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What challenges might I face when booking a passport renewal appointment at the Thai embassy in London due to the language barrier?

Dec 2, 2025
5 months ago
Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
trying to book an appointment at thai embassy london to submit a passport renewel . and i’m baffled with booking system so it only works on google chrome but asks you for various name id card etc in english and then asks for thai addresses and contacts in thai language all drop down menus are in thai. how the hell does that work? two keyboards so wifey barely reads thai after 25 years and i can’t read it full stop.

anybody else had this issue as must be the same for all visa booking. shambles
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is struggling with the Thai embassy's appointment booking system for passport renewal in London, as it only works on Google Chrome and requires Thai language input for addresses despite providing English fields. This has caused frustration due to the necessity of Thai dropdown menus, making it difficult for non-Thai speakers. Several comments suggest using Google Translate for assistance and point out that the process might not be as complicated as assumed, highlighting the challenges faced by expats due to language barriers.
KC ****
Your Thai wife can’t read or write in Thai. Seriously!!!
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Graham ******
Yes, I know of someone like that
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Graham ******
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Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
issue is website portal has english but when submitting thai addresses and names it wants it in thai language. and all drop down menus are in thai so impossible for a non thai speaker . and translate won’t work on a submenu listing provinces etc. i cant be the only one struggling with this
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Ian ********
@Terry ******
you can change your keyboard to Thai and she must have Thai friends who can help ?
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Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ian *******
this is the route i am looking at it’s a mac and website doesn’t run right on safari so have to find out how to get a virtual thai keyboard on screen in google chrome.

i thought initially it was a glitch in safari but it’s a backward website just hope wife can remember her native tongue after 25 years of being engrish
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Terry *******
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Marty *********
Use Google Translate for the Thai. You can take a photo and use the photo in Google Translate.
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Graham ******
@Marty ********
or use the camera function of Google Translate to read the page directly
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Marty *********
@Graham *****
Both work
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Marty *********
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Michael ********
Visas via london and e visa portals supposedly one of the most efficient so you shouldnt presume that and why wouldnt Thai passport renewal be in Thai its for Thai citizens
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Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
i beg to differ i did all this 25 years back by letters and postal system , im not sure thailand has grasped sigital
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Michael ********
@Terry ******
? They have grasped it, last year wife went to booth in a shopping mall, did all she needed to do 4 days later a new passport
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Michael ********
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Michael ********
Does she have British passport as well ?

If so she can still enter Thailand on expired Thai passport and they are very easy to do here.
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Terry *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
need thai passport as part of criteria for sons citizenship application
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Michael ********
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Michael ********
@Terry ******
have you joined the Thai Citizenship group ? I believe it helps to have valid passport of parent but old one can suffice.
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Michael ********
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