We will have to renew our British passports next time we return to Bangkok, which will be in December. Doing that is OK, we are fully aware of where and how (the British Embassy located on Wireless Road) but I have a question about renewing the stamped visa that we will enter in on. We intend to fly in and enter on the standard 30 day freebie visa-on-arrival option.

Do we really have to visit the Immigration department and get the stamp put into our new passports, or can we just turn up at the airport with our old passport and show them that as we leave?

It seems like a load of hassle for something that is just a stamp.

Any advice? Many thanks.

The stamp must be transferred into your new passport prior to exit. That is a visa exempt stamp rather than a visa. I suspect they could do at airport but it may take extra time and should be done at Immigration - there is a special form required and copies of passports.

It shouldn't take long and it is free.

Agree with above. The exit stamp has to be in the same passport as the permission to stay stamp, and you cannot use an expired/cancelled passport to leave.

An expired/cancelled passport means, if the visa exempt stamp is not being transferred to the new one immediately, you are illegally in the country and that situation is very bad, should no occur, the Thai Immigration plays no jokes on that.

Edited October 29, 200916 yr by Redhawk

Many thanks for the heads up- we'll make sure we get the necessary stamps prior to departing.

Can someone advise where the Immigration HQ is now? I heard a rumour that it has moved. Any details?

Moved to Chaeng Wattana

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/move.html

Edited October 29, 200916 yr by thaiphoon

Moved to Chaeng Wattana

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/move.html

Many thanks.