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What is the current visa situation for expats in Penang, Malaysia, and can I apply with an empty passport?

Penang Visa application Thailand visa rules Passport change Visa types Expats in Penang Immigration advice

Jan 8, 2019

6 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi! What is the situation in Penang? Do they give visa without any problems? Changing my passport, will apply with empty one, hope it's not a problem?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The conversation discusses the visa application process for those in Penang and addresses concerns about applying for a visa with a new, empty passport. Key points include requirements for a tourist visa, such as proof of funds, onward travel, and accommodation confirmation. It also touches on how a passport change may affect visa applications, emphasizing that while it does not erase entry history, consulates may not have access to the full history. The importance of knowing the specific type of visa being sought is also highlighted.

Tom **********

Would a long-term apartment lease be a plus, or a negative when applying?

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Tod *********

, I ALWAYS recommend to people who have long term leases at an apt or condo here to just book a hotel for a few days when applying for a tourist visa.

This makes you LOOK like a tourist in the eyez-of-the-thaiz, NOT like a foreigner living here on back-2-back visa exempt or tourist visa entries :O

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James ********

ask yourself that question...with a long term apartment lease are you really a TOURIST? I THINK NOT!

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Tod *********

when applying for a tourist visa? Good point :/ I don't know that answer :/ I mean how many 'real tourists' <- the kind that come, tour and leave actually have long term apartment leases ?

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Tod *********

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Tod *********

how about stating what kind of visa you're wanting to get :/

For a tourist visa Penang requires proof of 20K baht or the equivalent in a bank account, proof of onward travel and proof of a hotel booking or confirmed lodging for at least 3-5 days

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Thomas ********************

Some consulates (Bali, I'm pretty sure) might require a signed copy of the condo owner id (or some other additional doc) along with the lease.

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Tod *********

, ahh, that's a TM.30 and seeing as you have to file a new one every time you come back IN to the country it's worthless at a thai consulate for proof of anything

You can show them a lease, or a booking,

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Alexandr *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

as I know it's a new rule, when farang wants to stay longer than 1 month need to register the place of staying in immigration, that called receipt of notification

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Tod *********

, I don't know what a receipt of notification is sorry.

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Alexandr *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

need tourist visa, thanks. Even forgot that I need to book flight. Do they accept receipt of notification from condo instead hotel's booking?

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Alexandr *****

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Daniel ************

they cant check history at the consulates / embassies

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James ********

@Daniel ***********

not yet...but on reentry to Thailand Thai Immigration does have history. Thats becoming the challenge for some.

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James ********

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Joe ***********

What kind of visa? What is wrong that you can't just apply ?

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James ********

Changing your passport means nothing anymore. The digital world of technology ended has ended that. Thai Immigration knows all.

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James ********

@Michael *******

YET...

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James ********

I am learning from the Guru Tod 😉

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Tod *********

oh ok. The system used when you stamp in is tied to all entry points and matches against surname, age, sex, nationality, dob, etc They can see your entry history and previous passports as far back as they want to look at it.

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James ********

thanks for clarification...that is what I was really inferring...the key to ENTRY TO THAILAND.

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James ********

**********************************

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Tod *********

actually that's not correct. NO thai consulate seems to have a data base, all they do is page thru your passport looking for tourist visas from them and other consulates.

Getting a new passport 'wipes the slate' clean as far as getting a visa from a thai consulate. It does NOT however wipe your entry history to thailand out of the data base that passport control and immgirations uses when you stamp in or go to get extensions

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Michael ********

embassys dont have the tech to show history. Yet.

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Alexandr *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

It doesn't mean I had overstay or something, better if they really could check the history

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Alexandr *****

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