This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Does my Thai wife need a visa to enter Thailand if she has a UK passport?
Visa RulesImmigrationThailand Visa ExemptionThai Passport UsageUK PassportLife in ThailandExpat Advice
Nov 15, 2023
2 years ago
Stuart *********
ORIGINAL POSTERI’m coming to Thailand with my Thai wife if she enters on her British passport does she require a visa
TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK passport holder can enter Thailand without a visa for stays of up to 30 days under a visa exemption. However, if your wife uses her Thai passport, she can stay indefinitely without a visa, even if it is expired. Several commenters suggest it's less complicated for her to enter using her Thai passport and recommend checking in with that passport despite its validity issues. Alternatively, she can leave the UK on her UK passport and enter Thailand on her Thai passport. If the Thai passport is expired, it is still possible for her to enter Thailand, as Thai citizens are allowed entry without the six-month validity rule usually applicable to foreign nationals.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Thai Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Nick *******
You have a Thai wife, and you don't know this?
Simon **********
No
Daniel ************
nope - 30 days visa excemption
Bob ********
AS others say, use the Thai passport, even if expired, she can even get in with her ID card in an emergency, You can get a new passport in 24 hours. MBK has a walk in, several more all around, you can lodge and have it express posted back in next morning. My wife did it in Jan, and 2 daughters 3 months ago.
Peter *********
She will only get stamped in for 30 days
Glenn *********
No but if she stays over the visa rules she will be on overstay...
Jay *********
My wife is Thai and was able to enter Thailand with her Thai passport with less than six months validity, she renewed it after we arrived and it was fine. Just have her do that
Stuart *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you for the information
Gary *********
Why doesn’t she enter on her thai passport ?
Chris ********
She can enter on a thai passport at any time with any validity. She’s not a foreign national so the 6 month rule doesn’t apply to her Thai passport. As others have said it’s possible to enter on an expired passport and get it renewed in Thailand. It take 3 days to get the new passport in the mail or you can pay extra to get it on the same day.
************************************************************
Andreas *********
@Chris *******
what kind of "6-month rule" are you talking about? There isn't any such ruleChris ********
@Andreas ********
the one where the OP says that a passport must have at least 6 months validity to travel.Andreas *********
@Chris *******
ah, okay. A Thai citizen can enter Thailand even with an expired passport, see the answers above. Can she check-in to the flight from the UK to Thailand, with an expired passport? That's a good question. Technically yes, because she can enter Thailand with a passport of less than 6 months validity and even when it is already expiredChris ********
@Andreas ********
it’s possible. I’ve entered on an expired Thai passport before.Reply to
Chris ********
Reply
Nongnuch ********
Buy the ticket on British passport
Check in with Thai passport (no visa needed, no onward travel proof needed)
Leave UK with British passport
Enter Thailand with Thai passport
Return:
Check in with British passport (no visa for UK needed!)
Exit Thailand on Thai passport
Enter UK with British passport
Check in with Thai passport (no visa needed, no onward travel proof needed)
Leave UK with British passport
Enter Thailand with Thai passport
Return:
Check in with British passport (no visa for UK needed!)
Exit Thailand on Thai passport
Enter UK with British passport
Marc *******
That's the way
Reply to
Marc *******
Reply
Colin ***************
Thai passport. Less hassles.
Phil ******
@Stuart ********
yes. Leave uk on uk passport and enter on thai passport. It used to workDavid *******
@Phil *****
Can’t do thatMust use sane passport used at entry
When landed in uk at boarder then can fast track with uk passport
We do it that way after info from thai and UK boarder controls
Phil ******
@David ******
thats funny as my thai friend has done this from Australia before with no issues....has things changed?Oh as a side note recently a friend who has a kiwi passport and a UK passport did leave Australia on his NZ Passport and entered Thailand on his UK Passport with no issues. He was marrying and wanted his UK divorce registered for his upcoming marriage to his thai wife. Another reason is he was worried about having a record in NZ that this would be investigated by the embassy (clean record in UK).
David *******
@Phil *****
You can ask directly Immigration or boarder customs
They will tell you
If your a thai use thai passport to enter and leave Thailand
UK you can renter with UK passport
If you use a UK passport and your UK citizen or a Thai citizen and you use a UK passport to enter Thailand then regardless of nationality you are liable for visa
Above is a fact believe me
Sean **********
@David ******
ran into this same subject with my Ex in Colombia. Colombia is adamant that citizens enter and exit using their native countries passportPhil ******
@David ******
yes totally agree. My friend Alister used his kiwi passport to exit Australia as he was resident here under the treaty he entered thailand under is UK passport. THERE WERE NO ISSUE S.MY THAI FRIEND LEFT AUSTRALIA UNDER HERE AUSTRALIAN PASSPORT AND ENTERED THAILAND UNDER GER THAI PASSPORT. NO ISSUES.
Did I clarify myself?
Reply to
Phil ******
Reply
Michael ********
Actually doesnt matter which passport she uses rules changed about six months ago
******************************************************************************************
**********
**********
*****
*****
*****
9/permalink/*****
*****
*****
1/?mibextid=Nif5ozTal **********
It is better for her to go to the Thai consulate and ask them to issue a one-time transit permit for her, and in Thailand renew her Thai passport.
John ********
@Tal *********
you’re joking right? Transit ?Reply to
John ********
Reply
Stuart *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you all for your advice
I only asked because her Thai passport expires in December so couldn’t use it to check in online
Because didn’t have 6 months
I only asked because her Thai passport expires in December so couldn’t use it to check in online
Because didn’t have 6 months
Edna *******
@Stuart ********
get it renewed, pay extra to expedite it.Michael ********
@Stuart ********
that doesnt matterIf her passport is expired can still enter.
If she has ID card very easy to get new passport now got machines in several malls
Graham ******
@Stuart ********
She can enter Thailand on an expired Thai passport (then renew it before exiting), just exit the UK on her British passportReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Kal *********
Tell her to come in to Thailand with her Thai passport... less headaches... can stay as long as she wants without visa ect ... if she comes in using her foreign passport she will need to pay for extended stay and visa
David *******
If shes thai why would she need a visa, she not have a thai passport?
Will ************
Leave the UK on UK passport. Enter Thailand on Thai passport, use the passport you booked the ticket on to checkin at departure
Stuart *********
If she uses a UK passport then she’d require a visa (for a stay of over 30 days). There are options for getting a year extension and stuff but probably best to use the Thai passport on arrival and departure if that’s possible.
Kool *******
@Stuart ********
last month a rule was put in place that a Thai citizen entering on a foreign passport could never be charged with overstay, so once that person is in Thailand, how they entered is no longer of any concern. This is new.Stuart *********
@Kool ******
Ok.Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
Stuart *********
Yes I realise she could get an extension so technically 60 days.
Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
Andi ***********
No, she gets 30 days visa exemption which can be extended for 30 more days.
Henry *********
No. UK passport holders get 30 days visa exempt.
Reply to
Henry *********
Reply
20 comments
2 years ago
68 comments
2 years ago
6 comments
2 years ago
12 comments
2 years ago
15 comments
2 years ago
16 comments
2 years ago
7 comments
3 years ago
3 comments
3 years ago
12 comments
3 years ago
20 comments
3 years ago
11 comments
3 years ago
12 comments
3 years ago
16 comments
3 years ago
9 comments
4 years ago
18 comments
4 years ago
27 comments
4 years ago
2 comments
4 years ago
31 comments
4 years ago
8 comments
4 years ago
9 comments
5 years ago
5 comments
6 years ago
6 comments
7 years ago
7 comments
7 years ago
38 comments
7 years ago
22 comments
8 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.