Thai Passport Validity Period For A Minor

[chimpymcgee]

I have read that a regular thai passport is valid for 5 years.

What I am wondering is how long would a thai passport issued to a minor - say 16 or 17 years old - be valid for? Is it the same 5 year period, or is there some cut off where it needs re-newing when they turn 18 or 19 or 20 (age of cutoff for needing parental consent).

I tried searching the forums for similar info, but could not find this addressed. As well, i can't seem to find it via the google...so appreciate one of you thai gurus to help me out.

Regards,

[TerryLH]

They are good for 5 years. That's first hand knowledge, not a guess.

[chimpymcgee]

They are good for 5 years. That's first hand knowledge, not a guess.

Thanks! Now, final question...would that same 5 years hold true if said passport happened to be issued...oh...say....in 2008 or 2009? It would still be valid until...2013 or 2014...correcto? Or might there have been some blip in rules back then...?

regards,

[dabhand]

No blips.

Recent Thai passports valid for 5 years for both my sons (one born 1991, other 1998). These were issued in 2006 & 2011. You do the maths!!

No requirement for forced renewal when reaching a set age.

Hope this helps

[chimpymcgee]

No blips.

Recent Thai passports valid for 5 years for both my sons (one born 1991, other 1998). These were issued in 2006 & 2011. You do the maths!!

No requirement for forced renewal when reaching a set age.

Hope this helps

Very good...thanks for the info! Much appreciated....

Regards

[craigt3365]

Seems you've gotten your answer, but let's move this over to the Visa forum anyway.

Topic Moved.

[lopburi3]

I believe there was a change however that non chip passport could not be renewed and had to be replaced which would limit validity to the original five years rather than allowing a stamp for an extra five.

[Mario2008]

The passport validity is mentioned in the passport.

Don't forget that many countries require the passport to be valid for at least a number of months. Some countris require the passport to be valid for the intended duration of stay, other will demand at least 3 months or 6 months validity.

[chimpymcgee]

Full disclosure -> The girl friend is going to take a trip with me to Philippines for a couple weeks. I am being told we must wait because her passport is expired...however, based upon all available information, that passport would have been issued in 3years ago in 2008 (when she was 16-17...being 19 now)....i don't have direct access to said passpot at the moment, but when she said it was expired a '<deleted>' bell went off in the head. Thought I'd try and confirm validity dates first.

Begin LOLz now....

[TerryLH]

"...based upon all available information, that passport would have been issued in 2008."

Perhaps you're working with faulty info.

Even if expired, it shouldn't be a big deal. The Thai passport offices are very efficient.

1000 ฿ and few days and she'll have a new passport.

[Mario2008]

Do note that she still is a minor under Thai law, till she turnes 21. She can only get a passport with approval of her parents, who must sign a consent form. They don't have to go to the passport office themselves, but they must sign a consent form (at the amphur).

Applicants between the ages of 15-20

• Rules for applicants between the ages of 15-20

• • Applicants between the ages of 15-20 are not required to be accompanied by their parents
    when applying for an e-Passport. However, both parents are required to sign the parental
    consent from in front of the Passport Office’s authorized personnel otherwise the applicant
    has to submit a notarized parental consent letter signed by parents or a legal guardian.

~

Taking a minor away from their parents is a serious criminal offence in any case.

[chimpymcgee]

Do note that she still is a minor under Thai law, till she turnes 21. She can only get a passport with approval of her parents, who must sign a consent form. They don't have to go to the passport office themselves, but they must sign a consent form (at the amphur).

Applicants between the ages of 15-20

• Rules for applicants between the ages of 15-20

• • Applicants between the ages of 15-20 are not required to be accompanied by their parents
    when applying for an e-Passport. However, both parents are required to sign the parental
    consent from in front of the Passport Office's authorized personnel otherwise the applicant
    has to submit a notarized parental consent letter signed by parents or a legal guardian.

~

Taking a minor away from their parents is a serious criminal offence in any case.

hmm...interesting....

1. If they are renewing a passport - are all those hoops still needing jumping through (parental consent - presumably they had parental consent previously to get their first passport)

2. criminal offence - is that a joke/exageration? Or are you serious? Would the parental consent for new passport not imply no one is being 'taken away'...? I am genuinely interested to learn more here...is this really an issue for a 19year old?

Regards

[Mario2008]

1 For renewal parental consent is still needed.

2. No joke, it can lead to prosecution if the parents want to persue it. She is a minor according to Thai law and if someone keeps her away from her parents that someone can be prosecuted and sentenced to jail like in most other countries. If the parents don't aprove of you taking her out of the country and go to the police, they will arrest you and you will be brought before a judge and sentenced.

When a university student has an accident and needs surgery, under 21 the parents need to give consent (unless the consition is life threathening and they cannot wait till consent is given). Under 21 one is a minor.

[chimpymcgee]

I see. Are there examples of this happening which you could direct me to so i may study further?

I guess what you describe is a worst case scenario - parents claim they didn't know anything about me, that they thought their daughter was going to a budhist conference in singapore, and not away with me. I guess i could try and accumulate a bunch of evidence...video..and such indicating they're aware of the trip...lol. Hassle++

Funny situation considering thai people can (and must?) vote once they turn 18.

Ah well...

thanks for the legal lesson! Much appreciated!

[chimpymcgee]

One additional comment/question on this subject...

Thai's often quote their age as what they will be this calendar year. IE if your birthday is dec 30th, and you turn 30 (currently 29)....from jan 1 onwards they'll say they are 30.

Does that '20 or younger' number fall under this logic? Or does the legal system take a realistic view of age...?

[TerryLH]

"Thai's often quote their age as what they will be this calendar year. IE if your birthday is dec 30th, and you turn 30 (currently 29)....from jan 1 onwards they'll say they are 30."

I haven't heard anyone do that in years. Maybe I just haven't been paying attention, or associating with a different group of people.

I disagree about why they do that, but the result is the same. I think they count their birth date as 1.

"Does that '20 or younger' number fall under this logic? Or does the legal system take a realistic view of age...?"

I have no reason to know this for a fact, but believe the government counts years the same way you or I do.

Someone could test this for us. We just need someone who is 49 who wants to get an extension for retirement. They claim to be 50, and see if they get away with it.

I know which way I'd bet.

[Mario2008]

Indeed it is the way Thais often count years, but regarding age the birthday is what counts for the law on becoming an adult.