Answered5 years ago

Do I need to renew my passport before applying for an extension of my Non-Immigrant 'O' visa in Thailand?

NON-O Visa Visa Extension Passport Validity Retirement Visa Thailand Immigration Visa Rules

Frederick *********

asked Mar 14, 2022

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I’m on a non immigrant “O” visa based on retirement. My current extension expires January 2023. Obviously I will apply for a further extension then  which will expire in January 2024. Sounds  OK, but my problem is that my current passport expires in April 2024 just three months after the expiry of the last extension. Not sure whether I’m correct or not, but something is telling me that I may need a min six months left to run on my passport after the expiry of my last extension. If this is the case then I will need to renew my passport this year. Can anyone advise please.

Answer summary

The user is on a Non-Immigrant 'O' visa based on retirement, with an extension expiring in January 2023. They are concerned about their passport, which expires in April 2024, and whether it needs to be valid for at least six months beyond the visa extension expiry. Comments clarify that any visa extension will be valid only until the passport's expiration date, indicating that a passport renewal is necessary to obtain a longer extension.

9 repliesnewest first

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Robert *******

You are on an Extension of Stay based on being over 50 years of age which expires in Jan 2023.

If you like to apply for a new Extension of Stay during the last 30 days, your new Extension of Stay will be until the expiry date of the passport.

You can not get permission to stay inside Thailand without a valid passport, if you want a full year Extension of Stay you need to apply for a new passport.

5 years ago

Stuart *********

Any extension you obtain will only be valid until the validity of your passport.

5 years ago

Frederick *********

@Stuart ********

I think maybe I’ve not explained myself very clearly. If I apply for a new extension in January 2023….. this will be valid until January 2024, my current passport would be valid for the whole year of that extension as it doesn’t expire until April 2024. However, I will need to renew my passport before January 2024 in order to obtain a further full years extension from Jan 2024- Jan 2025. Does that make sense.

5 years ago

Wannikea *********

@Frederick ********

work out with your embassy how long the process is to get a new passport. Sounds to me like you have all next year to get your new passport in time for your Jan 2024 extension and get any stamps transferred.

5 years ago

Frederick *********

@Wannikea ********

that’s exactly how I see it now. Thanks for your comment.

5 years ago

Frederick *********

Spot on, many thanks Stuart.

5 years ago

Stuart *********

@Frederick ********

yes. As I said in a reply (to myself😀) you would be fine for the next extension due in Jan ‘23. Your passport doesn’t run out until Apr ‘24 and there is no requirement to have any form of X months of validity left on a passport if the extension ends prior to the passport expiry.

The following year, if you don’t get a new passport you’d apply for a year extension in Jan ‘24 but it would only be valid until Apr ‘24 when your passport expires.

5 years ago

Stuart *********

You would be ok for the 2023-2024 extension even though the passport runs out in April ‘24. But the following one would only be valid for a couple of months.

5 years ago

Stuart *********

You would need to obtain a new passport for your next extension to be valid for the year 2024

5 years ago