Dual Passport Problem

[bkkflo]

Hi everyone,

I have been searching for an answer to my rather complicated situation to no avail so I am asking for help if anyone has been in a similar situation?

I am a dual citizen of Italy and France. I have been staying in Thailand on tourist visas (my boyfriend works here) in my Italian passport.

My passport is now completely fill and I am unable to get new pages or a new passport in Thailand. Instead I got a brand new French passport issued in Bangkok with no stamps in it.

I travelled to Malaysia to try to "switch" to the French passport, however immigration in Malaysia would not let me enter on the brand new passport (no exit stamp as it was in Italian passport). I had one page left at this point and used it for a single 60 day visa in Penang which I am now on.

I tried to go to Chaeng Wattana to get a 30 day extension in the new passport and they said it is only possible in a different passport of the same nationality.

So now I absolutely need to "change" passports as my Italian only has room for one more Thai exit stamp.

Any ideas as I really don't want to travel to Europe!

I was thinking of flying to Phonm Penn (leave Thailand on Italian passport and enter Cambodia on French) but am unsure if:

1)Airlines in BKK will deny boarding due to using dual passport (Cambodian visa in one, Thai visa in another.

2) Immigration in Phomn Penn will be suspicious as coming from BKK in brand new passport.

3)Thai embassy in Phomn Penn will want to see both passports (I have a LOT of Thai visas).

Any help much appreciated.

Thank you!

[Mario2008]

Did you try to enter Malaysia at a land border or at an airport?

At airports, they do not check for exit stamps from the country you are arriving from and there you should be able to simply switch passports and return on your French passport.

[bkkflo]

Hi,

Malaysia was by land. Air should be fine but brand new clean passport won't raise suspicions?

Thanks

[Crossy]

Yup ^^^, switch passports whilst in the air going to Malaysia.

Tourists with shiny new passports do it every day, I've entered several countries by air (including Malaysia) with virgin passports, never had a second glance.

[comserve]

Hi,

Malaysia was by land. Air should be fine but brand new clean passport won't raise suspicions?

Thanks

I've never had problems with switching passports en route. I always use my NZ passport overseas but every time I go back to Australia I enter & leave on my AUS passport.

Last time I entered on my NZ passport the AUS immigration complained until I pointed out that my AUS passport had expired.

Now my NZ passport has nearly expired & the Thai immigration would not let me switch passports for a new 12 month extension, so I have to renew my NZ passport very soon.

[ubonjoe]

You could change to your Australian passport but you would have to fly out and get a new visa in it from an embassy or consulate and apply for a new extension of stay using that new visa entry.

[samran]

Hi,

Malaysia was by land. Air should be fine but brand new clean passport won't raise suspicions?

Thanks

I've never had problems with switching passports en route. I always use my NZ passport overseas but every time I go back to Australia I enter & leave on my AUS passport.

Last time I entered on my NZ passport the AUS immigration complained until I pointed out that my AUS passport had expired.

Now my NZ passport has nearly expired & the Thai immigration would not let me switch passports for a new 12 month extension, so I have to renew my NZ passport very soon.

Australian immigration would have complained as they would have been forced to issue you a visa (invisible, but real) in your NZ passport, and unfortunately, immigration aren't allowed to issue Australian visas to people who are Australian citizens. The demonstration of an Australian passport would have been enough to allow you entry into Australia, even if it was expired, given you don't cease to be an Australian citizen even if your passport expires.

As for the OP - passport swaps at land borders won't work in SE Asia. This only works when you fly.

[Tanuki]

I'm a dual citizen of Canada and USA and used to fly to HK or SG on my Canadian passport and come back in to Thailand on the US one. Never an issue at the airports.

[Will2011]

As others said, only air allows you to switch passports. But I don't know why you don't renew your italian passport. That suspicious to me!

[tragickingdom]

Honestly spoken, I never hade any trouble switching passports at Malaysian immigration. If they ask me where my trip originated I do not say Bangkok but Europe. People can switch planes in Bangkok after all.

The same happens when I fly to Cambodia or Laos. I never encounter a problem.

What I do not do however is stamping in with one passport and getting a visa in the other one. If that happens you can get questions. Still the worst that can happen is that they take you apart in a room and check out your passport. if that is okay they will let you in.

There are more possibilities to get it done but I don't think it is appropriate to write it down at this medium.

[Iusedtocycle]

As others said, only air allows you to switch passports. But I don't know why you don't renew your italian passport. That suspicious to me!

Maybe it is overly complicated to renew an Italian passport overseas. They have to send Irish passports back Ireland due to a lack of biometric facilities in the consulate or in the embassy in Malaysia. Takes 6 weeks. That's even if they accept your application because you normally have to apply in your country of residence.

[starkey_rich]

Hi,

Malaysia was by land. Air should be fine but brand new clean passport won't raise suspicions?

Thanks

I've never had problems with switching passports en route. I always use my NZ passport overseas but every time I go back to Australia I enter & leave on my AUS passport.

Last time I entered on my NZ passport the AUS immigration complained until I pointed out that my AUS passport had expired.

Now my NZ passport has nearly expired & the Thai immigration would not let me switch passports for a new 12 month extension, so I have to renew my NZ passport very soon.

Just done my NZ passport.Total rip off.

NZ and Oz

2 of the most expensive passports in the world

[Nobelcat]

As others said, only air allows you to switch passports. But I don't know why you don't renew your italian passport. That suspicious to me!

OP was saying that this would require her to fly back to Europe since she can't renew from Thailand.

Another option might be to say that you LOST your passport and then ask them to issue you an Emergency Passport. Not sure if there's any differences between the two, but you could try it.

[Mario2008]

1 nonsense post removed.

[mtaloni2]

I am dual citizen as well.

Why not Malaysia? I did once in Kuala Lumpur leaving Thailand with 1 passport and landing in KL with the other one. Then back to Thailand with the one just landed in Malaysia. This is because I had to renew a 1 year visa on the first one.

Second time the same, but going to Vietnam, because I needed to go back with the first passport with the new visa.

Third time, I did it again to Vietnam, because the first passport the pages run out.

I wonder why you got that problem.

[samran]

Honestly spoken, I never hade any trouble switching passports at Malaysian immigration. If they ask me where my trip originated I do not say Bangkok but Europe. People can switch planes in Bangkok after all.

The same happens when I fly to Cambodia or Laos. I never encounter a problem.

What I do not do however is stamping in with one passport and getting a visa in the other one. If that happens you can get questions. Still the worst that can happen is that they take you apart in a room and check out your passport. if that is okay they will let you in.

There are more possibilities to get it done but I don't think it is appropriate to write it down at this medium.

The OP tried at a land crossing, which is why there are problems. They check stamps to make sure you departed the last country correctly.

If you fly there is no problems.

[mtaloni2]

Yes. Of Course cannot switch passports by land crossing, otherwise I would have done it through Cambodia.

Just fly, with a cheap one, and you won't spend very much. Sometimes you know already there are offers

I just came back from Vietnam, and it was good price, then they increased the Visa issuing fee from 25USD to 45USD (plus $20 for the embassy letter) in the airports' booth on visa in arrival, I handed $25, she said "$45". And I said "but was $25" and smiling the officer (a woman) said, yes it was last year......

[WaterlessFish]

A couple of years ago, I made a land crossing from Nong Khai to Vientiane and switched passports en route. My old Aussie passport was full up so I stamped out of Thailand with that, got a Laotian visa in my new Aussie passport and then entered Laos with no questions asked. Maybe you could try doing the land crossing there instead of in Malaysia?

[Mario2008]

A couple of years ago, I made a land crossing from Nong Khai to Vientiane and switched passports en route. My old Aussie passport was full up so I stamped out of Thailand with that, got a Laotian visa in my new Aussie passport and then entered Laos with no questions asked. Maybe you could try doing the land crossing there instead of in Malaysia?

It is not always noted, but they same problem exist with other neighboring countries.

[lopburi3]

An old and new passport at land crossing is not a problem - but normally the stamps from both countries will be put into the new passport - you just show both on exit of Thailand if on a visa or visa exempt entry - only if you have an extension of stay will you be required to transfer that at full immigration office first. But this thread is about have dual passports (two nationalities).

[bri1guy]

Why wont the Italy consulate give you more pages, it would solve all the problems???

[lopburi3]

Most countries do not have the ability to add pages to there passports. Not sure of Italy; but suspect they do not.

[bkkflo]

Thanks everyone!

I don't renew my Italian passport cause that will take too much time (around a month to get an appointment and around 2 months to get the passport). Unfortunately they don't give new pages.

I'm happy to hear that if I fly I shouldn't have problem..

My only concern now is, which passport should I show the air company when I check in at the airport in Thailand?

Second questions: can I ask for a Cambodian visa with a brand new passport without any stamps in it? Because I would rather get my Cambodian visa before instead that on arrival..

Thanks again, you are very helpful!

[NanLaew]

bkkflo, on 16 Apr 2013 - 10:16, said:

Thanks everyone!

I don't renew my Italian passport cause that will take too much time (around a month to get an appointment and around 2 months to get the passport). Unfortunately they don't give new pages.

I'm happy to hear that if I fly I shouldn't have problem..

My only concern now is, which passport should I show the air company when I check in at the airport in Thailand?

Second questions: can I ask for a Cambodian visa with a brand new passport without any stamps in it? Because I would rather get my Cambodian visa before instead that on arrival..

Thanks again, you are very helpful!

If you have the Cambodian visa in a different passport from the one you entered Thailand on (the one with the landing/exit card attached), you can show BOTH to the airline check in at Bangkok without any issues. Once you check in, you only need to present the one with you entered Thailand on (the one with the landing/exit card attached) to departing Thai Immigration.

There should be no issues getting the Cambodian visa in the new, blank passport. However, if getting that visa in Bangkok, you will probably have to show the other passport (the one you entered Thailand on with the landing/exit card attached) in order to confirm you are legally in LOS.

Doesn't Cambodia have some slick online visa service? Takes a few days but must be like a 'visa on arrival' type deal? That doesn't even 'see' your passport so reckon a 'virgin' passport is a moot point when applying. The only questions may be asked when presenting the new passport with the Cambodian visa to Cambodian Immigration on arrival. They may ask to see both passports.

In the meantime, make a plan to get the Italian one replaced while you travel on the French passport for the next 2-3 months.

[laislica]

As others said, only air allows you to switch passports. But I don't know why you don't renew your italian passport. That suspicious to me!

OP was saying that this would require her to fly back to Europe since she can't renew from Thailand.

Another option might be to say that you LOST your passport and then ask them to issue you an Emergency Passport. Not sure if there's any differences between the two, but you could try it.

You might need to check on just what you are allowed to do with the (expensive) emergency passport.

Last week in the Brit Embassy, I met a young lady whose passport got slightly damp whilst on a trekking holiday in Laos. It ruined her picture, rendering the passport useless. The rest of the passport was pristine though - what a shame.

She had the emergency passport after she was helped by the Aus Embassy who gave her a letter to allow her back into Thailand (no Brit Emb there).

She said that she could only use the passport (a bright yellow thing) to go directly home and it would be confiscated on arrival in the UK. This kinda ruined her plan to explore the city in the country where she had a 23 hour stop over. She said she would not be allowed to leave he airport.......

Of course the Italians may do things totally differently, but do check first.

[antapan]

Hi,

if your italian passport is lost/stolen and you can prove somehow you have to use it (leave Thailand), italian Embassy in BKK will issue a new passport. This is the only place you can get a new passport in LOS. If the lost/stolen passport has been issued in Italy, it will take longer, technically around 10 days, if you can prove it is an urgent matter.

They cannot add pages to an existing passport.

cheers !

antapan

[bristolgeoff]

i also have 2 passports,the airport exit works but not the land line route.i did it once from chiang mai to hongkong and it worked fine.the lady in chiang mai was looking for stamps and could not find any.so no problem in getting back in

[NanLaew]

You might need to check on just what you are allowed to do with the (expensive) emergency passport.

Last week in the Brit Embassy, I met a young lady whose passport got slightly damp whilst on a trekking holiday in Laos. It ruined her picture, rendering the passport useless. The rest of the passport was pristine though - what a shame.

She had the emergency passport after she was helped by the Aus Embassy who gave her a letter to allow her back into Thailand (no Brit Emb there).

She said that she could only use the passport (a bright yellow thing) to go directly home and it would be confiscated on arrival in the UK. This kinda ruined her plan to explore the city in the country where she had a 23 hour stop over. She said she would not be allowed to leave he airport.......

Of course the Italians may do things totally differently, but do check first.

Unless this young lady had an old style passport, it's strange that the heavily laminated, waterproof passport picture page, with the digitized data and biometrics chip was damaged by water and the rest of the plain paper pages were pristine?

The facial biometrics are captured in the chip and re-entering the UK, she could use the auto gates (if available) to match her face with the encoded information; the picture is superfluous. Checking in, the airline swipes the passport and uses the coded information in the swipe area (the bit with all the <<<<< and numbers and letters) for verification. There may have been some questions and requests for additional ID checking in and clearing immigration but again, immigration swipe the passport and the entry information comes up on their screen, complete with a picture.

Also, she claimed the would not be allowed to leave the airport.... but there she was at the British Embassy? She must have been under some form of escort or what else could stop her taking in some temples before flying out?

Edited April 19, 2013 by NanLaew