Thai passport is confusing (readers' submission)
October 29, 2022
My wife has just received her new Thai passport. Now it turns out that the number 0 looks exactly the same as the letter O.
This can be checked by comparing the year 1980 with the word passport, for example. It is therefore impossible to find out the correct passport number. On her old passport there was a clear difference between the 0 and the O.
I know that the Dutch passport never uses the number 0, but that number and letter are exactly the same is quite confusing.
Submitted by Khun moo
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Correction,
The Dutch passport never uses the letter O but always the number 0 in the passport number.
The new Thai passport seems to use the letter O everywhere, both for the passport number and for date of birth, passport expiry date.
Indeed, I also have an o that could be an O, but also a 0. That also caused difficulties with the Thai pass application last year.
Khun moo, did your wife receive her passport in Thailand or through the embassy in The Hague? The use of the letter O and the number 0 often causes confusion anyway. In this case, it seems as if the designer did not pay attention to the production of this series of passports and simply used the letter O (o) for dates and passport numbers, where perhaps the number 0 should have been used. the agency from which she received the passport? How will she/you solve it when a passport number is requested on a form to be completed?
Wut,
The passport has been applied for in Thailand at the official authority in udon Thani. I went myself. The passport is a travel document and Thai ID is required for applications for almost all matters. We have not yet informed as we have only had the passport for 3 days.
Indeed the same with my wife's sister, got her passport of the week in Pattaya. Fortunately, you can see the difference between 0 and O in the strip at the bottom of the page.
Erik,
I see that my wife's passport only uses the number 0 at the bottom.
Actually, I am for the Thai method.
It can no longer be mistaken for the passport number.
Nor for date of birth.
It will be clear to everyone that. O1 October 196O 01 October 1960 is meant.
During passport control, only the strip at the bottom may also be read.
Funny, I have the same problem with my new Dutch passport. Often causes confusion among different authorities. Don't know why the 0 is used, in fact they should leave it out. In the Netherlands they know that O is never used.. but in Spain, for example, with applications for official documents, this was quite difficult….
Yes, time for more European integration.
Even the PC keyboards are different between Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
Maybe the zero will be provided with a slash.
Dear Khan,
It so happens that my NL passport does contain a letter O and also 2 zeros. This led to lengthy delays a few times, until a Thai customs officer clarified it in pencil. Fortunately, 8 out of 10 years have already passed and then hope…
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl › topics › passport-and-identity-card › question-and-answer › does-my-passport-number-contain-the-number-0-or-the-letter-o
Does my passport number contain the number '0' or the letter 'O'?
Enter passport number. Please note that it is always the number '0' when you enter your passport number. For example with: a visa application; the application for an ESTA travel authorization (electronic travel authorization for the United States of America); booking a trip; online check-in with an airline ticket.
liam,
Any manual changes to your passport will invalidate it.
The Dutch passport never uses the letter o for the passport number.
Well for names and for months, place of residence.
The difference between 0 and O is visible in the "machine readable" strip at the bottom of the passport. I had the same problem with my Thai partner's passport number.
Hopefully this also solves your problem.
Yves,
My wife travels on a Dutch and Thai passport and does not expect any problems. I do see problems for Dutch people who want their Thai partner to come over to the Netherlands, where passport data must be submitted to the IND.