Can I enter Thailand on an Emergency Travel Document with a work permit?

Oct 25, 2017
7 years ago
Coral ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello :-) I am just wondering if anybody here has had experience with travelling into Thailand on an Emergency Travel Document? I had my passport stolen in Bali, been to the British Consulate here to get my EDT, and plan to fly back to Thailand on 30th. Usually your EDT is to get you back to your home country, unless you have proof of residence elsewhere. I have my work permit and hope this is enough? Nobody seems to really know the answer. I am hoping somebody else has done this and can advise me? I just need to get a 30 day stamp in which time I can sort a new passport from UK embassy in BKK and plan a visa run for my new non-B!

Thanks everyone!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquiring about entry into Thailand with an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) faced uncertainty after losing their passport in Bali. They have a work permit, which they believe could serve as proof of residence, making them hopeful for a 30-day entry stamp. Commenters shared varied experiences—some successfully entered on an ETD with a work permit, while others faced complications suggesting long waiting times for passport replacements. Ultimately, the consensus indicates that having a work permit may assist in obtaining a stamp, but experiences vary and outcomes could differ at immigration.
Coral ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I would just like to update everybody on my passport situation in case it happens to anybody else in the future.

I was fine landing in Don Muang with my ETD and my work permit. I got 30 days on arrival. Applied for my new passport in BKK through
@Mark ******
’s amazing service and got it back within 2-3 weeks meaning no 30 day extension was required. 👏🏼

Got my stamp transferred from my ETD to my new passport at immigration and now I’m off to Malaysia to obtain my new 1 year multiple entry before my 30 day stamp is finished.

Happy days 😃🙏🏼
Robert ********
Have fun in Malaysia and take better care of your passport ;-) !
Tod *********
Other than using a service you didn't need to use it was a good outcome.

You could have went thru VFS Global like brits do to get passports in Bangkok and gotten it back in 10 days or so.

They state they can take up to 4 weeks but most people get it in under 2 weeks.
Glen-do **********
I had a similar situation recently, let me say it's going to take more than 30 days to get your passport from bkk and you cant use the emergency travel document to get a 30 day stamp. The work permit could help you out there if you're a resident. The place you'll go to in bkk is not the embassy but trendy tower in Asoke, 8th floor or maybe 28th I can't remember . It's a really trickey situation. I ended up waiting 2 months for my passport and paid a 20k overstay fine.
Glen-do **********
That's it man, as with everything here it's not black and white. Also it depends which province you do these things with. Bkk British Embassy is not helpful at all. If you can even get in the building I'll buy you two pints.
Andrew *******
Oh ok, that makes sense. I'm curious if they'd let you do Thailand - Malaysia - Thailand - UK or something, but maybe it depends on who's issuing the ETD.
Glen-do **********
Took about 9 weeks for the passport from the UK
Glen-do **********
I was already in bkk when I lost my passport. I had proof of residency. They offered the travel document to my home country with the ability to travel through other countries. They just would not.give me the 30 day extension. Mine ran down waiting for the passport and I had to pay an overstay fine.
Andrew *******
Why couldn't you get a 30-day exemption with an ETD? I was of the understanding that this is possible and Thailand accepts them. How did you get in the country to overstay then?
Glen-do **********
I might have been unlcky with the wait on the passport too. I've heard of people getting it back much sooner
Glen-do **********
I did not matey. So your case might be different. I'd cancelled my work permit about a week before I lost my passport *facepalm* and your passport was stolen so if you got a police report you'll be ok. I could not get a visa extension in bkk though. The embassy there is terrible (British).
Coral ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Did you have a work permit?
Coral ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just spoken with my lawyer in Thailand who has called immigration at Don Muang. They say I can get 30 day on arrival plus 30 day extension if needed. I have my flight booked and my EDT stamped for this journey so will try. If it doesn't work guess I'm heading back to the UK for a while. We shall see
Declan *****************
Land . Get your 30 day . Apply for passport .get 30 day extention 1900 bht

Passport will be here no drama
Ron *******
Just noticed your coming in visa exempt and on an emergency travel document? I wouldn't be so sure personally. Have you spoken to the consulate in Bali for guidance?
Declan *****************
Get your 30 days in thialand. Then extend it whilst awaiting new passport current waiting is 3-4 weeks confirmed yesterday
Coral ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes I already have the ETD which states that it is for my journey to Thailand on 30th
Mark ********
I used my Thai DL as proof of residence to get ETD from British Embassy even though I was only on a tourist visa, and went to Cambodia before returning to Thailand to get new passport. I needed to transfer the remaining validity of my Thai visa into my ETD before leaving Thailand. I had no problems leaving or re-entering and my new passport was back within 3 weeks
Andrew *******
In that case I'd just wing it. You might get a funny look at immigration and have to explain the situation a bit, but as long as you have the work permit etc. to support it, I wouldn't personally be too worried. (there's not a lot else you can do anyway, besides going back to the UK) :)
Andrew *******
Did you actually get the ETD yet? It seems unclear from your post. Because you have to specify the countries you plan to visit in the intended order (which is printed in the ETD) and I think you're stuck with that after. I would imagine if the British consulate in Bali has a problem with the end country being Thailand, they'd mention that when you submit your itinerary and ETD application.

It's not Thailand, but I needed to get an ETD in China (where I was living) to go from China - Germany - Netherlands - UK - China, transfer all the residence stuff over from my lost passport to the ETD, and then after the trip transfer everything over to my new passport when it arrived (in China).

The two things I'd probably be concerned with is (i) whether the 30 days exemption is long enough to get a new passport in BK (you can check the gov.uk website - last time I checked the lead time was 3-4 weeks or something), and (ii) if the work permit is useful for anything, since you're planning to enter on an unrelated exemption and sort out the non-B visa later. Would it be possible (in principle) to get the non-B visa in an ETD? They can change the validity date depending on your requirements.

What I might be tempted to look into personally is submitting an itinerary saying you're going from Bali to Thailand to Laos (or whatever - for the non-B) to the UK, then get the new passport in Thailand and switch over to that between exiting Thailand and entering Laos. Though I suppose there might be issues with getting all the documents in time, especially if you need your new passport number for the documents for the non-B. Just a thought - don't know if it's feasible or not.
Ron *******
A UK emergency travel MUST list on it, the country your needing to travel too. It can list upto 5 countrys BUT they must be printed on the document. You cannot simply use it as a passport.
Tim ********
my brother lost his passport in New Zealand, did get a document to fly back to Germany and it wasn't a problem to do a 2 weeks stop here in Thailand to visit me.
Tim ********
don't know anything more about it just can remember that he could visit me he without any more paperwork done
Andrew *******
I assume your brother is German though. I seem to remember reading the German emergency passport is just basically a shorter 2-year passport, whereas the UK one is a lot more restrictive. :)
Lloyd ********
Passports are done by VFS in the Trendy building on Soi 13, not the embassy.
Declan *****************
You can stipulate the countries you wish to visit on your way home . Not sure of amount to of countries though
Robert *******
If you can come into Thailand on the 30 day Visa Exempt Entry that also means you are not allowed to work, what I not understand is that nobody seems to know but the person from the British Consulate who handed your ETD must know the purpose of this paper. Only one way back England or can travel to other country.
Mark *******
Used my work permit in lieu of resident certificate on more than one occasion (purchasing bike, DL licence, etc.). Whether or not immigration will consider it enough....anyone's guess really.
David ************
Lloyd ********
Both are on it
Phill ******
@Lloyd *******
, yes ,but work address or residence address?
Lloyd ********
Actually a work permit is proof of "permanent" address in Thailand, that is why you can use it as proof of address in Govt offices.
Phill ******
i really doubt that a work permit will cover proof of residentsy.
Coral ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
They said can travel to another country if you have proof you live there
Phill ******
im not to sure about this one ,never heard of it befor . there are lots of people that have work permits but dont live here full time ,so im doubting that a work permit would be enuff to get you in . interesting , can you let us know the outcome please.?
Tod *********
That should be enough to show that you do indeed reside here. I don't think you'll have problems at all stamping in on a 30 day visa exempt entry.
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