On 7/26/2025 at 8:42 AM, RupertIII said:

Just another form of tax levied on foreigners.

 

On 7/26/2025 at 6:46 AM, Tod Daniels said:

I stopped looking for anything remotely resembling 'logic' here in the glorious "Land 'O Thaiz" a long long time ago 😛 

 

On 7/25/2025 at 11:26 PM, pub2022 said:

Apart from using us as a cash cow, what's the logic about getting a re-entry permit?

The visa (extension, whatever) is already there, just give me another 'admitted until' damn stamp!

AFAIK Thailand is not the only country with re-entry issues. Australia have the same for permanent residents (or at least had it when my friends were permanent residents there)

On 7/26/2025 at 11:59 PM, DrJack54 said:

On 7/26/2025 at 11:38 PM, richard_smith237 said:

And, even without a re-entry permit, at a quick glance, the entry clearance Immigration officer can ascertain the period he should stamp you in for from the original extension of stay anyway.

 

The re-entry permit itself is rather moot and pointless... 

Frankly your posts  make zero sense.

Yet you continue with same mantra

 

OK - for the purposes of this discussion you are unable to look beyond the existing roles.

 

For the purposes of this discussion, I have highlighted that the rules are something which is simply put in place by a committee of officials and those rule 'could' be altered.

 

That 'Mantra' is simply the recognition that this is not some physically immovable objection - its simply human input and as such can be modified - there is still no logical reason for a re-entry permit. 

 

IF it were so important that re-entry permits (single or multiple) were a major immigration necessity, countires all over the world would be using them.

 

 

Re-entry permit: what's the logic behind it? 

 

No Logic  There's No need  for a Re-entry permit, it should be Banned and the TM6   TM30   TM46,

One has a 12 Month Extension , ,When leaving and Re-entering Thailand one uses their Passport  that is in the Computer  Systems ,So they know that one has gone and came back into the country . 

Just collecting more paperwork and some Fees.

On 7/27/2025 at 12:26 PM, Liquorice said:

In a queue of 350, I wouldn't want to be behind anyone offering a passport where the IO has to scan through passport pages looking for the last permit stamp.

Very few Countries offer the diversity of options to visit or stay in Thailand.

If the re-entry permit requirement needles you, then they offer a range of multi entry visas, such as the Non O-A, Non O-X, DTV, or the LTR visas.

 

When have you ever been in a queue of 350 people at immigration.. 10 maybe...  And now with the TDAC card processing is quicker than ever.

 

Additionally - all of your information is online (Immigration Systems) find it against your Passport Data is quicker than flicking through a page - there's no reason for that 'last stamp at all' - but it certainly quick enough for them to give you an 'arrival stamp'.

 

In fact - with the Auto-Gates, we are no long stamped out at a.. making a 'Re-Entry Permit' an even more unnecessary process - apart from the fact that someone 'decides' it still is.... 

IF the the original 'permissions' allowed for re-entry, then they would be the same as anywhere else and this would be a non-issue...  

18 minutes ago, digger70 said:

Re-entry permit: what's the logic behind it? 

 

No Logic  There's No need  for a Re-entry permit, it should be Banned and the TM6   TM30   TM46,

One has a 12 Month Extension , ,When leaving and Re-entering Thailand one uses their Passport  that is in the Computer  Systems ,So they know that one has gone and came back into the country . 

Just collecting more paperwork and some Fees.

 

Exactly this.... 

 

Some people are getting 'locked in' because the rules are the rules...  However, the discussion itself is superseding the logic of flawed rules - the very question the Op asked is what need is there for 'Pe-entry Permits' ? (single or Multiple), and the answer, is that there really isn't any 'need' for them at all...

 

... the rules as the exists are a relic.... an artefact of previous systems that are no longer relevant or necessary - while we of course have to obide by them, questioning them when they are nonsensical is a natural thought process for many.

2 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

 

I believe they need an exit permit. Not a re-entry.🧐

This doesn't make it easier and better!

On 7/26/2025 at 8:54 AM, Digitalbanana said:

The re-entry permit is about maintaining long term stay and immigration control, not 'cash cow' as the op suggests. It's Thailand’s way of saying: "If you're going to leave temporarily, tell us first, or your long-stay visa ends here."

But Why?

On 7/26/2025 at 6:17 AM, josephbloggs said:

Ok, which country gives away free long term visas? 

A short term visitor visa to the UK is £115 / 5,000 baht!

I've lived her for 30 years on various types of visas and never once encountered corruption at immigration. Never been asked for a bribe, never paid one. I also don't know anyone else who has ever come across it. 

If you don't meet the requirements and have to pay a bribe via an agent then that is up to you. But if you are a genuine applicant there is absolutely zero corruption.

This thread is certainly bringing out the bashers.

 

 

You wrote: "This thread is certainly bringing out the bashers."

 

Yep, this blog is full of them, they seem to have nothing else better to do.

 

I did pay a 700 baht 'service charge' earlier this year when I extended my visa and at the same time applied for a multiple re-entry visa, it meant I only had to to to the immigration office once and not go twice with two lots of queues to join.

 

A bargain I thought.

 

When I get back to Phuket in a month or two more I will have to do the 90 reporting in person at the appropriate date and can not do it online as is the standard, I will have to drive to the drive-through 90 day reporting area, hand over my passport only and they do the 90 report online for me, it takes at least five minutes, oh my there is nothing to moan about there, and it is free. 😃

its all about racking in more money from those expats on 1 year extensions that travel and not just stay in Thailand

A 1 year extension in Cambodia ( via an agent ) is $290  includes a multiple re entry 
so a 1 year extension + multiple re entry in Thailand is cheaper  1,900+3,800 = 5,700  apx $175

16 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

I did pay a 700 baht 'service charge' earlier this year when I extended my visa and at the same time applied for a multiple re-entry visa, it meant I only had to to to the immigration office once and not go twice with two lots of queues to join

Service charge for what. 

The multi reentry is 3800.

4000 if you use optional service at airport.

 

Why do you need visit immigration twice? 

 

In any event your post concerns 90 reporting. 

The thread is actually about necessity to buy a reentry permit if exit and wish to protect your permission of stay

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Service charge for what. 

The multi reentry is 3800.

4000 if you use optional service at airport.

Why do you need visit immigration twice? 

 

In any event your post concerns 90 reporting. 

The thread is actually about necessity to buy a reentry permit if exit and wish to protect your permission of stay

 

Twice? Well normally you would apply for the visa extension, you pick the passport up the next day, you take your re-entry forms to another department and queue etc.

 

That is twice in a queue.

 

With the 'special' 700 baht service charge you give the visa extension forms and the re-entry forms to the person in the immigration office at the same time,  you pick it up the next day with both things already done. 

 

So the only extra cost is 700 baht.

4 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

its all about racking in more money from those expats on 1 year extensions that travel and not just stay in Thailand

A 1 year extension in Cambodia ( via an agent ) is $290  includes a multiple re entry 
so a 1 year extension + multiple re entry in Thailand is cheaper  1,900+3,800 = 5,700  apx $175

Your post is contradictory. 

Indeed to have multi entry to many places is similar to Cambodia as you outlined. 

Another example is Vietnam where for several years I would buy 4 three month multi to Vietnam. 

Annual cost approx $180usd.

 

Clearly it's not about money. 

Immigration should just make annual extensions include multi reentry. 

Accordingly charge everyond 6k.

 

This thread is basically for xpats to have another moan. 

Just now, DrJack54 said:

Your post is contradictory. 

Indeed to have multi entry to many places is similar to Cambodia as you outlined. 

Another example is Vietnam where for several years I would buy 4 three month multi to Vietnam. 

Annual cost approx $180usd.

 

Clearly it's not about money. 

Immigration should just make annual extensions include multi reentry. 

Accordingly charge everyond 6k.

 

This thread is basically for xpats to have another moan. 

 

Yes, the moaners think the immigration office should be run for free because all of the immigration officers work for free and all of the computer systems cost nothing to run and maintain. 😃

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Your post is contradictory. 

Indeed to have multi entry to many places is similar to Cambodia as you outlined. 

Another example is Vietnam where for several years I would buy 4 three month multi to Vietnam. 

Annual cost approx $180usd.

 

Clearly it's not about money. 

Immigration should just make annual extensions include multi reentry. 

Accordingly charge everyond 6k.

 

This thread is basically for xpats to have another moan. 

 

Can I make a suggestion on your last comment "This thread is basically for xpats to have another moan. "

 

i should like to ament that to "This thread is basically for many but not all xpats to have another moan. "

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Clearly it's not about money. 

Immigration should just make annual extensions include multi reentry. 

Accordingly charge everyond 6k.

Now that would clearly be about money, as most expats only leave and re-enter once in a few years to visit family/friends overseas.

On 7/26/2025 at 11:13 AM, GanDoonToonPet said:

Isn't it amazing that Cambodia can do exactly the same thing without the need for re-entry permits. Maybe someone from Thai Immigration could pop over the border and ask them how they do it.

Is your country serious about keeping records of who arrives into / departs from your country?

 

Thailand is, as are 99% of countries in the in the world.

 

Necessary if any country wants to quickly identify folks who arrive and are blacklisted etc. 

 

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

This thread is basically for xpats to have another moan. 

Any comment positive is fine…. Any comment other that wholly positive will always be accused by some of ‘expat is looking for another excuse to have a moan’….

…..  that’s if someone wants to oversimplify & dumb down every thread to a binary positive or negative….

 

IMO - there’s nothing wrong with questioning the logic of a process, particularly visa related - isn’t such discussion exactly what the forum is about ? 

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Any comment positive is fine…. Any comment other that wholly positive will always be accused by some of ‘expat is looking for another excuse to have a moan’….

…..  that’s if someone wants to oversimplify & dumb down every thread to a binary positive or negative….

 

IMO - there’s nothing wrong with questioning the logic of a process, particularly visa related - isn’t such discussion exactly what the forum is about ? 

 

True in general, but a lot of people on this blog just moan about everything relating Thailand, their comments are not constructive criticism but just a chance to moan, it makes me wonder whey they live here, the truth is probably they have burned their bridges and can not afford to go back to their own countries due to living costs so they have to blame Thailand and not themselves.

 

I have seen the same people in real life in Thailand, I escape their company as soon as possible. 

It's for people on long-stay visas, so they can leave and come back without disruption to their yearly visa... useful for those on work permits, non-Os, or retirement visas if you have to visit somewhere.

28 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

It's for people on long-stay visas, so they can leave and come back without disruption to their yearly visa... useful for those on work permits, non-Os, or retirement visas if you have to visit somewhere.

A valid long stay visa would already have multiple re-entries.

It's for people on long stay extensions, which are permits, not visas.

1 minute ago, Liquorice said:

A valid long stay visa would already have multiple re-entries.

 

Not true. A re-entry permit is optional.

 

As well as obtaining at immigration offices at any time, one can also be obtained at the airport prior to departure, if necessary.

On 7/26/2025 at 11:02 AM, 10000Baht said:

Even foreigners with residency permit need a re-entry permit!

Let me make a small correction. For permanent residents, they flog it in a different way. As long as you do not leave Thailand, nothing is required, you can stay forever.

 

But if you want to go out of Thailand for any reason, you have to purchase an 'exit permit' (dont know the official name). As they dont sell this at the airport and you may require to travel suddenly, most will buy a 12 month permit to leave & reenter multiple times. They do not sell this for longer duration, so the yearly pilgrimage to immigration office!

37 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

A valid long stay visa would already have multiple re-entries.

It's for people on long stay extensions, which are permits, not visas.

Wrong.

2 hours ago, roger buttmore said:

Not true. A re-entry permit is optional.

2 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Wrong.

 

Your both barking up the wrong tree.
Extensions of stay are permits, not visas.
Each year you apply to extend your permission of temporary stay, not extend your visa, which would have expired long ago.

 

If you only read the forms you sign at Immigration, then you'd understand what you are applying for, and understand the reason for a re-entry permit.

On 7/25/2025 at 11:26 PM, pub2022 said:

Apart from using us as a cash cow, what's the logic about getting a re-entry permit?

The visa (extension, whatever) is already there, just give me another 'admitted until' damn stamp!

It's best not to go down that rabbit hole!

Flame posts along with replies removed

6 hours ago, scorecard said:

Is your country serious about keeping records of who arrives into / departs from your country?

 

No, I'm from the UK

 

6 hours ago, scorecard said:

Necessary if any country wants to quickly identify folks who arrive and are blacklisted etc.

 

Already done when you enter / exit immigration at all airports and land border crossings so, by your admission, re-entry permits are completely unnecessary.

On 7/26/2025 at 8:54 AM, Digitalbanana said:

 It's Thailand’s way of saying: "If you're going to leave temporarily, tell us first, or your long-stay visa ends here."

Not only telling, pay first.

You need to read Parkinson/s Law. Work expands to meet the time available. Which is a very obscure way of saying, every bureaucracy grows (including private businesses). Once upon a time, some Thai Immigration officer realized he could increase the number of people working for him (increase his status) by creating a new immigration requirement. By creating the requirement for re-entry permits he not only increased the number of officers required to process paperwork, he also created a (smal) income stream for the government.  

A strange occurrence last year. I was leaving through DM to Vietnam and the immigration officer was examining my passport and PR booklet and looking confused. I asked if there was an issue I could help with. 

He said I had an expired re-entry permit that had not been used. I said that's right, it was during COVID and I decided not to travel.

He said that I should have had the re-entry permit cancelled.

Why? 

Because if you don't use it you should have it cancelled. So I asked, not using it means it expired anyway. No, he says, I had to officially cancel it.

People behind me were shuffling their feet impatiently. Eventually, a nice immigration lady was brought in and she cancelled it on the spot, telling me it should have been cancelled but not too worry, it was done now. 

Let that be a lesson to anyone who is in a hurry to go to the departure gate.