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Posted

I have lost a passport in Laos and since my country has no Embassy in Laos the Lao attorneys said they can issue me with an Emergency Travel Document to get me home. I have been in touch with the closest embassy in Hanoi and they say it will take up to 6 weeks to issue me with a new passport. I don't know if I can remain in Lao for another 6 weeks since my visa expires on 20th Jan and I have no passport. I would also need to work to remain here. I think it would be hard to secure a teaching job without a passport.

If i decide to return home I need to travel to Bangkok. Is anyone familiar with Emergency Travel Documents and how long would this allow me to stay in Thailand for. I would like to stay perhaps 2 weeks before returning home.

Posted

I thought Emergency Travel Documents would only allow you to travel from your location now to your Home Country and not into another country.

taken from europa.eu

This decision establishes a standard model for an emergency travel document (ETD), as described in Annex I. ETDs are issued to European Union (EU) citizens for a single journey back to the EU country of which they are a national, to their country of permanent residence or, in exceptional cases, to another destination (inside or outside the Union).

Posted

Indeed, ETDs are usually issued for a specific journey; so a two week stopover in Bangkok would be not be possible. I doubt that you would be allowed out of the airside transit area and into Thailand at all.

Posted

"....the Lao attorneys said they can issue me with an Emergency Travel Document to get me home."

What do you mean? Who can issue you with a travel document? Attorneys can't.

If you can get an Emergency Travel Document validated by your own country, you'll have to use it to fly straight home, and only transit Bangkok or any international hub airside. If you present yourself with such a document and no visa at any Thai border crossing, air or land, you'll probably get locked up.

Posted

If you would state your nationality members would be able to help with more precice information.

As pointed out in every reply an emergency travel document (ETD) is for the purpose of returning to your home country only, or is it, may be a long shot but I read this from www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/laos (British Goverment help and advice for citizens aboad) site:

"Entry Requirements - Passport

Entry into Lao may be refused if you have less than 6 month's validity in your passport.

If you require a new passport, application forms can be downloaded from the Internet. Applications for replacement passports are processed by the British Consulate in Hong Kong and take approximately 4 weeks. First time applications and lost/stolen passports are processed by the British Embassy in Bangkok. Visit the British Embassy in Bangkok website for further information about how to apply, fees and what documentation is required. In the event of an emergency, the Australian Embassy in Vientiane can issue a Laissez Passer emergency travel document to allow you to enter Thailand. You will be asked to complete a lost/stolen report form. Where possible, you are advised to apply at least 15 working days before you need to use your passport.

Make sure you keep a photocopy of the relevant pages of your passport, to avoid any complications."

Not sure on the exact meaning, whether just "transiting BKK airside" only or turning up at a land boarder and get 15 day visa exempt stamp then you can sort out replacement passport with your embassy in Bangkok if you country has, as I have pointed out this is a long shot, and knowing your nationality would help.

The only other way would be to find some way to stay legally in Lao until you get a replacement passport, then you will need to get the appropriate visa replaced/renewed, etc.

Posted

It might be useful to know the OP's country of origin, or where he is hoping to fly to. Some of the advice already given is not entirely correct, certainly not for the UK anyway. Emergency Travel Documents ( different from the older style, but still in use, Emergency Passports ) are not necessarily valid only for a one way trip back to UK. They are now issued to allow up the holder to travel via up to five countries on the way to a particular destination which doesn't have to be UK ( you may still need visas, so check !). They are issued to ICAO standards. Older style single-sheet documents are still issued, depending on circumstances. Guidance on the ETD is as follows:

Am I eligible for an Emergency Travel Document?

Any British national who has previously held a passport and needs to travel urgently and does not have access to their full passport can apply for an ETD.

Where can I travel to on an Emergency Travel Document?

When you apply for an ETD you will be asked to provide an itinerary for your journey. Your ETD will show the countries that you intend to travel to, or through. If you are resident in the country in which you are applying for an ETD, and need to return, the ETD can be issued for a return journey.

How long is the Emergency Travel Document valid for?

Your ETD will be issued for a specific journey, within a specified time, after which it will become invalid. Some countries require a traveller to have 6 or 9 months validity on their passport in order to enter the country. This will be recorded in your ETD. This does not mean that the document can be used again. It can only be used for the journey shown on the observation page.

How many countries can I travel to on an Emergency Travel Document? Are there any

countries that will not accept them?

You can travel via 5 countries on an Emergency Travel Document.

ETDs meet international standards for emergency travel documents and should be acceptable worldwide. There have been extensive consultations with other countries to ensure that the Emergency Travel Document meets their entry requirements. In some countries (including the USA), you may still need to apply for a visa. If you are unsure about the entry requirements for countries you plan to visit or pass through, check the FCO Travel Advice on 0845 850 2829 or at www.fco.gov.uk/travel. If we become aware of any countries refusing to accept an Emergency Travel Document, we will include this information in our Travel Advice.

Can I travel to a country not named on the Emergency Travel Document?

No.

What do I do if my plans change after I have purchased an Emergency Travel Document?

The travel itinerary contained on your ETD cannot be changed. If your plans change after the document has been issued, you will need to apply, and pay, for a new Emergency

Travel Document.

Can I make a return journey on the Emergency Travel Document?

Yes, but only if you are resident in the country you are travelling from. A return ETD cannot be used by tourists wishing to return overseas to complete a holiday as their re-entry into the country is not guaranteed. You need to provide an exact travel itinerary to the Consular Officer issuing the ETD so that your return journey can be included on the observation page.

Once I have finished my journey what should I do with my Emergency Travel Document?

If you are making a single trip back to the UK, UK Immigration Staff will retain your ETD on arrival as it is no longer valid. This may also happen in a number of other countries although practice may vary. If you have an ETD valid for a return journey, you will need to keep it until your journey is complete. If Immigration officials do not retain your Emergency Travel Document, you must return it to the British Embassy or to your nearest British Diplomatic Mission for destruction.

Remember your Emergency Travel Document is only valid for the specified journey.

It cannot be used again.

E&OE

Posted

Thanks, VP, very interesting. Does the information only apply to British citizens issued an ETD by a British embassy (or consul?) or is it pretty standard for all countries?

They are now issued to allow up the holder to travel via up to five countries on the way to a particular destination which doesn't have to be UK ( you may still need visas, so check !).

Does this mean that the the OP could use the ETD to stay in Thailand for 2 weeks on his way home (wherever that may be)?
Posted

Thanks, VP, very interesting. Does the information only apply to British citizens issued an ETD by a British embassy (or consul?) or is it pretty standard for all countries?

They are now issued to allow up the holder to travel via up to five countries on the way to a particular destination which doesn't have to be UK ( you may still need visas, so check !).

Does this mean that the the OP could use the ETD to stay in Thailand for 2 weeks on his way home (wherever that may be)?

This information is for British citizens only. Other countries do have their own processes, some similar, some very different.

This document has a one year validity, so in theory it can be used for that period of time. It could be used to stay in Thailand for two weeks, or any of the other four transit points, subject to it being acceptable to the immigration authority of each country, visa requirements, etc.

Posted

Thanks for the info. I am form Ireland and I cannot the embesy in hanoi tell me get an Emergancy passport as I was allready issued with one in Bangkok a few weeks ago, this has now been canceld when i picked up a new 10 year pasport which since i have lost containing my lao visa. I cannot seem to get a stright answer form the lao attorities as to wether i can remain in lao or not. I guess they are not familur with my problem. I went to them today and i sked if i could reamin in lao to wait for my passport and told him that my visa runs out on 20th jan. he simply shouted "WHEN FINISH COME HERE!!" I am not sure what that means. I have about a 6week wait for a new 2 year passport. Ireland is refusing me a 10year passport as i have reported 2 passports missing in the last 3 months. In fact I was hit with the moterbike rental scam in Koh phanang in October. the renter demanded 5500 bhat for a scrach on a bike i rented. I told him to get $$%%^. and let him keep the passport. I felt good about this at the time but I was not expecting to lose the new one issued a couple of weeks later. I have not explained the first loss to my embasy in Hanoi as I am not sure if it would help or not.

I have been to department of foriegn affairs in lao and they can give me a document for the thai embasy to give me transit there. but i also fly through abui dabbi. so what happens there is anyones guess, I guess I might just do like the guy said and WHEN FINISH COME HERE!!

Advice welcome...

Posted

Words fail me. :coffee1:

I suspect that leaving your passport as security with the motorbike renters and doing a runner is probably the dumbest thing you have ever done and has already cost you many times the 5500B demanded from them.

I also assume to get a replacement passport and leave Thailand you have had to file a police report stating you have lost or had it stolen, did you state what have stated above?

The Thai Police do not take kindly to people who make false reports, I think it carries a penalty of upto 5000B and/or 1 year imprisonment.

If by chance the motorbike renters have now made a police report you just maybe on Thailand's "most wanted" list, do you really want to chance it by traveling back via Thailand?

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Words fail me. :coffee1:

I suspect that leaving your passport as security with the motorbike renters and doing a runner is probably the dumbest thing you have ever done and has already cost you many times the 5500B demanded from them.

I also assume to get a replacement passport and leave Thailand you have had to file a police report stating you have lost or had it stolen, did you state what have stated above?

The Thai Police do not take kindly to people who make false reports, I think it carries a penalty of upto 5000B and/or 1 year imprisonment.

If by chance the motorbike renters have now made a police report you just maybe on Thailand's "most wanted" list, do you really want to chance it by traveling back via Thailand?

I don't believe I did wrong. It is situations like this that give Thailand a bad name. The fact that I payed more the the 5500bhat demanded by the motorbike renter for a new passport does not bother me in the slightest. The bike was barley scratched and this demand for 5500bhat was totally unreasonable. This motorbike renter will think twice again before trying to stitch up another farrang. Yes I did make a police report stating my passport was lost, but I think the Thai police have fare more to worry about then tracking me down.

Posted

You did do something wrong, you gave your passport to a stranger!

I have hired cars etc. many times in Thailand and have never been asked to leave my passport as 'security.' If I was asked, I wouldn't do so and go elsewhere.

Never give your passport to anyone as 'security' when hiring a motorbike, jet ski, car, whatever. No reputable company would ask you to do so.

This motorbike renter will think twice again before trying to stitch up another farrang.

I doubt it. He probably made more selling your passport on the black market than the 5500 baht he was demanding from you!

Lesson learned, daithi, I hope.

Posted

You did do something wrong, you gave your passport to a stranger!

I have hired cars etc. many times in Thailand and have never been asked to leave my passport as 'security.' If I was asked, I wouldn't do so and go elsewhere.

Never give your passport to anyone as 'security' when hiring a motorbike, jet ski, car, whatever. No reputable company would ask you to do so.

This motorbike renter will think twice again before trying to stitch up another farrang.

I doubt it. He probably made more selling your passport on the black market than the 5500 baht he was demanding from you!

Lesson learned, daithi, I hope.

Any Moterbilke rentel I have gone to in either Thailand or Lao has always demanded a passport as security. I have yet to find one that does not require a passport. also the passport was reported lost at my consulaute less then 24hours later, so would they still be able to misuse the passport?

Posted

As I said, no reputable company would ask a customer to leave their passport as security.

As you feel, though, that this is normal, acceptable practice you presumably told both the police and the Irish embassy that this is what you had done and how you lost the passport. What did they say?

I am no expert in the black market for western passports, but suspect that as anyone who loses their passport or has it stolen would report it's loss that doing so does little to effect it's value on that black market.

How did you manage to lose the second passport?

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