Consular assistance from the Belgian embassy
Some time ago I saw him at an unusual time in Pattaya. Patrick, an acquaintance from the pool hall, who lives and works in Rayong, was sitting outside a Belgian restaurant with his wife and son one afternoon. I asked about the reason for his visit, day off?, shopping?, but no, he had an appointment with a delegation from the consular section of the Belgian embassy in a nearby office building.
Apply for a passport
The purpose of that visit was to apply for a new Belgian passport and to be able to do that in Pattaya was so much easier than having to visit Bangkok. I was not aware of this option and searched the embassy website for more information in vain.
During my recent conversation with ambassador Philippe Kridelka, I mentioned this incident and he sent for his embassy secretary, who told me that only Belgians known to us would be informed of this possibility. You could read about it in a special Newsletter.
Facebook news
I flatter myself with the thought that my question about this topic of conversation has contributed to the following message (in English), which the Belgian embassy has posted on Facebook:
“For more than two years, the Embassy of Belgium has organized special visits to several cities under its responsibility for the registration of biometric personal data (fingerprints, photo and digital signature), which are necessary for the issuance of a new passport. This prevents Belgian citizens registered at the embassy from having to travel to Bangkok to renew their passport.
Consular assistance
These special visits are also a good opportunity to provide more information about the consular services that can be offered to Belgian citizens residing abroad. Visitors therefore have the opportunity to ask general questions, for example about assistance in the event of a crisis or about more administrative issues, such as the procedure for applying for a passport or about obtaining Belgian nationality. It is also a great opportunity for our representatives on that visit to talk to Belgian compatriots about their “everyday” problems. .
Program
In March there were three missions, one in Chiang Mai by Laurent Frédérickx, Vice Consul, and two others in Udon Thani and Vientiane (Laos) by Patrick Govaert, Consul.
The next missions will take place on April 5 in Yangon (Myanmar) and on April 24, 2017 in Hua Hin.
For more information about our “Mobile Kit missions” see the website
www.diplomatie.belgium.be/thailand (consular services > passports.
Source: Facebook page of the Belgian Embassy, Bangkok
About this blogger
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Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!
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This service from our embassy is a wonderful initiative! Last year, the information meeting organized in Udon Thani was particularly interesting. We received a fascinating explanation and were able to answer all our questions. The meeting ended with a drink and a very well prepared snack.
This year we also accepted this invitation. I was able to have my biometric data drawn up and can apply for my new passport by post within a year. We did not stay for the informative meeting because we were sufficiently aware of the ins and outs.
The very friendly consul took the necessary time for a chat and yes….. I was happy and had a good feeling of involvement with this piece of Belgium.
I can only hope that we can count on this service every year! After all, with age, a trip to Bangkok is no longer so obvious.
Thank you Belgian embassy and keep it up I would say.
Then you were lucky in udon, in Phuket poor!
Sent an email yesterday for assistance for a visa problem with the finnish embassy where they could help us. Today at 14 pm I called because there was no sign of life and I was told that all Belgians at the embassy were on vacation??? All at the same time???
What if something serious happens? Will the local office staff assist us?
Good initiative. However…as a critical Dutchman…..is it really that much to ask to make a trip to Bangkok once every 1 years (the Netherlands once every 5 years) for a new passport?
Then always get visions of people being buried alive, or waiting behind the geraniums for their inevitable death and so on. I myself am already happy if I can make a trip, trip or something like that once a week and preferably more often.
i also went from khon kaen to udon thani very friendly consul did biometric data and a good chat at the embassy in bankok also always been treated correctly and helped well.
Today (April 5) the consul Laurent Frédérickx even came to give extensive information about VISA at the Flemish club of Pattaya.
I am pleasantly surprised to hear this “news”. In the past, the services of our embassy in Thailand could be called really poor and certainly not aimed at assisting compatriots. The last positive experiences I had date back to the years 1982-83 (with Mrs Ida Verlinden and later Ambassador Nothomb) both of whom were extremely professional and also very helpful to those who needed their assistance. Later I was not allowed to experience any positive news and I was not allowed to hear this from other Belgians…. However, there are plenty of people who come to me for advice.
Apparently a new wind is blowing through our delegation with favorable effect. I applaud this out loud and I would like to see for myself as soon as possible. What is good can and must be said!
I also attended the last meeting in Phuket. Everything well arranged and documents for passport arranged in no time. With some pints and a snack on top. What else do you want ?