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Answereda year ago

What is the process for renewing a British passport in Thailand and can you keep your old passport?

Tony *********
asked Apr 27, 2025
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Hi all.

Seeking some advice from anyone who has renewed their British passport recently in Thailand.

I'm aware of the official British website and done a little reading but really want to know specifics about the following questions:

1.

I believe from memory that they like to take your old passport away when you renew. My concern here is that I have my current visa stamp until July and other stamps Immigration might want to see like original entry etc. Does anyone know if we can insist on keeping it I'm not happy with the idea of just making photocopies given how Immigration works. I have thought about just declaring it as lost to avoid having to part with it. I also have sentimental reasons πŸ™πŸΌ

2.

How long does it take to get the passport? I'm thinking of traveling to Bangkok (I know you have to have an appointment) and was hoping that you can pick it up within a couple of days but I may be way out in terms of how long it takes?

If it takes some time is it possible to pay for it to be sent to your home address via secure post? Obviously I want to avoid having to drive 6 hours or more back to Bangkok just to pick it up if it's not ready within a couple of days. From what I saw online it indicated it could be 3 weeks from appointment application date.

Any advice and information concerning what actually happens much appreciated πŸ™πŸΌ

UPDATE:

What a complete farce. I've been checking the UK government website and they have come up with this gem for providing evidence of your Thai address, pretty much all of it is impossible. It mentions your visa, well my original visa was when I arrived from the UK 2023 so UK address and since visa extension stamps again no proof of your address! Just what do they want? Everything sensible like bank statements or rental contract or even bills in my name isn't even mentioned 🀬...do these clowns 🀑 actually understand what they are doing and asking for? πŸ€” They mention a resident 'permit' do they mean a residence certificate? That I can get albeit a visit to Immigration and 500 baht.

Can someone who's done it and been to VFS Global confirm what will be accepted despite what it states on the British government website. Your help much appreciated πŸ™πŸΌ

Afterthought...is a TM30 acceptable? Everything is in Thai and English except for the document title so it would still need to be translated πŸ™„

FURTHER UPDATE

After a lot more digging and research many people have said a bank statement in English is acceptable and also the TM30 so I'll prepare both and hope for the best. My Thai driving licence would have also been okay but it's got the last address so I'll try and get that updated before I go as a back up πŸ™πŸΌ
Answer summary
The process of renewing a British passport in Thailand involves applying through VFS Global, which has offices in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. You must book an appointment and provide color photocopies of every page of your current passport, but you are allowed to keep your old passport (they will cut a corner off and stamp it to show it's no longer valid). The processing time is currently about 4-5 weeks, and you generally need to collect the new passport in person, although you can designate someone else to pick it up for you. For proof of address, options like bank statements or the TM30 form are acceptable, though some clarifications and translations might be needed.
44 repliesnewest first
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David ***********
David ***********
I used mythai visa it was simple no worries no hassle about 3 weeks.
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@David **********
- what was the price and do you have a link...thank you πŸ‘πŸΌ
David ***********
David ***********
0934938170 this is the phone number
**********
*****
*****
this is the phone number
David ***********
David ***********
I have used her many times and also introduced some of my friends to her and no one has complained.
David ***********
David ***********
@Tony ********
sorry I don't but I think you can Google it the Lady that owns it is called Som and speaks excellent English.
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@David **********
- thank you David I'll Google her company πŸ™πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌ
Steve *******
Steve *******
VFS Global for British passport renewals. They don't take your passport, you just need to submit copies of every page.
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Steve ******
- thanks I'm confident now as so many have said the same πŸ™πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌ
Bent *************
Bent *************
They make a couple of holes through the old passport to show it is no longer valid and give it back to you!? I think
David ***********
David ***********
@Bent ************
that's correct πŸ’―
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Bent ************
- thanks much appreciated
Ian **********
Ian **********
@Bent ************
they cut the corner off the front page after they have given you your new passport
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Ian *********
- thanks much appreciated
Ralph *******
Ralph *******
They don’t take the old one away. They stamp it and cut off the corner then return it to you.
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Ralph ******
- thank you I think at some point in the past they took them but wasn't sure πŸ‘πŸΌ
Ralph *******
Ralph *******
@Tony ********
I’ve got a collection going back over forty years!
Myles *******
Myles *******
Get in touch with
@Mark's ***************
@Mark ******
who will sort everything for you
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Myles ******
- thank you I'll check him out πŸ‘πŸΌ
Myles *******
Myles *******
@Tony ********
fantastic service and unless you live in Chiang Mai or Bangkok it will save you money
John **********
John **********
@Myles ******
definitely a good service. That's who I used recently, you do need to send your old passport but you get it back along with the new one. Keep photocopies of the data page and the current stamps just in case they're needed. I tried to time mine between 90 day reports but sods law immigration decided to come and check up on me while mine was away, they were happy with the photocopies though.
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@John *********
- thank you for the information very useful πŸ‘πŸΌ
Adrian ******
Adrian ******
I renewed my uk passport via vfs in chiang mai. Took a total of 11 days including 1 weekend. They gave updates every step of the way until I received my new passport.i thought it was very efficient. Kept my old passport then went to immigration to get my stamp transferred to the new passport
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Adrian *****
- thank you very useful information πŸ‘πŸΌ
Leigh **********
Leigh **********
You keep your old passport they just cut the corner
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Leigh *********
- thanks I wasn't sure
Michael ********
Michael ********
UK is one of those countries you can keep your old passport, they used to just cut corner off one of the covers
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Michael *******
- thanks I wasn't sure
Michael ********
Michael ********
@Tony ********
Yes I got all of mine its interesting and I go through about 4 in ten years
Michael ********
Michael ********
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Michael *******
- thanks...you must travel a lot lol...✈️
Neil *********
Neil *********
Hi Tony. You go to belle grand shoppe on the 1st floor to vfs global they're the ones who deal with it.

It took 22 days from mine leaving my hand to picking up my new one. Of course you have no chance of a few days it's goes off to the UK.

They'll take yoir payment it's roughly 24 hours after you've done it.

Definitely make an appointment to get it done there
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Neil ********
- thanks Neil yes you can book everything online I best get on with it soon because my Visa expires 8th July.

I will book it very soon πŸ‘πŸΌ
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
British passports are handled through a private company called VFS Global. They have offices in Bangkok or Chiang Mai that will handle renewals.

You need to book an appointment with them to apply.

Current turnaround times are about 4-5 weeks. You need to collect it rather than have it posted to you but you can nominate someone to collect it on your behalf.

You don’t send your old passport away. You need colour photocopies of every single page (used or not) to go with the application.

Or contact Marks Sending Machine here on Facebook for a great service that does it all for you.
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Stuart ********
- thank you for your information, I didn't realise it was going to take that long so I had better get on with it, when you say 4-5 weeks this is from the appointment date in Bangkok I presume?

I was hoping not to have to travel all that way again so I'll speak to them to see if they have a secure postal service or courier. πŸ™πŸΌ
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
@Tony ********
This is what Mark Jacob has told me. β€œMarks sending machine” on Facebook. I’m currently using his service for my passport. Can’t be arsed to go to Bangkok in person and again to collect.
Tony *********
Tony *********
OP
@Stuart ********
- I have messaged him waiting for a reply...I assume he's going on your behalf then?
Myles *******
Myles *******
@Stuart ********
of course u send your old passport with the renewal! I just did it the other week!
Henry *********
Henry *********
@Myles ******
If renewing in Thailand you keep your old passport throughout the process. Colour copies of every page of the old/expiring passport are sent to the UK with the application by VFS.
Henry *********
Henry *********
@Myles ******
The rules changed as foreigners in Thailand need to have valid/ID. Thailand is one of only a few countries that allows you to retain your old passport during the process. It's also one of the only countries where the process is not online.
Myles *******
Myles *******
@Henry ********
whatever bud. Ive literally just done it and had to send my old passport with the application
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
@Myles ******
Ok. I’m sure when I did it last time I didn’t but that was many years ago. When I got the new one they clipped the old one.
Myles *******
Myles *******
@Stuart ********
cant comment on 9 years ago only process I went through last month to renew and had to send original plus the copy but got original sent back to me
Stuart *********
Stuart *********
@Myles ******
I could be wrong on this as it was 9 years ago but I thought the whole idea of the colour photocopies was because you didn’t need to send it back. And I’m sort of remembering that the lady at VFS (was in the Trendy building back then) did the clipping.
Myles *******
Myles *******
@Stuart ********
yep they send old one back clipped

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