Savarnabhumi airport departure through Electronic Passport Control.

[PJ71]

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

It is pretty good evidence to me  -  and probably why Immigration at Swampy often ask to see at arrival. I now show the boarding pass on the app when I present my passsport.

But you could check in and get a boarding pass and then not board, right? therefore not leaving the country, right?

 

My point being (which you seem to not understand ) is that let's say you've been using the new egates and have no physical stamps, your home country wants evidence of where you've been, what's your evidence?

 

Tax depts do not go out there way to help, it's up to the individual to provide evidence.

[mikeymike100]

On 11/29/2024 at 7:54 AM, KannikaP said:

But the Immigration Computer knows exactly when you left. Hey, it saves pages in your Passport.

Indeed, if the immigration data base/computer thinks there is a problem with your passport, surely it is 'intelligent' enough to distinguish a passport that can go thru and a passport that cannot? Then will flag it to immigration staff!

[hotandsticky]

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

But you could check in and get a boarding pass and then not board, right? therefore not leaving the country, right?

 

My point being (which you seem to not understand ) is that let's say you've been using the new egates and have no physical stamps, your home country wants evidence of where you've been, what's your evidence?

 

Tax depts do not go out there way to help, it's up to the individual to provide evidence.

 

My you have woken up in a judgemental mood!

 

I fully understand your comment - it is just irrelevant.

 

Anyone could indeed choose not to board (as Hannah Waddingham did in the final programme in Ted Lasso) - but then you would not arrive in another country. The electronic records are key and the e-gate system is working - on my return (after exiting via e-gates a week earlier) my IO was unconcerned about any lack of exit stamp  - does that surprise you?

 

There is also eviddence that these electronic records are accessible by the Department of Work and Pensions - a friend (who had not advised DWP that he was returning to Thailand) had his pension payment chopped back immediately after his return). 

[PJ71]

8 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

My you have woken up in a judgemental mood!

 

I fully understand your comment - it is just irrelevant.

 

Anyone could indeed choose not to board (as Hannah Waddingham did in the final programme in Ted Lasso) - but then you would not arrive in another country. The electronic records are key and the e-gate system is working - on my return (after exiting via e-gates a week earlier) my IO was unconcerned about any lack of exit stamp  - does that surprise you?

 

There is also eviddence that these electronic records are accessible by the Department of Work and Pensions - a friend (who had not advised DWP that he was returning to Thailand) had his pension payment chopped back immediately after his return). 

If asked for evidence and i asked the tax dept to get the electronic records, you think they'd say "yeah ok mate, we'll do that for you"......doubt it.

[Olmate]

On 11/28/2024 at 7:34 AM, msbkk said:

I am in the same situation and was directed to the automatic gates. I pointed out to the staff that I do have a 1 year visa and re-entry. I was told that long visa holders cannot use the automatic gates and was then directed to the normal immigration counter to receive a stamp for departure. 

Can.use them, I.left.3 weeks.ago, with.retirment.ext  andre.entry, flawless.return also.

[hotandsticky]

18 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

If asked for evidence and i asked the tax dept to get the electronic records, you think they'd say "yeah ok mate, we'll do that for you"......doubt it.

 

 

That wouldn't happen........and we both know it. 😉

 

 

It is a non-issue.

 

 

(I used to attach my baggage receipt to the boarding pass stub - just to make sure that I didn't throw it away before getting through baggage reclaim).  Viva la mobile application.

[PJ71]

10 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

That wouldn't happen........and we both know it. 😉

 

 

It is a non-issue.

 

 

(I used to attach my baggage receipt to the boarding pass stub - just to make sure that I didn't throw it away before getting through baggage reclaim).  Viva la mobile application.

What wouldn't happen, tax dept asking for proof of being out the country? I've been asked for it....

 

Still going on about the boarding pass.....pfft!

[FRM-BKK]

Is the Thai immigration system working more towards the systems deployed in many western countries ? where passport control either through e-gates or via an immigration officer is in use only on entering the country (United Kingdom - Heathrow), and no passport checks on exiting the U.K.

EU countries check passports but do not stamp on entry nor exit.  The USA only stamps passports on entry via an IO and no passport checks or stamps on exiting. 
 

These countries do not seem to have any issues wether you have stamps in your passport or not. 
 

For clarification, I hold an EU passport with an annual extension of stay for Thailand, based on work, with a re-entry and work permit. 

[Randy99]

On 11/29/2024 at 9:17 AM, msbkk said:

In theory the system should be intelligent. The issue is not so much the exit but probably more the next entry I would worry about. Maybe I am overly cautious. But why do they still have immigration exit booths who stamp your passport if you go there instead of the automatic gates?

I flew to Vietnam last week and returned a few days later.  Used the E gate upon exit and had no problems returning on my re-entry permit.

[newnative]

1 hour ago, Randy99 said:

I flew to Vietnam last week and returned a few days later.  Used the E gate upon exit and had no problems returning on my re-entry permit.

Same with my recent trip to Europe.  Very easy and fast going out and returning.  

[khunjeff]

8 hours ago, FRM-BKK said:

The USA only stamps passports on entry via an IO and no passport checks or stamps on exiting. 

 

And actually US immigration at most ports of entry stopped routinely stamping passports for visitors a couple of years ago, though those people still have to see an officer. 

[geisha]

So it doesn’t scan your face when you arrive ? Like elsewhere you put your passport on the right, look at scan, doors open. If they don’t open means there’s a problem. Saw that with a man next to me in Heathrow lately.The scan has all your comings and going’s and normally your picture. I think this is all linked to alerts on tax etc.

[geisha]

16 hours ago, FRM-BKK said:

Is the Thai immigration system working more towards the systems deployed in many western countries ? where passport control either through e-gates or via an immigration officer is in use only on entering the country (United Kingdom - Heathrow), and no passport checks on exiting the U.K.

EU countries check passports but do not stamp on entry nor exit.  The USA only stamps passports on entry via an IO and no passport checks or stamps on exiting. 
 

These countries do not seem to have any issues wether you have stamps in your passport or not. 
 

For clarification, I hold an EU passport with an annual extension of stay for Thailand, based on work, with a re-entry and work permit. 

If you’re in the UK passport line at Heathrow you go through the scan gate, no immigration officer.

[josephbloggs]

19 minutes ago, geisha said:

If you’re in the UK passport line at Heathrow you go through the scan gate, no immigration officer.

If it works. Last time it took me 90 minutes to get through. Massive queue for the scan gate, (two operational), it didn't work, I had to go and queue up for the one IO who was working.

Absolutely disgusting and disgraceful mess arriving at our main point of entry for foreign tourists.

Suvarnabhumi is infinitely more efficient.

[cormanr7]

The system of an 'electronic' exit rather than an exit stamp seems to get more prevalent.

I left Japan (Tokyo-Narita) last December and it had a similar system. On entry you get the old stay permit glued in your passport but on exit you have to scan your passport and look in a sort of large mirror. I think a similar system has already operated in Singapore for quite some time.

[mikeymike100]

On 11/28/2024 at 7:34 AM, msbkk said:

I am in the same situation and was directed to the automatic gates. I pointed out to the staff that I do have a 1 year visa and re-entry. I was told that long visa holders cannot use the automatic gates and was then directed to the normal immigration counter to receive a stamp for departure. 

I was told the exact opposite. I went thru the fastrak and asked an IO and was told its ok to use them. Surely the computer/data base is intelligent to figure it out if your passport/extension of stay etc is ok to go thru, or if not it would be flagged?

[mikeymike100]

18 hours ago, cormanr7 said:

The system of an 'electronic' exit rather than an exit stamp seems to get more prevalent.

I left Japan (Tokyo-Narita) last December and it had a similar system. On entry you get the old stay permit glued in your passport but on exit you have to scan your passport and look in a sort of large mirror. I think a similar system has already operated in Singapore for quite some time.

In Singapore both entry and exit is thru electronic gates, been there since covid finished

[Purdey]

As a PR holder, I was allowed to use the old automatic machines that Thais used. Then they changed the machines. Haven't used the new ones yet but the old ones took a picture of your face, which explains why you don't need a stamp in the passport. The system has a record of you leaving and returning.

[sanmyintmaung]

On 12/14/2024 at 7:18 AM, PJ71 said:

What wouldn't happen, tax dept asking for proof of being out the country? I've been asked for it....

 

Still going on about the boarding pass.....pfft!

Tax payer can request the attached travel record document with entry/exit stamps from Thai immigration.

This Travel Record is accepted by Thailand Tax office to prove the Resident status for the Tax ID Number application, for Tax Residence Certificate and other tax purposes.

 

[JackGats]

13 hours ago, sanmyintmaung said:

Tax payer can request the attached travel record document with entry/exit stamps from Thai immigration.

This Travel Record is accepted by Thailand Tax office to prove the Resident status for the Tax ID Number application, for Tax Residence Certificate and other tax purposes.

 

Can you get this online? Or will it be yet another "certificate of residency" charade and a half-day at the IO?

 

Last time I exited from Thailand I asked to go through the booth to have my passport stamped and I got my stamp. How long this will go on being possible is the question.

[JackGats]

On 12/14/2024 at 12:58 AM, PJ71 said:

But you could check in and get a boarding pass and then not board, right? therefore not leaving the country, right?

 

My point being (which you seem to not understand ) is that let's say you've been using the new egates and have no physical stamps, your home country wants evidence of where you've been, what's your evidence?

 

Tax depts do not go out there way to help, it's up to the individual to provide evidence.

Not only that, but say you show boarding passes to prove you boarded a plane into Thailand on day A and out of Thailand on day B, how do you prove  that you weren't out of Thailand and into Thailand again between day A and day B? Up to now you could tell the tax dept it was impossible to either enter or leave Thailand without the Thais putting a stamp in your passport. Once the tax dept knows the Thais are no longer stamping passports, the only formal proof of your stays in Thailand is through some kind of certificate issued by Thai immigration.

[PJ71]

20 hours ago, sanmyintmaung said:

Tax payer can request the attached travel record document with entry/exit stamps from Thai immigration.

This Travel Record is accepted by Thailand Tax office to prove the Resident status for the Tax ID Number application, for Tax Residence Certificate and other tax purposes.

 

That's tremendous but much easier to scan pages with stamps, right?

 

How does an english speaking tax authority read the Thai?

[hotandsticky]

9 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

That's tremendous but much easier to scan pages with stamps, right?

 

How does an english speaking tax authority read the Thai?

 

 

I wasn't aware that the Thai tax authorities (to whom the poster was referring) could only speak English.

[PJ71]

15 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I wasn't aware that the Thai tax authorities (to whom the poster was referring) could only speak English.

That's unlikely Thai immigration officers would only speak english, why would they?

 

It's also unlikely that any home country tax dept ( or similar ) would consider it their job and waste their time and energy to get Thai script translated on someone elses behalf, ie as i mentioned, easier to scan stamps in/out of country.

[Jaggg88]

On 11/28/2024 at 7:08 AM, Upnotover said:

There were reports earlier that there were signs indicating that these channels should not be used if holding a re-entry permit.  Will be interesting to learn if that restriction has now gone.

 

I remember that post, but when I left last May, I looked for this sign. There is one telling you that you must get a re-entry permit from the immigration desk. It doesn't say don't use the e-gates. When you scan your passport it updates your record and on your return, the IO will scan your passport and up pops your file with the departure date.

[sanmyintmaung]

15 hours ago, PJ71 said:

That's tremendous but much easier to scan pages with stamps, right?

 

How does an english speaking tax authority read the Thai?

 Many countries are ditching the passport stamps and Thailand is going in that direction. So, we have to find a way to adapt to the changing world. If the entry/exit stamps are only available from Thai immigration in Thai document, a professional translation service can provide a certified translation which fulfills the requirements of the English speaking tax authority in question, enabling it to be used in formal procedures.

[JackGats]

The way I am going to get official proof I stayed over 180 days in TH will be to file taxes for 2024 (although I am certain I owe zero tax). Killing two birds in one stone. If I need an immigration paper to prove I stayed over 180 days, I might as well take it a step further and get a paper proving I'm clean re taxes as well.

[sanmyintmaung]

23 hours ago, JackGats said:

Can you get this online? Or will it be yet another "certificate of residency" charade and a half-day at the IO?

 

Last time I exited from Thailand I asked to go through the booth to have my passport stamped and I got my stamp. How long this will go on being possible is the question.

Unfortunately, you cannot get it online. You will need to go to a local immigration office to get one. 

[JackGats]

1 hour ago, sanmyintmaung said:

Unfortunately, you cannot get it online. You will need to go to a local immigration office to get one. 

Can you get it without getting a "certificate of residence" first?

[NanLaew]

On 12/21/2024 at 1:25 AM, JackGats said:

Can you get this online? Or will it be yet another "certificate of residency" charade and a half-day at the IO?

 

Last time I exited from Thailand I asked to go through the booth to have my passport stamped and I got my stamp. How long this will go on being possible is the question.

I think there will always be a manned kiosk to process those who need a stamp but mainly for those who's passports have been declined at the auto gates.

 

The RFID chip on one of my passports is damaged and thus unreadable. It was rejected by the auto gates but processed by the officer at the kiosk, same as usual.