

Good luck!

Martian

She hasn't got time to apply for a visa or renew her passport. But with her expired Thai passport there is no problem, she can apply for one in country.

She hasn't got time to apply for a visa or renew her passport. But with her expired Thai passport there is no problem, she can apply for one in country.

Nice for her next trip to Thailand. But won't help for this trip -- assuming border runs aren't in the vacation plans.

However, to stay 43 days, without having to do a border run, she can fork over 1900 baht and get a '1-year extension of stay' from Immigration based on being a Thai national (expired passport as proof). My wife did this several times after entering on her US passport with a 30-day exempt stamp (she finally renewed her Thai passport, and now life's a lot easier). She actually did this at Don Muang Immigration right after landing, taking about 20 minutes (don't know why Immigration at the swamp would be much different).

My biggest fear would be the airline, if she does not have an exit ticket. Hopefully, that IATA info ubonjoe posted is readily available to the check-in rep.

Edited October 24, 200817 yr by JimGant

For how long was her thai passport expired?

I was born by thai parents in Bkk (1976) and have an expired thai passport. (expired 1981...i know it is a long time ago)

I was adopted to Sweden but still have my thai citizenship, from what I understand.

Can I also renew my thai passport like that?

/comehome

Yes, if you have Thai nationality you can apply for a Thai passport. If you don't have Thai nationality you can reclaim that.

Mario2008:

Thank you so much.

I think i'd better start a new thread about this.

Don't want to spoil anything for the OP.

/comehome

Comehome, if you’re in Sweden now, talk to the Thai embassy. If you’re in Thailand, talk to the passport office. Find out what documents you have to submit, then apply for your new Thai passport. It costs very little.

--

Maestro

Will do.

Thank you

Thai nationality act, (as of 1992)

Section 7. The following persons acquire Thai nationality by birth:

(1) A person born of a father or a mother of Thai nationality, whether within or outside the Thai Kingdom;

http://burmalibrary.org/docs3/THAILAND'...onality_Act.htm

Thai embassy in sweden: http://www.thaiembassy.se/consular/for_thai_people.php (in Thai)

Thank you Mario:)

My problem is to have proof that I am the same person as it says in my papers.

Please feel free to read more in my thread.

/comehome

Will reply in your own thread.

A Thai Passport can only renewed once. My wife had the same problem. Her passport was renewed at the Los Angeles Consulate in no time (less than 10mins). Next time she had to apply for a new one.