What are my options for urgent passport renewal while on a tourist visa in Thailand?

Passport Renewal Tourist Visa Thailand Immigration Emergency Passport Visa Extension Chiang Mai ThailandPost Overstay

October 31, 2023

a year ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

FINAL UPDATE November 7th:

- Passport received on Friday, November 3rd. Took around 3 days to receive in CM after ThailandPost picked up in BKK

- Was able to successfully extend visa for 30 days on November 6th with 2 days to spare 🙂

- Overall process took around 6 weeks (Sep 25th - November 3rd) for renewal of passport book and card from Chiang Mai

Original Post:

Passport renewal help needed urgently. What are my best options? 

I’m in Chiang Mai on a tourist visa expiring November 7th. 

- Sep 25: Sent in my passport for renewal to Bangkok

- Oct 24: After emailing bangkok requesting an update, my application status was updated same day to “Mailed”

- As of today i still haven’t received my old/new passport, and have no tracking number from Thailand Post. 

I currently have 7 days left on my tourist visa. Immigration doesn’t let me extend my tourist visa without my passport. 

How long does it normally take for ThailandPost to deliver from BKK to CM? 

Should i fly to Bangkok just in case and get an emergency passport?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post provides an update on the process of passport renewal for an expat in Chiang Mai, detailing the timeline from application to receipt of the passport and visa extension. Initially worried about an expiring tourist visa, the user successfully extended their visa by 30 days with two days to spare after receiving their passport. It took approximately 6 weeks to complete the renewal process, with advice from comments on coping strategies during the waiting period, such as considering overstay options while waiting for the passport.

Darrell ***********

I renewed by mail in September. It took 4 weeks from the time the Embassy received my passport until my new one arrived in the mail. Based on my experience with the Thai Post delivery, if your tracking as of yesterday says it is on its way to you, it should arrive by the 7th or earlier.

a year ago

Jessica ******

Hi there. I just received my U.S. passport replacing an emergency passport. Took 4 weeks and received it 10 days after the U.S. State Department website said it mailed it from the U.S. Did you purchase the courier pass back service online and send the embassy the e-mail receipt with your application- for return shipping? I hope it comes any day now!

a year ago

Mitch *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jess **************

hi thanks so much for sharing your experience. ThailandPost updated my tracking number yesterday (8 days after U.S Dept said it was mailed) that it was now in transit from the Bangkok US Embassy.

How long did it take for you from collection at the Bangkok embassy to receive it?

a year ago

Jessica ******

@Mitch ********

I would say it should be there in about 1-2 days then if they can make contact. I never checked an update with Bangkok. I saw another woman here say it also took 10 days from when they mailed it from the U.S. to reach her address. 🤞🏻

a year ago

Reply to

Jessica ******

Tony ******

I saw someone comment in last week it was down from 8 weeks to 6 weeks now all I got

a year ago

Marty *********

Go to Thai immigration and ask them. Bring whatever documents you have regarding the passport renewal and the message that it is in the mail.

a year ago

Brandon ************

You're on a tourist visa, have you gotten the 30 day extension yet?

If not, the easiest solution is to go on overstay while you're waiting. Obviously it's not a good solution, but once you receive your passport you can apply for an extension even if you're on overstay. The general rule is that you can apply for your extension until you'd receive 10 days or less after your extension. So for tourist extension that's around 19-20 days of overstay before they wouldn't accept your application.

You'd still receive an overstay stamp and be fined 500₿ per day, but you'd return to legal status.

a year ago

Mitch *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

thanks for the suggestion. I have not gotten an extension yet.

This does seems like the best option if i don’t receive the passport prior to my tourist visa expiration.

Unfortunately immigration can’t do the extension until i have my passport (i offered photocopies of my tourist visa stamp page and ID page)

a year ago

Reply to

Mitch *********

Incognia **********

Your passport was which day expiry?I mean why urgent changed passport?

a year ago

Mitch *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stelar ******

expiry was a few years away but i had only 2 empty visa pages remaining. Planning to continue traveling in the near term before returning to the US and most countries require at least 2 free visa pages.

a year ago

Incognia **********

@Mitch ********

big mistake before 7days visa expiration u can extend then u will have 1month for making new passport.How u can believe in Thailand just in 13 days everything will be completed(your passports back to you)?

a year ago

Mitch *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stelar ******

i think you misunderstood my original post. I submitted my passport renewal on September 25th knowing that i have a November 7th visa expiration date. That is 1.5 months (6 weeks) to renew the passport.

At the moment 5 weeks have passed and i haven’t received my new passport.

a year ago

Incognia **********

@Mitch ********

your new passport arrived to Bkk which day? I think call Thailand post or your embassy and go by yourself and take it better.Probably u will be overstay with red stamp in your new passport and will be very bad for your passport.Also can extend in Bangkok your tourist visa

a year ago

Reply to

Incognia **********

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