What should I do if I've renewed my passport while holding a Thailand DTV visa?

Question

Total BS. My U.S. passport was worn and was set to expire in a few months, so I decided to renew it before traveling back to Thailand. I currently have a valid Thailand DTV visa that still has about four years remaining on it.

I contacted the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles before traveling because I wanted to make sure everything would be fine with my new passport. They told me that because renewing my passport gave me a new passport number, issue date, and expiration date, they cannot update or transfer my existing DTV visa to the new passport.

They said I now have to cancel the current visa and completely reapply for another DTV visa if I want to use it with my renewed passport.

So I am posting this as a warning for anyone else with a Thailand DTV visa: do not assume you can renew your passport and just travel with the new one without checking first. I am glad I contacted them before flying to Bangkok, because otherwise I could have shown up thinking everything was fine.

Unfortunately, I now have to reapply and spend more money after only having this visa for about a year.

Ask Thailand · Answer

A U.S. expat shared their frustration after renewing their passport, only to find out from the Thai Consulate that they would need to cancel their existing DTV visa and reapply due to the new passport's different number and details. However, multiple commenters advised that it's common to travel with both the old and new passports, and that the Thai immigration authorities often allow for a transfer of the visa to the new passport without needing a new visa application. Travelers are urged to carry both passports and can transfer their visa officially at a Thai Immigration office once in Thailand.

เอดี ******* · Answer

The consensus is don't worry and bring your old passport with you.

Elías ******** · Answer

What they said about not being able to update is true, but you don't need a new visa. Travel with both passports. Now, if you wonder why the divergence, visa issuing embassies belong to the Ministry of Foreing Affairs, while immigration at the borders (including airports) belong to a different ministry. The embassies have no say in allowing you to enter Thailand or not and sometimes don't know/don't care to know about actual Immigration rules.

David ******* · Answer

Don't reapply...bring both passports. This happened to me. Had DTV less than a year, and needed new passport. No issues whatsoever at immigration.

Richard ******** · Answer

How to Stop Carrying Your Old Passport.

You can permanently leave your old passport at home by completing an official record transfer once you are inside Thailand.

Enter Thailand: Fly into the country using both passports (old with visa, new for stamping).

Visit Immigration: Go to a local Thai Immigration Office (such as Chaeng Wattana in Bangkok).

Get the Official Stamp: Request a "Transfer Stamp to New Passport" (Immigration Form Request).  Once the officer links your DTV to your new passport in their database and stamps your new passport, your digital visa history is officially moved. From that exact moment onward, you only need to travel with your new passport.

If You Choose Not to Transfer the Stamp.  If you decide not to visit a Thai Immigration office to formally transfer the records, then yes, you must carry both passports every single time you enter or exit Thailand for the entire 5-year validity of your DTV.

Information from Thai Embassy.

Es ****** · Answer

I have entered 3 times already with a new passport, while my DTV is on my old passport. Never had any issue. I always carry my old passport with me, but only once did the IO actually look at it. Last entry the IO wrote (in Thai) in my new passport that my visa is on my old one.

Nick ******* · Answer

There are many instances of people successfully entering with a new passport, whilst carrying their old one.  Your mistake was contacting the embassy.

Anonymous ****************** · Answer

If there is something I learned in Thailand it's that rules vary from one staff to another, one office to another, the mood of the day..

My passport took water a year ago with my visa and all, important pages were still mostly fine, but I had to make a new passport. French embassy cut my old passport, stamped the pages except the visa one. And gave me a new passport. They explicitely told me to carry both when travelling. Everytime I'm passing immigration I give both the agent, never had an issue.

My advice, ask both Thai immigration and  US embassy in Thailand.

Sujy ********* · Answer

Everything is fine. Bring both passport. Thousands of people have done it. It's on the Thai side that they do the transfer. Please trust people like me and others with decades of experience in Thailand. You will be just fine, bring both passports into Thailand. They will transfer it once at the Thai airport.

Anonymous ****************** · Answer

Many people have renewed their passport with the dtv. Have you even searched this group to see other posts about it? Because you definitely don't have to cancel it. You have to carry both the old and new passports with you.

Trustwort********** · Answer

I believe you can bring your old passport and your new passport to enter Thailand showing that you have the DTV  visa. There have been many posts here saying you just bring your old passport with you

What should I do if I've renewed my passport while holding a Thailand DTV visa?

Activity

Related

Resources