Re-Entry Permit is a stamp that allows current Thai visa holders to travel to other countries and come back without forfeiting their current visa.
Most foreigners who wish to visit Thailand or reside there temporarily or permanently will need to get a Thailand visa. Thailand visas are given for single or multiple entry and are typically valid for thirty days to a year. If you have a single-entry visa and leave the country, you will be unable to re-enter, even if you have not used all the number of days you were granted. A Thailand Re-entry permit is needed here.
The Thailand Re-entry permit permits visa holders who were issued a single-entry visa to leave the country and re-enter without the visa becoming invalid. If you leave Thailand without a Re-entry permit, you will be required to re-apply for a visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General to be allowed to enter Thailand.
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Who Needs a Re-Entry Permit for Thailand?
If you hold a Single-entry visa and want to leave Thailand, you will require a Re-entry permit to avoid your visa becoming void. For both Tourist and Non-immigrant visas, you can apply for a Re-entry permit. If you want to stay in Thailand for the long term and don’t want to risk losing your visa or having to re-apply, this is a great option for you.
Note: The Re-entry permit is valid for the duration of the visa. So, the days don’t reset every time you enter Thailand. If you have a 30-day visa and re-enter with permission, you will not be granted additional 30 days.
Who Is Not Eligible for a Thailand Re-Entry Permit?
If you have any of the following, you are ineligible for a Thailand Re-Entry Permit:
- A Thailand Visa on Arrival, which is valid for a maximum of 15 days and cannot be extended.
- A Thailand Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa or Multiple-Entry Non-Immigrant Visa, in such a situation, you may leave and re-enter the country as many times as you like for as long as your visa is valid.
- The visa-exemption rule does not apply if you are a citizen of a country that does not need a Thailand Tourist visa to enter Thailand.
How Many Types of Re-Entry Permits for Thailand Are There?
You can apply for two types of Thai Re-entry permits:
- Single Re-entry permit, which can only be used once. You can only leave and re-enter once.
- Multiple Re-entry permit, which permits you to leave and re-enter the country many times within the validity period of the visa.
The Benefits of a Thai Re-Entry Permit:
A re-entry permit permits travelers to leave Thailand for a short amount of time to go to another country before returning to Thailand on the same visa. You do not forfeit the days remaining on your original Thai visa, nor do you need to make plans to get a new Thai visa before returning to Thailand.
Why is this so great??
- For starters, it’s useful for tourists who have a sudden chance to go to another country but still want to spend some time in Thailand.
- It assists teachers, students, or retirees with a year-long Thai visa who need or desire to leave the country for a holiday or travel experience.
- It is also necessary in times of emergency when foreign tourists must leave the country but have every intention of returning to Thailand.
A Thai re-entry permit removes the burden of gathering the necessary supporting documentation for a fully new Thai visa, going to a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate, and paying for the application. That is precious in and of itself!
What Documents Do You Need for a Re-Entry Permit for Thailand?
If your Thai visa expires before you return to Thailand, you will not be required to get a Re-entry permit. If you still have time on your Thai Tourist or Non-Immigrant Visa and wish to return to Thailand, you must apply for a Re-entry permit.
When applying for a Re-Entry Permit in Thailand, you must submit the following papers to immigration officers:
- Your current passport, with the Thailand visa stamped on it
- Photocopies of the appropriate pages in your passport, such as:
- The page with personal information.
- The expiry/issue page.
- Any changes to personal information (if applicable).
- Stamp of the latest entry in Thailand.
- Extension of Stay stamp (if applicable).
- A recent 4 x 6-centimeter photo of yourself.
- Re-Entry Permit Form TM8 (you can download it or it is provided at your local Thai Immigration Office) Add a photo to the form.
- A copy of your Thailand Arrival/Departure Card (TM6) is required.
- Any other documents which you would need to prove your reason for being in Thailand.
- 1,000 baht for a single re-entry permit; 3,800 baht for a multiple re-entry permit (cash only)
Note: You do not require a visa extension or a work permit if you are on a Non-Immigrant B Visa to apply for a Re-entry permit.
If you leave Thailand without first obtaining a Re-entry permit, your visa will be terminated. Unless you have additional entries remaining to utilize, such as Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) or Multiple entry Non Immigrant visa, you’ll need to apply for a new visa.
When to Apply for a Re-entry permit?
If you want to leave Thailand for a short period and wish to return on the same Thai visa you used to arrive, apply for a Thai Re-entry permit before your trip.
How to Apply for a Thailand Re-Entry Permit?
There are two methods to get a Thailand Re Entry Permit: in advance at an Immigration Office or on the day of departure at an international airport.
Applying for a Thailand Re-entry permit at a Thailand Immigration Office
- Thai Immigration is located at Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok
- Any other local immigration offices
Before you leave Thailand, apply for re-entry permission at your local Thai Immigration Office. Every province has a department. Plan your itinerary properly, and allow yourself at least a couple of hours to finish this work.
Learn the hours of operation for your local Immigration Office and bring the necessary papers, as well as enough money to pay the costs, to a Re-entry Permit counter.
Depending on the number of people at the immigration office, the process should take between 30 minutes and 2 hours.
Note: Thai Immigration Offices are open from 8:00 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. On weekends and Thai holidays, they are closed. Plan ahead of time.
Applying for a Thailand Re-entry permit at an International Airport in Thailand:
If you prefer not to visit an Immigration Office, you may apply for a Re-Entry Permit at a Thai international airport on the day you want to travel. This service is available at Thailand’s international airports.
After checking in for your flight and passing through the security checkpoint (your ticket and carry-on baggage will be scanned by security agents at the checkpoint). However, before you leave Thailand, you’ll have to go through immigration and acquire a stamp on your passport, there is a desk area or a small kiosk where you can apply for a re-entry permit.
The re-entry permission counter at an international airport is open every day that an international aircraft arrives. If your international flight departs at 12 p.m., 9 p.m., or 2 a.m., the office will be open.
Tip: A re-entry permit at the airport will take around 10 minutes for each passenger. For example, if you are traveling with three other people, arrive at the airport 30 minutes early. This should give you ample time to get a re-entry permit.
Note: If you want to stay in Thailand for an extended period, you need to get a one-year Thai Visa Extension before applying for a Re-Entry Permit.
How Much Does A Thailand Re-Entry Permit Cost?
- Single-Entry Thailand Re-Entry Permit cost: 1,000 Thai Baht
- Multiple-Entry Thailand Re-Entry Permit cost: 3,800 Thai Baht
How to Use a Thai Re-Entry Permit?
As soon as you have the Thai Re-entry permit in your passport, you must show it to the immigration officer when you return to Thailand.
When it is time for you to go through the immigration checkpoint, tell the officer that you have a re-entry permit gently. Open your passport to the page containing your Re-entry permit and present it to the officials. It’s even possible to point to the permit at this stage. If you have a re-entry stamp, just tell the immigration officer so that you don’t get a 30-day Visa Exempt Stamp.
If the immigration official fails to recognize your Re-entry permit, your Thai visa will be canceled. Unfortunately, you will be responsible for paying the expenses for obtaining a new visa as well as any overstay penalties (500 baht per day).
Each Thai Re-entry permit is valid for just one visit to Thailand. If you want to make many visits in and out of the country within the same visa extension, we suggest applying for a multiple re-entry permit. This allows you unrestricted entry and exit from Thailand for the duration of your visa’s validity.
Thailand Re Entry Permit FAQs:
How long is a re-entry permit valid in Thailand?
The re-entry permission is only valid for the duration of the visa. This implies that when you enter Thailand, the days do not reset. If you have a 30-day visa and re-enter with permission, you will not be granted additional 30 days.
How do I get an entry permit for Thailand?
Read our topic Thailand Re-entry permit.
Can I get a re-entry permit at Suvarnabhumi Airport?
Yes, you can obtain a re-entry permit at the Bangkok International Airport. They provide the service of filling out forms and giving images.
Can I get a Re entry permit online?
No, Re-entry permits can be applied for in person or by an agent at the Thai Immigration Office or at International Airport.
