This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
How should I use my dual citizenship when entering and exiting Thailand and the US?
dual citizenshipThailand immigrationUS immigrationpassport rulesvisa informationThai passportUS passporttravel advice
Jun 23, 2021
5 years ago
Adam *********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi there! I recently became a dual citizen of both Thailand and the US! Now that I have two passports, how should I proceed when entering Thailand again? Do I exit out of the US with my US passport and then enter Thailand with my Thai passport? Or should I just use my Thai passport for exiting and entry?
TLDR : Answer Summary
When traveling as a dual citizen of Thailand and the US, you should utilize each passport according to the country you are entering or exiting. Specifically, you must exit the US using your US passport and enter Thailand with your Thai passport. Similarly, when departing Thailand, use your Thai passport and present your US passport if asked, particularly at the airline check-in. It is advised to show only the relevant passport to immigration officials to avoid complications. Additionally, when traveling to other countries, your US passport can provide stronger entry conditions compared to the Thai passport.
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
Rob ******
Enter and exit thailand is the thai passport .
Enter and exit USA with its passport .
Use the Thai passport for all ASEAN countries except where the USA is better .
Rest of the world the USA one is usually stronger choice .
Enter and exit USA with its passport .
Use the Thai passport for all ASEAN countries except where the USA is better .
Rest of the world the USA one is usually stronger choice .
Paul *******
@Rob *****
Assuming travel gets back to normal my suggestion would be ONLY use the Thai passport for ASEAN based travel, in particular land based travel. You can not switch passports at a land border.Unless intending on spending a long time in a country for which US citizens get more time than Thais (Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei I think) then using a Thai passport is better. Again, for overland travel to Malaysia and Singapore the Thai passport must be used.
The Thai passport (or rather, ID card) will be useful at local border crossings where third country foreigners aren't allowed to cross, or at some border crossings where foreigners need to pay for a stamp and pass through formal immigration. For instance, if going on a day trip or for up to 1-2 weeks to border areas of Myanmar, it is much easier, cheaper and faster to use a Thai border pass than a passport.
A foreigner going to Myawaddy across from Mae Sot on a day trip needs to spend US$10 or 500 Baht, go through immigration and stand in line with all the other foreigners, walk or drive across the bridge and then spend a long time lining up on the way back. The whole process can take 2-3 hours during peak periods, though an hour all in all is the average.
A Thai with a border pass can not only spend up to 7 days in Myawaddy, but it only costs 30 Baht on the Thai side, with another 20 I think it is, collected on the Burmese side. There are also separate windows for Thai border pass holders allowing much quicker access to the country.
Kanchanaburi allows Thais to travel to Dawei and it's beaches for 1-2 weeks for just 30 Baht plus another 30 on the Burmese side with just a border pass. Obviously they must head back the same way they came, but for a quick beach getaway where further travel is not desired this is much easier and cheaper than having to apply for a visa at the embassy in Bangkok or consulate-general in Chiang Mai (e-visas aren't accepted at this border).
Borders closed to foreigners such as the Three Pagodas Pass and the Singkorn pass allow Thais to cross into the country using a border pass. Singkorn allows travel up to Myeik on the coast.
Ditto for all the other local border crossings between Thailand and Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia that are not open to non-locals.
Reply to
Paul *******
Reply
Steve *******
*******************************************************************
George *************
Thanks!
Like all Thai laws, it's written in Thai and it may not even be well or unambiguously written in Thai. And then it gets translated to English and confusion reigns. Thais ARE allowed to have dual citizenship. People who believe they are not are misreading/misunderstanding the Thai law as it presently is.
Like all Thai laws, it's written in Thai and it may not even be well or unambiguously written in Thai. And then it gets translated to English and confusion reigns. Thais ARE allowed to have dual citizenship. People who believe they are not are misreading/misunderstanding the Thai law as it presently is.
Reply to
George *************
Reply
Addy ***********
Belief me the are not easy on two pasports when kids are 18 the have to make a choice thai or...
Av **********
@Addy **********
lol my ex half thai husband has been traveling under both passports his whole life. same as my half thai brother and all my half thai friends lmaoGeorge *************
No! No you don't. You are misunderstanding the situation. They do not HAVE to choose! They can choose if they WANT to. If they don't want to they don't have to. They can remain dual nationals, past 18, the age doesn't matter. Thailand accepts the existence of dual nationals. If you don't believe me, fine, seek the advice of someone you trust, but don't act on bad information. Talk to Thais who are dual nationals. They weren't made to choose, at 18 or any other age. Please investigate further. What a terrible waste to throw such a positive thing away unnecessarily.
Reply to
George *************
Reply
George *************
It is very simple. Always use the passport of the country you are in if you have one from that country. Only switch passports in the air, never on land. Never show immigration officials you have two passports. It's never necessary and needlessly complicates your life and their lives. Only show your other passport to airline check-in staff if you need to show you have permission to visit that country.
Puma **********
@George ************
sometimes you have to show two passports especially if you have two different last name. My boarding pass is always on American last name so it’s a contradiction there, but most people can understand and easily accept it. I never register for marriage in Thailand (didn’t want to go through several more processes when purchasing property or doing other legal documents that requires my foreign spouse to sign too. Shayne **********
@Puma *********
if you have 2 passports they will figure it out, because you can't change your fingerprints which are generally used at entry points these days. Puma **********
True! That’s why I won’t show the other passport unless they ask for it.
My last visit in 2020, Thai Immigration asked for both passports on my arrival and departure. They didn’t ask me any questions at all.
I personally think they like to have Thais with dual citizenship keep coming back, because it boosts the business for Thailand. It’s a win-win for everyone.
My last visit in 2020, Thai Immigration asked for both passports on my arrival and departure. They didn’t ask me any questions at all.
I personally think they like to have Thais with dual citizenship keep coming back, because it boosts the business for Thailand. It’s a win-win for everyone.
George *************
@Puma *********
Yes, name changes are a good reason to show if necessary.What I'm trying to avoid is the person with multiple passports and they hand the poor immigration officer both and stand back and think he/she will figure it out. ;-) And they will... eventually... figure it out. But if you are smart enough to have two passports you ought to be smart enough to figure out which passport to give and keep the other out of sight. Better for you, better for them, better for the 100 people in line behind you. ;-) Yes, if you have a name change issue that's different and you do what you have to do.
Reply to
George *************
Reply
Bee *****
@George ************
thank youReply to
Bee *****
Reply
Joe ********
Use Thai passport for leaving us use us passport leaving Thailand simple as that.
Adam *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks everyone!
Mark ******
Thai passport for entry/exit in Thailand, US passport for entry/exit US.
Puma **********
Additional info:
You can also visit other countries while in Thailand with your US passport for departure and Thai passport when coming back to Thailand. I did it once when I visited Italy. Leaving Suvarnnaphumi with my US passport to Abu Dhabi transit to Rome.
You use US passport to visit other countries in Europe (because it has a bargaining power) without having to get a visa.
You can also visit other countries while in Thailand with your US passport for departure and Thai passport when coming back to Thailand. I did it once when I visited Italy. Leaving Suvarnnaphumi with my US passport to Abu Dhabi transit to Rome.
You use US passport to visit other countries in Europe (because it has a bargaining power) without having to get a visa.
Puma **********
Welcome to dual citizenship. I❤️this privilege. I’ve been using two passports since 2014. It’s super easy though I have different last names—one is an American and another is Thai.
When I leave the US, I use my US passport all the way until I enter Suvarnaphumi. I show my Thai passport so I can stay as long as I want (at one time, I stayed for 7 months.)
When I leave Thailand, I show both passports at the ticket counter because Thais need visa to enter the US.
However, to complete Thailand trip, I have to scan my Thai passport to leave Thailand.
As soon as I get on the plane, I put my Thai passport away and go on with my US passport all the way.
When I leave the US, I use my US passport all the way until I enter Suvarnaphumi. I show my Thai passport so I can stay as long as I want (at one time, I stayed for 7 months.)
When I leave Thailand, I show both passports at the ticket counter because Thais need visa to enter the US.
However, to complete Thailand trip, I have to scan my Thai passport to leave Thailand.
As soon as I get on the plane, I put my Thai passport away and go on with my US passport all the way.
Bee *****
@Puma *********
thank youReply to
Bee *****
Reply
Steve *******
You will need to make sure that you enter and exit using the same passport.
Justin *********
^^ this is the answer.
Reply to
Justin *********
Reply
Malcolm *************
Probably when leaving Thailand you will also have the show us passport as this would act as a visa
George *************
@Malcolm ************
If you mean show your US passport to airline check-in staff to show you don't need a US visa, then yes. Otherwise, no. You never show you have both passports to immigration officials. It's never necessary and needlessly complicates your life.Reply to
George *************
Reply
Malcolm *************
When exiting Thailand you use your Thai passport. Then when you get the US use you U.S. passport. When leaving the US you use the US passport. When entering Thailand you use your Thai passport.
Annette *********
@Malcolm ************
simples😉👍Mark ******
@Malcolm ************
Exactly. I have a friend whose Thai born daughter holds both Thai and Australian passports. That's exactly what she does when travelling between Thailand and Australia.Reply to
Mark ******
Reply
Ադամ ********
By law you must enter and exit US on US passport. Thailand is a little different. 🎉 Congrats 🎈🎊
Steve *******
Paul De Graaf in my case I only show my passport to airline agents to obtain my boarding passes and enter security/TSA checkpoints with a commercial drivers license with Real ID. So it would be the airline that officially “reports” my departure to any US gov agency. Case in point if I decided to just walk out of LAX and rent a car to get home instead of boarding the flight to Narita, initially only the airline would know if I left the country.
David **********
@Adam *******
he could enter the US with the thai passport too, he’d just need a visa. George *************
@David *********
If you have a US passport you must use the US passport to enter and leave the US. To do otherwise is specifically illegal.George *************
// U.S. nationals, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country. Use of the foreign passport to travel to or from a country other than the United States is not inconsistent with U.S. law.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
%20nationals%2C%20including%20dual%20nationals,enter%20and%20leave%20that%20country.Reply to
George *************
Reply
Janne ***********
@David *********
you cannot have a USA visa if you are a US Citizen.Garrett ***********
There is no passport control for US citizens leaving the US, and I don't think immigration has ever stamped my passport coming back to the US before.
Steve *******
@Garrett **********
No passport control for US citizens? Really? So nobody checks your passport when you leave the US. How do they know you're a US citizen?Garrett ***********
@St***
No idea, when I fly out of JFK I get my ticket from the desk, go through baggage check, and then to my gate. Never seen an immigration or customs officer on the departure side of the USA. Bob *******
@Garrett **********
I have a couple US stamps. But that’s from years agoSteve *******
@Garrett **********
once upon a time they did. Can’t remember when they stopped stamping upon entry/exit….maybe between 2009-2013 when I wasn’t traveling internationally for work? My 2005-2015 passport was slam full of US entry/exit stamps though. Ադամ ********
@Steve ******
I have had one US entry stamp in 25 plus years. Haphazardly in middle of a previous passport, EWR.Reply to
Ադամ ********
Reply
Ադամ ********
@David *********
A US citizen cannot be issued a US visa ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Reply to
Ադամ ********
Reply
Michael *********
How did you get two passports?
George *************
Highly recommend this fantastic website for anyone who wishes to become a Thai citizen:
I would point out that if you're married to a Thai you should really seek Thai citizenship rather than permanent residence as it's actually cheaper. The only reason not to go for Thai citizenship is if your current citizenship country does not allow dual citizenship.
**********************************************************
I would point out that if you're married to a Thai you should really seek Thai citizenship rather than permanent residence as it's actually cheaper. The only reason not to go for Thai citizenship is if your current citizenship country does not allow dual citizenship.
Michael *********
@George ************
do you know if Canada allows it?George *************
@Mike ********
Yes, Canada allows dual citizenship.Reply to
George *************
Reply
Michael *********
I’m still learning the procedures and options. If you get a PR visa in Thailand do you forfeit your home citizenship?
Andy ********
@Mike ********
I wouldn't think do. Some countries allow dual citizenship. A PR visa isn't citizenship as you don't get a Thai Passport (I think)George *************
@Mike ********
The US and Thailand both allow dual citizenship, you do not lose your original citizenship.George *************
Well, my curiosity was piqued enough to look it up....
He was never a US citizen only because he was a child of a foreign sovereign, which is a loophole in the US law. A good thing too otherwise he would have been an "accidental American" and subject to American taxation, which would most definitely not have been a good deal for him. ;-)
He was never a US citizen only because he was a child of a foreign sovereign, which is a loophole in the US law. A good thing too otherwise he would have been an "accidental American" and subject to American taxation, which would most definitely not have been a good deal for him. ;-)
********************************************************************************************************************
Annette *********
@George ************
certainly not a desirable option (tax)George *************
@David *********
The late great king Bhumibol was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts where his father was going to Harvard to study public health administration. As someone born on US soil he was entitled to claim US citizenship (he is the only monarch to ever have been born in the US). It's not clear to me if he ever pursued his right to US citizenship. I just don't know that part of the story. He could very well have had a US passport, I just don't know.David **********
@George ************
according to Google the late king was exempt from becoming a US citizen because his parents were foreign monarchs.********************************************************************************************************************
Reply to
David **********
Reply
Garrett ***********
@Mi**
Dual citizenship. Permanent residency doesn't give you citizenship nor a passport...Reply to
Garrett ***********
Reply
Garrett ***********
Yes, enter and exit the US with your US passport.
Enter and exit Thailand with your Thai passport.
Enter and exit Thailand with your Thai passport.
Reply to
Garrett ***********
Reply
21 comments
2 years ago
6 comments
2 years ago
4 comments
2 years ago
27 comments
2 years ago
67 comments
3 years ago
57 comments
3 years ago
5 comments
4 years ago
10 comments
4 years ago
22 comments
5 years ago
5 comments
5 years ago
37 comments
5 years ago
2 comments
6 years ago
4 comments
6 years ago
2 comments
6 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
3 comments
7 years ago
10 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
6 comments
7 years ago
21 comments
8 years ago
41 comments
8 years ago
7 comments
8 years ago
62 comments
8 years ago
28 comments
8 years ago
11 comments
9 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.