Renew your passport at the Dutch embassy in Bangkok
Two months ago we had already made two appointments via the internet at the Embassy because my wife and I didn't feel like spending the night in Bangkok and we couldn't get to the embassy until late in the morning. Because of that early booking we managed to make appointments for the renewal of our passports before 10:30 and 10:40h.
Then quickly booked a flight with the advantage of course that we could purchase the tickets for giveaway prices. Our plane was scheduled to land at Don Muang two hours before our first appointment. Two hours would be enough….
A few weeks later we received a message that our flight would leave half an hour earlier. So we now had two and a half hours of leeway.
On the day in question we left home at half past five and arrived at Ubon airport at six o'clock. Enough time for a cup of coffee because our flight would not leave until 6:50 am. At least according to schedule, but the pilot did not keep to that: at a quarter to seven we were already in the air. At 7:35 am (expected arrival time 7:55 am) we were already stopped at the airport of Don Muang. Enough time for a quick breakfast at the airport. At 8:10 am we got into the taxi (70 and 50 baht toll) which dropped us off not in front of the embassy but at 8:55 am in front of Chit Lom (BTS Sukhumvit Line). From there we could easily cross the road so that we arrived at the embassy in ten minutes (on foot) at 9:05 am. Almost an hour and a half early. But because other visitors were probably stuck in traffic, no one else was there and we were helped immediately. At 9:25h we were outside again.
We did take public transport back (BTS Sukhumvit Line); first to Siam Center and then to Chatuchak Weekend Market. From there we took a taxi to Don Muang. Of course we could have taken that route on the way there.
With my pierced and therefore invalid old one passport fortunately managed to get through two checks at the airport unhindered, although that is probably not allowed by the letter of the law. Just to be on the safe side, I also brought my Thai driver's license and my Thai ID card (the pink card). On the way there I had shown the latter - as a test - at the ID checks at the airport in Ubon and despite the fact that my name is stated on the pass in Thai characters, it was simply accepted.
A week and a half later I received an E-mail from the embassy stating that my new passport had been sent and (very optimistically) that I would receive it within four working days. Now, after four working days, the postman did indeed visit us, but unfortunately without passports. They arrived two days later. Still neat, of course, because we live in the countryside in the Isaan.
Question: What are the readers' experiences with domestic flights without a valid passport? Is it possible that access to the device will be denied (probably yes) forcing you to take the bus or train?
Passport is only needed for international flights. On Don Mueang you go to the ID check for domestic flights, so no passport is needed.
For domestic flights, proof of identity such as a driver's license, pink ID card and indeed an invalid passport whose expiration date has not expired is sufficient.
Thank you for your response Tooske.
Of course I should have done it sooner, but now I have consulted the site of Thai AirAsia. It reads, among other things: “Adults are required to produce their original identity cards* or passports for all domestic flights. Identity cards are valid identification only in their countries of issue”. A Dutch driving license is therefore not sufficient. But an invalidated passport, is that enough? Because it can be important for farangs without a pink pass and without a Thai driver's license, my question to you: Would you like to explain that in more detail? Thanks in advance.
You would not succeed in the EU, with us the new passport is delivered to your home and must be accepted by the person in question, then you must hand in the old passport, if you still want to keep it, he will invalidate it on the spot by means of poke holes in it
A few months ago I applied for a new passport in the Netherlands at the town hall. Then you will be given the choice to pick it up personally after 2 weeks but at least within 3 months or to have it sent to your home address (at your own expense). Opted for self-collection, but the old passport was immediately invalidated by means of holes. In fact, at least 2 weeks without a valid passport. Actually a strange turn of events. Not everyone will have another proof of identity, such as a driver's license.
Dear Leo,
I don't think this is normal behavior. The old one is not invalidated with the application, but only when the new one is collected. That's how I've been through it all my life.
Dear Frans Nico, I thought I remembered that too. To be honest, I was somewhat taken aback and therefore did not inquire further. Later I thought that the passport to be replaced was already destroyed upon application because the new passport can also be sent. And of course the postman does not cut holes in a passport with pliers at someone's door. I can't place the procedure as Hugo writes above. The new passport would be sent and then you have to hand in your old passport. Apart from the fact that the ease of sending does not actually yield anything, there will probably also be people who let it run its course.
Leo Th, is also the case, but when I applied for my passport at the BKK Embassy in February, I was asked if I wanted it sent by EMS, to which I replied in the affirmative. So the old passport was immediately invalidated otherwise I had to hand it in personally. So almost two weeks without a valid passport.
After our visit to the Dutch Embassy and obtaining my incomplete passport, I was able to check in at Thai Smile at Suvarnabhumi Airport with my Thai driver's license (I did not yet have a “Non Thai ID” – the pink ID).
For a flight to Udon Thani…
Just got back from Thailand. During my stay, I made 6 domestic flights, each time departing from Suvarnabhumi with Thai Smile, each flight booked a few days in advance. Per flight, I had to present my international passport (and no other document) up to 4 times: 1st time at the check-in desk (logical), 2nd time when leaving the check-in hall (and going to the baggage check), 3rd time in the waiting room while checking the plane ticket before boarding and a 4th time when entering the plane itself (security check they said). I thought the latter was a bit exaggerated as the 3rd check had happened barely 100 meters earlier. My Thai wife also had to present her Thai ID card every time. Can only write what I've been through... 😉
What is actually the problem?
Why did the postman come if he had nothing with him….
I don't really understand this story but that must be just me....
The postman arrived with different mail after four working days. He does that often.
Summary of the story:
1. It is possible to go from Don Muang to the embassy within one hour. I did not expect that.
2. It is / seems possible to make a domestic flight even with an invalidated passport.
3. Passport sent home within three weeks, partly thanks to the much-criticized Thai post.
1. Doesn't seem so insurmountable to me as you have now found out yourself.
2. Yes, but otherwise you still had the pink ID card.
“…despite the fact that my name is written on the pass in Thai characters, it was simply accepted.” You seem surprised at this? Why wouldn't they accept that.
3. I do just about everything with immigration (except year extension) and embassy through the mail. Always received back everything I sent. I don't really have anything to complain about the Thai post. At least not in Bangkok.
At least it's clear now what you meant by your story.
Thanks for your comment Ronnie. One more note about my pink pass. I think that is (also) used to determine whether I am the person listed on the boarding pass. And on that boarding pass my name is written in the characters known to us. I also assume that my name on the pink card is only a more or less phonetic representation of my name. Fortunately, that is apparently sufficient.
Incidentally, not all farangs have such a pink pass and/or Thai driver's license.
passport should not be invalidated, but with the agreement that the passport will be sent to the Embassy after arriving at the place of residence. This way you can return with a valid travel document. Preferably send the passport by registered mail. You can cut out a piece yourself from the 'readable strip' at the bottom of the passport. The Embassy will officially invalidate the passport and will return it (if desired) with the new passport.
Indeed Paul, that is also a possibility. A third option is to exchange your old passport for your new passport yourself. Then you will never be without a valid passport, so that you can also return to the Netherlands if necessary. Only then, of course, you have to go to the embassy twice.
Domestic flights in Thailand showing you an ID issued by the Thai government.
Passport is possible, but also Thai driver's license or Thai ID card.
Your PASS….does not honor the PORT of the country.
And the fact that your name is in Thai only gives advantages.
People speak and read Thai, remember.
But Embassy and post have acted fine.
KhunBram.
An embassy or municipal official will only invalidate your passport by means of holes if your passport has actually expired on the expired date. This means that if this is not yet the case, your passport will remain valid until the expiry date and only then can it no longer be used. or if you have obtained the new one before the expiry date in your old passport, and in most cases the holes will only be filled when you come to collect the new one.
Of course that's right David. Only if you choose to have your new passport sent to you, you must have your existing passport - even if it has not yet expired - invalidated. Or – as Paul points out – send in your old passport once you get home. So you can choose yourself. And for me – given the distance of 650 km from the embassy – the choice was not that difficult.
Very outdated and illogical way of working of the Dutch Embassy. I expected better.
A different procedure for the Belgians:
Application must be made in person as fingerprints must be taken.
Your old travel pass remains in your possession in its original condition.
You will receive an email notification that your new travel pass has arrived and can be collected in two ways:
personal: then your old travel pass will only be invalidated on the spot and not by perforating it, because that is no longer a correct method. Only the two corners are cut away and a stamp 'Invalid' is placed on the first page.
by post: you must send an envelope, addressed to yourself, containing the necessary return costs and the old passport, to the embassy by registered mail. Four days later you have everything back, the new and the old travel pass, plus the certificate of authenticity, requested by immigration with a new travel pass. That is it…..
The perforation is no longer done because in this way you destroy ALL the contents of the old travel pass, including your original visa. If, I say IF, people want to be difficult, there is a possibility that problems will arise when transferring the visa or residence data from the old to the new. If only the corners are cut, the contents of the passport will remain intact. This way you will be without a valid travel pass for a maximum of 4 days.
Dear Lung addie, that is certainly an improvement if you have to extend through the embassy. Can the Netherlands take an example?
Dear Frans Nico,
this is my personal experience from about 1 year ago. Not hearsay but reality as it is now at the Belgian Embassy. Everything went very correctly and without any problem in this way. Ditto for the E-ID card with the only difference that you do NOT have to go to the embassy yourself. No fingerprints are required for the ID card. In the future this could change as I could read that fingerprints for an E-ID card will also be required in the future and of course you have to have that taken on site.
From DMK to Mochit/BTS, the most frequent bus line of the BMTA, the A1, runs nonstop for 30 bt. Orange AC, which will now be replaced very soon by the brand new chinese blue/purple buses.
If you still want to go from Don Mueang airport to the Dutch embassy by bus, I recommend bus line A3. It departs from Gate 6 Terminal 1 first floor and Gate 12 Terminal 2 first floor. Then you can go to the Lumphini Park terminus without transfer, so within walking distance of the embassy. And that for only 50 baht.