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Why does Thai Immigration require all previous visa stamps to be transferred to a new passport?
Thai immigrationVisa extensionMulti re-entry permitPassport stampingRetirement visaVisa processes in ThailandExpats in ThailandDigitalization of immigration processes
Dec 11, 2024
a year ago
Brook ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI'm really a bit disappointed with Thai Immigration.
I travel a lot, and my passport book was full. I asked the Chiang Mai Immigration office to move my Visa Extension (based on Retirement), and my Multi Re-entry permit to a new passport book.
In the new passport, officials painstakingly recreated many, of not all of the previous visa entries, and then proceeded to add "correct copy" signature stamps below each catagory.
Now, three pages are already consumed.
Why couldn't they just put the visa and the re-entry stamp on the first page and use the computer records at every desk to review the prior stamps if necessary? Why do they have to be recreated in my passport?
I realize begpackers and visa abusers' histories needs to be reviewed at the borders, but isn't that what the computers are for? Cant annual visa holders be exempted from copying all the stamps
This is going to get ridiculous if I stay here for 10+ years. Not to mention the time it will take to review and re-stamp 20+ annual visas and then add "correct copy" stamps into a new passport in 2034.
MY other hope is that one day much of this application and renewal process can be automated and moved online. Cheaper and more efficient.
I travel a lot, and my passport book was full. I asked the Chiang Mai Immigration office to move my Visa Extension (based on Retirement), and my Multi Re-entry permit to a new passport book.
In the new passport, officials painstakingly recreated many, of not all of the previous visa entries, and then proceeded to add "correct copy" signature stamps below each catagory.
Now, three pages are already consumed.
Why couldn't they just put the visa and the re-entry stamp on the first page and use the computer records at every desk to review the prior stamps if necessary? Why do they have to be recreated in my passport?
I realize begpackers and visa abusers' histories needs to be reviewed at the borders, but isn't that what the computers are for? Cant annual visa holders be exempted from copying all the stamps
This is going to get ridiculous if I stay here for 10+ years. Not to mention the time it will take to review and re-stamp 20+ annual visas and then add "correct copy" stamps into a new passport in 2034.
MY other hope is that one day much of this application and renewal process can be automated and moved online. Cheaper and more efficient.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post expresses disappointment with Thai Immigration for requiring the recreation of previous visa stamps in a new passport instead of using computer records for verification. The author highlights the inefficiency of the process, noting that many pages are consumed unnecessarily. They suggest that this system may become cumbersome over years of residency and hope for a more automated and efficient online process in the future.
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.
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Dave *********
@Graham *****
Well it's already here? Everything is already held digitally. 😉Ralph *******
So, how many pages have you got left and how many years will it take to fill them?
Brook ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ralph ******
I estimate the book will be full in 2-3 years. I’m learning to optimize space by things like using Laos eVisas, instead of Visa on arrival, and other strategies.
The whole point of a new passport is empty pages. It negates the purpose when Thailand moves the stamps into the new passport, and then add stamps attesting to the true copy.
Ralph *******
@Brook *******
You are obviously very busy flitting in and out of Thailand. My passport after visiting Thailand and many other countries over the last six years still has many empty pages.Todd *********
@Ralph ******
I filled a Canada 10 year passport in 35 months of full time travel. Annoying, but it’s easy to doRalph *******
@Todd ********
Yes. Full time travel will do that! But, you must admit it’s a very unusual circumstance.Reply to
Ralph *******
Reply
Khun ******
welcome to thailand
Stephen *******
At the end of the day expats are lucky to be able to stay in country for such extended periods of time.
Todd *********
@Stephen ******
196 countries on earth. Perhaps a handful don’t love expats… nothing lucky about that. It’s how the world worksReply to
Todd *********
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Colin ********
When I moved mine they only copied the current visa etc
John *********
Complaining at a high level
Mick ********
Their bat their ball their rules As a guest we just have to suck it up
David ***********
What? I have had at least 4 passports and I have never been asked to transfer a visa over that I can recall. Just carried the old passport or once had the old passport attached.
David *******
Guess it depends on the office. I did the same at Jomtien a few weeks ago and they just transferred the Extension and Reentry Permit so one page.
John ****************
some complain about everything.....
Craig ********
perhaps this is a Chiang Mai thing? I recently had a full passport with many past stamps and extensions in thailand and they only moved my original non-o and my last extension stamp, nothing else.
Jack ******
Same here in Chiang Mai but at Central Festival Immigration. My wife got her Non O retirement and last entry stamp only plus a new multiple re-entry stamp.
Reply to
Jack ******
Reply
John ********
Maybe entitled people screwed it up for everyone else?🤔🤨😵💫
Joe *****
First world problems..relax
Brook ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Joe ****
I’m relaxed. In fact I’m retired.Reply to
Brook ********
Reply
Jay *********
Get a bigger passport.
Brook ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jay ********
it’s already the largest.Reply to
Brook ********
Reply
Brandon **********
Thailand is the silliest place . And I love these old white dudes who pretend they are Thai and defend the silliness. Also there is a huge housing bubble there. Major recession in the works .
Bradley *********
@Brandon *********
don’t worry, blink of an eye you’ll be an old white dude too…Brandon **********
@Bradley ********
just not so grumpy !Reply to
Brandon **********
Reply
Andy **********
I didn't know they transferred multiple stamps, I thought they would only transfer the current stamp, I've never heard anyone mention this before, it annoys me when immigration puts a stamp in the middle of a blank page, or the stupid sticker visas, at the Lao border etc, they always missed a full blank page, and stuck it on the next page, and then continued on yet another blank page, always at the renewal of a passport, choose the one with the maximum amount of pages.
Terary **********
I recently got a new passport. My previous passport was full of tourist stamps. When I got my new passport I simply left Thailand. They added two stamps when I exited. One stamp was a reference to my previous passport and the other stamp was my exit stamp.
Maybe you're doing it wrong?
Maybe you're doing it wrong?
Brook ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI dont think so. I need the Thai Visa in my new passport to get back in.
I doubt Thailand would let me back in with a Non-O in a cancelled passport. But, I'm curious now if Thailand might? Has anyone tried this? I think they would just admit you Visa Exempt and tell you to start the Non-O process anew.
I doubt Thailand would let me back in with a Non-O in a cancelled passport. But, I'm curious now if Thailand might? Has anyone tried this? I think they would just admit you Visa Exempt and tell you to start the Non-O process anew.
Greg ***********
@Brook *******
I did just that in september. My 1-year retirement extension and a single re-entry permit were in the invalidated passport. My new passpot was blank. They only put the entry "admitted stay" stamp into my new passport, stamped the re-entry "USED" and that's what's to it. When I did my TM30 on Immigration the other day, they transferred my still valid Extension into my new passport. Plus one stamp completely in Thai (probably the notification that the Extension stamp was moved)Reply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Alan *******
That sounds like a strange process. I had a China multi-entry visa glued into a passport that filled up AND expired, and I only had to show it along with my new passport to use it. I just had to carry both passports. I think others do it that way - and that was China.
DavidandKim ********
@Alan ******
That's how I plan to enter back into Bali.Reply to
DavidandKim ********
Reply
Willem ****
You got your stamp tranferred. Same as any one. I did mine last month. Absolutely no problem. Cheers.
Tom ********
If you think that's bad try living in the Philippines!
Max **********
Boomer problems
Duncanc **********
🫣
Graham ******
Be careful what you wish for with digitalisation ;)
Adrian ******
Same here. Used up 2 and half pages transferring stamps. Glad I ordered a jumbo passport!
Peter *********
@Adrian *****
what would happen if you lost your previous passport ?Bagsida *********
@Peter ********
It’s expired and Trowe away the Computers at Immigration not working the stay only for show off work is done by hand and copy like in the old days Love it *****
Reply to
Bagsida *********
Reply
Greta *****
Too bad you can't control the Thai immigration hey? ☹️
Brook ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greta ****
If I controlled Thai immigration the they would no longer be able to use paper copies in support of Visa applications to power the Thai electric generation plants. Almost everything would be computer, biometric and App based.Greta *****
@Brook *******
I guess we are lucky that you don't....Reply to
Greta *****
Reply
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