How can my daughter obtain her Thai passport and what visa options are available for our family moving to Thailand?

Nov 9, 2024
12 days ago
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Some visa questions (and thanks very much in advance)

My family and I are starting the process of moving from Nevada to Hua Hin. My wife is a Thai citizen and my 19 year old daughter was born in Bangkok. We moved back to the USA when my daughter was 2 years old so the only Thai ID we have for her is her birth certificate and she has a US passport. My mother and I are American.

Questions: For my daughter, do we need to go to the consulate in Los Angeles to get her a Thai passport, or can she just get a 90 day visa online with my mom and me and then get Thai ID after she gets to Thailand, or can she just show her birth certificate and get a visa on arrival without a return ticket?

How long does it take to get the online 90 day visa, and do we have to wait for my mom to get her US passport to apply.

Would rather not go to LA if possible, long drive, hotel stays, etc But also don't want to have to buy round trip tickets.

Thanks so much!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster is seeking advice on visa processes for their daughter, a Thai citizen born in Bangkok, who holds a US passport and is moving to Thailand. Key points discussed include the need for a Thai passport, the possibility of entering Thailand using a visa-exempt stamp, and the process of obtaining necessary Thai identification documents after arrival. Community members suggest applying for a Thai passport at the consulate if required documentation is in order, while also highlighting that as a Thai citizen, the daughter may not need a round trip ticket to enter Thailand.
Mark *********
What part of Nevada? I'm in henderson. Going to go back in a few years
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ********
we are in Henderson too
Mark *********
Trump hater i see. Good luck on your journey.
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ********
thanks, maybe I'll see you around
Mark *********
@David *******
what is your exit date? We have a home in phuket
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ********
we are trying to leave by early January
Don ********
I left Minneapolis 15 Oct. One way ticket no problems
John **********
I wouldn't bother getting a visa for your daughter, she can't be on a non-o once she hits 20 anyway. There are a couple of options open to her after she arrives but the first thing she's going to need is a Thai ID card. This page is worth a read for her situation

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David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
yes, we are having issues because she doesn't have a Thai ID and we can't find our original marriage certificate so I think we will bring her on the tourist visa and get the Thai ID once here
Michael ********
Not directed to you but i wish parents with kids entitled to dual citizenship sort passports out for them when they are young. Its so much easier. My ex wife never did for my son despite my nagging and taken years to get ID and should get passport soon.
Chang ******
Chang ******
Thai and US could have dual citizenship so she can have 2 passport 😉

Since she was born in Thailand I don't see any problem at all

Just drive to LA only 350 miles away

I uesd to drive twice a week with my job 555
Chris *******
The Thai citizens can enter on the US passports on 60 day visa exempt.

Once in Thailand can then get their Thai passports renewed.

There will be no overstay or fines as they are Thai citizens.

You can visit your local immigration once in Thailand and they will explain the process of staying even though they entered on a foreign PP.

It's not a problem any longer to do that.
Dca *****
@David *******
1.) As for your wife and daughter, they don't really require round trip tickets as they are Thai Citizens (even if using U.S. Passports to enter Thailand)! And, if you have a marriage Thai eVisa from the Thai Consulate in L.A., then you don't need a round trip ticket either (even without a Thai Visa too).

2.) As for your daughter, the Thai Consulate in L.A. may or may not issue a Thai Passport to your daughter depending on if all the Thai Paperwork of your wife is current or not, specifically her Thai ID Card is unexpired (and your wife's Thai Passport), and more importantly your wife's Thai Household Book (ทะเบียนบ้าน). If your daughter is already in a Thai Household Book, then definitely, your daughter will be able to get not only her Thai Passport, but possibly her Thai ID Card at the Thai Consulate in L.A.. If your daughter is not yet in a Thai Household Book, then she might be able to get a Thai Passport or not, depending on what the Thai Consulate in L.A. determines....

3.) Otherwise, just have the family make entry into Thailand on Visa Exempt free stamp and then go to the District (เขต/อำเภอ) Office to get your wife's Thai paperwork sorted, then your daughter's Thai paperwork...and, even your own Thai paperwork with Thai Immigration, and afterwards the District Office (if you want to stay long term in Thailand).

4.) your daughter's Thai Birth Certificate (ใบสูติบัตร) is very important, as is her 13-digit Thai ID number on that Thai Birth Certificate!

5.) one thing to help out your daughter's Thai paperwork would be to have a Certified Copy of you + your wife's Marriage Certificate
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dca ****
I have emailed the Thai Consulate in LA, but now I'm thinking maybe easier to just apply for 3 90 day e-visas (me, my mom, and my daughter) and just sort my daughters ID out once in Thailand. My wife has a valid Thai passport, so she isn't an issue.
Dca *****
@David *******
No need to apply for any Thai Visas for both you, your daughter, and your Thai wife. Personally, I would just make entry into Thailand with Visa Exemption free stamp good for 60 days and if you need more time, just get an extension with Thai Immigration.

Actually, getting a Thai Passport issued from the Thai Consulate in L.A. would be helpful for your daughter's Thai paperwork as it would be more recent evidence of your daughter's Thai Citizenship and quite helpful in an unfortunate case where a District (เขต/อำเภอ) Office that perhaps may or may not be too helpful with your daughter's Thai paperwork (or, hopefully not, perhaps end up being intransigent/stubborn about her Thai paperwork)....

At the very least, get a 1-year Thai Emergency Passport Book issued for your daughter, if not the burgundy Ordinary 10-year Thai Passport Book....
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dca ****
I am concerned we get to the airport and have issues with no return flight...unless I get some cheap flight to Cambodia and not use it
Dca *****
@David *******
>
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Phil ******
@David *******
you state your daughter is a thai citizen, born in Bangkok, has an ID card and birth certificate.

.its pretty straight forward to get a thai passport in the states.

Here are the requirements

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Or she can enter Thailand on her US Passport and apply for a Thai passport there.
John **********
@Phil *****
i doubt she has an ID card if she left when she was 2
Phil ******
@John *********
yes misread post. Maybe easier to get the thai passport and ID here
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
right, no idea card just the birth cert
Dca *****
A very informative Facebook Group and parent website for you and your family >
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Steven *******
Americans don't get visas on arrival. They get a visa-exempt stamp in their passport (no visa).
Michael ********
Go to Thai Citizenship group he has good website that has the info you need.
Brandon ************
I don't know anything about the process of getting a Thai passport.

Most of the Thai embassies in the US have a processing time on their website listed as "up to 15 business days"

You absolutely have to wait until your mother has her passport in order to apply. You can't apply for a visa without a valid passport, and the visa itself will have the passport number and passport information on it.

You don't have to drive anywhere for the visas. All Thai visas in the US are done online via the e-visa system. You'll still apply through the LA Consulate though.

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Brian **************
If you are going to try and cheap it out that won’t be good

Maybe ask an agent as you have a number of issues to sort out
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