Is there a service in Thailand for transferring my visa to a new passport, and what are the costs and waiting times involved?

Sep 7, 2018
6 years ago
Charlie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Is there a service at immigration for transferring my visa to a new passport? What is the expected waiting time for this? And does it cost anything? Many thanks in advance
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Yes, there is a service at Thai immigration to transfer your visa to a new passport. If you have a visa or an extension of stay in your old passport, you need to go to the immigration office. The process is generally free of charge and can take about 1 to 2 hours. However, you may need a letter from your embassy, depending on your nationality. If you possess a valid visa, you can also travel with both passports (the old one with the visa and the new one) until the old visa expires.
James ***********
I had my non-B extension transferred at CW 2 weeks ago (Irish passport) I didn't have the letter from my embassy nor was I asked for it.
Tod *********
Okay, let's sort out WHEN you go to the immigration office to get your stamps transferred and when you don't.

IF you are here on a 30 day visa exempt, a tourist visa OR a valid multi-entry visa (from a thai consulate in another country) you do NOT need to go to the immigration office to transfer your stamps. You show BOTH passports when stamping out of the country.

IF you have an extension of stay in your passport from the immigration office you DO go to the immigration office to get the stamps transferred. They'll move your extension, your entry stamp, and any valid re-entry permits.

One more thing IF you have a valid multi-entry VISA in your passport (that you got from a thai consulate in another country) you carry BOTH passports when exiting/re-entering the country. The old one with the valid visa in it and the new one that they will stamp you out and in on until the visa in the old passport expires.
Laeti *****
Hi
@Tod ********
, do you confirm this is still accurate? I have a French passport with 1-year non-B ME visa and about to get a new passport next week because the old one is full. I just travel with both passports?
June ********
@Robert ******
I didn't. The passport department in my country puts a stamp directly in the new passport's first page stating that "This user has previously been issued passport No............"
Robert *******
Every Nationality need a letter from their Embassy to transfer the stamps to new passport..
Jamie ********
I was stuck with the two passport scenario a couple of years back. Exiting Thailand all previous stamps in the old passport. Immigration solution. Staple the two passports together using ten staple through the back cover of my new passport. ๐Ÿ˜ž๐Ÿ˜ž๐Ÿ˜ž
James ********
And if American you will need a letter of request from the US Embassy asking Thai Immigration to transfer your Extension of Stay into your new US Passport. If you applied for the new passport in the US Embassy Bangkok they provide that letter when you receive your new passport from them. If you applied for the new passport in the US you need to go to the US Embassy in Bangkok or Chiang Mai and request the letter.
Michael ********
So when they transfer the visa what does that mean? They do something in the system or they stamp the new pport?
Naoko *******
Ah is that what they do,
@Saf****
? You know best! Our reliable former HR ๐Ÿ˜‰
Saffiya ********
@Naoko ******
yes and they cancel the old passport.
Naoko *******
I don't know if they make some kind of record in the system or not (you have to wait outside most of the time), and if so what. I'm guessing they just make a note on the visa in the old passport and stamp another one in the new one. There's an extra small stamp that says "เธชเธณเน€เธ™เธฒ (copy, duplicate)" in Thai above my extension of stay in the new passport. Hope that helps.
Naoko *******
On the basement of Promenada, there's a few small rooms with glass doors to the left of the main office, that's where you need to go. They'll check your docs at the counter desk to the front. It's free and it took me 1 to 2 hrs max. You need to get the letter from your embassy first though. Good luck ๐Ÿ˜Š
Saffiya ********
For the French passport, you need a special document from the Consulate and then go to immigration to transfer your visa to your new passport. British passport?
Kevin *********
This is the same for a USA passport too. You get the document with your new passport and the Thai immigration transfers it for free.
Robert *******
If you have a Visa, you just use both passports till the end of that visa.
Travis ********
Thanks!
Richard *******
@Travis **************
Yes, the visa is still valid.
Travis ********
Hi Robert, US citizen here, will Thai immigration let you out of the country if you present them with the old passport (holes poked with current visa) and the new passport? So, from your experience, it is not a requirement to transfer the visa?
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