Answereda year ago

What should I do with my Thai Retirement Visa when renewing my passport while in Australia?

Retirement Visa Visa Extension Re-entry Permit Passport Renewal Thailand Immigration Process Visa Stamps Transfer

Doug ********

asked Jun 30, 2025

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Hello all, I have been living in Thailand since May 2023 on a Retirement Visa. I just got my new 12 month extension in May this year and the lady at Immigration pointed out that my passport runs out in March 2026 so she could only stamp me in until then. I am going for a quick trip back to my home country Australia very soon , I have a re-entry stamp in my passport now and was going to get a new passport while I’m in Australia which brings me to the question, What can I expect upon my return to Thailand regarding my old passport with the current Visa stamp and re-entry permit? Is there something I should do before go to Australia?

Answer summary

The author is a retiree in Thailand on a Retirement Visa facing a situation where they need to renew their passport while holding a re-entry permit and current visa stamps in their soon-to-expire passport. They seek advice on what steps to take before traveling to Australia. Community responses suggest that upon returning to Thailand, the individual should carry both the old and new passports, present them at immigration, and have the immigration office transfer the visa stamps from the old passport to the new one.

11 repliesnewest first

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Alan ******

Yes, be prepared for the shockvfor the cost of a passport. Govt increased fees massively

a year ago

Shannon *************

Takes 10 days to get new passport in Thailand, once received go to immigration and gets stamps transfered. Alot easier getting passport overseas, long waiting times in Aus I hear.

a year ago

Mark ********

@Shannon ************

no not correct, wait times are back to normal now, got mine in 6 days in December, very easy and fast service 😁

a year ago

Shannon *************

@Mark *******

yer ok 4 days vs doing it in country and have all sorted before you leave is!!!!

a year ago

Jenn ***********

Hi Doug, might it be possible for you to share your experience upon your return after your visit back from Australia? We will face similar situation in few months time as we will be applying for our extension before heading back to our home country for passport renewal.

a year ago

Doug ********

@Jenn **********

Yes of cause, no problem as long as I remember to do it. So many distractions but I love living here.

a year ago

Tod *********

You have a re-entry permit which expires the same time your "short" extension does (the day your passport expires, so just leave when you're scheduled

Get a new passport in your country (file that TDAC <- Thailand Digital Arrival Card on the new passport number when you come back) and then once you're here present BOTH passports to the officer at passport control when you stamp in

The officer will stamp you in on the new passport, but make a note in it that your extension/re-entry are in the old passport

THEN

You go to the immigration office where you got your yearly extension (or in your case your "short" extension) and they will move the stamps from the old passport to the new one

You won't get that time you were shorted <- meaning they aren't gonna give you back that time from Mar to May because you should have renewed your passport BEFORE you got this last extension so that time is lost

BUT

They will put the extension stamps into the new passport and then you'll use that to apply for your extensions from then on

a year ago

Doug ********

@Tod ********

Thank you Tod that makes it really easy.

a year ago

Mark ********

@Doug *******

I just got a new Passport in December in Australia when I went back for a visit….what Todd said is exactly correct, I just showed old and new passports to the Immigration Officer at the airport, no problems. Then I went to my Immigration Office to get my Extension of Stay stamps transferred to my new PP when I returned to my home, also you need to inform the TM30 section of your return and update your new PP with them (take note it’s is not Visa stamps being transferred as Todd always points out that they are Extensions of Stay🤣)……also you should take your new PP to your Bank to update them as well as they need to know when issuing your bank docs for proof of funds.

a year ago

Doug ********

@Mark *******

Thanks Mark I had not thought about the bank but now I’ll be sure to do it.

a year ago