One Year Stay... Two Passports

[tgw]

I'm considering getting a renewable one year visa for Thailand based on owning a business or for learning thai.

I read about the re-entry permit nags.

I have two passports (both EU).

Does this facilitate somehow my travels?

Does one have to be outside Thailand when the business or ED visa is issued?

Can it be issued when in Thailand?

Can I leave Thailand with a re-entry permit on one passport and then come back and leave again on a tourist visa in the other passport?

How long is a re-entry permit valid?

What about the reporting at immigration?

Thank you for your replies

[Guest]

I suspect using two passports is illegal.

[Mario2008]

Two passports is not illegal, but might only be an advantage if you travel by air. At land borders you cannot switch passports as immigration wants to se the exit stamps of the neighbouring countries.

A visa is only issued outside of Thailand and I advise to obtain one in Europe.

A re-entry permit is only good for as long as your permission to stay is good, it doesn't give any extra days. It only allows you to return without a visa, as long as your original permission to stay is valid.

[tgw]

Thanks for the knowledgable reply Mario.

So I could theoretically

- get the ED or business visa in Europe on PP 1

- travel to Thailand and get it extended to one year (PP1)

- get a re-entry permit for that visa (PP1)

- travel out on (PP1)

Then I could make as many 30 day stamps or tourist visa stays on PP2 as I want before

- traveling back into Thailand using PP1 and the re-entry permit.

That just leaves the open question of the immigration reporting.

What happens to the 90 day reporting if I'm (officially) out of the country?

[Mario2008]

Beats me why you want to use a second passport if you have a valid permission to stay already.

There is no 90 day reporting if you are out of the country. You only report if you are 90 days in a row in the country, without having left.

[tgw]

Beats me why you want to use a second passport if you have a valid permission to stay already.

There is no 90 day reporting if you are out of the country. You only report if you are 90 days in a row in the country, without having left.

Because of this (quotting from Thaivisa):

Re-entry Permit

If you have an Single entry visa, extension of stay or Permanent Residence and would like to travel outside of Thailand for a short period then an re-entry permit will be needed.

If you have an extension of stay and would like to travel outside of Thailand for a short period then an re-entry permit will be needed.

A re-entry permit must be obtained at the immigration office designated for your area. While it states that in an emergency it can be obtained at the airport no member has yet reported whether or not it is possible.

When applying for a re-entry permit you will need to submit the following -

* A completed TM-8 form

* The correct fee

* A 2" photo

* Photocopy of passport (main page, visa page and latest entry stamp)

Current fees for re-entry permit

* 1,000 Baht for single

* 3,800 Baht for multiple

Hassle

Costs

I guess I could get a multiple, but this would only be valid as long as my extension is valid?

So... I would need to go to immigration in the first days, get my visa extended to one year and then buy the re-entry permit.

Total costs?

the extension is 1900 or something and the re-entry 3800?

5700 baht...

Oh well, I guess I can manage that.