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[RossN]

Just wondering, since my daughter is American, does she require a Tourist Visa if she is coming to see me for more than 30 days (I have a 60 day stay booked for the summer).  She is 11, and will be traveling unaccompanied... from all the posts I can find, not too scary of an ordeal for her, and overstay doesn't seem to be an issue if under 14 (if I've read those posts correctly)... but want to know if she needs to get that visa prior to coming...

Thanks much!

Ross

[PattayaParent]

^I would expect that she would have problems at check in USA side if the return flight was 60 days later and she had no visa.

[Mario2008]

RossN, on 2012-03-27 09:28:38, said:

Just wondering, since my daughter is American, does she require a Tourist Visa if she is coming to see me for more than 30 days (I have a 60 day stay booked for the summer).  She is 11, and will be traveling unaccompanied... from all the posts I can find, not too scary of an ordeal for her, and overstay doesn't seem to be an issue if under 14 (if I've read those posts correctly)... but want to know if she needs to get that visa prior to coming...

Thanks much!

Ross

She needs a visa or the ailrine might refuse her boarding. Once in Thailand there is no overstay issue, but she still needs a visa.

As unaccompanied minor she wil also need written permisison from parents to travel and her birth certificate.

[RossN]

Thanks much, will have the ex get her a Visa there then... (she's actually in Japan)

Have looked at the forms for submission to Thai embassy... according to website for embassy in Japan...(below), I think for number 5,  a copy of my bank account here in Thailand should do... but what about for number 4?  She doesn't have her own account, is that mine as well?  Or do I need to have ex open an account for her?  (everything else looks relatively easy)

Since she's unaccompanied, just wonder what others did if they went for the Tourist Visa for their unaccompanied minor.

Again, thaks for the help!

Ross

Required documents for tourist visa    Written by Administrator | 07 August 2009
Required documents are:
1. One application form (download here)
2. Two photos (colour, size 3.5 x 4.5 cm) Citizens of following countries are required to provide 3 phots and 3 copies of application form
* Citizens of Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria and Yemen
Citizens of following countries are required to provide 4 phots and 4 copies of application form
* Nigeria
3. Passport (valid for no less than 6 months)
4. 1. Company employee must prepare Employment Verification letter(Original) (Business card is not acceptable)
Citizens of Algeria, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestinian State,  Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Nigeriamust prepare business registration/license(Original)
2. Self-employed applicant must prepare business registration/license and bank statement.
3. Student must prepare guarantee letter from university and student card.
4. Pensioner must prepare bank statement or pension fund
5. House wife must prepare husband's passport copy, Alien registration card copy and marriage certificate

5. A copy of recent bank statement or a copy of evidence of adequate finance
(20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)
6. Airline ticket (fully paid) with flight no., date of entry/exit and name
* Open ticket is not acceptable
7. Details of your itinerary or explanation of purpose to visit Thailand.
8. For Citizens of North Korea must prepare personal history and guarantee letter with photocopy of the guarantors passport or drivers license with original signature

[Mario2008]

Japan is not the most easiest consulate there is. Contact the consulate by email and explain the situation and ask what they need.

I would include a copy of your passport with extension of stay to show she is visiting you and you are staying here legally. That will probably be what they will want to see, togetter maybe with a copy of your bankbook with enough money.


Note that if she will be staying for less than 30 days, no visa might be required depending on her nationality.

[fletchsmile]

Sounds like another ill-thought out policy that in practice will cause far more inconvenience than it will do good.

Unaccompanied children or those without either parent = fair enough. That makes sense. As should some proof that someone is the father or mother particularly if the names are different. These are sensible measures and children do need protection.

As for one parent, makes little sense to me. What about where one partner has died? What were one is incapacitated and can't sign? What about all the one parent families?  What do they expect? Death certificates? Incapacity certificates? Court judgements? One night stand certificates? Parent did a runner or abandonment certificates? Not to mention one parent who has no interest in the child's welfare just being awkward and using the situation for leverage over the other parent.

It would hardly be difficult either for one spouse to simply write anything saying that the other spouse agrees and sign it/ forge it. Let's be honest if one parent is taking a child without permission of the other, I doubt they'd have qualms about documentation.

The sensible option is permission where no parents are travelling. Where only one is travelling then asking a few basic questions to the parent and/or the child is likely to be much more effective than getting documents for the sake of it. Indeed there's a risk of "jobs worth" type people just relying on documents and not bothering to use common sense checks and questions because someone had something that looked like a document of approval.

Edited by fletchsmile, 2012-03-27 14:15:17.

[maichai40]

I don't know if this can be considered an update but there is now an official form to be submitted when travelling with your children without wife.

We realized that when my wife looked at the website of M.o F.A., stating we have to visit the Amphur and ask
for authorization to travel (is me and my son leaving tomorrow).

With my surprise, at the Amphur they were well aware of that and said if we didn't come the baby may be denied to travel or at best they will make many problems.

Took 2 hours and 50 baht and we have an official paper stating i am allowed to bring my son out of the country for holiday
with approval of my wife.

Tomorrow i'll see if they really ask me that at Suvarnabhumi and i'll let you know.

[Mario2008]

Can you give a link to the page on the MFA website that states this, that would be helpful?

[PattayaParent]

maichai40, on 2012-05-09 18:34:28, said:

I don't know if this can be considered an update but there is now an official form to be submitted when travelling with your children without wife.

We realized that when my wife looked at the website of M.o F.A., stating we have to visit the Amphur and ask
for authorization to travel (is me and my son leaving tomorrow).

With my surprise, at the Amphur they were well aware of that and said if we didn't come the baby may be denied to travel or at best they will make many problems.

Took 2 hours and 50 baht and we have an official paper stating i am allowed to bring my son out of the country for holiday
with approval of my wife.

Tomorrow i'll see if they really ask me that at Suvarnabhumi and i'll let you know.

What about if your wife was taking the kid out without you, does the same apply?

My wife has never had any problem taking our kid out of Thailand without me, even though they have different surnames, but I always wait around until they pass immigration so it wouldn't be a problem if they asked.

[NanLaew]

maichai40, on 2012-05-09 18:34:28, said:

I don't know if this can be considered an update but there is now an official form to be submitted when travelling with your children without wife.

We realized that when my wife looked at the website of M.o F.A., stating we have to visit the Amphur and ask
for authorization to travel (is me and my son leaving tomorrow).

With my surprise, at the Amphur they were well aware of that and said if we didn't come the baby may be denied to travel or at best they will make many problems.

Took 2 hours and 50 baht and we have an official paper stating i am allowed to bring my son out of the country for holiday
with approval of my wife.

Tomorrow i'll see if they really ask me that at Suvarnabhumi and i'll let you know.

I am going to bump this one. Has ANYONE found the link on the MFA website that is referred to here?

I would like to have this approval letter for both my wife and myself and avoid any problems at the airport.

I assume that the letter from the Amphur is in Thai so one could get a 'certified' translation and use it if there's any questions at the other end of the flight?

[NanLaew]

As a footnote, my friend has been taking his daughter to Singapore and Hong Kong on holidays while his wife (the childs mother) stays in Thailand. The most recent trip was last month and he has never been asked for a letter of permission from his wife on departure or arrival anywhere. His daughter has his family name and holds two passports, one Thai and the other in her fathers nationality.

[Chivas]

Certainly first I've heard of it and grateful to the OP......

Suspect most on here weren't aware of this requirement. Which begs the question what actually would happen to a Brit coming in with a 12 year old son ??

Held at immigration whilst attempts are made to contact the absent parent...??

[Mario2008]

The focus is on signs of child trafficking. So for now, if you have the same last name as the child there is only a very small risk of being checked.

But yes, if they want to check they can hold you up till a check has been made. I don't know about Thai immigraiton, but I do know of it happening at other airports in the world. So best is to always travel with a permission from the other parent.

Checks do get more frequent.