Unanswereda year ago
Can I re-link my electronic DTV visa to a new passport after it was stolen?
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- RE-LINKING DTV with NEW PASSPORT?! MINE WAS STOLEN.-
Hi everyone,
I’m a Canadian currently in Thailand, and my passport was stolen while I was in Europe before re-entering Thailand. I already have a new passport, and my DTV visa is electronic — it was not a physical sticker, and I still have the DTV approval email, receipt, and e-Visa PDF copy.
When I entered Thailand on November 6, I was given a 60-day tourist stamp on arrival, but I’d really like to continue using my valid DTV visa that’s linked to my stolen passport.
The Royal Thai Consulate in Hanoi told me that the DTV can’t be transferred to a new passport, but before applying again I wanted to ask if anyone here has successfully:
1. Re-linked their electronic DTV to a new passport after a theft or renewal, or
2. Had an agent or immigration office assist with this exact process.
Documents I currently have:
• photocopy in black and white of the stolen passport ID page and all pages with stamps before exiting Thailand to go to Europe in September
• Police report (original + translation)
• New passport copy
• Entry stamp (Nov 6) and TDAC form
• DTV e-Visa PDF, approval email, and payment receipt
• TM30 (current residence)
• Supporting docs: passport replacement application + proof of payment, updated lease with my new passport number on it, most recent bank statement, outbound flight and updated Muay Thai invitation letter with my new passport number on it.
Has anyone successfully done this, or know which immigration office or visa agent can handle it?
Otherwise, if you had to renew your passport and your DTV was linked to your old passport - how did you fix this?!!
Any first-hand experience would really help me decide whether to try re-linking or re-apply from scratch.
Thanks in advance for any guidance 🙏
Hi everyone,
I’m a Canadian currently in Thailand, and my passport was stolen while I was in Europe before re-entering Thailand. I already have a new passport, and my DTV visa is electronic — it was not a physical sticker, and I still have the DTV approval email, receipt, and e-Visa PDF copy.
When I entered Thailand on November 6, I was given a 60-day tourist stamp on arrival, but I’d really like to continue using my valid DTV visa that’s linked to my stolen passport.
The Royal Thai Consulate in Hanoi told me that the DTV can’t be transferred to a new passport, but before applying again I wanted to ask if anyone here has successfully:
1. Re-linked their electronic DTV to a new passport after a theft or renewal, or
2. Had an agent or immigration office assist with this exact process.
Documents I currently have:
• photocopy in black and white of the stolen passport ID page and all pages with stamps before exiting Thailand to go to Europe in September
• Police report (original + translation)
• New passport copy
• Entry stamp (Nov 6) and TDAC form
• DTV e-Visa PDF, approval email, and payment receipt
• TM30 (current residence)
• Supporting docs: passport replacement application + proof of payment, updated lease with my new passport number on it, most recent bank statement, outbound flight and updated Muay Thai invitation letter with my new passport number on it.
Has anyone successfully done this, or know which immigration office or visa agent can handle it?
Otherwise, if you had to renew your passport and your DTV was linked to your old passport - how did you fix this?!!
Any first-hand experience would really help me decide whether to try re-linking or re-apply from scratch.
Thanks in advance for any guidance 🙏
Summary so far
A Canadian expat in Thailand is seeking advice on how to re-link their electronic DTV visa to a new passport after the original was stolen. They possess various documents, including a police report and e-Visa copies, but have been informed by the Royal Thai Consulate that re-linking may not be possible. Community members have shared mixed experiences, with some suggesting contacting local immigration offices and others noting that visa transfers aren't typically allowed.
37 repliesnewest first
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Launa ************
@Shachar ********
did it and it all went okay.
Ian **********
All other visas are transferred to your new passport — why not a DTV? Immigration transferred my Non-O extension to my new passport at the airport without me even asking.
Matan *******
If the old passport is lost and you have no physical access to it (only copies), you are typically required to apply for a new DTV visa since Thai immigration does not transfer visas or update the passport number electronically. The advice from multiple sources including the Royal Thai Consulate and Thai Visa FAQs stresses that the visa stays with the original passport and cannot be reissued to a new passport directly.
Toni ********
Speak to your local immigration office. I renewed my passport and got mine transferred for a small fee. But I do still have to travel with my old passport just in case they need to double check everything.
Shannon ******
OP@Toni *******
so you were able to do it in Bangkok? What did you say to them when you were there? I have an appointment tomorrow with immigration at Chang wattana in Bangkok (I put it under stamp transfer when booking my appointment online)Shannon ******
OP@Toni *******
can you tell me what you said to them so I have a clue of what to say? Haha if it worked for you I’d like to know what you said/provided etcToni ********
@Shannon *****
sounds like you booked the right thing. They should be ableTo help you - just explain the situation :)
John **********
@Toni *******
you wouldn't have had your visa transferred, you'd have got a stamp in your new passport acknowledging your old passportToni ********
@John *********
my point is that I didn’t have to reapply for a brand new DTV :)John **********
@Toni *******
indeed not, you carry both passports and a print out of the original DTVAnju *********
Following. I am in a very similar situation. In my case, I did not lose my passport. I changed it because it would have expired while being away. I came back to Thailand bringing both but the IO failed to know what to do with that, and only gave me 60 days visa exempt stamp, telling me to contact e-visa people once in the country and had them link the new passport to the visa, when the actual right action was to just stamp the new passport. I emailed them as told, but after 3 weeks no one ever got back to me, and whenever I ask everyone says different thing, because the reality is that no one knows for a fact... I'm utterly clueless on how to proceed next. So hey please if you manage to get an answer from someone, do please share any updates. I will do the same 🙏
Shannon ******
OP@Anju ********
will do. I don’t know why people are giving advice if they don’t have a clue. That’s how I ended up in this mess hahaAnju *********
@Shannon *****
So true, sadly. I had people telling me blatantly my visa is now canceled (they are on a non B and have no idea about DTV visas), I had people telling me to urgently go see the same immigration officer like TOMORROW in the local immigration office because am in big trouble (as if I was here now illegally and breaking some sort of law?), I had people telling me I am in trouble because now I am only a tourist (and I said yes, but with the DTV, I am still a tourist in Thailand), or someone saying that my only option is to travel back to Spain and physically show up at the Thai Embassy there for them to transfer numbers manually, when it tuns out DTV visa cannot be transferred, according to Thai Official Authorities... I mean, yes the situation is not common indeed, but seriously the fact is that no one knows because it is quite unprecedented so... 🙄Anju *********
@Shannon *****
I see! I can always try first asking at my local immigration office then tomorrow. I doubt they will know what to do though since they only handle tourist visa extensions basically, but who knows. Otherwise, then maybe it is worth a trip to BKK if your situation gets resolved! Would you be so kind to let me know please? 🙏🙏John **********
@Anju ********
did you actually show a printout of your DTV?Anju *********
She actually did herself on the phone, and her supervisor did not seem to have a clue either. I was there stuck for an hour and a half, and the result was those 60 days, which to be honest by then I was only happy they let me in, since yeah for a minute I thought they would not even let me in at all
Anju *********
@John *********
I showed EVERYTHING: I had my DTV printed, and my two passports. She also showed me she had my DTV visa data on-screen. I tried to explain that as far as I knew everyone with the same situation was being stamped on the new passport just showing both, and they were okay. And yet she ignored my old passport and did not even want to see it. Just kept going on and on about the passport number being different to the one linked to the visa.Anju *********
@Yanko ***
Samui Airport.
Yanko ****
@Anju ********
was that at Suvarnabhumi Airport?John **********
@Shannon *****
bet you a pound to a dollar they won't do anything with your DTV, they are far more likely to tell you to return to wherever stamped you in to get the stamp corrected. What they may do is stamp an acknowledgement of your old passport in your new passport but you still need to carry both anyway.Anju *********
@Shannon *****
Well, that's kind of a trip from where I am I would only consider to make if someone told me that this is right course of action. Now, showing up there with a question that potentially no one knows how to solve (judgin by all posts in this grouo), no, not something I had in mind really...Shannon ******
OP@Anju ********
what about going to the headquarters in Bangkok? That’s what I’m doing tomorrowAnju *********
@John *********
Yeah, actually this is my plan next week recommended by an visa agent. Hopefully someone realises it was their mistake in their first place, and ammends my stamp without asking me to leave the country and come backJohn **********
@Anju ********
just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there not out to get you.... Just a wee quote, not a reflection on your situation. But seriously I don't see you have any other options except perhaps returning to the airport and asking immigration to correct the stampAnju *********
@John *********
I am hoping this is an okay solution, but given the experience I am now fearing next officer trying to question why I got 60-days visa exempt stamp instead of the normal 180 days for my visa and that would lead to again getting stuck at the airport with dozens of questions. Or even worse that someones comes up with the thought that those 60days have canceled my visa and they send me back to reapply for a new one. Then E-visa people don't give me a new one because they say I already hold one. At this point I believe every surreal scenario is actually more than possible... 🥴🤷♀️John **********
@Anju ********
odd. Sometimes you need to push your point with someone more senior. Not much you can do except leave and enter again
Marcin *******
@Anju ********
what a joke. I would have asked to speak to her supervisor.John **********
If you have a photocopy of the old (lost) passport, a printout of your evisa and your new passport did you show all 3 when entering Thailand? If not why not?
Paul *******
If it's an electronic visa, why can't it just be used with a new passport? I don't see the issue...
Jef ********
To answer some of your questions, with renewals of a passport traditionally people just carry both passports.
I have seen other post with lost / missing / stolen passports and they were told to make a new application.
As the DTV is issued by ministry of foreign affairs (embassys) I don’t think immigration office will help you. Not saying impossible but with history of people trying to extend in country I’d imagine transferring the visa will be the same case.
Any way please share your feedback if you have any updates this will be a good one to follow 🙏🏽
I have seen other post with lost / missing / stolen passports and they were told to make a new application.
As the DTV is issued by ministry of foreign affairs (embassys) I don’t think immigration office will help you. Not saying impossible but with history of people trying to extend in country I’d imagine transferring the visa will be the same case.
Any way please share your feedback if you have any updates this will be a good one to follow 🙏🏽
Shannon ******
OP@Jef *******
do you know this as fact or guessing? Everyone is telling me mixed things - why it’s so confusing what to do
Luit *****************
@Shannon *****
For most countries the procedure is indeed you have to re apply for visa when you loose the passport or it is stolen.In all cases worldwide the issuer of the visa should explain the procedure, and that is what you already did.
Normally you should also report the visa as stolen at the embassy/consulate where you applied.
Just ask Google what you have to to in this case and you see it just is a normal procedure, and it also is a logical procedure.
Of course with copies of the old passport and police report you can try to get in the country, but you take a risk.
When you have a good travel insurance, they will pay for the stolen passport and the stolen visa.
Jef ********
Email the embassy that issued it.
It’s probably going to be case by case embassy by embassy.
But I don’t think you will be successful
It’s probably going to be case by case embassy by embassy.
But I don’t think you will be successful
Jef ********
Just my own research plus what others have shared.
Shandy ********
@Jef *******
Has it been confirmed that DTV holders who had to replace their passports due to lost/stolen passports have been denied entry on DTV? I've also heard that your visa status will be identifiable with your fingerprint. Maybe this person should try entering on the DTV or see if they make him come in visa-exempt.Luit *****************
@Shandy *******
Theoretically this might work of course, but there is no guarantee, the visa is only valid with the associated passport.Activity
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