Thai/French Citizen: Two Passports

[bamnutsak]

My friend's mother is Thai, and is also a French citizen living in Paris. She holds both French and Thai passports; of course the names are different (maiden name in Thai passport, married name in French passport.

She is traveling:

flying CDG-BKK staying in Thailand for one day

traveling to Laos (via overland at Mukdhan) for 7 days

returning to Thailand/Bangkok via overland, again at Mukdahan, staying for 7 days.

flying BKK-NRT, staying in Japan for 7 days

flying NRT-BKK, staying for 5 days

then returning to France, flying BKK-CDG

I've recommended using the French passport for all entries and exits, but for some reason she wants to mix/match entries and exits across the two passports.

Can you enter Thailand on one passport (French), and depart on a Thai passport? And, depart Thailand for France finally using the French passport.

[Tai777]

Use the Thai passport for Laos so you dont need a visa.

Yes, when entering Thailand you are supposed to use the Thai passport. When coming back to France use the French one.

I am dual Thai/USA and I do this.

[IMA_FARANG]

Use the Thai passport for Laos so you dont need a visa.

Yes, when entering Thailand you are supposed to use the Thai passport. When coming back to France use the French one.

I am dual Thai/USA and I do this.

------------------------

There are advantages for her to use Thai passport when entering and

leaving Thailand.

Also same for Laos, as Thais don't require a visa for Laos.

For other countries I'd recommend using French Passport.

I almost forgot.... for Thailand enter Thailand and exit Thailand with

Thai passport. important to get entrance stamp in Thai passport and exit

stamp in same Thai passport also. if you enter Thailand on French passport, may need a visa, and must also exit on same French passport. Much better to use Thai passport both in and out of Thailand.

Edited July 22, 2015 by IMA_FARANG

[skatewash]

This time your friend's mother is right! She should take advantage of being a dual citizen and use both passports (only one at a time though).

She is traveling:

flying CDG-BKK staying in Thailand for one day

Book ticket with Thai passport (pp), check-in with Thai pp, exit French immigration with French pp, enter Thai immigration with Thai pp.

traveling to Laos (via overland at Mukdhan) for 7 days

Exit Thai immigration with Thai pp, enter Laos immigration with Thai pp (no visa required for Thai in Laos).

returning to Thailand/Bangkok via overland, again at Mukdahan, staying for 7 days.

Exit Laos with Thai pp, enter Thailand with Thai pp.

flying BKK-NRT, staying in Japan for 7 days

Book ticket with French pp, check-in with French pp, exit Thai immigration with Thai passport, enter Japan immigration with French pp (French get 90 days, Thai only 15 days, both visa free).

flying NRT-BKK, staying for 5 days

Book ticket with Thai pp, check-in with Thai pp, exit Japan immigration with French pp, enter Thailand with Thai pp.

then returning to France, flying BKK-CDG

Book ticket with French pp, check-in with French pp, exit Thailand with Thai pp, enter France with French pp.

In every case she will be leaving the country using the same passport she used to enter the country. This is required, you cannot exit a country on a passport you did not enter the country on. She will be taking advantage of being a Thai in Thailand (it doesn't get any better than that). She will be taking advantage of visa free travel into Laos as a Thai. She will be taking advantage of being a French national in Japan for which she gets a longer duration of stay (whether or not she needs it, it's there if she does). Dual nationals do this kind of thing all the time.

For a lengthier explanation of the process see: http://www.stylehiclub.com/cruising-flying/step-step-guide-to-traveling-with-two-passports/

If, when checking-in at an airport, she is questioned by staff as to the legal basis for her being in the country, then she can show her other passport. Immigration officials will be satisfied with seeing only one passport. She should show people only one passport (just like a normal traveler), unless there are questions that can only be resolved by showing the other passport. It is a mistake to give anyone two passports and let them figure it out for you. You should know (as explained above) which passport to use and when to use it. If she does that she will be treated just like a normal passenger (national of only one country), which means no confusion and delay. But since she is, in fact, a dual-national she will be able to take advantage of that fact to make her travel easier, save money on unnecessary visas, and get more favorable treatment in the countries she visits.

Hope your friend's mom has a fantastic trip!

Edited July 22, 2015 by skatewash