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Does my son need to enter Thailand on his Thai passport or is his British passport sufficient?

Mar 12, 2025
22 days ago
Jimmy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
My son was born in Thailand and his his mother is a Thai citizen so obviously he’s (half) Thai.

When he was 7 he came with me to the UK (I’m a British citizen) and we have both lived together in the UK for the past 7 years

Now he’s 14 he is returning to his mother in Thailand to finish his studies at an international school.

His Thai passport has expiring a few years ago

He has years left on his British passport.

My situation and question is this

If he returns to Thailand on his British passport, he will get a visa exemption at immigration.

However, he has a Thai ID card and in my opinion he doesn’t need a visa once the exemption expires because he’s a Thai national and once in the country that’s it.

But his mother thinks he has to come in on a Thai passport otherwise he will end up needing a visa.

Am I correct?

Or is his mother correct?

Thanks 🙏
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquires whether their son, who has Thai citizenship but currently holds an expired Thai passport, can enter Thailand on his British passport. Responses suggest that while he may enter on his British passport temporarily, it is advisable for him to enter using his Thai passport to avoid issues related to visa requirements. Many commenters recommend renewing his Thai passport and using it for entry, emphasizing that he should leave the UK with his British passport but enter Thailand with his expired Thai passport and ID card.
Dave *********
Should depart UK using British Passport. Upon arrival he can use his expired Thai Passport and Thai ID card to enter thailand. Then just renew the Thai passport once inside thailand. Thai Passport renewal is quick. Usually 3 days or less if expedited.

Do NOT enter using British passport. Otherwise he will be subject to the rules of the visa he gets in the British passport.

No problems at all to enter thailand on an expired Thai passport.
Dimitris ************
I would renew his Thai passport. Then enter Thailand with new passport. Passports are never waste of money
Stephen *******
If he was Thai Born why would he have a problem entering his own country my daughter is Thai Born and holds duel citizenship to Thailand and my country which I won't mention
Ron ******
@Stephen ******
its a question about entering on an expired Thai passport ,which has been answered many times
Chris ******
We got a similar situation coming up with my girlfriend’s daughter. French passport. Thai ID (valid)

Been told by an IO that she can and should enter with her Thai ID as she does not have an expired Thai passport.
Al ********
Go to the uk Thai embassy and try renewing his Thai passport through them. Actually ask them the same question
Jimmy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Al *******
thanks

I’m going to call the Thai embassy in London tomorrow for clarification

If we don’t need to do the paperwork, pay and travel to the embassy which isn’t a problem and can be avoided it will be

Yep best to call them

Why didn’t I think of that 😝
Ratsri *******
He mother is light he have to come back to Thailand with his Thai passport
Jimmy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ratsri ******
she isn’t 💯 correct because she was going to go to the Thai consulate to get a new one which he doesn’t need and would be a waste of money

And he can return on his expired passport once he lands in Thailand.

I was totally wrong though 😛
Ratsri *******
@Jimmy ******
yes you are light
Scott *******
Leave the uk on British passport and enter Thailand on his expired Thai passport
Jimmy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Scott ******
thank you.

I didn’t realise we could do this.
Stephen ********
If he enters on his uk passport he will be treated as a tourist. But being a thai national, I believe he is able to stay upto 1 year. Best thing to do would be to renew his thai passport once in Thailand, leave the kingdom and reenter on his thai passport
Tayaout *****************
@Stephen *******
He could renew his passport in the UK like I do in Bangkok for my Canadian passport.
Stephen ********
@Tayaout ****************
he could, though he has commented that he doesn't want to do that 🤷‍♂️
Mark *********
@Stephen *******
yes his mother is right. If it’s not possible to get his Thai passport outside of Thailand then he should enter on the British one, go and get a Thai passport then do a border run going out on the British passport and returning using the Thai one.
Lloyd ********
no he should not enter on his British passport!
Jimmy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lloyd *******
yes I understand exactly what you’re saying

So it’s basically this

1. Leave the uk and board the flight to Thailand with his British passport

2. Land in Thailand and at the Thai immigration enter Thailand with his expired Thai passport

3. If asked which do government document he traveled to Thailand with. Produce the UK passport but ask not to stamp him in with it and stamp him in on the expired Thai passport

4. All finished if immigration agree and no need to apply for a new Thai passport

Go home live like a thai citizen with his Thai ID card

Or would he need to get a Thai passport?

That’s up to immigration I’m guessing
Lloyd ********
@Jimmy ******
No requirement to get a Thai passport, but for the small cost, might as well
Jimmy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lloyd *******
I don’t mind once here’s there but I can’t be asked with doing it here.

I’ll call the embassy tomorrow and see what’s what
Jimmy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ********
people are saying the expired Thai passport he’d be able to enter on

Just use the British one to leave and get to Thailand immigration than use the expired Thai passport

Kinda makes sense and show how he traveled there with the British passport
Mark *********
@Jimmy ******
yes if he has his expired passport with him he should enter Thailand on that.
Lloyd ********
@Stephen *******
He can enter on an expired Thai passport
Jimmy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lloyd *******
really

He can enter on an expired thai passport?

I do have this passport.

And we’d just show how he left the uk with his British passport I’m guessing.
Lloyd ********
(Entering on his British passport would mean he needed a visa/extension)
Lloyd ********
(as for entering on his british passport, yes he could get extensions based on being Thai, but that is just a hassle)
Lloyd ********
Yes he can enter on his expired Thai passport, and that is obviously easier than messing about with visas.
Jimmy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lloyd *******
thank you 🙏
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