Answered5 years ago
How can a UK citizen apply for a Certificate of Entry (COE) for Thailand while in New Caledonia?
Hi,
I am trying to get to Thailand from an assignment outside of the uk.
I can only apply from my country of residence, which is the uk. However I am being told I have to fly out of the uk to get the COE.
I am in New Caledonia and there is no embassy here. I have been on assignment for 5 months and it seems absurd to have to fly back to London to fly to Thailand. I have sent my original flight details from London in April this year.
I think the application system reverts back to Thailand on the weekend as I received my first rejection on Sunday.
It is bank holiday in England so does anyone know if my thoughts are true?
I am due to fly on Friday so it’s quite stressful to have explained everything only to be told to upload my flight from the uk.
Pulling my hair out, any advice, experience will be greatly received.
I am trying to get to Thailand from an assignment outside of the uk.
I can only apply from my country of residence, which is the uk. However I am being told I have to fly out of the uk to get the COE.
I am in New Caledonia and there is no embassy here. I have been on assignment for 5 months and it seems absurd to have to fly back to London to fly to Thailand. I have sent my original flight details from London in April this year.
I think the application system reverts back to Thailand on the weekend as I received my first rejection on Sunday.
It is bank holiday in England so does anyone know if my thoughts are true?
I am due to fly on Friday so it’s quite stressful to have explained everything only to be told to upload my flight from the uk.
Pulling my hair out, any advice, experience will be greatly received.
Answer summary
A UK citizen currently in New Caledonia seeks advice on obtaining a Certificate of Entry (COE) for visa exemption to enter Thailand. They are facing challenges as they must apply from their country of residence (the UK) and have no local Thai embassy to assist them. Community members share their experiences, suggesting that applying through another embassy, such as the one in Canberra or Paris, might be potential solutions, and emphasize that it is not necessary to travel back to the UK for application.
30 repliesnewest first
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Eric *******
OPQuick update, rejected from Canberra, though added, apply through Paris Embassy.
Fingers crossed this works.
Fingers crossed this works.
Eric *******
OPWow, applied to Paris confirmed 8:01, 8:14 travel details sent, 8:47 COE issued. That’s not bad service 😂
James ********
I suggest you also ask on the UK based forum for helpful advice ...they have experienced your situation many times over past year.
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/?ref=sharePeter **********
Thailand has , effectively, martial law in the name of covid prevention. It's not a fun destination. What will you do here?
Eric *******
OP@Peter *********
are you working for the TAT?Eric *******
OPAfter deleting far too many responses to your uplifting message, I settled on, ‘if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything’ have a great evening
Peter **********
@Eric ******
9pm to 4am curfew. No alcohol. No bars or massage. Everything closed up. Govt fuelled hosility to foreigners. I'm giving you advanced warning that what you're anticipating no longer exists. ⚠️Andy *********
@Peter *********
Thanks for your take. We left at the end of '19 for a US visit. Got caught in the US by travel restrictions. We usually divide our time between the US, Thailand, and Vietnam - so not really a holiday. Have a visa exemption for Vietnam, but is rather worse there than Thailand it seems. Besides we prefer living in Thailand. Peter **********
@Andy ********
the restrictions are more linked to the unstable political situation than to any virus. I think if you've not been here for a while you might be surprised by the degree of Govt fostered hostility to Westerners. If I were in your shoes I would go to Hong Kong or Taiwan for a holiday. But I'm not a great fan of Thailand. :(
Ernst **************
@Peter *********
i go every 2 days to massage here in Thailand and if i want i can order alcohol in every restaurant too. Some bars are open too. And i am sure, i am in Thailand 😄Andy *********
@Peter *********
What's your take on the easing of restrictions? Shouldn't that help fuel a bit of "normalcy"? I've not read - but with the easing of restrictions, will the sale of alcohol in restaurants resume? I'm guessing bars will remain closed. We will keep a eye on happenings, and reapply for OA visas maybe mid/late Sept. Depending... lol. 
Gareth ********
Have you tried the Coe website? I’m a UK passport holder and was working in Holland with no issues getting a COE.
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Eric *******
OP@Gareth *******
this is where I have applied. They just won’t accept my itinerary from New Caledonia. All I am getting as a response is ‘upload your flight data from the country of origin’ which my residential status is uk…
Frédéric ******************
@Eric ******
Country of origin of the flight, they mean country of departure, not the country where you were born 😉Gareth ********
@Eric ******
your country of origin in this case is where you start flying from. Have you tried entering your current location?I’m British but my country of origin was the Netherlands.
Eric *******
OPThanks all, will let you know how it goes!
Eric *******
OPThanks to admin for the post quickly too
Jonathan *******
I am British and I just landed in Thailand from New York. I had no issues getting a COE from there. Not sure why they won't let you
Eric *******
OPApologies, I am applying for COE for a visa exemption entry to Thailand. Through my country of residence the UK.
I am curious as I am getting responses on a Sunday (UK time and A public holiday Monday) it’s as if the responses are coming from Thailand or another country? Something doesn’t add up.
I am curious as I am getting responses on a Sunday (UK time and A public holiday Monday) it’s as if the responses are coming from Thailand or another country? Something doesn’t add up.
Kool *******
@Eric ******
try using this Thai embassy in Canberra****************************************************
McGregor **********
As long as you in the country 21 days you can apply in that country no problem as long as you meet all the usual requirements
Eric *******
OP@McGregor *********
unfortunately there is no embassy in New Caledonia and it is a French territory off the coast of Australia so can’t apply in Australia either it seems.McGregor **********
@Eric ******
surely the company you wok for will get you to Australia or another country near by where you can apply McGregor **********
@Eric ******
yes that should work mate we are from Uk and got it in madridEric *******
OP@McGregor *********
I am just applying uk logic to the problem. It asks where I am a resident, which is officially the UK, so I applied there. My mistake, hopefully the Canberra embassy will be more fruitful
Bobby ********
Eric Pears. The Thai embassy in Canberra is responsible for New Caledonia so you can correspond with them
Eric *******
OP@Bobby *******
that’s great to know, will contact them tomorrow. Thank you, fingers crossed!
Alan ********
I’m a U.K. citizen but got my COE issued online from the Washington Embassy as I was in the USA. That was in April. However I couldn’t get a visa that wasn’t issued by my own country of residency. In my case I used the visa exemption to enter and then changed at immigration inside Thailand
Stuart *********
As a UK citizen you can enter Thailand visa exempt for 45 days (currently). You do still however need to get a certificate of entry from a Thai embassy or consulate. It doesn’t need to be from your country of residence. [edit] it’s all done online so you wouldn’t have to be in Australia. I’m not sure this is possible but it’s way better than flying back to the UK.
Stuart *********
What visa would you be applying for? Most do not require you to apply from your country of residence. One of the Australian consulates could organise a CofE perhaps?
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