Dual Passports

[sphare]

Dear Citizens of ThaiVisa...

Thia is my first entry.

I would like to know (since I can't find it) How to travel with two passports.

i am dual citizen (US-Thai). I've Just got my thai ID & Thai Passport. However before i got it here is the story.( Short)

I was born in the US to a Thai Mother and US Father, we moved here to thailand in 2000.

now since 2003 my Visa in the US Passport Expired (6 Years to date), so if i want to travel back to the states using my Thai Passport(Departure) and My US Passport(Arrival) will there be any problems at the BKK Airport? or how do i sove this?

Second;

I am 26, and i just got my Thai ID & Passport, do i have to do Military? or report in?

It would be great and i will highly appriciate some feedback.

[NanLaew]

I reckon you can depart Thailand on your new Thai passport, no questions asked. I don't think there is a need to show your US passport upon departure. Take your US passport with you and use that to enter the US where they may want to see your Thai passport but I don't think so. Then replace the US passport while you are there as that one is on the Thai system as a 6-year overstay so if you ever want to enter Thailand on the US passport, you have a 'clean' one.

I don't know about Thai 'national service'. Do they have conscription? I don't think so.

[7by7]

The usual procedure for dual nationals is to use their Thai passport to enter and leave Thailand and, in your case, the US one to enter and leave the US.

I believe that as you used your US passport to enter Thailand then you are technically an overstayer, even though you are a Thai citizen. I don't see you having any problems if you leave Thailand with your Thai passport, but you never know.

I don't know the answers to your other questions, I'm afraid.

I'm moving this to the Thai visas, residency and work permits forum where you are more likely to get the answers you seek.

[monty]

Then replace the US passport while you are there as that one is on the Thai system as a 6-year overstay so if you ever want to enter Thailand on the US passport, you have a 'clean' one.

Not true!

It is not the passport which is on "overstay" but the person holding it.

Name and date of birth will pull your record on the immigration officer's screen, not the passport number alone. He will even see the picture the little camera made of you when you last entered on his screen for a quick confirmation that it is the same person (although I guess not for the OP as I think 6 years ago the camera system wasn't yet installed).

I'm not sure if immigration uses Thai spelling for their citizens on their computer system, or the English transliteration used in the passports (and new model ID cards) along with Western style date of birth.

If so even using his Thai passport might pull up his entry on the system.

If Thai script and Thai style date (i.e. 2552 instead of 2009) he probably will make it through without problems...

[mrbojangles]

I'm not sure if immigration uses Thai spelling for their citizens on their computer system, or the English transliteration used in the passports (and new model ID cards) along with Western style date of birth.

If so even using his Thai passport might pull up his entry on the system.

If Thai script and Thai style date (i.e. 2552 instead of 2009) he probably will make it through without problems...

In my wifes Thai passport, everything is in English including western style date format. The only bit in Thai is where it has her name in Thai as well as English.

[Jimbo]

I don't know about Thai 'national service'. Do they have conscription? I don't think so.

They do have some type of conscription for military service however not everyone needs to go. Young Thai males will have to pull a color and they will have a 50/50 chance of having to do military service or not.

[monty]

They do have some type of conscription for military service however not everyone needs to go. Young Thai males will have to pull a color and they will have a 50/50 chance of having to do military service or not.

Correct, and apparently a little "donation" assures you will pull the ticket with the right color

[gar]

thought you weren't allowed to have a Thai passport after you take a passport from another country... ?

[lopburi3]

There is no such rule as not having a Thai passport if you have a foreign passport.

[gar]

There is no such rule as not having a Thai passport if you have a foreign passport.

thanks for the clarification. might solve a big problem i thought i had.

[monty]

thought you weren't allowed to have a Thai passport after you take a passport from another country... ?

What you likely refer to is the new requirement for foreigners who apply for Thai citizenship, to include a letter of intent stating that they will renounce their current citizenship when the Thai one gets issued.

There have been no reports yet of if and how they practically will implement this, and likely will have no effect whatsoever on people having automatic rights to Thai citizenship (e.g. Thai parent).

[MiG16]

so

are there law(s) that refers to whether or not thailand recognises dual citizenship?

Im reading a lot about using one passport to enter and leave, but using the other one at your other destination.......

many years ago I used to hear about kids having to choose between Thai or US citizenship when they get to 21 years. (it sounded like its not a choice, but that they had to decide between either one) that gave me impression that Thailand does not recognise dual nationality.

on the other hand, more recent years, Im hearing about how Thailand is trying to tighten up on those with dual citizenship in the 3 southern most provinces (which seem to indicate that it currently exists?)

anyone can provide definite answer either way? or perhaps link to the appropriate legislation?

thanks

[lopburi3]

Thailand does not recognize dual nationality - nor does the USA. But as the USA has no law that prevents it. For a female it is a non issue. For a male there is the service obligation (although in practice it is not a major issue for most). There is provision to make a choice at age 20 but there is no requirement to do so.

So normally you use Thai passport in/out Thailand (and perhaps other countries where it is an advantage) and other passport for other country and where it may be an advantage. For the USA it is required to use US passport for citizens - but that is not the case for Thailand so you can use foreign passport but will require normal visas.

[Maestro]

The acquisition of Thai nationality and the possibibilities of renunciation or loss of Thai nationality are covered by Thailand’s Nationality Act. An English translation with all amendments so far is here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/post-a84046-...ntil-2551..html

The original Thai text, but without the latest amendments, is here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/redirect.php...%2Flaw%2F20.pdf

There are various ways of acquiring Thai nationality and various possibilities of losing it, mostly depending on how it was acquired.

Loss of Thai nationality by optional renunciation, if approved by the Minister (section 14):

• for a Thai national who acquires another nationality by being married to a foreigner
  
• for a Thai national who acquires another nationality by having a foreign parent
  
• for a foreign child who acquired Thai nationality by naturalisation and later acquired another nationality
  

Loss of Thai nationality by optional renunciation, if approved by the Minister (section 15):

• for a Thai national not covered by section 14 who has another nationality
  
• for a foreigner not covered by section 14 who acquired Thai nationality by naturalisation
  

Loss of Thai nationality by optional revocation (section 16):

• for a foreign woman who acquired Thai nationality by marriage: in specific circumstances
  

Loss of Thai nationality by optional revocation (section 17):

• for a Thai national born in Thailand who acquires another nationality by having a foreign parent and
  -- as an adult lives for five consecutive years outside Thailand
  -- makes use of or has an interest in his other nationality
  -- commits crimes or immoral acts
  

Loss of Thai nationality by optional revocation (section 18):

• for a person who acquired Thai nationality by being born in Thailand (e.g. both foreign parents had permanent residence permits): if security requires it
  

Loss of Thai nationality by optional revocation (section 19):

• for a person who acquired Thai nationality by naturalisation: in specific circumstances
  

Loss of Thai nationality (section 21):

• for a Thai national who acquired another nationality by having a foreign parent and subsequently obtains an alien identification card under Thai law
  

Loss of Thai nationality (section 22):

• for a Thai national who acquired another nationality by naturalisation, who renounced his Thai nationality, or whose Thai nationality has been revoked
  

--

Maestro

[Maestro]

It would seem that the loss of Thai nationality under section 22 of the Nationality Act is automatic, for which reason a Thai national acquiring another nationality by naturalisation would have to be extra careful to conceal his other nationality from the Thai government if he plans to continue to his Thai nationality in Thailand.

--

Maestro

[lopburi3]

I suspect

for a Thai national who acquired another nationality by naturalisation, who renounced his Thai nationality,

means both have to occur.

[Maestro]

Unfortunately, the Thai text says หรอ, which translates as "or"

I wonder if the lawmakers forgot to amend also section 22 in 2008 when they amended sections 14 and 15, of if it was the deliberate intention to let Thais who get a another citizenship the easy way by having a foreign husband or father kept it but if a Thai goes to the trouble of naturalisation in another country he should automatically lose the Thai citizenship.

--

Maestro