Ask question

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.

1,757

views

1

likes

65

all likes

38

replies

1

images

6

users

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.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

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.

Like

Reply

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.

Like

Reply

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 :).

Like

Reply

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..

Like

Reply

Reply to

Tod *********

Reply

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.

Like

Reply

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..

Like

Reply

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".

Like

Reply

Reply to

Tod *********

Reply

Steve *******

What visa do you have?

Like

Reply

Steve *******

. Ok, I understand that. Good luck anyways

Like

Reply

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. :)

Like

Reply

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

Like

Reply

Steve *******

. Sorry, I edited while you posted

Like

Reply

Tod *********

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

Like

Reply

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.

Like

Reply

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.

Like

Reply

Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Myanmar

Like

Reply

Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

Like

Reply

Tod *********

what country is the passport from?

Like

Reply

Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

Like

Reply

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).

Like

Reply

Steve *******

. Sorry, didnt see that

Like

Reply

Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

yes. my passport valid unit Feb

Like

Reply

Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

Like

Reply

Tod *********

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

Like

Reply

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?

Like

Reply

Steve *******

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

Like

Reply

Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

Like

Reply

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.

Like

Reply

Tod *********

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

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

Like

Reply

Steve *******

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

Like

Reply

Tod *********

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

Like

Reply

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

Like

Reply

Noe *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Non-O

Like

Reply

Reply to

Noe *****

Reply

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.

Like

Reply

Ron *******

Well obviously if the passport has run out!

Like

Reply

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.

Like

Reply

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.

Like

Reply

Johnsuma ******

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

Like

Reply

Reply to

Johnsuma ******

Reply

Thai Visa Advice

... members · 40% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.

Thai Visa Advice

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice

Will my Thai visa remain valid if I renew my passport in the US before re-entering Thailand?

4 comments

4 months ago

Can I enter Thailand if my passport has 5 months validity left while holding a retirement visa?

46 comments

10 months ago

Can I enter Thailand with a one-year visa in my old passport if I have a new passport?

3 comments

a year ago

Can I re-enter Thailand with less than 6 months validity on my passport?

10 comments

a year ago

Can I re-enter Thailand on my current visa with both my old and new passport?

19 comments

2 years ago

Can I use my old visa when returning to Thailand with a new passport?

9 comments

2 years ago

Can I enter Thailand with a passport that has less than 6 months validity?

12 comments

2 years ago

Is my passport sufficient for entering Thailand if it expires in October while I arrive in April?

3 comments

2 years ago

Can I enter Thailand with less than six months validity on my passport if I have a multiple entry visa?

16 comments

2 years ago

Is it a problem to return to Thailand with a passport that has less than six months of validity?

21 comments

2 years ago

Can I use my old passport with a valid visa alongside my new passport when entering Thailand?

15 comments

2 years ago

Can I enter Thailand with a new Non-O visa after my re-entry permit expires on my old passport?

7 comments

2 years ago

Can I enter Thailand on a different passport if my non-immigrant O visa has expired?

3 comments

2 years ago

Can I re-enter Thailand with both my old and new passports if I have a valid visa and re-entry permit?

3 comments

3 years ago

What should I do when reentering Thailand with a new passport and a visa in my old passport?

37 comments

3 years ago

Can I Use My Old Passport with a Retirement Visa to Enter Thailand After Renewal?

2 comments

4 years ago

Can I Travel With My Expiring Passport and a New Passport While Retaining My Valid Non-Imm O Visa?

5 comments

4 years ago

Can My Wife Use a New Passport with an Old OA Visa for Re-Entry into Thailand?

2 comments

5 years ago

Will I have problems entering Thailand with a passport that has less than 6 months validity?

0 comments

5 years ago

Is it a problem to show both my old and new passport at Thai immigration after renewing my passport with a Non-O visa?

3 comments

5 years ago

Can I travel with two passports after receiving a new passport while holding a Non-Imm O Visa in Thailand?

3 comments

6 years ago

Can I enter Thailand on a visa in my cancelled passport after applying for a new one?

18 comments

6 years ago

Will I face problems re-entering Thailand with a passport under processing and a valid visa?

30 comments

7 years ago

Can I transfer my visa from an old passport to a new one when traveling to Thailand?

45 comments

7 years ago

Can I enter Thailand on a new passport with a tourist visa while having my non-B visa in an old passport?

26 comments

7 years ago

Data protection policy Terms and conditions Disclaimer Privacy policy Refund policy

The asq:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.