Advice on travelling on a Thai Certificate of Identification

[Saltwater]

Hi All,

Okay so there is a long story behind this which can be explained later but if we can keep on topic that would be great.

Basically I came back from Thailand to UK and got a new UK passport (old one expired after I arrived back). I also went with my Dad (Thai father) and Mother (English) to London to get my Thai birth certificate, ID and passport (I am half thai/UK but didnt have all this done yet). There were some complications and I ended managing to get only my Thai birth certificate to pick up next week, but also a Thai certificate of identification which I can use to enter Thailand with as a Thai national. After arriving in Thailand, I will be put on house registration in Thailand, and also following that get my Thai ID and passport. (we couldnt do this at the embassy in london as my Dads ID's werent enough/too old/wrong, so ignore that please).

Now, I pick up these two documents the same day I fly back to Thailand next week, pick up morning, fly afternoon. So would appreciate some advice on travelling with this certificate document and who I show what to? UK passport to UK immigration and my airline I fly with? - including while in Doha? And the certificate of identification ONLY to Thai immigration? Any information or perhaps anyone with personal experience of this would be really very helpful right now.

Some other details:

The flight has one transfer at Doha back to Thailand, any complications?

I do not have an old Thai ID or old Thai Passport, just Thai birth certificate and Certificate of Identification on same day pickup

I am not travelling back with anyone else other than my gf

Thank you all again

[ubonjoe]

You can travel all the way here on the UK passport and then use the certificate of identification to enter Thailand.

You might need to show the CID to the airline in the UK to prove you don't need a ticket out of the country within 30 days since you will not have a visa.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Well, for one, I suggest you check with your airline about such travel. They're the ones you have to get by in order to check in for your flight.

I'm assuming that the Thai Embassy in London told you that this would be OK for entry into Thailand. I think it'd be a good idea if you were able to get this in writing from them, in English, so you could show to the airline.

If all else fails, at least you have your UK passport.

Mac

[Saltwater]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies, yes I believe I can use my UK passport as ID at least, but when leaving the UK and UK immigration who 'stamp me out', I use my UK passport, but do I need to show them the Thai CID also then if they ask why I dont have a visa? Although UK passport holders dont need a visa and can get 30days free on arrival anyway? and 'on arrival' I will just be showing my CID to get in, the Thai Embassy in London said I can use it to enter Thailand as a Thai national yes, but good idea about getting something in writing for the airline just in case.

Still any more advice or experience still needed, I am just guessing at this process of travelling with this document.

[7by7]

When leaving the UK immigration will not be interested in whether or not you have the correct documentation to enter your destination.

All they care about is whether or not you have overstayed in the UK; which as a British citizen you wont have done, of course.

The airline will be, though, as international agreements mean they could be fined a considerable amount ($15,000 I think) if they knowingly carry a passenger who does not have the correct entry clearance for their destination and so is refused entry.

I agree with Thanyaburi Mac about getting confirmation from the RTE that your CID will allow unlimited entrance to Thailand so you can show it to the airline if needed.

[Saltwater]

Heya All and Thanks.

Travelling back this week then, and appreciate the tips and advice. It seems that the Certificate of Identity is valid for just 10 days, so I guess I would only use it for this trip back.

My concerns are who I actually show this document to? Is it the passport gates/immigration on re-entering Thailand then, and I go through the gate that all other Thai nationals go through? I don't need to go through the non-thai gate as my document classifies me as a returning Thai national (which I will triple check with the RTE that it allows me unlimited entrance to Thailand, they said it would, but checking it again tomorrow). Do they actually stamp me in, even though I dont have a Thai passport to stamp? The CID is my clearance document correct? Not sure how it works at all, and searching online it seems hard to find information. Will immigration at Bangkok need more information than just the document, to talk in private or make calls?

My UK passport would be used for literally ID purposes? Even though the UK immigration will 'stamp me out' are there no problems if the Thai Immigration doesn't see it then? I show my UK passport to the airline all the way too I assume?

Thanks again, just so unclear on the procedure in using this document going back to Thailand when so close to travelling.

[Saltwater]

Hi All,

As reference, this here is the document I should be obtaining along with my Thai Birth Certificate on pickup: www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/18 Certificate of Identity

Thanks.

Edited August 4, 2015 by Saltwater

[Eff1n2ret]

^{Your UK passport should be all that you need to board the plane in London and Doha (assuming it bears the same name as that on your ticket). You don't get "stamped out" by UK immigration. When you get to Bangkok present yourself at the 'Thai citizens' desk and give the officer the Cert of ID. Don't show them your UK passport unless they ask for it.}

^{In my days as a UK Immigration Enforcement Officer one of our major problems (which still continues) was that very many countries refused to accept return of their nationals whom we arrested as illegals/overstayers without a valid travel document, and usually declined to issue one on the grounds that their identity couldn't be verified. Thailand, however, never obstructed the return of their nationals, for whom we just made out a simple A4 proforma document bearing the subject's photo and whatever name and (Thai) address they chose to give us. They never came back. I have for a long time thought that because Thailand takes responsibility for its citizens in this way it should be much easier for Thais to get visit visas.}

^{I only mention all that because it's clear that when someone who is clearly a Thai citizen presents him/herself to Thai Immigration, they are not turned away. Exactly what will happen in your case and whether they will impound the Cert of ID as a sort of one-off Emergency Travel Document I don't know, but you should be ok.}