Answered4 years ago

Can I switch from one visa to another in Thailand without making a border run?

Visa Rules In-Country Visa Activation Dual Nationality Thailand Immigration Border Run Tourist Visa

Tom ******

asked Mar 2, 2023

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In-country visa activation

In my Hungarian passport, my tourist visa waiver (on arrival) expires on 8 March.

My Australian passport has an unstamped TR visa valid until late April.

(I wanted to enter on the actual visa, but there was a delay in processing it, so it was mailed to me after I entered Thailand)

Can I change from one visa to another in-country, or must I make a border run?

Answer summary

The discussion clarifies that it is not possible to change from one visa to another within Thailand; you must exit the country and re-enter with the desired visa in the correct passport. Travelers with dual nationality can only switch passports at airports, not at land borders. Participants emphasize the importance of showing both passports upon re-entry and adhering to the requirement of exiting and entering the country on the same passport.

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Tom ******

Thanks all for explaining the hazards of land borders!!

4 years ago

Tod *********

@Tom ***********

as people stated there is no "in country visa activation" AND you can't switch passports by land borders.

You wanna get off the hungarian passport you're on now and use the tourist visa in the auzzie passport you fly out and back.

you stamp out of thailand on the hungarian passport,

you stamp in to another country on the auzzie one,

you stamp out of that country on it

and

then stamping IN to thailand with it to get the tourist visa 60 day entry stamp

4 years ago

Edward ********

Have both passports with you when you re-enter and be ready to show them both. They know you have two and they often ask to see the other one.

4 years ago

William ********

@Edward *******

may I ask: they know because both were presented at that entry point, because both were used at some stage to enter Thailand, or because "the system knows"? Thanks :-)

4 years ago

Ellie *******

You need to fly out on your Hungarian passport, enter another country whichever passport, then fly into Thailand and enter on your Australian passport with your SETV sticker on to switch your passports to Thailand. You cannot do it by land border crossing.

4 years ago

William ********

@Ellie ******

So for clarity, rather than bounce would it be possible to stamp out with HU passport via a Malaysian land border, enjoy Indian food and China House cake in Penang for a couple of days, then present the AU passport with SETV to the same Malaysian land border on the way back in, whether it is at the train station / walk through / or main bus route?

4 years ago

James ********

@Ellie ******

thank you

4 years ago

Dca *****

Also, a note for those with dual/multiple passports, you cannot swap passports at land borders: do it with an airport entry/exit or airport transit....

At land borders, border/immigration officers are going to ask for entry/exit between the two bordering countries in the same passport....

4 years ago