Answered2 months ago

Why is it important to keep your old passport when applying for a DTV visa in Thailand?

DTV visa Thailand visa passport requirements immigration visa application process expat advice

Fitfac *******************

asked Sep 9, 2026

2.2k

views

replies

likes

Just an update for anyone applying for a DTV visa:

If you recently got a new passport — especially within 1 year — please don’t destroy your old passport.

Some Thai embassies are now asking the applicants to submit a copy of their old passport as part of the application.

We believe this may be because some applicants have tried to hide previous overstays or their travel history in and out of Thailand by getting a new passport or just changing their name).

Because of this, embassies may want to check the old passport and previous entry/exit records.

One of our customers was recently rejected because he was unable to provide a copy of his old passport. He explained that the old passport had already been destroyed. We submitted an explanation on his behalf, but unfortunately, the application was still rejected. We refunded him the full amount, by the way.

So, just a heads-up: keeping your old passport, or at least a complete copy of it, is becoming increasingly important when applying for a DTV visa.

Otherwise, if the embassy specifically requests it and you cannot provide it, you may face problems with your application and could potentially need to wait before reapplying.

Answer summary

Recent updates indicate that when applying for a DTV visa in Thailand, it's crucial to retain your old passport, especially if you've recently obtained a new one. Some Thai embassies are now requiring a copy of the old passport to verify applicants' travel histories and previous overstays. This stems from instances where applicants have attempted to conceal information by acquiring a new passport. Failing to provide the old passport can result in application denials, as exemplified by a customer whose application was rejected for this reason. Overall, keeping your old passport is increasingly important for visa applications.

10 repliesnewest first

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Ray *****

What if it's your first passport? How would the embassy know

2 months ago

Paul **********

Wtf is the BS post. Who 'destroys' their old passport?

A, It has all your memories in it.

b all your entries are on the system, a new passport isn't hiding anything.

Dumb post

2 months ago

David ***********

@Paul *********

in the UK now in order to renew your passport you have to send back your old passport.

2 months ago

Marcus ******

That’s different than keeping an old passport, most places require you to submit your passport to get a new one, you can’t be running around with 2 passports when one is invalid.

2 months ago

Fitfac *******************

The embassy does not have access to the immigration system(they try to integrate all system into one database but thai bureaucracy take forever) and sometimes people change their names or surnames.

That is one reason why many embassies now ask to see all pages of your current and previous passports.

Some people simply throw away their old passport once they receive a new one. We are only sharing information that may be helpful to you, but of course, it is up to you whether you believe it or not.

Some people also destroy sensitive documents after they are no longer valid—for example, old ID cards or credit cards—because of concerns about identity theft, especially when relocating to a new place.

2 months ago

GivingPer**********

@Paul *********

They actually ask to destroy it when you make a new one. Maybe because there's biometric data on it these days.

2 months ago

Adam *****

GivingPersimmon1136 you can destroy the biometric chip without destroying the whole passport by punching a hole through the data page

2 months ago

YellowCate***********

@Adam ****

I never kept my old passports 🤷‍♂️

2 months ago

CapableC********

lol

2 months ago

Ali *************

Please don’t destroy your old passport ??????

No one should ever destroy an old passport unless specifically required by the issuing authority.

This isn’t just about Thailand or the DTV. You may need your old passport **anywhere, at any time** — for visa applications, immigration records, travel history, proof of previous visas, or other official purposes.

**Keep every old passport in a safe place. You never know when you might need it again.**

2 months ago