An Australian colleague is saying he is planning to maximize the use of his passport (which are some of the most expensive in the world) by getting his next 1 year Non O retirement extension with less than a year remaining on the passport. The idea being the passport yearly cost is higher than the 1 year extension of 1900THB. So he plans to get a 4 or 6 month extension instead of 1 year, then reapply another 1 year extension when he gets the new passport having maximized his costs associated with the use of the old passport.

For me it seems plausible but I won't be doing that with my extension as my passports are cheaper and I will renew over a year in advance.

My question is an neither of us have held passports to expiry before whilst on extensions, is his idea workable or will immigration create some problem? Its in Bangkok if that matters?

No problems at all, though unorthodox. He will receive his extension until the expiration date of his passport. When he gets the new passport he will need to go to immigration to get everything transferred to the new passport. Then he can apply for an extension when it's time for that. He won't be able to apply for extension until getting everything transferred to the new passport.

1 hour ago, Palatus said:

So he plans to get a 4 or 6 month extension instead of 1 year, then reapply another 1 year extension when he gets the new passport having maximized his costs associated with the use of the old passport.

Possible : Yes

Crazy idea: Yes

Talk about penny wise pound foolish

Aside: if the guy travels a lot needs to factor in cost of reentry permits.

Cost of Oz pp obtained in Thailand is approx $600aud. Validity 10 yr

That's $5/ month.

His calculation should be based on the cost of his current passport, not the new one. That might make doing the sensible thing a bit easier.

5 hours ago, Palatus said:

For me it seems plausible but I won't be doing that with my extension as my passports are cheaper and I will renew over a year in advance.

As @BrandonJT stated, any extension will only be granted up to the expiry date of the passport.

Although still valid for a few years, but my current passport will expire a couple of weeks short of the renewal date of my extension.
In that situation, I'm happy to max out the validity of my passport, even though I'll only receive an extension for eleven and a half months.

3 hours ago, Liquorice said:

I'm happy to max out the validity of my passport, even though I'll only receive an extension for eleven and a half months.

That's very different to OP friend situation where he stated.... "So he plans to get a 4 or 6 month extension instead of 1 year"

He would also need to apply few months early for new place prior to expiry of his 4-6 month extension.

The OP plan is nonsensical

The potential savings are too small to justify having to go to immigration more often than necessary. Bangkok Immigration no less - a zoo.

8 minutes ago, Caldera said:

The potential savings are too small to justify having to go to immigration more often than necessary. Bangkok Immigration no less - a zoo.

There is zero savings.

The friend delaying pp renewal to cut rewew by few months is ridiculous.

Many threads on AseanNow of folk running out of time regards pp renewal.

Cannot understand the op friend is even considering the outlined plan

Just a silly idea. .

On 1/11/2026 at 10:10 PM, DrJack54 said:

Cannot understand the op friend is even considering the outlined plan

Just a silly idea. .

concur ....

On 1/11/2026 at 4:49 PM, Liquorice said:

Although still valid for a few years, but my current passport will expire a couple of weeks short of the renewal date of my extension.
In that situation, I'm happy to max out the validity of my passport, even though I'll only receive an extension for eleven and a half months.

To be honest I am not sure of this colleagues dates and he could be like you with an eleven month passport validity for the next 1 yr extension stamp application, all I am sure was it was less than a year. My main question was whether immigration even entertain the idea of applying with less than a year of passport remaining and it seems you all agree they do, so thanks for that. Not something I would do, I'd just get a new passport earlier and stay on my existing renewal schedule, but each to their own.

Another side issue is if your friend wants to travel. Some countries will not allow him entry unless he has at least six months left before pp expiry.

40 minutes ago, Colki said:

Another side issue is if your friend wants to travel. Some countries will not allow him entry unless he has at least six months left before pp expiry.

Very good point.

While Thailand does not have the 6 month rule many countries to.

Also airlines can cause issue for boarding pass for flights to Thailand with less than 6 months validity of pp.