What should I do if my non-citizen travel document is causing issues with applying for a Thai visa?

Feb 13, 2024
10 months ago
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi URGENT HELP!

I’m from Melbourne Australia. I’m not Australian citizen and i hold Australian non-citizen travel document because I hold a permanent protection visa.

I’ve been refused to board my flight because Australian non-citizen travel document does not allow me to enter Thailandand without a visa. So I’m been urgently trying to apply for one. But i ran through many complications.

1- my local consulate is closed down and all inquires are referred to Canberra embassy instead

2- Royal Thai Embassy Canberra / สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงแคนเบอร์รา have pretty bad reviews about non picking up phone calls or replying to emails. I’ve tried and no one responds.

3- the e visa website have some errors as shown in the picture. I cannot choose Canberra (Or Even Sydney) as an optionn. I cannot choose either single or multiple entries as an option. Therefore I can’t oroceds with the e visa application.

I don’t contact people incharge. I can’t visit them in personn. Electronics visa website have errors. I don’t know what to do. Does someone has similar problems?? What do you suggest I do?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The poster, an asylum seeker from Myanmar holding a non-citizen travel document, faced issues boarding a flight to Thailand due to their travel document not allowing entry without a visa. Despite trying to apply for a visa, they encountered difficulties with a closed consulate, poor communication from the Thai Embassy in Canberra, and glitches on the e-visa application website that prevented them from proceeding. After multiple comments and suggestions for alternatives, the poster eventually reached the embassy and planned to apply for a visa in person.
Dca *****
another FYI–

1.) the OP is from Myanmar and essentially does not have any Passport right now: the OP is under asylum in Australia, and, like all OECD countries (and many other countries), Australia provides a Travel Document for refugees and those under asylum

2.) the OP cannot renew her expired Myanmar passport because the current Myanmar government (military junta) will not renew her valid, but expired passport. Actually, it would be unsafe for her to renew her passport at any Myanmar Embassy or Myanmar Consulate (under he control of he military junta) at this time as threats, even violent threats, are realistically possible to Myanmar citizens outside of Myanmar who the military junta perceive any kind of threat...

3.) a refugee or asylum holder can, in many instances, have no passports, but the host country can issue a Travel Document for such refugees or asylum holders....these Travel Document are not passports, as they do not confer any citizenship to the holder of such a Travel Document

4.) there are many instances of refugees having no documentation whatsoever, so, under the normal and usual circumstances of someone holding a passport to travel, unfortunately doesn't apply in these particular types of situations....
Bob ********
Even if you have an expired Myanmar Passport have you tried to get it renewed in Canberra, and you will get better help from the Thai consulate in Sydney, as most of the Thai staff there are Aussie residents and so much more aware of day-to-day stuff, whereas Canberra seems to be Thais on a posting from Bkk.
Jo **********
your post is incorrect you are not from Melbourne but Miramar.
David ******
You can only travel internationally with a passport. Without a passport, you cannot enter Thailand and there is no point to fill out a Thai visa application without a valid passport.
Alan ******
@David *****
How would one leave ur own country without a passport. Its bad enough with a passport leaving with all the B/S.
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey everyone! Sorry didn’t know why i didn’t get notifications for this post. I thought that Admin didn’t approve my post so I tried any way to contact!

I finally got in touch with the embassy in Canberra and I’m going in person tomorrow. They said they could help me get it fast. I’ve been working on this for the last 7 hours and didn’t open Facebook.

As for the questions, my nationality is Myanmar and came here as student. In 2021, the military coop took over and I’m unable to go back to my country (I.e, including not being able to update my passport). So I took protection from the Australian government. I’m going to Thailand to meet my parents who’s coming from Myanmar because I haven’t seen them in
***
years. (Sorry I didn’t think these info would help. I thought that the website was just glitching and someone might be experiencing the same)
Jessica ********
@Mary *******
hi Mary, I'm curious. Did Canberra issue you with a visa on the spot?
Dca *****
@Mary *******
Yeah, the website is glitching as I also cannot get to the next screen.... receiving: Single or Multiple Entry Error....again, Thai eVisa is very new for Australia and have yet to see either the Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate give an Update Notice saying they are officially Starting Thai eVisa....
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dca ****
omg I thought I was the only one!! It’s so frustrating!! And yes they replied to me that the embassy in Canberra hadn’t updated to enable the evisa system and we had to do it in person. Worst is that they shut down the one in Melbourne:(

But I’m going to Canberra to do it in person!
Dca *****
FYI— perhaps consider that the OP does NOT have a passport, but using an Australian Convention Travel Document/Titre de Voyage, and these documents require a Thai Visa, regardless of the nationality stated within the CTD book, which the nationality could be Stateless, and/or, could be under asylum or refugee

>
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Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dca ****
yes I’m an asylum seeker! I thought that everyone would already knew that so I didn’t mention about it and just assume that the website is glitching:,)
Dca *****
1.) the Thai Consulate has been closed for nearly 3 years now (consider it permanently closed); so the Thai Embassy in Canberra has jurisdiction over Melbourne = go to Canberra

2.) you have to do contact the old-fashioned way = go in-person to the Thai Embassy in Canberra

3.) as you have an Australian Convention Travel Document/Titre de Voyage, you need a Thai Visa; and, if experience with Thai Consulates in the USA and using DHS/USCIS Re-Entry Travel Permits and Refugee Travel Documents are anything to go by: since your Australian Convention Travel Document/Titre de Voyage is NOT a passport, the Thai Embassy will most likely issue a Thai Visa Sticker and not a Thai eVisa (even if the Thai Embassy/Consulate is using the Thai eVisa system)

4.) as the Thai Embassy and Thai Consulate in Australia are very new to the Thai eVisa system, clearly it may not be operational in real life yet and not yet issuing Thai eVisas.....
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dca ****
yes thank you I just recently found about it. This is my first time ising the travel document so I’m new to it. I finally managed to reach them I’m going to the embassy in Canberra to apply in person.
Quest *********
had a friend with a problem, they bought a connecting flight from Bangkok to Malaysia and went to the embassy directly there to get a visa
Jo **********
what country passport do you have? People are trying to help you but you don’t answer
Jo **********
@Sharn ************
this after I asked my question before she did not state her country of origin
Andy ******
Helps to disclose the country you actually hold a passport for so people can actually help you or are you hiding something??.
Andy ******
@Sharn ************
at the time of the post she didn't ,this was 3 days ago remember
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy *****
I used to hold Burmese passport from Myanmar of which I’m a citizen of but it’s expired and couldn’t renew due to the ongoing war. I hold a permanent protection visa and they issued me the non-citizen travel document for travelling temporarily
Phil ******
@Mary *******
you haven't disclosed your nationality or your passport or the travel document that the airline refused. I don't think I can offer any assistance to you.
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
sorry! I thought this was just a website glitch/error issue. I’m from Myanmar and my Burmese passport has expired and I cannot go back home to renew due to war and violence. I’m a permanent resident here now and have been issued a non-citizen travel document
Phil ******
@Mary *******
so you have an Australian PR Visa and showed the airline?
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
yes I did! They said just having PR And non-citizen travel document is not an enough to enter Thailand.

So either I have to have Burmese citizenship with a valid Burmese passport (which is how Ive always visited Thailand) or an Australian citizenship with Australian passport. I’m still Burmese citizen but with Australian temporary travel document so people like me will need a visa.
Phil ******
@Mary *******
well I now don't understand as I assume you had a thai tourist visa. its here on the thai embassy website in Canberra

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Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
thanks you! I just found this awhile earlier and contacted the embassy. Going to Canberra to apply it in person!
Phil ******
@Mary *******
good luck for your visit
Jim ********
Interesting. Asks for "URGENT HELP". Then ignores requests for further information
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jim *******
hello I was away from Facebook because I thought that the admin didn’t approve my post so I’ve been working on contacting the embassy in Canberra! I managed to reach them and I’m going there tomorrow
Bart **************
It would help if you entered the correct country there. Your story implied that Australia is not it.
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
hi I am not longer able to go back to country I hold citizenship of. Myanmar due to war and violence. So I got my protection visa and a non citizen travel document.
Bart **************
@Mary *******
do you have a passport of your home country?
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
I did when I came here as a student but it has expired and they issued me the non-citizen travel document for travelling temporarily.
Bart **************
@Mary *******
I'd never let a passport expire without renewing, no matter how sh*t the country is that issued it. ASEAN passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa.
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
well yes but I cannot enter my country anymore and Australian government have given me protection (asylum seeker) and if I renew my Burmese passport my visa here will be cancelled so meaning I’m suck going anywhere. If that makes sense
Bart **************
@Mary *******
ah yeah that makes sense then. Let's hope Australia gives you a passport soon then.
Michael ********
What passport do you have ?
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
my old Burmese (Myanmar) passport has expired and I can’t renew because I’m an asylum seeker I’m Australia. So i got issued the non-citizen travel document as a temporary one for travelling. So this is kinda of my passport for now
Michael ********
@Mary *******
Ah ok yes someone posted about that. Not a situation i know anything about.
Christopher ********
Did you try a different browser?
Roberto *********
Do you have a passport?
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Roberto ********
my old passport of which I got from my country of birth has expired. I’m an asylum seeker and the gov issued me a non-citizen travel document for travelling temporarily
Nishant ************
@Mary *******
Where was your old passport issued from?
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nishant ***********
it’s Myanmar (and it’s all good now thanks I’m at the embassy applying for the visa) 🙂
Mile *********
E - visa Sydney...try...
Kim *******
What passport do you have?
JC ***************************
@Kim ******
apparently no passport but a travel certificate usually issued to refugees and protected status holders
Kim *******
@JC **************************
right. Yeah that’s out of my knowledge what they could do.
Brandon ************
The evisa system just shows Australia as an option yesterday. It appears it's not fully setup yet.

You could try contacting the office at Sydney.
Mary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
apparently no one has been answering the call from any embassies. But i managed to reach the one at Canberra today! Im going in person tomorrow!
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