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Is it necessary to transfer my LTR visa to a new passport before leaving Thailand?

LTR visa passport renewal Thailand immigration law expat advice visa transfer process long-term residency visa

Apr 29, 2025

2 days ago

Mike ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I got LTR visa in a passport that expires in November. I was planning to get a new passport in home country during summer, enter Thailand with that in September showing my visa in the old passport, and then have the stamp transferred when back here. But the lady in LTR office said it is 'better' to get new passport and transfer before leaving Thailand. I asked whether is mandatory to do like that not to loose the LTR, however no definite answer, just that it is better.

Anyone have  personal experience on such situation? Would be just much more convenient for me to apply at home country rather than travel to embassy here and pay 4x the price. However if any risk of loosing the LTR I obviously need to get the new passport before leaving.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user obtained a Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa in an expiring passport and plans to travel to their home country for a new passport, seeking advice on risks associated with transferring the visa after re-entry to Thailand. Comments suggest that it's safer to renew the passport in Thailand and transfer the visa to the new passport beforehand to avoid losing the visa or facing travel issues when the passport has less than six months validity.

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Tod *********

@Mike *****

You're in thailand now, I'd go on over to the LTR office at the One Bangkok Building and ask them in person

a day ago

Dca *****

From the Pop Up window upon accessing the website of the LTR

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a day ago

Cary *****

Had a similar situation with a retirement visa. And it is better to get a new passport here and get it transferred. If You only have 6 months left on your passport, you may not even be able to travel.

a day ago

Mike ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Cary ****

... You use same words as the LTR lady...however not better to me IF it would be possible as I thought as more convenient for me...

a day ago

Reply to

Mike ******

Bob **********

Most renew on line now if not it’s done by mail and for me it’s was the same price but I got it faster over here

a day ago

Tod *********

There are so few LTR visas out there that I'd say you're far better off doing what LTR says and renewing your passport here. Then have them move the visa/stamps to the new one over at the LTR office (which is now at One Bangkok Building not Cham Churi)

Especially if you got the LTR inked in to your passport here in thailand (it wasn't an eVisa from your consulate).

I mean could it work, you leave on the old passport, you show back up with BOTH when you stamp in and they stamp you in on the new one referencing the old one that has the visa and the 5 year re-entry permit? Yep, certainly could work out just fine. WILL it work like that 100%? Who knows, 😕

They have some really specific stuff on that LTR.

Sure wouldn't risk losing a ten year visa (and the 5 year entry stamp you're on)

2 days ago

Mike ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

sent an email to LTR office asking about this. Reply as follows:

Referring to your inquiries, please see the answer as follows:

1. I visit in home country in July, and apply new passport while there (would be much easier and cheaper for me there than in Thailand via embassy in Bangkok )

Answer: Yes, it is okay to get a new passport form overseas.

2. I come back to Thailand in September, and show both the new passport and the old passport (with the LTR visa stamp) at immigration. I know that the validity of old passport would not be enough to enter, but I would have the new passport also.

Answer: Your current passport which contained LTR Visa is still valid. You have got a stay permit stamp equal to the expiration date of your passport which is 4 November 2025. Therefore, you can use it to enter Thailand in September.

3. I come to BOI office to transfer the visa in September after arrival to Thailand (old passport would have 1-2 months of validity left).

Answer: After arrived Thailand in September, you should transfer your LTR Visa to your new passport before your current passport expire on 4 November 2025.

Kind regards,

LTR Visa Member Team

So seems no different compared to how it would work e.g with non-o retirement.

Actually handy to have email to ask questions directly from them in writing.

12 hours ago

Mike ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Todd is this approach Ok for other visas like non-o retirement that I had before? I never tried as had to renew my passport via embassy last time anyway. One thing I noted the stamp change procedure always refers to 'embassy letter' which someone getting the new passport from home country would not have, but I've always thought that it would not be needed it enter the country with the new passport.

a day ago

Tod *********

@Mike *****

most embassies don't issue the letter any more when you renew a passport in country AND the process totally works okay getting a new passport in your country then showing up with BOTH passports to get stamped in on the new one with the extension/re-entry in the old one. Plus no issue getting the stamps moved after that at immigrations either

It's just LTR is a different animal it's run by Board of Investment, NOT thai immigrations and I don't want you to come off the rails on a 50K baht 10 year visa just because you didn't do what LTR requires

a day ago

Mike ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

yes understand. But if I still had the non-o retirement in similar situation entering in September with old and new passports as described, would immigration stamp to new passport or old passport (which only 1-2mo validity left)? Or neither and deny entry? Just trying to understabd the general principle.

20 hours ago

Tod *********

@Mike *****

They would stamp you in on the new passport not the old one. They would make a notation in it that you were entering on a visa/re-entry from the old passport.

Then you would go to the LTR people and get the stamps moved to the new passport

17 hours ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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Do I need to transfer my Retirement Visa to a new passport before applying for a new one?

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