Visa dual citizenship (help and clarification needed)

[Jonde]

Dear Experts:

I have a German and Thai passport. Please note I have a German name, adapted through citizenship and a given Thai name when I was born. So 2 different names. I hope that won't add more confusion.

My plan is as follows:

I leave BKK with my German passport**

I enter and exit Laos with my Thai passport**

I come back to TH with my Thai passport**

So far so good. My dad has caused me great worries and insecurity on that matter, because he said I NEED a departure/arrival card in my THAI passport!!?? It won't work that way if I leave with my German passport and so on he said. When I leave Thailand with my German passport, I will have an exit stamp on it or something (German passport but nothing in my Thai).

Now when I arrive Laos and I show them my Thai passport, it will have no stamp whatsoever and a departure card etc. Will I NEED it and will I get through regardless?? I have consulted a VISA guy and he has confirmed the above passport procedures**. He said I do NOT require a departure/arrival card (from BKK) in my Thai passport. If the officer asks for the other passport, I should show it.

In summary: I will have an exit stamp in my German passport (from BKK) and nothing in my Thai. I will enter Laos with my blank Thai passport, which is not a problem right? And I do not need any departure card or stamp.

Please advice. Thank you very much

[tom21]

as long as you use the same passport to leave a country that you entered with there will be no problem. if they ask which I doubt just tell them you have dual nationality

[skatewash]

With which passport did you enter Thailand?

[Jonde]

On which passport did you enter Thailand on?

German.

[skatewash]

On which passport did you enter Thailand on?

German.

Then, as Tom indicated, you're golden. You will have no problem.

1) Check-in at Thai airport using your Thai passport.

2) Exit Thai immigration using your German passport (you need to use the same passport you used to enter the country).

3) Enter Laos using your Thai passport.

4) Check-in at Laos airport using your Thai passport.

5) Exit Laos immigration using your Thai passport.

6) Enter Thailand using your Thai passport.

[Jonde]

On which passport did you enter Thailand on?

German.

Then, as Tom indicated, you're golden. You will have no problem.

1) Check-in at Thai airport using your Thai passport.

2) Exit Thai immigration using your German passport (you need to use the same passport you used to enter the country).

3) Enter Laos using your Thai passport.

4) Check-in at Laos airport using your Thai passport.

5) Exit Laos immigration using your Thai passport.

6) Enter Thailand using your Thai passport.

Dear Skatewash,

Thank you very much for your info and time. That is exactly what I intended to do and that is what another Visa guy advised me. But I have a question on No1:

Why do I check-in with my Thai and not with my German passport? I've entered Thailand with my German passport. And please note the different names.. (oh goodness, Thai name in Thai passport, German name in German passport. And for those who wonder: I've adapted to a German name through citizenship. I wanted a German name...).

Hmm, I mean my flight ticket will be issued with my German name.

[Jonde]

In addition, regarding No2. When I exit immigration with my German passport, my dad tells me that I need a departure card/stamp on my Thai passport?!

So to be clear: When I check-in at Laos airport, the officer won't be looking for a departure card, stamp or anything IN my THAI passport????

[skatewash]

As you probably know, as a Thai you can travel to Laos without a visa, whereas as a German you would need to get a visa on arrival. So, obviously it's better to travel as a Thai in this case.

What you are doing is fairly common among those who travel with dual nationality. It's done all the time, and is quite legal and proper.

More info: http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

You will be abiding by the cardinal rule which is always exit a country on the same passport with which you entered that country.

[skatewash]

Well yes, if you entered Thailand on your German passport you should have filled out an arrival/departure card which would be stapled into your German passport. If you have lost that arrival/departure card then I believe it is possible to get a replacement. For this trip, because you entered Thailand as a German, Thai immigration doesn't even need to know that you have a Thai passport. As far as they are concerned you're a German.

You will be arriving at Laos immigration having traveled as a Thai citizen, presenting a Thai passport. That is, you will be listed on the airplane's manifest as a Thai national (because that is how you checked in at the airport in Thailand), and you will be using your Thai passport. I doubt the Laos immigration officer will be concerned that your Thai passport is missing an exit stamp. But, if he or she were to be concerned about that, this is when you would explain that you are a dual national and you have the appropriate exit stamp in your German passport. Honestly, I doubt this discussion will be necessary, but if it is, you have an appropriate answer which should be accepted.

[Jonde]

Skatewash:

1. To clarify this. Alright, I will buy a ticket for my Thai passport, respectively under my Thai name. I check-in as THAI.

2. At Thai immigration, I show them my GERMAN passport ONLY. They don't want to see my ticket, right?? I forgot the process... My last departure flight out of BKK was in 2012. Please advice

[skatewash]

Skatewash:

1. To clarify this. Alright, I will buy a ticket for my Thai passport, respectively under my Thai name. I check-in as THAI.

2. At Thai immigration, I show them my GERMAN passport ONLY. They don't want to see my ticket, right?? I forgot the process... My last departure flight out of BKK was in 2012. Please advice

1. Correct. You will be treated the same as any other Thai citizen going to visit Laos. No one need know that you're a German citizen, it's enough to be Thai.

2. Correct, Thai immigration will be interested that you, a German citizen, entered the country properly and are leaving the country properly (that is, you didn't overstay), you have no outstanding arrest warrants, you're not on an international terrorist watch-list, etc. They don't really need to know you're a Thai citizen, it's enough to be German.

It's a great thing to be a dual national, but honestly your life will be easier if the people you meet at the airport during check-in and at immigration only see you as a single nationality. If being a single nationality isn't working (for whatever reason), then you have an ace up your sleeve (your dual nationality) that may get you what you want. But my advice is that initially you approach authorities by being just one nationality.

[Jonde]

Thanks a lot

What about the departure card thing as a Thai citizen for Laos? Not needed, right? Because it's ASEAN and I'm Thai...

[skatewash]

On which passport did you enter Thailand on?

German.

Then, as Tom indicated, you're golden. You will have no problem.

1) Check-in at Thai airport using your Thai passport.

2) Exit Thai immigration using your German passport (you need to use the same passport you used to enter the country).

3) Enter Laos using your Thai passport.

4) Check-in at Laos airport using your Thai passport.

5) Exit Laos immigration using your Thai passport.

6) Enter Thailand using your Thai passport.

Dear Skatewash,

Thank you very much for your info and time. That is exactly what I intended to do and that is what another Visa guy advised me. But I have a question on No1:

Why do I check-in with my Thai and not with my German passport? I've entered Thailand with my German passport. And please note the different names.. (oh goodness, Thai name in Thai passport, German name in German passport. And for those who wonder: I've adapted to a German name through citizenship. I wanted a German name...).

Hmm, I mean my flight ticket will be issued with my German name.

Sorry, I missed this question while answering another.

The reason you check-in at the Thai airport using your Thai passport is to get you entered into the computer as Thai person traveling to Laos.

If you were to check-in at the Thai airport using your German passport when you got to Laos immigration they might be scratching their head as to why a German person who arrived from Thailand was trying to enter Laos with a Thai passport. Immigration officials like it when things match up. If they notice this, it's a disconnect and they then need to be satisfied that there's a good reason. Now you could provide the good reason (you're a dual national), but it's better to just be accepted and not have to answer a question that won't even arise if you had instead used your Thai passport when checking in. Had you done that, you would be in the system as a Thai citizen traveling to Laos and here you are now in front of Laos immigration officer showing them your Thai passport. This make the immigration officer happy because it's the normal thing. He doesn't even have to think, just stamp you in.

[Jonde]

Skatewash,

What about the departure card thing as a Thai citizen for Laos? Not needed, right? Because it's ASEAN and I'm Thai...

[ubonjoe]

Lao immigration will not be looking for a departure card from Thailand. All they will want to see is your Thai passport.

[Jonde]

Lao immigration will not be looking for a departure card from Thailand. All they will want to see is your Thai passport.

Thank you Joe.

You guys have been very helpful again. Thank you all.