Half Thai, Passport

[teammk]

Hi,

I'm half Thai, and just wanted to confirm a quick question.

I was told by a friend that now that I have two passports the old one which is from another country with my visa and the new one which is Thai. I should leave Thailand to get an exist stamp and get into the country with my Thai passport.

My question is why do I need that? Why do I need to have an exit stamp in my old passport?

and a second question. My Thai passport was issued in Bangkok so if I first use it to get in to Thailand (meaning that I do not leave the country with the Thai passport)

wont it be a little strange.

I just wanted to here if somebody knows about it.

Thank you

[ludditeman]

I don't believe they stamp Thai passports on entry or exit to/from Thailand

Using the Thai passport to enter saves on Visa fees, 90 day reporting, etc.

If you don't have an exit stamp in your foreign passport, you will incur overstay fines and deportation.

As you have entered as a foreigner, you must obey foreigner in Thailand rules.

If you surrender your foreign passport and foreign citizenship, then you don't need to play this game.

But I don't think it would be a good idea.

[teammk]

I don't believe they stamp Thai passports on entry or exit to/from Thailand

Using the Thai passport to enter saves on Visa fees, 90 day reporting, etc.

If you don't have an exit stamp in your foreign passport, you will incur overstay fines and deportation.

As you have entered as a foreigner, you must obey foreigner in Thailand rules.

If you surrender your foreign passport and foreign citizenship, then you don't need to play this game.

But I don't think it would be a good idea.

Thank you for the reply.

I just have one question more. As my passport has been issued in Bangkok can I leave the country without using it? And can I use it the very first time to get into the country??

Thank you

[lopburi3]

Yes. You may have to explain why you do not have an exit card but can easily do so. Just insist that they use your Thai passport for new entry even if you have to have them check with a supervisor.

[teammk]

Yes. You may have to explain why you do not have an exit card but can easily do so. Just insist that they use your Thai passport for new entry even if you have to have them check with a supervisor.

Thank you very much for your answer.

It is legal right?. If I enter Thailand with my Thai passport without exit cards, or will there be much trouble? I'm not that good in Thai so I do not know if I would be able to explain.

Furthermore, I was thinking to go one one of the buses which provide visa runs to cross the border. Are there any special ones I should not go, or are all the same for my situation?

Thank you

[lopburi3]

You can not do on a border crossing as stamps must be shown in passports - only airports allow entry without enter/departure stamps being checked. One person recently advised that an immigration at border did use computer to allow such for a dual citizen but I would highly advise doing at airport where it is almost routine. Nothing illegal about having two passport or dual nationality at the Thailand end (some countries do have such rules however and some Thai will feel it isn't right in there mind).

[teammk]

You can not do on a border crossing as stamps must be shown in passports - only airports allow entry without enter/departure stamps being checked. One person recently advised that an immigration at border did use computer to allow such for a dual citizen but I would highly advise doing at airport where it is almost routine. Nothing illegal about having two passport or dual nationality at the Thailand end (some countries do have such rules however and some Thai will feel it isn't right in there mind).

So I need to take the flight out and in. to me it sounds a bit strange that crossing on land and airports are not the same. How come. I mean you leave and enter the country. should it not be the same?

Thanks

[Crossy]

So I need to take the flight out and in. to me it sounds a bit strange that crossing on land and airports are not the same. How come. I mean you leave and enter the country. should it not be the same?

Incoming immigration will expect to see the outgoing stamp of the other country when entering by land (to stop people doing a no-mans-land run rather than a border crossing), meaning that those of us with two passports cannot switch between them at land crossings.

[teammk]

So I need to take the flight out and in. to me it sounds a bit strange that crossing on land and airports are not the same. How come. I mean you leave and enter the country. should it not be the same?

Incoming immigration will expect to see the outgoing stamp of the other country when entering by land (to stop people doing a no-mans-land run rather than a border crossing), meaning that those of us with two passports cannot switch between them at land crossings.

Hi..

I see your point. but if I leave Thailand to get an exit stamp in the passport and enter e.g. Cambodia with my non-thai passport ,and go out from Cambodia I will have the exist stamp. Or would I also require the exit stamp in my Thai passport, to be able to enter Thailand again?

Thank you

[samran]

I don't believe they stamp Thai passports on entry or exit to/from Thailand

Using the Thai passport to enter saves on Visa fees, 90 day reporting, etc.

If you don't have an exit stamp in your foreign passport, you will incur overstay fines and deportation.

As you have entered as a foreigner, you must obey foreigner in Thailand rules.

If you surrender your foreign passport and foreign citizenship, then you don't need to play this game.

But I don't think it would be a good idea.

As a holder of a Thai and Australian passport, I can very much assure you that they do stamp Thai passports, often and twice on Sunday's.

This issue has come up alot recently. As others have explained, you can't really do 'passport swaps' at land borders. While there should be any difference from flying, the officials at land borders just don't like it.

So he should leave on his foreign passport, complete that stay, fly out and return on the Thai passport.

The thing the OP needs to understand is that all Thai passports are issued in Thailand. So if he applied for it in London, NY, Sydney - wherever, the passport he receives there comes from the same passport place somewhere in Thailand that all the other locally issued ones do.

Plenty of people fly in on 'blank' Thai passports. I did it recently with a new passport issued, and so have most of my family. No stress, and if an immigration officer questions it, ask to speak to a senior officer, and who knows the ropes, and will sort it for you.

[teammk]

I don't believe they stamp Thai passports on entry or exit to/from Thailand

Using the Thai passport to enter saves on Visa fees, 90 day reporting, etc.

If you don't have an exit stamp in your foreign passport, you will incur overstay fines and deportation.

As you have entered as a foreigner, you must obey foreigner in Thailand rules.

If you surrender your foreign passport and foreign citizenship, then you don't need to play this game.

But I don't think it would be a good idea.

As a holder of a Thai and Australian passport, I can very much assure you that they do stamp Thai passports, often and twice on Sunday's.

This issue has come up alot recently. As others have explained, you can't really do 'passport swaps' at land borders. While there should be any difference from flying, the officials at land borders just don't like it.

So he should leave on his foreign passport, complete that stay, fly out and return on the Thai passport.

The thing the OP needs to understand is that all Thai passports are issued in Thailand. So if he applied for it in London, NY, Sydney - wherever, the passport he receives there comes from the same passport place somewhere in Thailand that all the other locally issued ones do.

Plenty of people fly in on 'blank' Thai passports. I did it recently with a new passport issued, and so have most of my family. No stress, and if an immigration officer questions it, ask to speak to a senior officer, and who knows the ropes, and will sort it for you.

Dear Samran,

Thank you for the answer. If I understand you correct the only difference it that the border control on the ground do not like it? I mean what if somebody got their Thai passport in Cambodia (issued to them in Cambodia), should that person fly in to Thailand. He would not be able to cross at the border?

Please advise

[teammk]

Another point.

Practically how should it be done:

Leave Thailand on foreign passport with visa (to get exit stamp)

Enter the other country e.g. Malaysia with the Thai passport,

And leave Malaysia with the Thai passport,

And enter Thailand with the Thai passport?

Or*********

Leave Thailand on foreign passport with visa (to get exit stamp)

Enter the other country e.g. Malaysia with the foreign passport

And leave Malaysia with the foreign Passport

And enter Thailand with the Thai passport?

You see I'm a bit confused??

Thank you

[Mario2008]

A Thai national is stamped out as well and immigration at a land border will look for this stamp, so the first option is not possible (unless you do it by air).

The second option is the correct way if you do it by land transport.

[teammk]

A Thai national is stamped out as well and immigration at a land border will look for this stamp, so the first option is not possible (unless you do it by air).

The second option is the correct way if you do it by land transport.

Dear Mario,

Just to confirm.

I can do both options if by air.

however if by land I can only do option 2

Is this correct?

How come the airport is not looking for that stamp out?

And by using method number 2 by land will the land control not also look for something, as the passport is blank?

Please advise

Thank you

[Mario2008]

If by air you don't have to enter another country but could stay in transit without going through immigration and get a flight back to Thailand. Upon retun to Thailand you just show your Thai passport, if there are any questions you just explain that you have two passports and want to re-enter on your Thai passport.

By land only option 2 is possible. As said, for re-entering Thailand it is no problem. Just explain you needed to re-enter on your Thai passport.

[lopburi3]

Both countries are looking for exit stamp on land border so you must exit and return with the same passport. By air they are not looking for this because most countries do not stamp on exit in other parts of the world.

You must exit on the passport you entered country on to clear it (anywhere) so you must use your foreign passport if leaving by land or air. For other country by land it must have exit stamp so must be same foreign passport but if by air could be either; but you must exit on same passport as you entered.

[teammk]

Both countries are looking for exit stamp on land border so you must exit and return with the same passport. By air they are not looking for this because most countries do not stamp on exit in other parts of the world.

You must exit on the passport you entered country on to clear it (anywhere) so you must use your foreign passport if leaving by land or air. For other country by land it must have exit stamp so must be same foreign passport but if by air could be either; but you must exit on same passport as you entered.

Thank you all for the answer. I think I get the picture now.

I will have to leave the country with my foreign passport (to clear it, get the exist stamp).

If by plane I can choose either my foreign passport or Thai which is not been used until now. It is just important that I use the same to leave the country with again.

At the airport they are not looking for exist stamps so I can use the Thai passport with entry and exit stamps of the country I just left e.g. Malaysia. Or I can show them a blank first time use Thai passport.

On the ground both border controls would look for exit and entry stamps which means that it can only be done in the air.

Or can I show the border control at the ground I have two passports and show the exit stamp in the foreign and say I want to enter with the Thai? Would that be possible. Or are the border control against it as a post before mentioned that the do not like people with dual nationalities??

Thank you

[samran]

I don't believe they stamp Thai passports on entry or exit to/from Thailand

Using the Thai passport to enter saves on Visa fees, 90 day reporting, etc.

If you don't have an exit stamp in your foreign passport, you will incur overstay fines and deportation.

As you have entered as a foreigner, you must obey foreigner in Thailand rules.

If you surrender your foreign passport and foreign citizenship, then you don't need to play this game.

But I don't think it would be a good idea.

As a holder of a Thai and Australian passport, I can very much assure you that they do stamp Thai passports, often and twice on Sunday's.

This issue has come up alot recently. As others have explained, you can't really do 'passport swaps' at land borders. While there should be any difference from flying, the officials at land borders just don't like it.

So he should leave on his foreign passport, complete that stay, fly out and return on the Thai passport.

The thing the OP needs to understand is that all Thai passports are issued in Thailand. So if he applied for it in London, NY, Sydney - wherever, the passport he receives there comes from the same passport place somewhere in Thailand that all the other locally issued ones do.

Plenty of people fly in on 'blank' Thai passports. I did it recently with a new passport issued, and so have most of my family. No stress, and if an immigration officer questions it, ask to speak to a senior officer, and who knows the ropes, and will sort it for you.

Dear Samran,

Thank you for the answer. If I understand you correct the only difference it that the border control on the ground do not like it? I mean what if somebody got their Thai passport in Cambodia (issued to them in Cambodia), should that person fly in to Thailand. He would not be able to cross at the border?

Please advise

As a basic rule, it will be hard for that person to cross at a land border unless they also had their old Thai passport with them to show the last exit stamp.

For a dual citizen to swap from one passport to another at a land border is alot more challenging.

I didn't want to confuse the issue given that I have actually managed the passport swap from my Australian to Thai passport at the land border when crossing from Malaysia, but there was a lot of me cajolling senior immigration people at the head mans office when they initially refused to stamp me in.

Others - many over the years posted here on TV and have tried, and failed at the land border given that they like to have stamps from the country you've just left in the same passport.

Conversely, for some reason, at airports they generally don't care most of the time.

I fly in all the time from Australia, leaving OZ on my OZ passport and entering Thailand on my Thai one.

Just in May this year I flew in with a newly issued Thai passport which I had picked up in Australia. I let immigration know I had my old one on me, but they didn't want to see it, and just stamped me in on a new passport which had no corresponding exit stamp.

My mother and sister have flow in with only new Thai passports issued overseas (ie no old ones on them) and we stamped in no worries.

[teammk]

I don't believe they stamp Thai passports on entry or exit to/from Thailand

Using the Thai passport to enter saves on Visa fees, 90 day reporting, etc.

If you don't have an exit stamp in your foreign passport, you will incur overstay fines and deportation.

As you have entered as a foreigner, you must obey foreigner in Thailand rules.

If you surrender your foreign passport and foreign citizenship, then you don't need to play this game.

But I don't think it would be a good idea.

As a holder of a Thai and Australian passport, I can very much assure you that they do stamp Thai passports, often and twice on Sunday's.

This issue has come up alot recently. As others have explained, you can't really do 'passport swaps' at land borders. While there should be any difference from flying, the officials at land borders just don't like it.

So he should leave on his foreign passport, complete that stay, fly out and return on the Thai passport.

The thing the OP needs to understand is that all Thai passports are issued in Thailand. So if he applied for it in London, NY, Sydney - wherever, the passport he receives there comes from the same passport place somewhere in Thailand that all the other locally issued ones do.

Plenty of people fly in on 'blank' Thai passports. I did it recently with a new passport issued, and so have most of my family. No stress, and if an immigration officer questions it, ask to speak to a senior officer, and who knows the ropes, and will sort it for you.

Dear Samran,

Thank you for the answer. If I understand you correct the only difference it that the border control on the ground do not like it? I mean what if somebody got their Thai passport in Cambodia (issued to them in Cambodia), should that person fly in to Thailand. He would not be able to cross at the border?

Please advise

As a basic rule, it will be hard for that person to cross at a land border unless they also had their old Thai passport with them to show the last exit stamp.

For a dual citizen to swap from one passport to another at a land border is alot more challenging.

I didn't want to confuse the issue given that I have actually managed the passport swap from my Australian to Thai passport at the land border when crossing from Malaysia, but there was a lot of me cajolling senior immigration people at the head mans office when they initially refused to stamp me in.

Others - many over the years posted here on TV and have tried, and failed at the land border given that they like to have stamps from the country you've just left in the same passport.

Conversely, for some reason, at airports they generally don't care most of the time.

I fly in all the time from Australia, leaving OZ on my OZ passport and entering Thailand on my Thai one.

Just in May this year I flew in with a newly issued Thai passport which I had picked up in Australia. I let immigration know I had my old one on me, but they didn't want to see it, and just stamped me in on a new passport which had no corresponding exit stamp.

My mother and sister have flow in with only new Thai passports issued overseas (ie no old ones on them) and we stamped in no worries.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

[bapak]

Why not go to your local immigration office and explain situation? I witnessed a similar situation recently.. Immigration just adjusted the computer entry of the entry on the foreign passport.

Cannot help to ask.

[teammk]

Why not go to your local immigration office and explain situation? I witnessed a similar situation recently.. Immigration just adjusted the computer entry of the entry on the foreign passport.

Cannot help to ask.

Thanks for the advise, however in immigration it is always about luck. If you get the person on a wrong day. They will make it hell for you. However, get them a good day they can do magic.....TIT