Thai Childs Passport Application In Singapore

[soihok]

My family and I are residing in Singapore (my work) and my youngest girl needs a new passport which has 7 months validity on it.

Went to the Thai Embassy on Orchard Road for the application.

My daughter is 4, she was born in Singapore and given a Thai passport issued through the Embassy here. She is not entered into the Tambien Bahn back in Thailand.

This is a problem.

As she is not registered in a Tambien Bahn, there may be a problem with renewing her passport. The application has gone in and the staff there said they would notify us when they know the situation. I,m not sure if it will be successful or not. Will have to wait for a week or two to find out.

If we can't renew her passport here, it means treking back to Korat to get her into the Tambien Bahn, applying for and waiting for the passport to come through over there, then returning back to Singapore (by the time we get back to Korat, the passport will have less than 6 months, meaning that there is then a problem with the airline, so would have to renew over there, taking about a week also).

Unfortunately, this means we all have to go back to do this, as I'm also required to sign forms. More time off work.

Seems like a real run around to me and pain in the a**.

[samran]

It shouldn't be a problem in my experience. I was born overseas and my Thai passports which I first had issued during the 90's and 00's simply had a blank space in the spot where the ID number needs to be.

I didn't have a Thai ID number issued till I was 30!

There will be lots of people in your situation, being Thai citizens born and living overseas but who have not been issued an ID number.

From my experience the system is set up to handle it.

[soihok]

Thanks for your words of reassurance. I think if it was a difinate no no, they would have not put in the appication.

I understand that this must come up a lot, but when we do get back to Korat we will go forth to the Amphur office with all and sundry in tow to get her in the book.

We did ask about it a couple of years ago in Korat and we had to bring along the Puu Yai Bahn, plus engauge a few more goverment employees to witness this registration. That's why we didn't do it back then.

I don't know what will happen, I'll post back when it does.

[Mario2008]

Regarding passport validity. A Thai national can enter Thailand at all times, even with a expired passport. It is traveling to other countries that is a problem and Thai immigration will not let one leave with an expired Thai passport.

[soihok]

Most airlines will not want to issue air tickets with less than 6 months validity on the passport.

[Somtamnication]

Not being a jerk. But if daughter is unable to fly and you have to get back to Korat, take a train to BKK, after crossing into Malaysia? Long as hell, but it gets her there.

[samran]

Not being a jerk. But if daughter is unable to fly and you have to get back to Korat, take a train to BKK, after crossing into Malaysia? Long as hell, but it gets her there.

Flying would be better. So long as the passport is valid for even one day (so Singapore immigration can let her depart) she'll be able to enter Thailand. You can enter Thailand even on an expired passport.

Going by land means she has to pass by Malaysia, so a minimum passport validity (3 months?) would be needed so she can cross Malaysian territory.

[soihok]

Still waiting to find out, its not a week since the application and it will be in BKK now.

Option I have is to move her immigration status here over to her British passport, and sort out the mess in Thailand when I get chance to go there.

I'll post once the outcome is through.

I'm certainly not interested in travelling from here to Korat by train, with a 4 year old.

[samran]

My daughter and I did our Thai PP applications in Melbourne last year and were told there would be a 6 week wait, which turned out to be correct.

On the other hand, my sister applied in London and got hers in 2 weeks.

[soihok]

They told us it would take about 2 weeks before we hear anything.

[soihok]

*Update*

My wife got a call from the Embassy that the passport has arrived and I will collect it today, it took 3 weeks to arrive but had the Songkran holiday in the middle.

Why the woman, in the Embassy taking the application, made such a fuss I'll never know. Thanks to Samran for the words of wisdom.

As you say, applications like these must be received all the time.