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What are the rules and experiences regarding entering Thailand with two valid passports?

Thailand visa rulesdual nationalitypassport usageborder crossingimmigration experiencesThai immigration proceduresexpat advicevisa extensionsborder runs
Dec 31, 2022
2 years ago
Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
What about having / travelling to Thailand with 2 valid passports?

So, I am about to get a second passport. Any gotchas or potential upsides?

Sure, I am aware that I would have to stick to using either one of them for each trip into Thailand. But I am asking myself a couple of related questions:

Any legal obstacles of possessing and carrying two valid passports while entering Thailand?

Any potential upsides? My primary passport is half covered with Thai stamps (including some COVID extensions). So, on my most recent entry they shook me down for bribery money at the border. So, if I entered with my second, fresh passport, could I expect that border crossing to be more smoothly? Would they be likely to even notice I am the same person?

Would a second passport effectively enable one to do more border runs per year?

Who has got experience of entering / staying in Thailand making use of two passports?

Cheers.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the implications of carrying two valid passports while traveling to Thailand. Users share their understanding that possessing two passports is generally allowed, but it's crucial to use only one passport for each entry and exit. They highlight that immigration authorities in Thailand can access entry history linked to both passports, meaning that switching passports may not offer a significant advantage. Experiences shared include both positive and negative interactions at borders, particularly regarding avoiding scrutiny at immigration due to a second passport. However, concerns remain that immigration checks at airports and land borders are effectively linked, which might diminish the benefits of having dual passports.
Oriano ******
Questo e un paese moderno , certo che se ne accorgono subito che sei stato molto tempo , e ti possono negare l'ingresso anche con il passaporto nuovo , e spedirti a casa con DIVIETO DI RITORNO PER DIVERSI ANNI !!!
2 years ago
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Paul *******
No problems just use the same passport for any entry and exit. You could switch passports the next time you enter.
2 years ago
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Klaus *********
I have two different passports from different countries which I use randomly while traveling in SEA.

I've sometimes been asked about my second passport both by Malaysian and Thai immigration; never been a problem but they can of course match those passports in their database .
2 years ago
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Paul *******
I've got 3 passports and never had anyone ask about my other ones in Thailand. I've used all three to enter Thailand at one time or another but currently have been using the same one for the past 8 years or so due to getting visa extensions and visas in the same passport
2 years ago
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Paul *******
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Michael ********
I got two passports and it helped me stay a very long time on just tourist visas.

Only 5 years ago got red flagged on one but not the other which surprised me
2 years ago
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Paul *******
You can't swap passports at land borders. Only airports.
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 How did you manage to use those two passports in that manner - assuming you did border bounces (or short stays in neighboring countries)? Did you just use your other passport on your return? And didn't they wonder where your exit stamp (of the country you just came from) was, then (as it was in the other passport)?
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 Thank you for sharing this experience.
2 years ago
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Michael ********
@Sven ******
 i would use one for 30 days then get the extension, then do one border bounce. Then i would fly somewhere usually KL or Singapore and come back in on other passport.

Had problem once doing land crossing and coming back in on different passport as i swapped passports after crossing into Malaysia and they wanted to see exit stamp from Malaysia
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 I see. Thank you for sharing. I can see how for flying back in swapping passports could work, as you might have just transited in that country - thus not necessarily having any stamps from that country you flew back into Thailand from. For land border crossings swapping passports in between probably would cause issies.
2 years ago
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Michael ********
@Sven ******
 yes swapping at Land borders did so stopped doing that.
2 years ago
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Michael ********
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เจสัน ******
If I understand correctly your "second" passport in this scenario would supersede the first?

As to get a second passport from the same issuing country you would have to declare, a loss, destruction, theft, official name or gender change?

But as SC says Thai IO have all your visa, entry / exit, photo and biometrics records.
2 years ago
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Tony ********
@Jay ********
2 years ago
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Michael ********
@Jay ********
 No i have 2 legal british passports, you are allowed them with a company letter saying you need to travel for work reasons and countries you work can take a long time to issue visa. So your passport may be at embassy awaiting one visa but you still need one passport to travel
2 years ago
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เจสัน ******
@Michael *******
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2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 Sounds like exactly the same conditions we have in Germany. Maybe a relict of common EU times 😉
2 years ago
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Sven *******
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jay ********
 I am not sure what country you are from. And I would assume some countries won't allow their citizens to hold two passports both valid at the same time. That is in general true for Germany as well. But for frequent travelers, who can demonstrate a need for a second passport, holding two valid passports is allowed. Reasons to demonstrate that need include 1) being a frequent traveler who often needs to hand over one of their passports to consulates or immigration, or 2) travelling to countries that don't like to see each others stamps in passports (think Iran and Israel / US for example).
2 years ago
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เจสัน ******
@Sven ******
 Ah that would explain the two passport scenario. Thank you for sharing.
2 years ago
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เจสัน ******
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Any potential upsides at land borders at least (e.g. Laos)? Do they also have the same computer based systems than at the airports? Why do people usually suggest land borders crossing go much smoother than at the airports?
2 years ago
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Paul *******
I personally use land borders when I'm traveling to neighboring countries for several reasons. One, I have business interests there and I like to drive my own car, such that I have my own transport once I get there. Also, it tends to be cheaper than flying + renting a car at the destination and certainly more flexible. Also I may be going somewhere without an international airport further making flying impractical.

Obviously I'd fly to go further afield as only direct neighboring countries plus Singapore allow Thai cars in and going any further, except for China or Vietnam would be too far. However, obviously neither Vietnam or China allow entry to Thai registered vehicles.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
Yes but don't switch passports at land borders. If you wish to switch you'll need to fly back in. Land borders are usually more easygoing but keep in mind that you can only do two visa free entries per year that way whereas by air there is no official limit.

If you're a dual citizen, you could possibly get away with 2 land based entries per passport. So for those holding three nationalities, this would mean 6 a year. I haven't tried this nor needed to as I hold a valid long term Thai visa but I think it could theoretically be permitted or function as a loophole but don't blame me if on your third entry attempt (using your second nationality) if you get flagged. You probably won't but there are so few reports I can't say for sure either way.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Sven ******
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Sven ******
 because the airport is known to be strict. And not all land borders are recommended. Cambodia in general is not recommended and Poipet is to be avoided more than anything. Laos is known to be super easy and don't care if your passport is full of covid stamps etc.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
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Stuart *********
No issue having two passports. As you say you’d need to use one only on an entry/exit.

No upside to having two. All your entries and stays within Thailand would be linked and they’d know all of your entry history regardless of what passport you use.
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 Thank you. How exactly would they be able to make this connection? Sure, ones fingerprints get taken at the borders, but I feel that that is almost always only the last step, after they already decided weather to permit entry or not. I feel like they mainly judge that part by screening the stamps in ones passport manually / based on a visual inspection of the passport.
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Sven ******
 I entered once on Aussie passport, and the next visit on UK passport. On the second visit, after fingerprints were taken, the IO smiled and said "you change nationality since last time?"
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Sven ******
 Biometrics is one way. Your name, DOB and other stuff is all on record. And yes they do make the connection. Even if you have passports from different countries etc.
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 Thank you. So potentially less upsides than I would have hoped for from investing in a second passport.
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Sven ******
 zero upside for Thailand entry. Only advantage is gaining visa free entry on one or the other
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 Visa free entries by air are (in theory - different story in practice) not limited. Are you suggesting that with two passports the land border limit of two entries could potentially double with two passports?
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Sven ******
 the numbers are not limited. But only certain countries qualify for visa exempt entry. For additional land entries, I would say for sure not. Biometrics has arrived
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Sven ******
 Where it possibly could help is at a nearby embassy/consulate where you could apply for a visa. They don’t have access to the immigration database so they can only go by what’s in the passport you’re using.
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 That would be one big upside. Is that true for all consulates (also those with e-visa). Do consulates not have access to immigration database in general? Or just some (not digitalized ones) at nearby SEA consulates?
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Sven ******
 You can bluff your way through the embassy system no problem, but remember as soon as you enter the country, immigration will have your info in front of them. If you're trying to hide something it might not work.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Sven ******
 Different government department to immigration. I doubt even the evisa system has that information. Don’t know for sure though.
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 Nice one. So at least getting a new visa could be going more smoothly with two passports. Allowing for more visa entries and less visa exemption entries. And following that thought, visa entries should always go more smoothly than visa exemption entries (less discretion for the immigration officer at the border, I assume).
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Sven ******
 You’re correct that in general you’ll have a easier entry with a visa, but doing back to back tourist visas from different passports isn’t going to stop them questioning you as to why you don’t have a correct visa for a long term stay in Thailand.
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 Questioning I can deal with and I am prepared for. 3 proofs I have. But being shaken down for money in exchange for "helping me" get a (free) visa exempt entry stamp is not what I am a big fan of.
2 years ago
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Sven *******
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Brandon ************
Are they both from the same country or different countries?
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Still working on an additional citizenship. 🙂
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Sven ******
 I know someone who was able to do 2 ED visas back to back and just used the different nationality passports. Besides something like that i can't really think of any other benefit.
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Interesting. I was thinking of another scenario: Applying for a new Thailand visa making use of e-visa system at home while still being in Thailand with the other passport (cause the one used at the current stay would not have an exit stamp, yet, thus indicating to the consulate at home that one is still in Thailand).
2 years ago
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Rene ******
@Sven ******
 in NL you have to show a plane ticket out of NL for the e-visa
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rene *****
 While I believe they are asking for a plane ticket (or an itinerary / reservation rather), I do not recall this having to be a plane ticket from the very (home-) country one is applying at. I was under the impression a return plane ticket from anywhere into Thailand would do?
2 years ago
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Rene ******
@Sven ******
 🤷‍♂️
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rene *****
 But I would assume, you could still submit some sort of ticket from the NL while applying (and cancel that ticket later or what not), but then entering on a different flight from a different country. Afterall, the actual visa is not bound to a specific flight or port of entry.
2 years ago
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Rene ******
But for DE it can be different ofcourse...
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rene *****
 That is a bummer. But it can be different at a different consulate, indeed. Rules are never the same across organizations in Thailand. Sadly (or potentially good in this case).
2 years ago
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Rene ******
@Sven ******
 or just try and risk loosing the 40(?) Euro. You can always enter on exemption for 45 days (until
****
/23 at least)
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rene *****
 That is what I thought, until last time, returning to Thailand from a nice vacation in Bali, they shook me down at DMK airport, saying put money in the passport or go home. They did not even talk about the allegedly 3 proofs of having 1) money 2) hotel and 3) return ticket. They said I had a warning in their system. They even showed me their screen. I noticed, that all COVID extensions has been entered there in two 30 day extensions (or entries), each. And this obviously summing up, making my travel history look much worse than it actually was.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Sven ******
 I had a discussion with someone before and the German embassy told them it's fine to apply for an evisa while they were in Thailand. So you might want to look into that. Each embassy makes their own rules so you might be able to do it already.
2 years ago
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Good point. I never tried that, but thought about applying for an e-visa with the Thai consulate in Germany while still being in Thailand. Beats having to go to Thai consulates in other SEA countries, where one would have to get a paper based visa in person.
2 years ago
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Sven *******
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Sven *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Same country (Germany). But different passport numbers and validity dates.
2 years ago
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Mitchell *******
@Sven ******
 I would assume the older of the passports should have been cancelled/cut? I am curious how you got 2?
2 years ago
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Stanley **********
@Mitchell ******
 You can get an second passport from the same country, if you need it for employment purposes. I had a primary one from the US and it was good for 10 years. I also had an alternate passport that was valid but only for 5 years.
2 years ago
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Mitchell *******
@Stanley *********
, interesting.
2 years ago
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Mitchell *******
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Brandon ************
@Sven ******
 I think the only benefit can come from having 2 different countries but even then the benefit has diminished since everything is linked to fingerprints now.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
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