Australians To Have Full Consulate On Phuket For Thai Visa Service, Other Requirements
Canberra made the announcement in mid May, as part of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade annual budget statement for 2015-16.
The statement said: "The Australian Government will commit a $98.3 million to open five new overseas missions in consultation with host governments" and that "These new missions will advance trade and investment opportunities for Australia and provide Australians with a greater level of consular assistance when travelling and working overseas."
It is the single largest expansion of Australia's diplomatic network in over 40 years.
The expansion will also see new posts established in Doha, Qatar; Buka, Bougainville; Papua New Guinea; Makassar, Indonesia; and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Australia's diplomatic network in Thailand currently comprises an embassy in Bangkok on South Sathorn Road and honorary consuls located in Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Phuket.
Exact details of the consulate planned for Phuket - to be staffed by Australian diplomats - including when it will open, where it will be located and how big it will be have yet to be announced.
The official budget paper stated the new consulate would help manage ‘Australia's significant consular load' in Thailand.
The Australian embassy in Bangkok on 13 May 2015 issued a statement that quoted Australian Ambassador to Thailand Paul Robilliard as saying: "Australia would like to establish this new Consulate General quickly and we are pleased to be able to start working with Thailand on the process to set up the mission."
"…the number of Australians visiting Phuket has doubled since 2007. The new Consulate-General will assist those Australians directly."
Once it opens, the consulate-general in Phuket will provide Australians with full consular, passport and notarial services.
Until then, Michelle Hawryluk remains Australia's Honorary Consul in Phuket providing consular assistance and with jurisdiction in Phuket, Krabi and Phang-Nga provinces. Honorary Consuls are not able to perform notarial services, or accept or process passport applications.
Aside from their national embassies and other diplomatic offices, foreigners in Thailand can also contact many a Thai law firm and international law firm in Thailand who welcome enquiries on a range of topics ranging from the various in-and-outs of the immigration service in Thailand to Thai labour law and Thailand work permit and Thai visa service issues.
These firms also offer accounting, auditing and tax consulting among their various legal services and advice, and can also help with informative and useful recommendations for those who are - or who are considering - starting a business in Thailand.
The statement said: "The Australian Government will commit a $98.3 million to open five new overseas missions in consultation with host governments" and that "These new missions will advance trade and investment opportunities for Australia and provide Australians with a greater level of consular assistance when travelling and working overseas."
It is the single largest expansion of Australia's diplomatic network in over 40 years.
The expansion will also see new posts established in Doha, Qatar; Buka, Bougainville; Papua New Guinea; Makassar, Indonesia; and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Australia's diplomatic network in Thailand currently comprises an embassy in Bangkok on South Sathorn Road and honorary consuls located in Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Phuket.
Exact details of the consulate planned for Phuket - to be staffed by Australian diplomats - including when it will open, where it will be located and how big it will be have yet to be announced.
The official budget paper stated the new consulate would help manage ‘Australia's significant consular load' in Thailand.
The Australian embassy in Bangkok on 13 May 2015 issued a statement that quoted Australian Ambassador to Thailand Paul Robilliard as saying: "Australia would like to establish this new Consulate General quickly and we are pleased to be able to start working with Thailand on the process to set up the mission."
"…the number of Australians visiting Phuket has doubled since 2007. The new Consulate-General will assist those Australians directly."
Once it opens, the consulate-general in Phuket will provide Australians with full consular, passport and notarial services.
Until then, Michelle Hawryluk remains Australia's Honorary Consul in Phuket providing consular assistance and with jurisdiction in Phuket, Krabi and Phang-Nga provinces. Honorary Consuls are not able to perform notarial services, or accept or process passport applications.
Aside from their national embassies and other diplomatic offices, foreigners in Thailand can also contact many a Thai law firm and international law firm in Thailand who welcome enquiries on a range of topics ranging from the various in-and-outs of the immigration service in Thailand to Thai labour law and Thailand work permit and Thai visa service issues.
These firms also offer accounting, auditing and tax consulting among their various legal services and advice, and can also help with informative and useful recommendations for those who are - or who are considering - starting a business in Thailand.
