Thai/british Dual Nationality And Travelling

[jackr]

Anybody out there have any problems when taking your kids, or your dual self, home and back into los on the two passports without the use of this 'Certificate of Entitlement'? i.e. Using the Thai passport to exit the kingdom, entering the UK on the British passport, leaving the UK on the British passport and re-entering Thailand on the Thai passport. By rights, those with a Thai passport should also have a visa to board the plane, but surely on displaying the British passport if asked why you don't have a visa, one should be absolved of this need?

Reason I ask, I just lodged an application for my son's Brit passport and it was mentioned to me by the consulate staff that I should also be applying for a 'Certificate of Entitlement' if planning to take my son home and using the two passports. Expensive enough getting everything sorted for the passport and it'd be another 9,000 baht or so for this certificate.

Has anyone's offspring or themselves been questioned or refused boarding the plane without this?

[p_brownstone]

Both my Wife and Daughter have British and Thai Passports and in over 30 years of going in and out of Thailand we have never been asked for anything like a "Certificate of Entitlement".

You will need to show both Passports at Check-in - just to prove to the Airline that the person has a right to enter the UK - but that's all.

At Immigration (exiting Thailand) just show the Thai Passport - it's by no means illegal to have the 2 Passports but some Immigration Officers may not know this and make a fuss if they see them both.

Patrick

[samran]

I have dual Thai-Australian nationality and have travelled between Thailand and the UK quite a bit. As an Australian, I am not eligible for a 'Certificate of Entitelment', but I wouldn't think they are absolutely necessary.

The trick is to show the airline checkin both PP's, to show you have the right to enter the UK without a pre-arranged visa. They will then let you on.

Thai passport control don't usually care if you have a visa or not to where you travel to (thats the airlines job).

Once you hit the UK though, the length of the stay is determined by UK immigration, but with a UK PP, that is not an issue as you will be waived through the EU passports channel.

[the scouser]

Samran's spot on. All the C. of E. does is confirm upon your son the right of abode in the UK which is exactly what a British passport does too. Why have both? Furthermore, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's website actually advises against possessing both as this raises concerns about document abuse.

Scouse.

[jackr]

Cheers guys. You're echoing what I thought...what's the point of going through all the bother of getting this certificate when he already has a Brit passport to prove he's British? Leads me to believe the Embassy is trying to drum up an idle way to make cash.

Cheers

[kenkannif]

If you get the bit of paper stuck in your passport you only have to use one passport (my mate thought it was well overpriced as well at 6-7K!).

[lopburi3]

If you get the bit of paper stuck in your passport you only have to use one passport (my mate thought it was well overpriced as well at 6-7K!).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

True but the British passport would still be better for most other travel so not a great deal.

Does the UK have, or still have, a commonwealth passport? It would make sense for that type of use to indicate full British national rights. Noted that in some information I looked at but as the scouser knows I don't read English well being from the other side of the pond.

[kenkannif]

I was referring to the British passport as that's where you put the sticker isn't it?

I don't know about the commonwealth passport mate? Mine is a UK of Grat Britain and Northern Ireland and it mentiond the European Community on it as well?

[lopburi3]

I was referring to the British passport as that's where you put the sticker isn't it?

I don't know about the commonwealth passport mate? Mine is a UK of Grat Britain and Northern Ireland and it mentiond the European Community on it as well?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why would you put the sticker in a British passport? That passport proves you have full rights. Believe it is to put in your home passport to show you do not need a visa for travel to the UK. But as I say; British is not my language.

[tonybuxton]

Anybody out there have any problems when taking your kids, or your dual self, home and back into los on the two passports without the use of this 'Certificate of Entitlement'? i.e. Using the Thai passport to exit the kingdom, entering the UK on the British passport, leaving the UK on the British passport and re-entering Thailand on the Thai passport. By rights, those with a Thai passport should also have a visa to board the plane, but surely on displaying the British passport if asked why you don't have a visa, one should be absolved of this need?

Reason I ask, I just lodged an application for my son's Brit passport and it was mentioned to me by the consulate staff that I should also be applying for a 'Certificate of Entitlement' if planning to take my son home and using the two passports. Expensive enough getting everything sorted for the passport and it'd be another 9,000 baht or so for this certificate.

Has anyone's offspring or themselves been questioned or refused boarding the plane without this?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We have had plenty of problems having dual Thai/ British passports, ever since we have to produce our passports before boarding. Most problems occur with nosey check-in staff. My wife leaves Thailand on her Thai passport without a U.K. visa. But the airline then wants to know how she will enter U.K.

Quite frankly it is worth while getting a stamp in your wifes passport entitelling her to

residence in UK she can do this if she has a U.K. passport. This "entilement" is valid for life and can be transferred to a new Thai passpor. It is well worth the cost.

[p_brownstone]

Anybody out there have any problems when taking your kids, or your dual self, home and back into los on the two passports without the use of this 'Certificate of Entitlement'? i.e. Using the Thai passport to exit the kingdom, entering the UK on the British passport, leaving the UK on the British passport and re-entering Thailand on the Thai passport. By rights, those with a Thai passport should also have a visa to board the plane, but surely on displaying the British passport if asked why you don't have a visa, one should be absolved of this need?

Reason I ask, I just lodged an application for my son's Brit passport and it was mentioned to me by the consulate staff that I should also be applying for a 'Certificate of Entitlement' if planning to take my son home and using the two passports. Expensive enough getting everything sorted for the passport and it'd be another 9,000 baht or so for this certificate.

Has anyone's offspring or themselves been questioned or refused boarding the plane without this?

We have had plenty of problems having dual Thai/ British passports, ever since we have to produce our passports before boarding. Most problems occur with nosey check-in staff. My wife leaves Thailand on her Thai passport without a U.K. visa. But the airline then wants to know how she will enter U.K.

Quite frankly it is worth while getting a stamp in your wifes passport entitelling her to

residence in UK she can do this if she has a U.K. passport. This "entilement" is valid for life and can be transferred to a new Thai passpor. It is well worth the cost.

The Check-in staff are not being "nosy".

It is part of their responsibility to make sure that a passenger is entitled to enter the destination Country - if the documents are not in order and entry is refused on arrival the airline is responsible for repatriating the passenger.

You just need to present both passports at Check-in and again at the Boarding Gate.

Patrick

[kenkannif]

I was referring to the British passport as that's where you put the sticker isn't it?

I don't know about the commonwealth passport mate? Mine is a UK of Grat Britain and Northern Ireland and it mentiond the European Community on it as well?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why would you put the sticker in a British passport? That passport proves you have full rights. Believe it is to put in your home passport to show you do not need a visa for travel to the UK. But as I say; British is not my language.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's so you can exit and enter on the UK passport without having to show the Thai one at all (which isn't a big deal anyway!).

[Rinrada]

Check this link out for details.

(with thanks from Scouser-joint Mod of the year and well deserved)

Now that the ghost of David B has finally dissapeared they (HMHO)seem to be talking to me again.

Thank you for your email.

Information on how to apply for the right of abode and the application form

can be found on the page on this link:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/ho...t_of_abode.html?

[samran]

Anybody out there have any problems when taking your kids, or your dual self, home and back into los on the two passports without the use of this 'Certificate of Entitlement'? i.e. Using the Thai passport to exit the kingdom, entering the UK on the British passport, leaving the UK on the British passport and re-entering Thailand on the Thai passport. By rights, those with a Thai passport should also have a visa to board the plane, but surely on displaying the British passport if asked why you don't have a visa, one should be absolved of this need?

Reason I ask, I just lodged an application for my son's Brit passport and it was mentioned to me by the consulate staff that I should also be applying for a 'Certificate of Entitlement' if planning to take my son home and using the two passports. Expensive enough getting everything sorted for the passport and it'd be another 9,000 baht or so for this certificate.

Has anyone's offspring or themselves been questioned or refused boarding the plane without this?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We have had plenty of problems having dual Thai/ British passports, ever since we have to produce our passports before boarding. Most problems occur with nosey check-in staff. My wife leaves Thailand on her Thai passport without a U.K. visa. But the airline then wants to know how she will enter U.K.

Quite frankly it is worth while getting a stamp in your wifes passport entitelling her to

residence in UK she can do this if she has a U.K. passport. This "entilement" is valid for life and can be transferred to a new Thai passpor. It is well worth the cost.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Check-in staff are not being "nosy".

It is part of their responsibility to make sure that a passenger is entitled to enter the destination Country - if the documents are not in order and entry is refused on arrival the airline is responsible for repatriating the passenger.

You just need to present both passports at Check-in and again at the Boarding Gate.

Patrick

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agree it is nothing to do with 'noseiness'. Airlines are liable for the cost of transporting the passanger back to their home country if that passanger is refused entry at their final desitination.

To minimise risks, airlines as a matter of routine check for appropriate visas/passports. Showing only a Thai PP when you are travelling to the UK says to the check-in person that the passanger has no right to enter the UK and thus the airline will refuse to let them board.

[lopburi3]

Perhaps if we thought of the foreign passport more as a visa when shown in the foreign country it would be clearer. When a Thai checks in for a flight their Thai passport (used to enter country of Thailand) is inspected to see a departure form and a visa (if required). In place of the visa you show them the passport for your destination country and that proves to them you do not need a visa. Then you use that passport to enter/exit the foreign country just as you use your Thai passport to enter/exit Thailand.

It really works without much fuss for most folks.

Edited January 20, 2005 by lopburi3

[BeeWhy]

Hi

Just a new twist to this discussion. Would there be an issue when checking in at BKK coming back to the UK, with two passports (UK/Thai) in different names, and the airline ticket is in the UK passport name.

Assuming that my wife has left the UK on the BP and entered Thailand on her Thai passport, which has the RoB stamp. I cant see a problem but maybe someone has had some experience.

This next trip would be her first using two passports and she's a bit jittery. Any advice?

[samran]

All that is means is she'll probably need to get an ammendement done to her Thai passport showing the name change to her (I assume) married name.

This will be for the benefit of Thai immigration on the way out who will look at the boarding pass and compare it to the Thai passport.

Also, tell her that what she is doing is often done, by many many others, so no need to be jittery.

[BeeWhy]

Hi

Thanks Samran

Not sure about the name change in the Thai passport. We were married in the Uk, so technically in Thailand my wife is still single (i think). Maybe its better to change the ticket to her Thai name and travel in/out of Uk/Thailand on her Thai passport with the RoA stamp.

Any thoughts?

[Rinrada]

Thats what we always do and makes life easy.

For the first time on last visit a curious immigration guy ask K.W what the Big Red stamp (R of A) in her Thai Passport was since he had either never seen it before or more likely never noticed it.

She explained her "status"and and confirmed that she also had a UK/EU PP but preferred to go to LOS on the Thai one....O Yes Yes very good....

He then got all his mates over to have a look and she explained/showed it to them as well.

Can imagine all the entry lines at D.M. at a standstill while they were all having a shufti...

After a lot of Wai-ing and kop khun kapping she was off.

Very Handy thing to have and only £20 for the chop....get one....

PS ....this was one of Scousers best bits of info...ever.(before it was so well hidden I needed a shovel..etc)

Now its on the UK Governments Web Visa site...GOOD ONE.....

[vinny]

All that is means is she'll probably need to get an ammendement done to her Thai passport showing the name change to her (I assume) married name.

Although name change ammendements to non-biometric Thai passports may be possible, I believe that the new e-passports cannot be ammended for any name changes. A new passport must be applied for. The same goes for a British passport following a name change.

Very Handy thing to have and only £20 for the chop....get one....

PS ....this was one of Scousers best bits of info...ever.(before it was so well hidden I needed a shovel..etc)

Now its on the UK Governments Web Visa site...GOOD ONE.....

I agree with Rinrada. The ROA is handy for £20 when applied for in the UK, especially when

You do not have to pay a fee to have a certificate of entitlement or patriality transferred into your new passport.

[beleby]

I made the Thailand - UK and reverse trip this year with my son, who has both passports. We had no problems. The "slip" that you can put in your UK passport seems to be a money making exercise from the British Embassy, having two passports does the same trick so what is the point?

The airline staff have the right and responsibility to check on your means for staying in another country but I don't believe they have the right to question how or why you have two passports, unless they have a good reason to suspect fraud.

I would also note that I do not make a point of displaying any more passports or doscuments than neccessary to immigration, especially on the Thai side. In all honesty, I simply do not trust their judgement or their integrity.