Australian Embassy

Thailand

Embassy address: 37 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok - Telephone: 02 344 6300 - Fax: 02 344 6593

Services for Australians

The Consular Services Section of the Embassy provides advice and assistance to Australian citizens in need in Thailand, performs notarial services (e.g. witnessing of signatures and true copies of documents), and processes applications for Australian passports. Further information on consular services available is provided below or visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Smart Traveller website, www.smartraveller.gov.au.

The Consular Services Section does not accept or process applications for visas for entry to Australia or applications for Australian citizenship. For these services you need to contact the Embassy’s Immigration Section on 02-3446400 or e-mail immigration.bangkok@dfat.gov.au.

Contact us:

The Embassy is located at 37 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. The nearest BTS (skytrain) station is Sala Daeng and the nearest MRT (subway) station is Lumpini. The Embassy is a 10-15 minute walk from either station.

The Consular Services Section is open from 0830-1600 hours Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). Appointments are not required.

If you would like to speak with a consular officer please call the Embassy on
02 344 6300 during business hours and follow the prompts to be connected to Consular Services. We may not be able to answer your call immediately as we also assist clients at our counter, and outside the Embassy, but please leave a message for us and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Alternatively, e-mail us at consular.bangkok@dfat.gov.au

If the Embassy is closed and you need emergency consular assistance the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Consular Emergency Centre (CEC) in Canberra is there to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact the CEC by calling the Embassy switchboard 02-3446300 and follow the prompts for emergency consular assistance. Alternatively, contact the CEC directly by dialling +61 2 62613305 (international call charges apply). The CEC is also an advisory line for concerned family members in Australia and can be called on 1300 555 135 (for the cost of a local call within Australia).

In Phuket, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui limited consular assistance is available through our Honorary Consuls. Honorary Consuls are not able to perform notarial services, or accept or process passport applications (with the exception of the Honorary Consul in Phuket who is able to accept applications for adult passport renewals only).

Australian Consulate
The Chava Resort
113 Moo 3
Tambon Cherngtalay
Thaland District
Phuket, THAILAND
Telephone: (66 76) 372 600
Facsimile: (66 76) 372 606

Australian Consulate
Jinda Charoen Konsong
236 Chiangmai-Doi Saket Road
Amphur Sansai
Chiang Mai, THAILAND
Telephone: (66 53) 492 480
Facsimile: (66 53) 492 426

Australian Consulate
Koh Samui
Suratthani, THAILAND
Contact through the Australian Embassy, Bangkok

What we CAN DO to help Australians overseas:

• issue Australian passports (applicant must provide relevant documentation and comply with procedures required by law), including emergency passports *

• provide advice and support in the case of an accident, serious illness or death, or if an Australian is a victim of a serious crime, and arrange for next-of-kin to be informed (if they wish)

• visit or contact Australians who are arrested and arrange for their family to be informed (if they wish)

• contact relatives and friends on an Australian’s behalf and ask them to assist with money or tickets

• witness and authenticate signatures and provide certain other notarial services (fees apply for these services)

• help during crises, such as civil unrest and natural disasters

• provide a list of local doctors, lawyers and translators

• provide the latest consular travel advisories, which include up-to-date information about the risks Australians might face overseas

• provide voting facilities for federal and some state and territory elections.

Our Honorary Consuls in Phuket, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai Consulates headed by an honorary consul provide only some of the above services.

*We CANNOT provide this support to other countries’ nationals, even if they may have been lawfully living in Australia.

What we CANNOT DO to help Australians overseas:

• give legal advice, investigate crimes overseas or intervene in court proceedings

• get Australians out of prison or obtain special treatment for Australians in prison

• provide medical services or medications

• arrange visas, work or residence permits for other countries, or help Australians to obtain them

• provide definitive information on visas, customs and quarantine conditions overseas – only the countries you plan to visit can provide up-to-date information about their requirements

• pay or guarantee payment of hotel, medical or any other bills, including the cost of returning lost luggage to Australia

• act as a travel agent, bank or post office, or store luggage

• become involved in commercial disputes, private legal matters or take up complaints about local purchases

• provide translation, interpreter, telephone or photocopy services

• pay pensions (although we can provide you with contact details of government authorities in Australia to help you to resolve payment difficulties)

• provide physical protection.

We CAN advise you how to get help on these and other matters.

Online Registration for Australians overseas

We encourage all Australians travelling or residing overseas to register their travel and contact information with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register via the “register with us” facility on the Smart Traveller website www.smartraveller.gov.au. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue. It may also be used to pass other information to you such as a change in level to the Government’s Travel Advice or information on Federal elections.

Travel Advice

To help Australians avoid difficulties overseas, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade publishes travel advice for over 160 destinations, including Thailand, on www.smartraveller.gov.au. The site has information on the risks you might face while travelling and other useful information on a wide range of topics to help you make informed decisions about when and where to travel.

Country-specific travel advice contains important information that you should be aware of when planning an overseas trip. There’s useful advice on local laws, health issues, crime, and an indicative rating of the security situation of that country. Security conditions can change quickly so monitor the Travel Advice closely prior to your departure.

We encourage you to “subscribe” to the Travel Advice via the website to receive an e-mail whenever there is a change to the DFAT Travel Advice for Thailand

Australian Passports

The Consular Services Section accepts applications for Australian passports. Standard processing time for an Australian passport is 10 working days once the application has been lodged at the Embassy. Applicants must lodge their Australian Passport application in person at the Embassy. Applications are not accepted by post.

Further information on applying for your Australian passport through the Embassy in Bangkok

Further information on applying for your Australian passport through the Embassy in Phuket

Applying for a passport for a child born through surrogacy - New Policy (with effect 24 April, 2013)

The Australian Passport Office (APO) hs revised policy and procedures for passport applications for children born through surrogacy arrangements.

Further information on applying for a passport for a child born through surrogacy

Getting Married in Thailand

Follow the link below for information on the steps Australians need to take to to ensure that their marriage in Thailand is recognised as a valid marriage in Thailand and Australia. The Embassy cannot provide information on other issues, such as organising celebrants or venues.

Registering marriage performed in Thailand

For thai version on registering marriage in Thailand, please click here

For information on a Thai spouse’s immigration to Australia please contact the Immigration Section of the Embassy (DIAC) on 02-3446400 or via e-mail immigration.bangkok@dfat.gov.au.

Medical Assistance in Thailand

Travellers are strongly advised to take out travel insurance. Medicare does not cover Australian citizens for medical expenses in Thailand. You are advised to clarify arrangements for any coverage with your private health insurance provider before departure. The Australian Embassy and the Australian Government cannot pay for private hospital costs for medical treatment or medical evacuations in Thailand.

If you have queries about bringing particular types of medication into Thailand you should contact your nearest Thai Embassy to seek advice on customs and importation restrictions. Contact information for Thailand’s overseas missions is available at www.thaiembassy.org. You might also check the websites for the Thai Customs Department (for English version, click on the symbol on top right-hand corner) and the Thai Food and Drug Administration which provide information on import restrictions and have a facility to e-mail queries.

If you are in need of urgent medical treatment in Thailand the Embassy is able to provide you with a list of medical providers. Just call or e-mail us using the contact details provided above.

Australian Federal Election

The Australian federal election will be held on Saturday 14 September 2013.

Early (in-person) voting will be offered at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok from Monday 2 September 2013. Election arrangements, including voting times, will be published on this page closer to the election.

In the meantime, you can find information relating to being overseas at election time on the Australian Electoral Commission’s website www.aec.gov.au.

Legal Advice and Lawyers - General Information

List of Lawyers in Thailand : If you require legal advice or assistance send us an e-mail to consular.bangkok@dfat.gov.au and we will send you our latest list of English-speaking lawyers in Thailand.