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

Aug 9, 2022
2 years ago
Somkit *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
If I have a new passport with a valid visa in my old passport, can I just carry both passports when entering each time by air or do I need to go through the whole process of transferring from old passport to new? Cheers.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
If you have a valid visa in your old passport, you can carry both your old and new passports when entering Thailand. Visa stickers cannot be transferred but extension of stay stamps can. It is advisable to obtain a letter from your embassy, especially if your new passport was issued elsewhere, which you will need to present at a local immigration office to transfer the necessary stamps.
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David *********
You should get a letter from your embassy stating a new passport has been issued. Then take the letter and old and new passports to immigration and they will transfer the required information b
Stuart *********
@David ********
a visa sticker issued from an embassy overseas cannot be transferred. You just use both passports until the visa expires. Extension of stay stamps can be along with the letter from your embassy.
Somkit *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
David *********
@Stuart ********
I can only comment on what I went through when I renewed my Belgian passport in Bangkok. The Belgium embassy in Bangkok gave me a letter explaining why a new passport was issued and told me to give to Thai immigration. The retirement O visa was stamped into my new passport. Simple. I only use the new passport only. Not a problem.
Somkit *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
i can send photos if it helps my poor explanation?
Somkit *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
So….. if the passport is issued in Australia (no chance of letter from embassy due to no embassy) do i need to go to embassy in bkk even though they didn’t issue the passport? I had the sticker but due to COVID i applied for non-o based on married to thai National so no border bounce.
Stuart *********
@Somkit ********
a non O issued in country is a stamp, not a sticker. You should get a letter from your embassy in BKK saying you’ve changed passport from ABC123 to XYZ789. Take that with both passports to a local immigration office and have the stamps transferred.
Henry *********
A visa (the sticker issued by an Embassy) cannot be transferred but an Extension of Stay can and should be.
Somkit *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henry ********
cheers, I reckon by the replies and your post my question has been answered! Thanks for taking time to reply, much appreciated
Stuart *********
Have you a visa sticker in your passport? Or an extension of stay stamp? If the former then you just use both passports each time. With the latter then they’ll either transfer your stamp at the airport or ask that you visit a local immigration office to have the stamps transferred. When that happens you’ll no longer need your old passport.
Somkit *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
awesome, thank you very much for your info. Question answered! Cheers to you and Garrett Greenwald and your Group.
Garrett ***********
Yes, bring both passports. They should transfer your visa/extension at the airport when you arrive.
Somkit *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
thank you. will they do this each time or do I ultimately need to get the visa from old passport transferred to new. I have 8 months left on visa and will need to travel about 3 more times (by air).
Janin ******
@Somkit ********
, they put your visa over in your new pasport. We did at immigration in our town. So than you only need one
Garrett ***********
@Somkit ********
You only need to transfer the visa once to your new passport. If you get a new passport while outside Thailand, they'll do it when you fly in. Otherwise, go to an immigration office and they'll transfer the visa over to your new passport.
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