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Can I enter Thailand with an old passport if I have a valid visa but am applying for a new one?

Visa Regulations Passport Validity Thailand Immigration NON-O Visa Re-entry Permits Expats in Thailand Traveling with Expired Passport

Oct 11, 2017

7 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

hello..

I have a passport with valid visa which will be expired on coming February. I will get my new passport in next week. But I need to go back to my country before I get my new passport.

Is it possible to enter Thailand with my old passport?

I heard that passport needs to be at least 6 months period of time left active. Please help me to answer. Thanks.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user inquires about the possibility of entering Thailand with an old passport that has a valid visa expiring soon while waiting for a new passport. The community clarifies that, generally, the passport must be valid for the duration of stay, which is usually applicable for visas. Since the user has a NON-O visa and their passport is valid until February, they should be able to re-enter Thailand as long as their old passport hasn't been canceled by the consulate. However, it’s advised to confirm with the local consulate regarding the specifics on traveling with an old passport while waiting for a new one.

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Tod *********

The real rule about thailand is you can't BUY a visa from a thai consulate on a passport with less than 6 months validity.

BUT all you need to enter the country is a passport that's good for as long as you'll be stamped in when you arrive.

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Jean ****************

I am from Philippines, our law is we can't travel abroad if the passport is less than 6months to its validity, if that's the case with you too, you need to go to your embassy and have your passport validity extended, so you can travel back here for your new passport.

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Jean ****************

yes we could, I just did it, for this instance that I don't have 6 months left, I didn't know that we could, so my renewal and extension were done at the same time, I got the extension on the same day with just a stamp of the extension on my passport and I would need to wait for about 2 months for my new passport :).

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Tod *********

I don't think you can extend a passport, :/ , they expire when they expire,

You get a new one, which the O/P has done, it's just not here yet, and they need to travel on the old one..

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Tod *********

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Johnsuma ******

when you get your new passport you must go to immigration and give them the letter from your embassy, they will just update stamps.

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Tod *********

As long as your old passport is valid for the amount of time you'll get stamped in for when you return you can use it to enter the country.

However, you should know that most consulates here CANCEL your old passport when you order a new one and you can no longer use it for international travel until you get the new passport..

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Tod *********

This is right off the UK renew a passport site and the US one is the same. Once you apply for a new passport you can't use the old one to travel out of the country on.

"You can’t travel with it after you’ve applied for a new one - but you will be able to keep your existing passport for ID purposes".

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Tod *********

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Steve *******

What visa do you have?

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Steve *******

. Ok, I understand that. Good luck anyways

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Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Steve Greir, sadly i can only go back for two days in weekends.

In Myanmar, normally I need to wait 1 week or more to get new one and don't have enough time to wait. Also it's like urgent thing comes up today after I went to embassy to apply new PP yesterday. :)

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Steve *******

Khaing Kyi. Just out of interest, why didnt you go to Myanmar to renew your passport? Then you could have returned showing your old passport with the extention of stay and re entry permit. You would be stamped in for 90

days on the new passport and then go to your local immigration office in Thailand and get the extention and entry stamp transferred to your new passport

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Steve *******

. Sorry, I edited while you posted

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Tod *********

, Good point (y) BUT can she get back into thailand on it?

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Steve *******

Tod. You can travel back to your county of origion on the existing passport. I guess we are back to the OPs question. Can they re enter Thailand on that passport.

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Tod *********

, Hmm, I'd call them and ask if you can travel internationally with the old one while you're waiting for the new one. I know both the US and the UK cancel the old passports (in the computer, not physically) when you order a new passport. You can't travel internationally until you switch to the new one.

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Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Myanmar

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Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

yes. they didn't cancel my passport. they just took copy of my passport for all pages.

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Tod *********

what country is the passport from?

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Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

so.. can I still go back with this passport?

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Tod *********

, then in theory, IF your consulate doesn't cancel passports when you renew one you can travel out, come back and get stamped in until 14th Feb 2018. Then go get your new passport and take the old one and the new one to Cham Churi Square's One Stop Service Center to get the extension and the re-entry permit moved over to the new passport (it's free to do).

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Steve *******

. Sorry, didnt see that

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Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

yes. my passport valid unit Feb

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Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

oh.. really?..I'm sorry again. I'm so bad at this kind of stuff.

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Tod *********

, she's got a multiple re-entry permit it's right under the extension inked sideways on the page.

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Tod *********

It's NOT a Non-B

it's a TWO year extension of stay for working for a BOI company. You use the immigration office at Cham Churi Square, right.

Is your passport valid until Feb 2018?

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Steve *******

Its an extention of stay. At the very least you'll need a re entry permit

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Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

hi.. i'm so sorry.. it's Non-immigrant B.

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Steve *******

. I'm not 100% sure but I dont think VFS/UK passport office cancel the existing passport untill the new one is collected. As you say best to check before leaving Thailand.

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Tod *********

, I think it'll depend on their nationality too.

BUT I'd sure call the consulate and find out before they leave thailand.

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Steve *******

. Yeah, I wasnt sure about that. It's a tricky one to answer for sure

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Tod *********

, For a LOT of countries once you apply for a new passport you can't use the old one for international travel. :/

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Steve *******

Multi entry? You applied for your new passport in Thailand? You should be ok as your existing passport shouldnt be cancelled untill you pick up the new one. The 6 months doesnt apply as you already have a visa

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Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Non-O

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Noe *****

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Ron *******

There is no rule on needing your passport valid for 6 months. Your passport simply needs to be valid for your period of stay.

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Ron *******

Well obviously if the passport has run out!

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Johnsuma ******

And if the passport is at the end the visa is not longer valid, so PP must be renew at the embassy and presented at the immigration with a letter from the embassy so Imm. will update the visa.

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Ron *******

Yes. I was simply answering your question regarding leaving and entering Thailand. You never stipulated if on applying for a new visa or entering visa exempt. If you already have a visa then your passport is valid to enter with the visa no matter how long left on your passport.

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Johnsuma ******

it need minimum 6 month validity for non o visa, not for tourists

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Johnsuma ******

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