6 Months Holiday In Thailand - Bringing My Malaysian Car

[GettingOlder]

Hi Guys,

I have followed this forum now almost a full year, but never posted before...I have seen many very competent replies to various qeustions, so let me see if you can help me out on these ones.

I currently live/work in Malaysia, but plan to take up to 6 months sabbatical at the end of the year when my contract expires. My questions deal with how to get use of the car in Thailand and optimal visa selection for me and the kid. During the 1/2 year we will travel somewhat around both by car and by air to neighbour contries.

Familily is me Danish citizen (55 years old now), my thai wife (our Danish marriage is not registered in Thailand) and our 7 year old daughter (Danish passport). Car is personally owned Hyundai i30 with normal Malaysian registration from 2010. I have an old Krung Thai account and at same time I plan to transfer 1 mio THB to it (will probably be cash ringgit via moneychanger as the bank transfer rates are pretty worse).

I have brought the car over Malay border now 3 times and Thai customs alway gave 30 days stay for it - and only15 days for me. There has never been problems with the car (while I had one overstay).

1. According to Thai custom regulations I should be able to temporarily import it for up to 6 months. Any has experience with that, and how should I apply? Should have asked last X-mas when crossing, but plans were not materialised yet...

2. If the car can only get 30 days, can I then take it over another country border (Camphucea or Laos - or even Myanmar), and get another 30 days (for the car)? Or does it have to exit same border from where it entered?

3. Instead of selling the car back in Malaysia for a lousy price, I might later try to convert to permanent import and let family use it up here...But I probably postpone solvation of that part until later.

4. Visa for the kid: I guess should be no problem but all entries in passport show a 15/30 day exemption stamp - and our holidays never were longer so I actually dont know what is required. We have a birthday certificate translated to English. Can we get min 6 months at border or do we later have to go to local immigration and get extention (showing verified birthday certificate in Thai) ?

5. For visa for myself I see various options, but I am not fully aware of them...

a) Easiest would be if can get a 6 month multi-entry visa, if possible, from Thai embassy in KL.

Enter (by car, which will be loaded by household/food stuff) and get 15 days exemption. Plan for 1-2 weeks flight holiday leaving before the 15th day, and then "manage" later travel so complying with the 15/30 days exemption periods dependent if crossing by car or plane. This will however require quite many trips and will not work if car has to go back at same border as it entered.

1 week after passing border by car (or after another travel) apply for extention of stay

c) 3 months tourist visa from KL embassy, multi-entry. But what about the last period...

I think I need to get resolved the car import issue before I can decide how to organise my visa.

[arthurwait]

Post this in the motor forum , plenty there know the rules.

I think you have to pay the taxes upfront and recieve them back when you leave. If you don't you obviously lose them. As I said I think I'm not sure.

It won't be worth permanently importing it due to the cost of new eco cars here probably after taxes. What they are on second hand cars is up to the customs officers mood on the day.

[arthurwait]

You may also get taxed on what's in your car as well.

[lopburi3]

As for visa you should obtain a multi entry non immigrant O visa on basis of marriage but will need English or Thai translation of marriage certificate and copy of wife passport or ID card and home register and at KL proof of 100k (baht or equal to that) in a bank account. If home register copy is not available (I would try without - just showing you are working in Malaysia) a two entry tourist visa should be issued if non immigrant O is not.

You need to obtain a report of birth from the Thai Embassy in Denmark for child to be considered Thai so expect should obtain the same visa as you. If Denmark allows she should have dual nationality and obtain a Thai passport.

[GettingOlder]

Thanks for replies. A little more elaboration...

I will as recommended post the car topics over in motor forum although I see most of the posts there dealing with nerdy mechanical car issues...

I have authentications of both the birthday certificate and Danish marriage certificate by Danish Embassy in KL in English language.

Visa for kid: Denmark does not (yet) allow dual citizenship, so she has only DK passport. My wife told that as long as kid is below 15 years old, there should be "no problem" with visa, but she can't tell how are the procedures or which documents are required. So safe way is to consider same procedure as for me, but will try get more info from the Thai embassy here in KL about this.

Visa for me: Thanks for advice about multi-entry non-immigrant O visa (whatever the O stands for...). And can it be confirmed that no problem in getting such one from KL embassy? Price is 3800 THB?

I see in other posts that the 1 years validity starts at issue date, so should postpone the visit to embassy somewhat.

Regarding the 100 kTHB requirement, I saw 400k and 800k mentioned other places but assume the 100k is then current level for marriage-based visa. Would a screen dump from Krung Thai account be sufficient documentation?

[lopburi3]

Child needs visa for entry using a foreign passport - but overstay fine will not have to be paid on exit if she overstays prior to age 15. She would still be overstay and so marked in passport however - but that would not have any negative effect.

The multi entry non immigrant O (other) is issued for those married to a Thai and presenting proof and can show deposits of 100k or more (financial requirement varies by Consulate). KL is one of the easiest places in the region. Expect if in Thai account a print out may be OK but if you have a bank book in Malaysia I would take that as backup - it should not have to be in Baht currency in your case (living outside Thailand).

The cost will be more than 5000 baht (normal price) but paid in ringet - believe it about 550. Your visa starts on day issued and is valid for one year. Each entry allows up to 90 day stay.

[Mario2008]

Up on proof of Thai nationality (birth certificate) the child will get a 1 year extension of stay without any problem, so if not flying a visa exempt entry will be fine. As noted above, overstay will also be fine.

When you have time, do consider getting a Thai birth certificate for the child and a Thai passport.

(As any EU-memberstate, dual nationality is restricted as much as possible. However, Danish law allows dual nationality incase of being born with two nationalities)

Source: https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/coming_to_dk/danish_nationality/dual_nationality.htm

It is a fundamental principle of the Danish legislation that dual nationality must be restricted as much as possible.

Dual nationality is, of course, accepted in various situations, such as if persons are born with dual nationality. As an example it can be mentioned that persons born in the USA or Canada by Danish parents also acquire US or Canadian nationality at birth on the basis of the so-called territorial principle.

[Tomtomtom69]

OK as for the car the rules are as follows:

30 days initially - can be extended after that, possibly for up to 6 months. There is no need to pay tax on imports of any kind. If there was, cross border tourism and trade would grind to a halt. Tax is only paid for permanent imports. Believe it or not, it is actually very straightforward to temporarily import a foreign registered vehicle into Thailand even if it may be relatively difficult to import a Thai or other foreign registered vehicle into other neighboring countries.

Yes you can also take your car over to other neighboring countries and then return to Thailand for a new 30-day stay on your car. You can leave at any other crossing - Thailand does not care which crossing you use, you just have to satisfy the entry requirements of the other country. By all means tell them you'll be exiting for Laos when you enter Thailand at Sadao or Padang Besar or wherever but even if you change your mind nothing will happen; you are free to leave wherever you like at any designated international crossing as you please.

I would recommend you take your car only to Laos. I have personally seen other Malaysian cars in Laos numerous times, seems to be popular (kind of like the Malaysians just drive there to say they've done it because I've always seen Malaysian cars only in Vientiane).

To bring a Malaysian registered car to Myanmar requires government permission, a guide and some kind of tour arrangement. It's complicated but it can be done, but you need to apply through a travel agency well in advance of travel.

Cambodia is do-able I think, but will they be able to insure your car? On this forum a number of posters claim that the Cambodians will not insure RHD vehicles. If you are willing to take the risk, go but you might have to drive uninsured and be responsible in case of an accident.

Vietnam is only possible in a caravan tour, while China is also complicated for cars registered in foreign countries (except cars from neighboring countries that are only driving a limited distance into China, which is straightforward).

Edited June 3, 2013 by Tomtomtom69

[Tomtomtom69]

Up on proof of Thai nationality (birth certificate) the child will get a 1 year extension of stay without any problem, so if not flying a visa exempt entry will be fine. As noted above, overstay will also be fine.

When you have time, do consider getting a Thai birth certificate for the child and a Thai passport.

(As any EU-memberstate, dual nationality is restricted as much as possible. However, Danish law allows dual nationality incase of being born with two nationalities)

Source: https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/coming_to_dk/danish_nationality/dual_nationality.htm

It is a fundamental principle of the Danish legislation that dual nationality must be restricted as much as possible.

Dual nationality is, of course, accepted in various situations, such as if persons are born with dual nationality. As an example it can be mentioned that persons born in the USA or Canada by Danish parents also acquire US or Canadian nationality at birth on the basis of the so-called territorial principle.

Different EU states have different laws on dual nationality. Don't generalize. I am a Belgian citizen (also have 2 other passports) and while Belgium used to allow only one passport except under some prescribed circumstances, now the policy is to allow dual nationality, but this is a recent amendment.

The Netherlands and as you state, Denmark and I believe Germany also are just some of the member states that usually do not allow dual nationality.

Edited June 3, 2013 by Tomtomtom69

[Mario2008]

There is a EU-directive, restricting dual nationality as much as possible. Although that might now have been eased, as several EU-member countries seem to eas their restrictions.

[phuketrichard]

ie; u can easily take ur car to laos but, one question. Does Malaysia issue a transport passport for the car? Thailand does an it is required for a thai car to visit Laos , its the purple passport for the car.

Not sure what Laos would ask for if your driving a Malaysian car. this is a thread about a Malaysian that took his car into Thailand, Cambodia an Laos, http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/565125-drive-my-own-car-from-thailand-into-cambodia/, scroll 2/3rds down.

You can take your car to Cambodia but the only borders that they will allow u in are Osmach ( south of Surin) and Koh Kong ( west of Trat) where u will be told to pay 100 baht /day. You can NOT obtain insurance for your car there so drive carefully.

There was just an article in The Bangkok Post last Thursday about taking ur car into Burma. Seems it can be done but Paperwork required an 1 month or more to obtain.

Edited June 3, 2013 by phuketrichard

[GettingOlder]

Thank you guys, I got really valuable information for both car and visa. Seems like no bigger oroblems, so we will carry on taking the Malaysian car with us around in the region.

[GettingOlder]

About dual nationality Danish and Thai: Our daugther was born in Denmark and thus automatically became Danish citizen. I understand the Danish law the way that if applying for Thai nationality, the Danish citizenship will be fortifeited. And we are not interested in that to happen. However, I dont know how the Danish authorities will/can find out if she applied for and obtained Thai citizenship as well...

[Mario2008]

About dual nationality Danish and Thai: Our daugther was born in Denmark and thus automatically became Danish citizen. I understand the Danish law the way that if applying for Thai nationality, the Danish citizenship will be fortifeited. And we are not interested in that to happen. However, I dont know how the Danish authorities will/can find out if she applied for and obtained Thai citizenship as well...

Your child has dual nationality by way of birth. Born in Denmark made her Danish and born as the child of a Thai citizen (her mother) made her Thai.

The article I quoted from the Danish government confirms she is allowed to hold both nationalities in that case as she was born with two nationalities.

The only thing that needs to be done is either apply for a Thai birth certificate at the Thai embassy in Denmark or do this through the Thai foreign ministry in Bangkok. With that the Thai government will be aware that a Thai national was born.

She doesn't apply for Thai nationality, she has it by way of birth just as she has Daish nationality by way of birth.

I would at least inquire further, as your current idea that she is not allowed to have a dual nationality is not true. The Danish embassy in Thailand or the Thai embassy in Denmark should be able to give you the correct informaiton.

[GettingOlder]

Dear Mario, I see your point and have now inquired the proper authority office in DK as well as Thai embassy in DK. Will post here when received the info.

When confirmed we will then get Thai birthday certificate and a Thai passport at same time and save the visa trouble/costs :-)

Thanks for help !

[thaicookingchef]

About dual nationality Danish and Thai: Our daugther was born in Denmark and thus automatically became Danish citizen. I understand the Danish law the way that if applying for Thai nationality, the Danish citizenship will be fortifeited. And we are not interested in that to happen. However, I dont know how the Danish authorities will/can find out if she applied for and obtained Thai citizenship as well...

Hello,

Denmark cannot know that someone has a second passport just as any other country cannot know ! As easy as this !

They can pretend as much as they want that this is illegal but millions of people have dual citizenship and nobody can do anything about it. They are just more ridiculous.

And about the car, how many times you can get 6 months ? And if it is possible why more people do not permanently use in Thailand a foreign registered car ?

Thank you

[larsjohnsson]

I don't belive it's difficult or that EU have any restrictions on dual citizenship. I have friends and have worked with so many people that have dual citizenship. They are Swedish but also have one from Denmark, France, Belgium and UK.

My sister and all her 3 kids hav Swedish and UK. Two of those kids have never even been staying in Sweden.