Dual Citizen - Ireland/UK entering Thailand
If I enter Thailand one week with my Irish passport and a few weeks later with my British one, will immigration know I am the same person?
My issue is that on a recent scuba trip there I entered on my Irish passport. Whilst there I lost it and when I went to police to report it - it had already been handed in. Unfortunately they had already informed immigration to bar the passport for travel. As I had urgent need to travel back for work they gave me a court letter that explained to immigration the situation and that I was in fact allowed to travel. However it took almost an hour at the airport - as no officer had a clue what to do - before I could leave and missed my original flight.
So, as I need to return in a week's time for work, can I avoid all the hassle at the airport and enter with my UK passport - or will they know it's the same person? Regarding the Irish passport I've been advised to get a new one - but that will take 4 weeks as I'm resident abroad.
Best Answer
It is hard to know what sort of cross checking the Thai Immigration computers do when your passport is scanned. My guess is that they only look to see if your passport has entered Thailand in recent years/months and they look to see if you are on any criminal watch lists. But that is just a guess.
If your UK passport number was recorded when you reported the Irish passport being lost, then perhaps they will tie the two together. This should not be an issue though, as your police report will show what happened and you have your official letter.
There is no rule that prohibits using different passports when entering. The only issue that may concern them will be if you are using two passports to stay in Thailand for extended periods using visa waiver entries. But as your Irish passport has only a week stay recorded and I assume your UK passport has none, then this won't be a problem.
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Can Irish citizens travel to Thailand?
You must have a valid passport to enter Thailand, with at least six months validity. Be aware that a number of Irish citizens have been refused entry to Thailand for trying to enter the country on a damaged passport. It's advisable to take a number of photocopies of your passport with you.Do I need a visa to travel from UK to Thailand?
Under normal circumstances, British passport holders arriving by air or land can enter Thailand for 30 days without a visa (a 'visa exemption'). If you need to stay longer, you can extend your stay once for up to 30 days.Do Irish nationals need a visa for Thailand?
Thailand Visa Application. Citizens of Ireland holding normal passports are granted visa-free travel to Thailand for a period of up to 30 days. The exemption is granted at most twice in a calendar year when entering over land or via a sea border but there is no limitation when entering by air.Do you need visa to travel to Thailand?
Entry, Exit and Visa RequirementsU.S. citizen tourists entering Thailand for fewer than 30 days do not require a visa. We strongly recommend that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your arrival in Thailand to avoid possible denied entry.HOW TO TRAVEL WITH 2 PASSPORTS | Tips From a Dual Citizen
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