1 hour ago, banyanman said:

I use my UOB Thailand debit card online and in many different countries all the time, but HM Passport Office won't accept it. I did not like the requirement by VFS Global to write the debit card details including the security code on a form to send with the passport application. A completely insecure means of payment leaving your debit card details exposed to staff at VFS Global and in the UK. I don't usually like using agents but next time I will.

Agree 100% with your comments about the (complete lack of security regarding) the payment process. In an ideal world, HMPO would allow those of us renewing our passports from Thailand to use their online facility - which they're encouraging the use of from practically everywhere else on this planet - for this purpose. This would address the payment security issue amongst other things.

But, if we're going to be stuck with the current antiquated renewal procedures for ever and a day, then the very least HMPO could IMHO do is to allow VFS Global to offer a local payment service, in the same way as UKVI already do in the case of visa applications. This would also address the problematical issue for some of paying for their new passports with Thai bank cards.

1 hour ago, OJAS said:

Agree 100% with your comments about the (complete lack of security regarding) the payment process. In an ideal world, HMPO would allow those of us renewing our passports from Thailand to use their online facility - which they're encouraging the use of from practically everywhere else on this planet - for this purpose. This would address the payment security issue amongst other things.

But, if we're going to be stuck with the current antiquated renewal procedures for ever and a day, then the very least HMPO could IMHO do is to allow VFS Global to offer a local payment service, in the same way as UKVI already do in the case of visa applications. This would also address the problematical issue for some of paying for their new passports with Thai bank cards.

But, if we're going to be stuck with the current antiquated renewal procedures for ever and a day, then the very least HMPO could IMHO do is to allow VFS Global to offer a local payment service.......Oh No THAT Would be Tooooo EASY For them to do !!!

On 5/27/2026 at 1:27 PM, Mutt Daeng said:

Thai Visa express can also provide a translation service.

Out of curiosity, can they also provide any assistance in obtaining acceptable facial photos? Or had you already managed to obtain yours in Buriram or, subsequently, Pattaya?

20 hours ago, OJAS said:

Out of curiosity, can they also provide any assistance in obtaining acceptable facial photos? Or had you already managed to obtain yours in Buriram or, subsequently, Pattaya?

Yes, I think they can provide support to obtain compatible passport photos.

I did mine at a local "Fuji" print shop where I live.

Thai Visa Express sent me the image below as part of a checklist of things I had to provide.

I printed it out and gave it to the photographer in the print shop and he printed the photos based on that template.

On 5/29/2026 at 10:07 AM, OJAS said:

VFS Global should have given you something along the lines of the attachment during your initial appointment. Did they not do this in your case?

It looks like they forgot, so I let them know. They told me to print the email notification they sent me that my passport arrived and that would be OK.

I'm going to Bangkok on Monday the 1st and have an appointment on the 2nd to pick it up. I live in east Issan, so I have to fly from Ubon.