Thai Passport Into Australia Only 4.5 Months Validity?

[tig28]

Hi all

My wifes Thai Passport expires 8-8-2010. Her multi reentry tourist visa expires 20-03-2010.(4.5 months) We were intending to visit Australia just prior to the expiry of that visa. I now recall a "6 month valid passport rule" and wonder if anyone can offer advice as to its application in this case.

I searched the Aust immigration site -- nil result. The IATA site -- cant navigate the thing. Same IATA site via the formerly very useful Delta Air site --

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations...ation/index.jsp

No mention of passport validity requirement into Aust.

Any information please??

[alyx]

Hey

Go for a new passport. The process is very fast an the visa remains valid

I do not know about Australia but EU seem to enforce this rule (less than a 6 month validity on their passport) (actually not only EU )

Edited December 18, 2009 by alyx

[xen]

I think it is rule of thumb for 6 months validility on passports. You can also renew a Thai passport at the consulate here in Sydney but why do that when you can do it easier in LOS before you come.

[tig28]

Thanks to both

Why I even bother with the question .... is because we live in Si Saket Provence. Yes -- she can obtain a new passport easily enough in Ubon (really helpful and fast office there) and only a couple of hours away by car--- but I'm told we then need to travel to Bkk to get the original Visa "linked " to the new passport. Is this true?? --- when we next go up to Ubon I shall try to find out from Thai immigration there.

If we then must go to Bkk -- then it is becoming quite a series of trips--- would like to avoid if possible.

I shall also send an email to Aust Immigration re the 6 month question.

I shall post the results .

thanks guys.

[carpy]

Hi Mate,

I think the 6 month thing is pretty strict.They should not even sell you a ticket if there is less than 6 months valid left.Instead of going to Bkk to do anything.Do the same as me and my wife who is from Udon.We use the Australian Embassy in Laos.Its heaps easier and heaps more person to person service.Here is the e-mail of the boss of the visa section who is an Aussie and ends up being a good freind to have. [email protected] .

[ozzycol]

Thanks to both

Why I even bother with the question .... is because we live in Si Saket Provence. Yes -- she can obtain a new passport easily enough in Ubon (really helpful and fast office there) and only a couple of hours away by car--- but I'm told we then need to travel to Bkk to get the original Visa "linked " to the new passport. Is this true?? --- when we next go up to Ubon I shall try to find out from Thai immigration there.

If we then must go to Bkk -- then it is becoming quite a series of trips--- would like to avoid if possible.

I shall also send an email to Aust Immigration re the 6 month question.

I shall post the results .

thanks guys.

My Thai wife and I recently returned back to oz and because her Thai passport was due to expire in June 2010 - rentry visa late February 2010, we decided to renew in BKK.

No problems with her visa being in the old passport (no link that I'm aware of to the new so should be able to be done closer to you) we just had to make sure that she carried and presented both passports through Perth customs.

Just be sure that when the old passport is marked as cancelled that the oz re-entry is not marked in any way (was assured that this doesn't happen but doesn't hurt to mention).

As an aside, was told by Thai Embassy in Camberra that they only do 2 passport runs per year now ( December and June ) not sure if true but was the sealer behind our decision to renew in BKK - very painless.

[tig28]

Thanks to all

My brave announcement to contact Aust Immigration (in Aust.) has proven not easy. Have you looked at the B@@@@y website??. I shall persevere.

I did find this in the passport/visa section:

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/676/how-to-apply.htm

Passport details

Your visa will be linked to the passport number you use in your application and you must use the same passport to travel to Australia.

Make sure your passport is valid for the period of stay you are applying for. If you obtain a new passport, you must advise the department of the new passport details before you travel to Australia. Otherwise, you will experience significant delays at the airport and could be denied permission to board your plane. Contact the Hobart Global Processing Centre with your new passport number.

"Just be sure that when the old passport is marked as cancelled that the oz re-entry is not marked in any way (was assured that this doesn't happen but doesn't hurt to mention)".

Good tip--thanks ozzycol

Shall follow the rest of that question up in Ubon in about 10 days.

[tig28]

I thought contacting Immigration in Aust. would be easiest --- how wrong can I have been!!

I emailed Aust. Immigration in Bkk. and received this prompt and helpful advice.

Dear Mr Tig

Please be advised that we do not have "6 months valid passport rule" when

applying for a visitor visa. Please check with Thai Passport Division as

they have "6 months valid passport rule".

Kind regards,

Sasigarn Eampornchai

Australian Embassy - Bangkok

[thaimiller]

I went through this situation last year with a spanish visa for the GF, all she had to do was get a new passport and then they put a stamp in it saying " this passport ios linked to old passport number XXXX and any visa's in passport number xXXX are still valid" or words to that effect. She travelled with both passports and handed the both in when ever she was asked. Not a problem.

[Will27]

I thought contacting Immigration in Aust. would be easiest --- how wrong can I have been!!

I emailed Aust. Immigration in Bkk. and received this prompt and helpful advice.

Dear Mr Tig

Please be advised that we do not have "6 months valid passport rule" when

applying for a visitor visa. Please check with Thai Passport Division as

they have "6 months valid passport rule".

Kind regards,

Sasigarn Eampornchai

Australian Embassy - Bangkok

To be honest, it's not really an Immigration issue.

They deal mainly with visa's, not passports.

If you get a new passport, advise them and get

it linked to the visa.

You're better of contacting the consulate or DFAT.

Regards

Will

[tig28]

I thought contacting Immigration in Aust. would be easiest --- how wrong can I have been!!

I emailed Aust. Immigration in Bkk.and received this prompt and helpful advice.

Dear Mr Tig

Please be advised that we do not have "6 months valid passport rule" when

applying for a visitor visa. Please check with Thai Passport Division as

they have "6 months valid passport rule".

Kind regards,

Sasigarn Eampornchai

Australian Embassy - Bangkok

To be honest, it's not really an Immigration issue.

They deal mainly with visa's, not passports.

If you get a new passport, advise them and get

it linked to the visa.

You're better of contacting the consulate or DFAT.

Regards

Will

Perhaps when I said "I emailed Aust. Immigration in Bkk" I should have said "I emailed the Australian embassy in Bkk. re tourist entry to Australia". This email was addressed ----

[email protected] --- (as suggested on the website.) To the Aust. embassy ...... Immigration = Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The reply (above) was from :[email protected]

I suspect they are pretty aware of the requirement for passport validity when entering Australia.

I agree -- linking a pre-existing visa to a new passport is required.