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What should I do if my passport expires in less than 6 months while on a DTV visa in Thailand?
Nov 10, 2025
6 months ago
Miguel *************
ORIGINAL POSTERI own and live in a flat in Phuket and have a 5-year DTV visa, but I'm spending this month in Indonesia. I have just arrived in Yogyakarta and straightaway realized that my passport will expire in less than 6 months (5 months and a week) by the time I set to return, which is not a problem for leaving Indonesia, but might present a problem for reentry in the Kingdom, and most countries, really.
I sent an email to my Embassy, which I have to visit anyway to pick up my renewed ID card - a requirement to renew my passport -, and asked for a letter explaining that I'm going to Bangkok on a specific date for the very purpose of renewing my passport.
Is this the right procedure? Has anyone been in a similar situation with a passport under 6 months when they arrived in another country and cannot book a ticket to come back? Thank you.
I sent an email to my Embassy, which I have to visit anyway to pick up my renewed ID card - a requirement to renew my passport -, and asked for a letter explaining that I'm going to Bangkok on a specific date for the very purpose of renewing my passport.
Is this the right procedure? Has anyone been in a similar situation with a passport under 6 months when they arrived in another country and cannot book a ticket to come back? Thank you.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is currently in Indonesia with a 5-year DTV visa for Thailand, but their passport is set to expire in less than six months upon return. They have reached out to their embassy for guidance on renewing their passport, but seek advice on how this affects their reentry into Thailand. Comments suggest that Thailand's entry rules may not allow reentry with less than 180 days of passport validity, advising the user to prioritize renewing their passport before attempting to return.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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.
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Christopher **********
Depends on what you want to do and your resources. Maximizing what you do, you could fly back to Thailand, get your ID and new passport (or do the latter in Jakarta) and return to Jakarta for the rest of your stay then come back to Thailand. The cost of this is a round trip flight Jakarta-Bangkok and accommodations in Bangkok.
As others are saying, there are other alternatives: return now to Thailand and settle things in Bangkok (loses out on rest of Indonesia), stay in Indonesia return on a visa exempt stamp and have to get a new DTV, negotiate a way to get a new ID sent to Jakarta (you are not certain it will work) and handle things before you return, enjoy Jakarta but return to the UK to sort things out before returning to Thailand.
None of these are ideal. You have to assess their probability of success, costs (financial and otherwise), and how they work, and decide which way forward you want to go.
As others are saying, there are other alternatives: return now to Thailand and settle things in Bangkok (loses out on rest of Indonesia), stay in Indonesia return on a visa exempt stamp and have to get a new DTV, negotiate a way to get a new ID sent to Jakarta (you are not certain it will work) and handle things before you return, enjoy Jakarta but return to the UK to sort things out before returning to Thailand.
None of these are ideal. You have to assess their probability of success, costs (financial and otherwise), and how they work, and decide which way forward you want to go.
Miguel *************
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you for your comment, Christopher.
Apparently, there was no dilemma, as they wouldn’t renew the passport in Jakarta without presenting the physical card held in Bangkok. Instead of damaging my stay by feeling anxious about whether it will arrive by mail, get lost in the process, not arrive in time or if there’s a change I can’t get the passport renewed at all, I’ll just fly back to Thailand today and pick up the card tomorrow.
Apparently, there was no dilemma, as they wouldn’t renew the passport in Jakarta without presenting the physical card held in Bangkok. Instead of damaging my stay by feeling anxious about whether it will arrive by mail, get lost in the process, not arrive in time or if there’s a change I can’t get the passport renewed at all, I’ll just fly back to Thailand today and pick up the card tomorrow.
Reply to
Miguel *************
Reply
Graeme ******
I'd fly back to Thailand while you can still get stamped in and sort your passport out, if you have time then you can go back. I wouldn't want the hassle of trying to sort all your id out of thailand
Miguel *************
ORIGINAL POSTERThe Embassy in Jakarta is being inflexible about renewing the passport without picking up my ID card in Bangkok first anyway. I may have no choice.
Graeme ******
@Miguel ************
dont give yourself stress when the easier choice is to book a flight back to Thailand where you have time to get your passport sortedMiguel *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Graeme *****
I think you're right. Thanks, Graeme.Reply to
Miguel *************
Reply
Brandon ************
Thailand is one of the few countries in the world that does not require your passport to be valid for 6 months in order to enter.
BUT the rule that Thailand goes by means you're still not allowed to enter. Because your passport must have enough time left for the stamp you will be entering on. A DTV gives 180 day stamp. So if your passport is not valid for 180 days then you're not eligible to enter Thailand. You'll either need to renew your passport in Indonesia or you'll need to return to your home country and renew it before returning to Thailand.
They don't care that you want to enter Thailand to renew your passport. That's your problem, not theirs. You're simply not eligible. Your airline won't even let you board your flight.
BUT the rule that Thailand goes by means you're still not allowed to enter. Because your passport must have enough time left for the stamp you will be entering on. A DTV gives 180 day stamp. So if your passport is not valid for 180 days then you're not eligible to enter Thailand. You'll either need to renew your passport in Indonesia or you'll need to return to your home country and renew it before returning to Thailand.
They don't care that you want to enter Thailand to renew your passport. That's your problem, not theirs. You're simply not eligible. Your airline won't even let you board your flight.
Miguel *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
they won't care that I'm entering the country to renew the passport, which is why I sent an email to my embassy in Bangkok requesting a document that will let me enter the country.John **********
@Miguel ************
nope they won't care in the slightest. The only hope you have is that they would let you enter on a visa exempt stamp but I think that's unlikely. If you need an ID card to renew your passport it would be sensible doing both in Indonesia. Can you ask your embassy in Thailand to send your ID card to your embassy in Indonesia? Or just apply for a new ID cardMiguel *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
or I could just leave now (my passport has 6 months and 2 days of validity in it), give up accommodation for nearly a full month and buy a last minute ticket to Thailand... How much hassle do you think there is in staying and going through the process here? 3-4 weeks is a long time.Elías ********
@Miguel ************
if you still have time, then don't even think it. Leave NOW. And then get a new passport in Thailand.John **********
@Miguel ************
I've no idea about the passport renewal process for you in Indonesia, you should ask your embassyMiguel *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
sure. Thanks.Reply to
Miguel *************
Reply
Brandon ************
@Miguel ************
the embassy has no say on if you can enter the country. The embassy is under the MFA. Entrance to Thailand is controlled by immigration, a completely different government agency. They will not let you enter as you are not eligible to enter. A letter from a different government agency will not let you break the rules of a separate government agency.Miguel *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
so what would happen in such cases? Am I sent back to Indonesia? I guess that's not even possible, because I wouldn't be able to book a ticket out of Indonesia, the airline wouldn't accept it.Reply to
Miguel *************
Reply
Young ********
@Brandon ***********
You should be able to get it done through the British embassy in Jakarta. Or just order a new one now, onlineMiguel *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Young *******
that's another problem. I need my national ID card in order to renew my passport and they have it waiting for me at my embassy in Bangkok to be picked up, but Jakarta may require it.Young ********
@Miguel ************
Ah, you can't renew online and get a new one delivered? Our NZ one normally takes a week and then the courier time to send itMiguel *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Young *******
I'm not sure. I sent an email to my Embassy in Thailand on Friday, when I arrived and realized the issue, and I'll send another to the one in Jakarta today.Reply to
Miguel *************
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