Same Day Thai Passport Renewal in Bangkok

[pbd1971]

Good evening to you all, my Thai Wife and myself (Englishman) living in England need to travel to Thailand as soon as possible. The problem is that her Thai Passport expires beginning of February 2019 when we will still be in Thailand.

I understand she will need to have a valid passport to return back to England so I would like to know if it is possible to renew her passport in Bangkok as soon as we get there and if so, is it possible to get the new passport on the same day? Many thanks.

[chickenslegs]

Not sure whether "same day" is possible but I wouldn't be surprised - for an additional fee of course. 2-3 days is standard (IME).

 

This link may be useful ...

https://www.thethailandlife.com/thai-passport-bangkok

[BritTim]

If you are travelling almost immediately to Thailand, and will be here for a month or so, why is it important that a passport renewal be completed the same day?

 

My own gut feel is that, although Thailand is much quicker than most countries in provision of new passports, I would be surprised if a full passport could be issued the same day. My understanding is that those with urgent travel needs can get a temporary passport valid for one year.

[digbeth]

There's a 3000 baht express same day service, but the next day service one only cost 2000 baht, plus you can only make the express passport at Chaeng Wattana, so you'll have to spend a day through horrible traffic and wait there until 2-4pm for the Passport, so a whole day wasted

 

vs only 20 minute taking photograph at most, more convenient locations and the passport arrives in 2-3 days in the post and only 1000 baht fee plus postage

[samran]

You can receive it the same day. Costs 3000 baht and you must get there in the morning.

 

Normal processing takes 3 days and costs 1000 baht plus 60 baht postage. You can have the passport sent anywhere by registered mail. 

 

Did mine last Thursday and turned up in the mail at home on Saturday. 

[ubonjoe]

I think the OP may be thinking the passport can only be applied for in Bangkok.

There are offices located in all regions of the country.  See: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/organize/21037-หน่วยบริการหนังสือเดินทาง.html

[4evermaat]

Yes.  It took no longer than 5-6 days and that was it being applied in Chumphon (traveling passport staff) or Surat Thani.  1000 baht + 40 for EMS.  

 

In Bangkok, I would imagine as someone says it would take 2-3 days max, since it is processed there.  Plus the post office would drop it off wherever.   I would imagine only in cases of emergency would you consider same-day service.   At best, plan on next-day service (or the EMS route to bangkok address) and save yourself headache.

 

If as UbonJoe has hinted you will be traveling to other parts of thailand, the application can be made at any regional office.  And you EMS it to any Thai address 1040 baht.

[pbd1971]

Thanks for the replies, all very helpful. Just to clarify, we wanted to do the 1 day option so we did not have to stay in BKK longer than we needed to. We intend to head up to Udon Thani to her parents home asap after arriving in Thailand. We have also been advised through a different source about the 3000 baht 1 day option which is ok for us, as we will be using a hotel in the Chaeng Wattana area and then flying up to Udon Thani most likely from Don Muaeng.

 

One last point which is concerning us a little and maybe I should have mentioned this in the OP. My wife's Thai passport expires on the 12th February 2019 and we are now realistically looking at flying to Thailand around the 3rd or 4th February, do you think we will encounter any problems at immigration leaving the UK or whilst transferring through Dubai airport due to her only having potentially a few days left on her passport before it expires?

 

Many thanks.

[arithai12]

34 minutes ago, pbd1971 said:

One last point which is concerning us a little

I should not think so, after all she is a Thai national returning to her country.

However this begs the question: why not renew her passport at your nearest Thai consular office in UK, before you fly out?

 

[jackdd]

1 hour ago, pbd1971 said:

Thanks for the replies, all very helpful. Just to clarify, we wanted to do the 1 day option so we did not have to stay in BKK longer than we needed to. We intend to head up to Udon Thani to her parents home asap after arriving in Thailand. We have also been advised through a different source about the 3000 baht 1 day option which is ok for us, as we will be using a hotel in the Chaeng Wattana area and then flying up to Udon Thani most likely from Don Muaeng.

She can also apply for a new passport in Udon Thani (go in the morning, they limit the number of passport applications per day, if you arrive after lunch they might not hand out queue tickets anymore) and have it sent to her parents home.

 

1 hour ago, pbd1971 said:

One last point which is concerning us a little and maybe I should have mentioned this in the OP. My wife's Thai passport expires on the 12th February 2019 and we are now realistically looking at flying to Thailand around the 3rd or 4th February, do you think we will encounter any problems at immigration leaving the UK or whilst transferring through Dubai airport due to her only having potentially a few days left on her passport before it expires? 

A Thai can enter Thailand even with an expired passport, so you should not have any problems just because the passport will expire soon ????

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, jackdd said:

A Thai can enter Thailand even with an expired passport, so you should not have any problems just because the passport will expire soon ????

That is true. Thai immigration is not a problem. However, some airlines have their own rules that require six month validity. Also, Dubai have the right to set rules for those in transit. It is conceivable (I do not know) that those in transit through Dubai need a passport with longer validity. Most likely, all with be fine, but I would worry a bit in the OP's position.

[ubonjoe]

5 hours ago, BritTim said:

However, some airlines have their own rules that require six month validity. Also, Dubai have the right to set rules for those in transit. It is conceivable (I do not know) that those in transit through Dubai need a passport with longer validity. Most likely, all with be fine, but I would worry a bit in the OP's position.

The 6 month rule would not apply for a Thai traveling to here since a Thai cannot be denied entry. They are only concerned about foreigners being denied entry.

[pbd1971]

14 hours ago, arithai12 said:

However this begs the question: why not renew her passport at your nearest Thai consular office in UK, before you fly out?

 

We need to get to travel to Thailand by early February at the latest so applying at the Thai consular office in London (the only place you can apply now in the UK as far as I know) would involve a 600 miles round trip, overnight stay, more time off work and then a potential 4-6 weeks wait for the new passport to arrive back to us. We have only just received all our documents back earlier this week from her ILR visa application which we applied for in August 2018 so realistically, applying in Thailand is our best option. Thanks.

[pbd1971]

6 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The 6 month rule would not apply for a Thai traveling to here since a Thai cannot be denied entry. They are only concerned about foreigners being denied entry.

I am going to contact Emirates Airlines later today just to clarify this point with them. Thanks