Travelling on two passports

[Terry]

Mrs. T (Who is Thai) and I have two sons.

They've both had Thai Passports since they were very young and have travelled with us many times in S.E. Asia.

Last year I got them both UK Passports

In April they will be going on a holiday to England and will stay with relatives. They will be accompanied on the return journey by an elder Thai relative who has made the journey several times already. He has a visa to make the trip.

My two sons, having UK passports don't need to get a visa.

So far - so good................

Now the Question

I'm assuming that the following will be the immigration procedure

1) Leave Thailand on the Thai passport, thus getting an exit stamp in it.
2) Enter England on UK passport - I assume getting no entry stamp in either passport
3) Leave England on UK passport - I assume getting no exit stamp in either passport
4) Enter Thailand on Thai passport getting an entry stamp in it.

Am I correct?
Will there be any query from Thai immigration on the fact that there will be no entry / exit stamp in their Thai passports for the period that they have been outside Thailand at their destination - (UK)?

Do they need to present both passports at immigration in Thailand?

Anyone done this before?

Thanks in advance

T

[Big Boy]

On your point 1, they will have to present their UK passport at airline check-in because there won't be a visa to travel to the UK in their Thai passport.

[Houdi]

Mrs. T (Who is Thai) and I have two sons.

They've both had Thai Passports since they were very young and have travelled with us many times in S.E. Asia.

Last year I got them both UK Passports

In April they will be going on a holiday to England and will stay with relatives. They will be accompanied on the return journey by an elder Thai relative who has made the journey several times already. He has a visa to make the trip.

My two sons, having UK passports don't need to get a visa.

So far - so good................

Now the Question

I'm assuming that the following will be the immigration procedure

1) Leave Thailand on the Thai passport, thus getting an exit stamp in it.
2) Enter England on UK passport - I assume getting no entry stamp in either passport
3) Leave England on UK passport - I assume getting no exit stamp in either passport
4) Enter Thailand on Thai passport getting an entry stamp in it.

Am I correct?
Will there be any query from Thai immigration on the fact that there will be no entry / exit stamp in their Thai passports for the period that they have been outside Thailand at their destination - (UK)?

Do they need to present both passports at immigration in Thailand?

Anyone done this before?

Thanks in advance

T

Done it many times. Absolutely no problem. Procedure was exactly as you describe in 1) to 4) above.

I think we have been asked to show the UK passport as proof that the passenger was allowed entry into the UK.

No problems at all on the return into Thailand.

[Terry]

Thanks folks - much appreciated.

Good point there Neal - hadn't thought of that one.

Cheers

[Big Boy]

Likewise, I think as there's only a one way flight from the UK to Thailand, the Thai passport will have to be shown at airline check in because there's no visa for Thailand.

Of course, this all depends on how much of a jobsworth the airline check-in clerk is, but better to be prepared.

I remember Mrs BB leaving the UK last time on a new Thai passport - because it was completely unused (no stamps at all) they stopped her thinking she had overstayed, and was trying to pull a fast one. They made her show her UK passport as proof she was not illegal in the UK - they probably wanted to stop her leaving, so that they could deport her .

[Terry]

Yes - this is another minor worry that I have.

The UK passports are new and unused.

So are the Thai ones - previous ones with plenty of travel stamps in them, having expired.

So - they will be travelling on clean, unused passports - something that immigration jobsworths always query........

We'll just have to see.

Thanks again

[caller]

Just to add that my gf who also holds a UK passport, does as stated above and never has any problems. She travelled between the UK and Thailand twice last year.

[deepee]

Yes - this is another minor worry that I have.

The UK passports are new and unused.

So are the Thai ones - previous ones with plenty of travel stamps in them, having expired.

So - they will be travelling on clean, unused passports - something that immigration jobsworths always query........

We

Terry suggest if you have one , always carry the most recent old passport with you too as a back up . Both Mrs Deepee and self have had issues in the past and having the old passport would have been helpful to confirm our I.D's. My experience was where the electronic chip in my new Australian passport failed and I was just about to get a flight, was nerve racking having to hang around while various officials worked it all out. But worst was still to come on my return as my (now rectified and activated chip) had no record of my original departure, again causing me heaps of anguish. The official noted how much more of a hassle it could have been if this had happened in a foreign place with less sympathetic or suspicious staff. I believe that an expired passport can be used to return to your place of citizenship in an emergency when you may have lost your current one

[Gregjam]

Agree with all of the comments. Wife, Step daughter and sons have all been doing this for years. Always presented both at check in in Swampy and just Thai at immigration desk. Have been asked for old passport also on occasion. Never had any problems. Wife's most recent return from Hong Kong was also done using same procedure as she travelled from PRC initially and flight arranged with UK passport details (Chinese visa in her UK passport but that is another story).

[migrant]

Also agree (US for us). Mrs M always is worried doing this, but no problem

[Terry]

.......Terry suggest if you have one , always carry the most recent old passport with you too as a back up .......

Yes - I did think of this one. No harm in my boys taking their old (expired) passports along with them.

Thanks again everyone

[BOZ]

My wife travels on her median name using her Thai passport, with your kids they will use the same name so no issues on name on ticket... She has no issues getting in and out of either country...