Fast Re-entry Permit At Suvarnabhumi Airport

[Explore3]

I have 1 year non-immigrant O-A multiple entry retirement visa . Can I obtain a multi re-entry permit at Suvarnabhumi Airport within one day. I will arrive at 11:00am on Monday, Nov 24, 2008 and leave the next morning.

Explore3

PS Does anyone know if Nov 24, 2008 is a holiday?

[Mario2008]

Yes, you can get a multiple re-ry permit at the airport, will take about 30 minutes. You can get it at departure, just before immigration on the left side. Don't forget to bring a photo.

But do you realy need a multiple re-entry permit? You will only need one if your multiple O-A will expire before you come back to Thailand.

[ubonjoe]

There is a re-entry permit office at the airport. It is behind the glass and to the left where you enter to do your immigration departure check. You have to check into your flight first to enter where it is located so allow plenty of time to get the permit. Be sure you have a photo thats required.

According to the calender I have the 24th is not a holiday.

[Explore3]

There is a re-entry permit office at the airport. It is behind the glass and to the left where you enter to do your immigration departure check. You have to check into your flight first to enter where it is located so allow plenty of time to get the permit. Be sure you have a photo thats required.

According to the calender I have the 24th is not a holiday.

Could I get it upon arrival? Is the office available at 4pm? My new flights arrive at 15.35 and departs the following day (Nov 25, 2008) at 15.05.

Thanks for the help Mario2008 and ubonjoe!

Explore

PS I know that I will be entering Thailand at least 3 times prior to November 24, 2009. Given this, the multi re-entry permit gives me more flexibility for the same price.

[dingdongrb]

I have 1 year non-immigrant O-A multiple entry retirement visa . Can I obtain a multi re-entry permit at Suvarnabhumi Airport within one day. I will arrive at 11:00am on Monday, Nov 24, 2008 and leave the next morning.

PS Does anyone know if Nov 24, 2008 is a holiday?

I don't understand your post????? If you have a multi-entry visa why do you even want/need a re-entry permit?

[ubonjoe]

Could I get it upon arrival? Is the office available at 4pm? My new flights arrive at 15.35 and departs the following day (Nov 25, 2008) at 15.05...

The office is open 24/7 from my understanding. From posts on this forum you can not get to the office wihtout a boarding pass.

For those questioning the re-entry permit. The MFA website says to get a re-entry permit. Even for a multiple entry.

[dingdongrb]

The office is open 24/7 from my understanding. From posts on this forum you can not get to the office wihtout a boarding pass.

For those questioning the re-entry permit. The MFA website says to get a re-entry permit. Even for a multiple entry.

Thanks for the info Joe... Now I am wondering what good does a mutli-entry visa gain someone as I have a single entry visa that is then essentially the same thing (i.e. need re-entry permit)....

[stgrhe]

If you have a valid O-A visa with multiple entry you do not need a re-entry permit provided you arrive in Thailand again before the visa expires. However, if you are currently staying in Thailand on an extended permission to stay based on visa type O-A conditions, then you need the re-entry permit to be able to return to Thailand without loosing you extended stay permission.

[ubonjoe]

Thanks for the info Joe... Now I am wondering what good does a mutli-entry visa gain someone as I have a single entry visa that is then essentially the same thing (i.e. need re-entry permit)....

This only applies to a non-oa multiple entry (also non-oa single entry). The OP evidently was already aware of this requirement.

Other multiple entry visa's don't need it.

A single you need it if you want to go out and come back before the permited to stay stamp runs out.

[dingdongrb]

If you have a valid O-A visa with multiple entry you do not need a re-entry permit provided you arrive in Thailand again before the visa expires. However, if you are currently staying in Thailand on an extended permission to stay based on visa type O-A conditions, then you need the re-entry permit to be able to return to Thailand without loosing you extended stay permission.

That's exactly what I thought but wanted to hear it from another before opening my big mouth..... Now back to my first point, does the OP actually need a re-entry permit? I guess he is the only one that actually knows what kind of visa is in his passport.. Is it truly a mutli-entry O-A or is he here merely on an extension....

[PoorSucker]

does the OP actually need a re-entry permit?

He might come back to Thailand when his Visa has expired.

[ubonjoe]

I have 1 year non-immigrant O-A multiple entry retirement visa .

If you have a valid O-A visa with multiple entry you do not need a re-entry permit provided you arrive in Thailand again before the visa expires. However, if you are currently staying in Thailand on an extended permission to stay based on visa type O-A conditions, then you need the re-entry permit to be able to return to Thailand without loosing you extended stay permission.

That's exactly what I thought but wanted to hear it from another before opening my big mouth..... Now back to my first point, does the OP actually need a re-entry permit? I guess he is the only one that actually knows what kind of visa is in his passport.. Is it truly a mutli-entry O-A or is he here merely on an extension....

Just going by what OP posted. When others started questioning his need for a re-enty permit. Out of curisosity I checked and found the following.

5. Recommendations for foreigners with Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay) while staying in the Kingdom

5.1 Upon arrival, holder of this type of visa will be permitted to stay in Thailand for 1 year from the date of first entry. During the one-year period, if he or she wishes to leave and re-enter the country, he or she is required to apply at the Immigration office for re-entry permit (single or multiple) before departure. In the case of leaving the country without a re-entry permit, the permit to stay for 1 year shall be considered void.

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493

They don't define whether this applies to all non-oa's or not.

Stgrhe's post came up while I was doing my reply.

I agree its probably not needed for a multi OA but trying to find any information other than the MFA's website is difficult to find if at all.

[Explore3]

When I enter Thailand on my multiple entry non-immigrant O-A visa, my passport is stamped with a date one year from my arrival date (1 year stay). When I return on November 24, 2008, my passport will be stamped November 23, 2009. If I purchase a multiple re-entry permit, I can leave and return to Thailand using my re-entry permit until 11/23/2009.

Explore

PS In the past, I have just used my O-A visa. However, the visa will expire in December.

[Maestro]

Explore3, you said that

1. you have a multiple-entry non-OA visa

2. the visa will expire in December

3. you ask about getting a re-entry permit when you arrive in Thailand on November 24, 2008 and before leaving Thailand again on November 25

4. you will be entering Thailand at least 3 times prior to November 24, 2009

Some people say “visa” but mean “permission to stay” so let’s be sure that your reference to visa expiration means that on your visa, which you got from a Thai embassy/consulate, it says something like “this visa must be utilized before ?? DEC 2008”

In this case, every time you arrive in Thailand before ?? DEC 2008 your passport will be stamped with a permission to stay for one year from the date of your arrival.

I see that you understand clearly that you do not need a re-entry permit for your three arrivals in Thailand before November 24. You do not say when you plan to return to Thailand after your departure on November 25. If this return will be after your visa expiration date of ?? DEC 2008 you definitely need a re-entry permit to keep the one-year permission to stay you receive on November 24 alive.

Others have mentioned here that you cannot get the re-entry permit at the airport on arrival. When you arrive at BKK airport you have to go out through immigration and the following day, after checking in for your flight but before going through immigration, you get your multiple-entry re-entry permit at a special desk which I understand is on the left side of the hall where passengers queue for the immigration desks. Allow yourself at least 30 minutes extra time for this and don’t forget to take two passport photos along. There is no photo shop at the airport to have photos taken.

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Maestro

[Explore3]

Some people say "visa" but mean "permission to stay" so let's be sure that your reference to visa expiration means that on your visa, which you got from a Thai embassy/consulate, it says something like "this visa must be utilized before ?? DEC 2008"...

I see that you understand clearly that you do not need a re-entry permit for your three arrivals in Thailand before November 24. You do not say when you plan to return to Thailand after your departure on November 25. If this return will be after your visa expiration date of ?? DEC 2008 you definitely need a re-entry permit to keep the one-year permission to stay you receive on November 24 alive.

...

Allow yourself at least 30 minutes extra time for this and don't forget to take two passport photos along. There is no photo shop at the airport to have photos taken.

--

Maestro

I really appreciate all the input. Given that I will be in Thailand for less than 24 hours, I was (am!) slightly paranoid about the process. I would hate to end up with a tourist visa because of a foulup.

FYI - When I refer to the visa expiration, I mean the date the Thai embassy indicated when I got my visa last December. After my brief stop in Bangkok, I will not return until January, after my visa has expired. My plan is indeed to use the re-entry permit to keep alive my one year permission to stay alive. With everyone's help, it appears that getting a re-entry permit is not nearly as difficult as I imagined.

Explore3