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What can I do if Thai immigration has deemed my passport damaged due to water exposure?

passport issuesThai immigrationvisa extensionexpat advicedamaged passportpassport replacement
Nov 16, 2023
a year ago
Gregory *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I received my tourist extension visa today and they stated this would be the last time I could enter Thailand on this passport because it got wet and “damaged” before. My issue is that all of the relevant pages show no issues and there are still 20 clean and unaffected pages still to be used. There are only a few pages that show issue and should have no bearing going forward. Anyway to dispute this?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shared their experience of receiving a tourist visa extension in Thailand but was informed that they could no longer enter the country with their current passport, which had sustained some water damage. Despite having many clean pages left, the immigration officer deemed the passport damaged, prompting concerns about disputing this decision. Community members overwhelmingly advised the user to get a new passport as Thai immigration is strict about damaged documents, and it could lead to complications with future entry or visa extensions.
Cathryn *********
Sure, ask to speak to a supervisor and explain your case. The worst they can say is no.
a year ago
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Ole ****
Get a new one. I once got denied entry, got arrested and deported because my passport was out of shape after washing it, not fun
a year ago
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Steve *******
Just my opinion but: don't mess with immigration in any country you want to visit - just get a new passport.
a year ago
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Shin *********
Why play with luck 🤣
a year ago
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Thomas *******
No,....but you're special, aren't you?
a year ago
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Gregory *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Thomas ******
 🤨
a year ago
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Gregory *********
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Ahmed *******
Next time ask to speak with a supervisor
a year ago
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Gregory *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ahmed ******
 I was worried about being denied and didn’t have the funds to leave at the moment, but did think about it
a year ago
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Ahmed *******
@Gregory ********
 yeah even when you enter at the airport just ask for a supervisor they have more experience than the regular ios .. but make sure you have no torn papers or blurry from the water if its just the curves u should be fine
a year ago
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Ahmed *******
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Tony ******
New passport asap you need help 😆 🤣
a year ago
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Frank **********
Why take the chance of being denied.
a year ago
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Have *******
Just get a new passport
a year ago
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Roderick *******
Loop
a year ago
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Simon **********
@Rode****
 fruit
a year ago
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Simon **********
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Simon **********
Honestly makes me laugh how someone gets told by an IO to get a new passport but they think FB knows better. 😂😂😂
a year ago
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Andy ********
@Simon *********
 all part of our modern world. 🤔
a year ago
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Simon **********
@An**
 what a fascinating modern age we live in!
a year ago
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Simon **********
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Bä ****
At this point, I’d just roll a dice 🎲

1-3 Use old passport

4-6 Get a new passport

Let me know how that works out…ok TIA
a year ago
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Seanos **********
Just do the right thing until it starts to feel natural
a year ago
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Carl **************
@Seanos *********
 excellent comment
a year ago
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Carl **************
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Mark **********
Replacement required unfortunately
a year ago
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Kool *******
You've been warned, and they do record everything in their very advanced computer system. The next time you won't be warned, and it can be much more difficult getting a new American passport in a country you didn't intend on staying in for that long.
a year ago
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Gregory *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
 I’ve been here since May and this is my 3rd extended stay here
a year ago
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Gregory *********
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Damo ***********
Good luck disputing Immigration.

Stop the nonsense now and look to get a new passport as they say 🤣 Most likely there is a ‘note’ attached to your record now re: the damaged passport. 🤷🏽‍♂️
a year ago
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Michael *******
New passport?
a year ago
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Jorge ****
A damaged passport is a damaged passport. Certainly a liability since now it is up to others to make that judgement and they will *always* judge on their favour. Take care of the problem now while you have control of it. Good luck.
a year ago
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Rob **********
The answer is really quite simple, get a new passport.
a year ago
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Chris *******
I was been refused to boarding in France for similar issue... Air France officer called Thailand immigration and the said that i will refused to enter in Thailand ..

So.. don't take risk.. just get new passport asap..
a year ago
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Rick ********
🤦‍♂️Just get a new passport.Its not rocket science ☠️
a year ago
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Andy ********
Too much of a risk to do nothing. Get a new passport ASAP.
a year ago
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Dave ***********
why not just get a new passport?
a year ago
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Terary **********
Similar thing happened to me. Passport went through the wash with only half the pages used. Some of the stamps were smudged but most were ok. They still required I get a new passport. This was back in 2018 and it had only taken 2 weeks (US Embassy, Bangkok).
a year ago
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John-Paul ******
@Terary *********
 these days a new US Passport applies for outside the US will take 6 weeks. There is no expedited service outside US and simple to do online. Payment can be done via Paygov.com and a bank draft of 100 Thai Baht... if here in the Kingdom... for return of new book.
a year ago
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John-Paul ******
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Steve ********
It's done. Get a new one. Airlines can deny boarding if they deem a passport damaged and then you're in deep shite
a year ago
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Todd *********
If any damage at all, you need to replace. It can be denied anywhere on entry
a year ago
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Tim *******
@Todd ********
 Agreed. Western countries are even stricter. At least my experience in Canada.
a year ago
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Jj ****
@Tim ******
 US was very lose for me but Thailand refused to put a re entry so....
a year ago
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Tim *******
@Jj ***
 US let me use it to return to Canada, and mentioned the damage. But Canadian government wouldn't let me replace the passport. I had to do a complete application from scratch which is a more detailed process.
a year ago
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Tim *******
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Jeffrey ************
Just replace it.......
a year ago
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Janne ***********
The Passport is deemed damaged if there is water damaged, holes in pages, pages ripped out etc. You should try to request a new passport asap.
a year ago
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Pop ********
Thai immigration are notoriously fickle when it comes to damaged passports , irrelevant of how many undamaged pages you have .

I'd get a replacement ASAP
a year ago
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Will ************
No
a year ago
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Jj ****
It's at their total discretion. You could lose your visa if they refuse to put you extension, might be worth to get a new passport
a year ago
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Juls ******
Try another immigration next time. Its always at the appreciation of the IO.
a year ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Juls *****
 Nonsense
a year ago
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Nongnuch ********
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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