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How does Thailand track entry and exit history for bi-national passport holders?
Visa RegulationsThailand ImmigrationBi-national PassportEntry Exit HistoryPassport ControlBiometric TrackingImmigration Software
Dec 15, 2017
8 years ago
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi Tod, in a previous post you mentioned this :
When you stamp in to thailand that system matches by, country of origin, DOB, Sex, Age, Surname etc not just a passport number.
They can see your entire entry/exit history going back as far as they want.
How does it work when you have two different passport (bi-national I mean) ? Do they actually can trace all your entries for both passports ? Or the fact they match by country of origin first means they won’t be able to trace the other passport ? Thanks in advance for your insights 😉
When you stamp in to thailand that system matches by, country of origin, DOB, Sex, Age, Surname etc not just a passport number.
They can see your entire entry/exit history going back as far as they want.
How does it work when you have two different passport (bi-national I mean) ? Do they actually can trace all your entries for both passports ? Or the fact they match by country of origin first means they won’t be able to trace the other passport ? Thanks in advance for your insights 😉
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around how Thailand's immigration system manages entry and exit records, particularly for individuals holding dual citizenship and different passports. It highlights that biometric software is used to cross-reference records regardless of the passport scanned upon entry. Users express curiosity about how the system deals with variations in names and records pertaining to multiple passports, with several commenters suggesting that Thailand employs advanced database systems to maintain this information.
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Kev *********
You may be linked by the biometric software on arrival. After you're asked to look at the camera the officer starts going through and scanning your passport. In the meantime the software has been doing a biometric check and will cross match your picture alone, no matter how many passports you have.
Tod *********
@เควิน *********
you need to dial back the paranoia a notch or three. Thailand only recently started interfacing with interpol on stuff and given the number of arrivals they have I highly doubt they're using any facial recognition software. I am not downing the immigration dept but I am saying they are light years behind most countries as far as checks and balances when stamping people into the country.Kev *********
Luck of the Irish
@Dan *******
Dan ********
Im now curious how an irish friend of mine got deported after a short prison stay for overstay got a new passport back at home and is now back in the country
Kev *********
You need to bare in mind that Thailand is on full alert with criminals and terrorism, their systems work with Interpol. A lot of money has gone into developing immigration software. I understand you're being sceptical but the entry security is very high tech, I don't underestimate the progress of immigration, after all, it's in place for our own good and safety. Most definitely biometrics are part of the entry system.
Ivan ************
@เควิน *********
I don't doubt they link passports, I'm just sceptical it's biometrics. Presumably this Filipino still had the same name, DOB, and was still a Filipino. I suspect it's more likely they link them on that data.Kev *********
I agree
@Ivan ***********
but even new smartphones now have face recognition to unlock a phone. Trust me though they check biometrics on arrival. I know a Filipino who was denied entry for lack of funds, she returned home, got a new passport and picture done and attempted to re-enter but was cross matched with biometrics.Ivan ************
I am very sceptical. Face recognition has got a lot better but it is far from 100%, would be easy for it to match you to someone else entirely. They also never ask me to take off glasses, etc.
Thomas ********************
That would make sense.
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Thomas ********************
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Robert *******
I can not believe that Thailand is trying to invent the computer and database by itself. There was a news report that the new passport control units where placed with help of Canadian Immigration. I suspect that world wide the same database systems are used, with adjustments to National requirements.
David ************
I would think Thailand is advanced enough to use relationship oriented databases which cross reference all these field entries to one individual person.
Tod *********
Don't bet on it :O they only recently got all the border entry exit points tied into a central computer database. (well at least all the ones foreigners can enter/exit on)..;)
Reply to
Tod *********
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Tod *********
Honestly I don't know about holding passports from different countries, :/
I do know that if you hold two passports from the same country when you enter, both come up in the system no matter what passport they scan you in on.
But that's about the extent of my knowledge. Sorry :(
I do know that if you hold two passports from the same country when you enter, both come up in the system no matter what passport they scan you in on.
But that's about the extent of my knowledge. Sorry :(
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi Tod, no problem but it’s quite a good question, hopefully someone will get some info about this, let’s see 😉
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Chris ********
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Thomas ********************
Been having similar thoughts :) They must make up some unique key. But then when John Smith out of the uk arrives with a new passport, it must take some time for them to look him up.
And how about name changes?
And how about name changes?
Thomas ********************
Hehe, good to know
Haldis **********
That's why I said it doesn't seem to... But last time I left the country I had one day overstay, when I paid that they told me that it was no problem because I never over staid before, but I had about a week over stay a couple of years ago.
Thomas ********************
But how do you know? I mean you're probably not looking at the immigration officers' screen? :)
Haldis **********
I changed name a year ago, it seems like they don't connect it to my trips with passport in another name.
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Thomas *******************
I hope so and that’s mainly the reason why I switched passports in MalaysiaChris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERLooking forward to Tod Daniels insights
Thomas ********************
I think it's likely you would have two separate entry-exits histories in that case.
Chris ********
ORIGINAL POSTERYes also this about names cause my passports have different surnames as on the Spanish one I also have the surname of my mom added to the one of my dad which is used in Spain as full name.
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Chris ********
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