Ask question

Do I need a new passport for my Thai visa application in Bangkok?

Passport Requirements Thai Visa Rules American Citizens in Thailand US Consulate Services Visa Extensions Border Runs and Visa Exemptions Travel to Laos from Thailand

Dec 15, 2017

7 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Do I need a new passport? What is the process in BKK? (I'm American)

My passport has 1 full blank page and 2 half used pages.

My plan is to enter Laos on Jan3 to obtain a Thai TR visa but I now realize that both Laos and Thailand will issue me the full-page sticker style visas. I do have 2 blank "endorsements" pages in the back of my passport.

1,063

views

2

likes

39

all likes

24

replies

0

images

6

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

The original poster (OP) is concerned about needing a new passport due to limited blank pages before applying for a Thai TR visa via Laos. Comments indicate that at least 4 full pages are generally required for visa processing and suggest seeking a passport extension at the US embassy in Bangkok if applicable. Discussions on border bounces as a temporary solution and the importance of using full visa pages rather than endorsement pages were also highlighted.

Martin **********

4 full pages required. I booked visa run yesterday

Like

Reply

ฟิลลิปน์ **************

you can get up to 2 page extensions (amendments) from the american embassy in BKK or Chiang Mai. have to submit your passport with the paper work. will get back in 1 or 2 days. if you have already added extra pages then it will be denied and you need a new passport.

Like

Reply

Tod *********

@ฟิลลิปน์ *************

, That is incorrect information :/ .

All US consulates in the world stopped adding extra pages to passports back on December 31, 2015 :O

Like

Reply

Layne ********

I did this a year ago and they had signs everywhere saying they were stopping this practice. It's worth checking.

Like

Reply

ฟิลลิปน์ **************

each amendment gives you 24 more pages.

Like

Reply

Reply to

ฟิลลิปน์ **************

Reply

Jason ******

You will get turned away from Laos at the border, if you don't have at least 1 full blank page, NOT the Endorsement page. Endorsement page will not be used for any Visa or stamps. If you have small spaces on previous pages they will find a space to put your stamp. But if you only have 1 blank page, that is reserved for your Laos visa.... you may have a problem if you apply for Thai Visa because you will get rejected due to not having another blank page.

Like

Reply

Tod *********

you make an appointment with the American Citizen Services Office of the US Consulate here in Bangkok, then go apply for a new passport. (mark the box stating you want the large 52 page passport because it's the same price as the small one when you renew overseas).

It takes about 10 working days BUT we got Christmas and New Years just around the corner. They send you an SMS / email when your new passport is in and you go get it. They give you a letter to immigration's asking that they transfer any stamps and the cancel your old passport when you get the new one

This tells you what to do to get a new passport in Bangkok

********************************************************

Like

Reply

Tod *********

If you are on a long term extension of stay, then go get the stamps transferred. If you're here on 30 day visa exempt entries, or tourist visas just fly out and they'll move the stamps at the airport

Like

Reply

Jason ******

Is it important to take the letter you get with your new passport to immigration office in changwattana to transfer the stamp to the new passport? What if you show up at the airport flying out with your old canceled passport and your new passport without any transferred stamp and extension stamp in it?

Like

Reply

Ry**

ORIGINAL POSTER

think ill do the border bounce up north then renew passport after in CM so there is no time crunch.

Like

Reply

Tod *********

don't forget you can renew your passport from the US consulate up in Chiang Mai too :)

Like

Reply

Tod *********

yep, I almost mentioned that, you could go to the Mae Sai - Tachiliek border with burma and for $10 USD get stamped in&out of burma and back into thailand (y)

Like

Reply

Ry**

ORIGINAL POSTER

Tachileik would also a good, cheap and hassle-free (meaning, no proof of funds/travel/etc needed) option, yeah Tod? Though it is one heck of a haul from BKK but luckily I plan to move to CM first week of Jan anyway...

Like

Reply

Tod *********

, the down side is, IF you border bounce at a Lao or Cambodia you'll need a visa from them.

The easiest way to border bounce from Bangkok would be to fly to Kuala Lumpur in the morning and then right back that afternoon. You don't need a visa to get into malaysia. In reality you really don't even need to get stamped in or out of malaysia as long as you keep your boarding passes to show the immigration officer when you come back to thailand and stamp in.

Like

Reply

Tod *********

, you can have TWO 30 day visa exempt entries by land in a calendar year.

There is no official limit on the number you can get when you fly in.

I edited the earlier post to show "by land"

Like

Reply

Ry**

ORIGINAL POSTER

Tod Daniels to be clear i can have "unlimited" visa exempts, rather it's the 2 land crossings in the calendar year that is the point to be aware of, correct?

Like

Reply

Tod *********

Ryan Getz, good thinking (y) If you haven't gotten two visa exempt entries by land already this year, you could do a border bounce, get a 30 day visa exempt and if you needed extend that by 30 more days too.

Like

Reply

Ry**

ORIGINAL POSTER

or i could do a border bounce (is that the right term?) and get 30 day exempt instead for now to put off the new passport ordeal for the time being...?

Like

Reply

Tod *********

here's where you make an appointment

*******************************************************************

Like

Reply

Reply to

Tod *********

Reply

Tod *********

you need to look at the blank page you have and make sure it's not one that says "endorsements" because you can't get visas or entry stamps on them

Like

Reply

Tod *********

they did stamps for a while when they ran out of stickers just before they went to bar coded stickers. You can't get stamps anymore.

Like

Reply

Ry**

ORIGINAL POSTER

one of my TR visas is a half page stamp and one is a full-page sticker. Any chance I could request the stamp vs sticker?

Like

Reply

Tod *********

then I highly doubt you're gonna get a thai exit stamp, a visa for lao, a lao entry stamp, a lao exit stamp, a visa for thailand AND a new entry stamp in that space. :/

Like

Reply

Ry**

ORIGINAL POSTER

1 blank Visa page. 2 unused endorsement pages.

Like

Reply

Reply to

Ry**

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

What is the process and timeline for renewing a US passport at the embassy in Thailand, and can I travel while waiting for it?

49 comments

a year ago

How many blank pages should you have in your passport before requesting a new one for travel to Vietnam and Thailand?

12 comments

a year ago

Can I extend my tourist visa in Thailand while waiting for a new passport from the US?

21 comments

a year ago

How many blank pages should my passport have for a retirement visa in Thailand?

11 comments

2 years ago

What are the requirements for a non-O spouse visa regarding passport blank pages?

18 comments

4 years ago

How many pages do I need in my UK passport for extending a visa in Thailand?

12 comments

4 years ago

How Many Blank Passport Pages Do I Need to Renew My Retirement Visa in Thailand?

2 comments

5 years ago

Can I use different UK passports for visa processing in Thailand and Laos?

6 comments

5 years ago

How do I go about getting a new US passport in Chiang Mai, and what are the visa transfer details?

12 comments

5 years ago

Can I extend my Non-B visa in Thailand with only 2 blank pages left in my passport?

8 comments

5 years ago

Should I apply for a new passport before or after extending my tourist visa in Thailand?

0 comments

6 years ago

Can I leave Thailand for Laos or Singapore with a full passport to renew my multi-entry Non-O visa?

0 comments

6 years ago

Can I use pages with existing stamps for new visa stamps during a visa run to Laos?

0 comments

6 years ago

Is three blank pages enough to do a Cambodian border run on a US passport with a METV?

20 comments

6 years ago

Is it safe to travel to Thailand with only one page left in my passport?

13 comments

6 years ago

How many pages do I need free in my passport to re-enter Thailand on a tourist visa?

21 comments

7 years ago

What are my options for obtaining a Thai tourist visa with only one free page in my UK passport?

28 comments

7 years ago

How can I extend my stay in Thailand with only one page left in my passport?

42 comments

7 years ago

Will I encounter issues crossing the border with only one empty page left in my passport after obtaining Laos and Thai visas?

18 comments

7 years ago

What are the page requirements in the passport for obtaining a 60-day Thai visa?

3 comments

7 years ago

What should I do about my work permit and Non-B Visa if I need to apply for a new passport due to limited pages?

37 comments

7 years ago

Will I face issues getting an ED visa at the Thai embassy in Laos with only 4 empty passport pages?

23 comments

7 years ago

What should I do if I can't get an education visa due to a full passport in Thailand?

28 comments

7 years ago

How many blank pages are required for a Thai tourist visa and can Malaysia stamp anywhere?

27 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.