My friend is Thai, she is married to an Irish citizen and they are resident in Ireland. They have two kids together who hold dual nationality. Their kids' Thai passports expire in April. There is no Thai embassy or consulate in Ireland. She intends travelling to Thai in June for two months. Would it be possible for her kids to enter using their Irish passports on a 30 day stamp?They could then renew their Thai passports in Bangkok and exit Thai using their new Thai passports. I understand that this is possible as the kids hold dual nationality???? She is traveling alone with her kids so she is worried about any potential problems...Traveling to London for passports would cost nearly the same as the flights to Bangkok!!Any advice greatly appreciated...Thanks...

Since they are Thai Citizens, they can, and should, enter on their expired Thai passports. Then renew them and when they leave exit using their new Thai passports.

Thanks. Have you any personal experience of this? Seems logical to me..Cheers...

No personal experience, but there have been previous post suggesting this by people who have. Someone, maybe Samran, will be along shortly and confirm this or correct me if I am wrong!

All Thai nationals can enter Thailand with an expired Thai passport. If the check-in person at the departure airport is doubts it, ask to speak to the supervisor.

Read this topic for information and confirmation: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/655575-expired-thai-passport-travelling-directly-back-to-thailand-possible/

Official word about it is probably somewhere on the Thai version of the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/th/home

I your friend wants assurance from the airline that her children will be allowed to board she should phone or email the airline being used for the trip.

Yes, Thai passport holders who have been living outside of Thailand often enter into Thailand on expired Thai passports. They then renew their Thai passports while in Thailand. Most immigration officers at the international airport in Bangkok have seen that case many times, but if she happens to get one who doesn't just ask to speak to a supervisor.

As long as the Thai passport was issued legally, no Thai citizen can not be allowed to enter Thailand on a valid passport, expired or not.

The advantage of entering Thailand on a Thai passport is that you do NOT need a visa as you (or them) are Thai.

If the children enter as an Irish citizen on an Irish passport, (which is possible also) they will:

1. Need a visa (or get a visa exempt 30 day tourist entry they you qualify)
2. They must leave on the same Irish passport they entered on
3. They are subject to the same overstay rules that all foreigners (entering on a non-Thai passport) are.
4. If they enter on their Irish passport, they will require a visa to enter for that planned two month stay.

That is the the reasons why the children should enter on their expired Thai passports and renew them during their stay in Thailand.

When they leave the exit on their new Thai passports, they should have both new the new Thai passports and the old expired passport with them if possible in case any questions are asked.

Now at the airport there are automated exit gates for Thais, where you simply scan your Thai passport and exit based on that passport. All computerized exit.

For Thais a Thai passport, even expired, is a great help to entering Thailand compared to using a non Thai passport for entry.

Edited January 4, 201412 yr by IMA_FARANG

I've entered Thailand on an expired Thai passport a could of times when they expires while I was overseas. Not a problem.

In one case I had the replacement Thai passport with me and the immigration officer insisted on stamping me in on the expired one.

Edited January 5, 201412 yr by samran

For a new Thai passport to be issued in Thailand the children must be on a household registration book. Also note that the other parent must give permission for the passport to be issued and sign the application form. You don't have to be with them at the passport office, but must give your consent in writing. I would contact the passport office on how to go about that.

Info on passport applications here: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/1415/21479-Requirements-for-the-Ordinary-e-Passports-Applicat.html

Yes, Thai passport holders who have been living outside of Thailand often enter into Thailand on expired Thai passports. They then renew their Thai passports while in Thailand. Most immigration officers at the international airport in Bangkok have seen that case many times, but if she happens to get one who doesn't just ask to speak to a supervisor.

As long as the Thai passport was issued legally, no Thai citizen can not be allowed to enter Thailand on a valid passport, expired or not.

The advantage of entering Thailand on a Thai passport is that you do NOT need a visa as you (or them) are Thai.

If the children enter as an Irish citizen on an Irish passport, (which is possible also) they will:

1. Need a visa (or get a visa exempt 30 day tourist entry they you qualify)
2. They must leave on the same Irish passport they entered on
3. They are subject to the same overstay rules that all foreigners (entering on a non-Thai passport) are.
4. If they enter on their Irish passport, they will require a visa to enter for that planned two month stay.

That is the the reasons why the children should enter on their expired Thai passports and renew them during their stay in Thailand.

When they leave the exit on their new Thai passports, they should have both new the new Thai passports and the old expired passport with them if possible in case any questions are asked.

Now at the airport there are automated exit gates for Thais, where you simply scan your Thai passport and exit based on that passport. All computerized exit.

For Thais a Thai passport, even expired, is a great help to entering Thailand compared to using a non Thai passport for entry.

Many countries such as Australia and the USA prohibit it's citizens (in case they are dual citizens or hold multiple citizenships) from entering on a non-national passport. I wonder why Thailand isn't the same. Logically any Thai citizen should identify themselves only as Thai when entering, leaving and inside Thailand. No attempt should be made to enter on any non-Thai passport.

There is a Royal Thai Consulate in Dublin.

Royal Thai Consulate,
1st Floor Harmony Court,
Harmony Row,
Dublin 2

Tel: 00353 (0) 1 643 6468

the thai consulate in dublin has been closed for about 4 years!I can assure you of that..

Sent from my Vodafone Smart II using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

the thai consulate in dublin has been closed for about 4 years!I can assure you of that..Sent from my Vodafone Smart II using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

There is a honorary Thai consulate in Dublin.

They only do visas. No passports, birth registration and etc.

See: http://www.thaiconsulateireland.com/