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What should I do if I need to renew my passport while my Thai visa is still valid?

Thai visa transfer Passport renewal Immigration process in Thailand NON-O visa Retirement visa Visa requirements Expat tips

Mar 22, 2024

8 months ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

If you have a visa in your paspoort but you have to renew your paspoort because the paspoort is getting expiratie (so there is no visa in your paspoort anymore) 

Do you have to go to the immigration for putting the visa/stamps  back in your paspoort?

I know it's also in the computer but it a immigration/policeman check in on the street they  don't have a computer with them and only look in your paspoort.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

When renewing a passport that contains a valid Thai visa, it's necessary to transfer the visa to the new passport. This involves visiting immigration with both the old and new passports. Depending on the type of visa (sticker or stamp), you may need to carry both passports until the transfer is complete. It's also advisable to have documentation from your embassy regarding the passport renewal. Keeping a copy of the visa or a photo on your phone is recommended for situations where you may need to show proof of valid immigration status.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

Michael ****

I highly recommend not running around with your passport everyday. That has to go wrong sooner or later…

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Vinn *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Yes but I ever did go to go club. Police SWAT did come in. Have to test urine for drugs and show paspoort. I didn't had it with me. So I had to show it at the police station the next day. And the police where very rude and upset that I did go party without my paspoort..

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Andy **********

you just need to have a photo on your phone of your current visa, anyone saying carry your passport around, it's not them that has to deal with it, if it goes missing!! if you live in Thailand and your current visa is due to expire, you would need to return to your home country, to avoid being on overstay, and to get a new passport, at great expense and a lot of messing around you can do without.

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Michael ****

yes it’s always a bit random here and clubs I can imagine they might be very tight when entering it.

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Graham ******

Get a copy made (plus your entry stamp), credit card size and laminated for about 80B in any "Kodak" shop

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Michael ****

get a copy, it worked out for me everywhere. Clubs, hotels and 2 times police as well. Losing it is a pain in the a**…

And that also solves your problem with the stamp in the fresh passport. BTW you can keep your old passport and still show it around for your visa and clubs… at least until the last day it’s valid. Cheers 👋

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Michael ****

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David *********

You should also get a letter from your embassy stating the reason for a new passport. This letter you will give to immigration.

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Tony ********

@David ********

most countries no longer issue a letter for renewal passports.

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David *********

This is a Thai form. My experience renewing my Belgium passport in Thailand the Belgium embassy gave me a letter stating the reason for issuing. They told me immigration would require the letter. Which they did. I stated this before and many people have thanked me as they needed it also.

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Tony ********

@David ********

maybe i should have said some countries rather than most. It would also depend on circumstances, for a renewal where you have both the old and new passports and not issued via Embassy, i received no letter and wasn't required to produce one at CW when i moved my stamps last time. So if the OP has one then he should produce it when he goes for the swap, but if he wasnt issued with one its probably a waste of time worrying about it.

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Tony ********

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John ********

You will need to fill in the form from the thai immigration website, take your old passport and the new passport with you, also if you have a retirement visa you will need to take a copy of your bank account details for the immigration officer to see

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Bart **************

It depends what you have. To my understanding (and I hope to be corrected in case I'm wrong), if you are on a stamp of any sort, you go to immigrations to transfer it and you're good, but if you have a sticker, you still transfer the stamp, but you then need to carry both passports with you so both the sticker and the stamp remain accessable.

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Tony ********

@Bart *************

when you have the stamp moved, you also get a stamp detailing the original visa type, so you can just file the old passport and carry the new one.

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Tony ********

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Brian *********

Yes, you will need to have your visa transferred to the new ‘passport’.

Go to immigration with new and old passport to transfer.

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Gray ******

@Brian ********

If you have a long term visa, at the next extension bring the old passport. Immigration will want to see it.

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Vinn *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brian ********

thank you. Is this free?

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John ********

yes it's free

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Brian *********

thanks John

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Brian *********

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Brian *********

I don’t know that answer and it’s possible it may not be the same answer at different immigration offices.

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Brian *********

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Michael ********

I always keep photo of latest visa on my phone and also passport. Just in case.

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Mel ******

@Michael *******

same 😀

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Mel ******

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