Multi Entry Visa Available Exiting The Airport?

[David48]

A friend needs to know if you can get a multi entry visa at the airport on the way out at swampy.

If so how long does it take to get ?

Presumably a 'Tourist Visa', and my friend is Australian if that has a bearing.

Cheers in advance ...

[theblether]

Exciting the airport? That's a new concept, I'll need to have a think about that one.

[Maestro]

A visa for travel to Thailand is not available at BKK airport upon departure from Thailand. If it is a re-entry permit your friend needs, this can be obtained at a special immigration desk at the airport.

[CharlieH]

AFAIK - Tourist visa's are issued outside the Kingdom, as said a "re-entry" visa for use with an existing extension etc is available via the Airport.

[lopburi3]

As said a re-entry permit in single or multi version (it is not a visa - only keeps current permitted to stay alive) is available at that airport from 0600-2400 daily before clearing immigration on exit.

[David48]

.

My friend would like to add the following question ...

"what documents required and if a photo or any such stuff required."

Thank you (from him)

[ubonjoe]

If your friend wants a re-entry permit the airport office is set up to do the photos and copies required. All he would need is the money for the fee (1000 baht single 3800 multiple plus additional fee for photos and copies) along with his passport.

[beano2274]

plus copies of the extension he has to get a re-entry permit. Or they can be done there.

In plain English he or she must already have a valid visa before getting a re-entry permit and he or she must re-enter Thailand before the visa expires.

[mahjongguy]

In plain English he or she must already have a valid visa before getting a re-entry permit and he or she must re-enter Thailand before the visa expires.

Nope. He or she must have a valid Permission To Stay and he or she must re-enter Thailand before the Permission To Stay expires. The visa upon which the Permission To Stay was granted may well have already expired and is not relevant.

[IMA_FARANG]

Not to be overly picky about this I hope but:

Originally you get a visa to enter Thailand from a Thai consulate outside of Thailand.

Once in Thailand you then apply for an extension of that original visa. The extension can be based on a number of reasons....marriage, retirement, education, etc....are common reasons.

When that extension is approved....often for a year.....you can stay in Thailand even if and when the original visa (the date on the visa and it's length of validity are past) is no longer still current.

Now you are legally in Thailand on the extension you have obtained.

While on that extension, you may leave Thailand and re-enter on a exit re-entry permit you purchase.

The reason for that exit re-entry permit is to allow you to exit and re-enter the country and keep your extension valid.

Like I said, I don't want to be overly picky about this, but many people refer to all of them as "visas", and they are not.

Calling them all "visas" causes confusion, and thinking they are all visas can cause you problems if you confuse their different purposes.

[Maestro]

From the website of the Immigration Bureau:

What does the Visa Expiration Date Mean? The visa expiration date is shown on the visa. Depending on the alien’s nationality, visas can be issued for any number of entries, from as little as one entry to as many as multiple (unlimited) entries, for the same purpose of travel.

• This generally means the visa is valid, or can be used from the date it is issued until the date it expires, for travel for the same purpose, when the visa is issued for multiple entry.
  
• This time period from the visa issuance date to visa expiration date as shown on the visa, is called visa validity. If you travel frequently as a tourist for example, with a multiple entry visa, you do not have to apply for a new visa each time you want to travel to Thailand.
  
• The visa validity is the length of time you are permitted to travel to a port-of-entry in Thailand to request permission of the immigration officer to permit you to enter Thailand. The visa does not guarantee entry to Thailand.
  
• The Expiration Date for the visa should not be confused with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand, given to you by the immigration officer at port-of-entry. The visa expiration date has nothing to do with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand for any given visit.
  
• Each time you arrive at the port-of-entry, an immigration officer decides whether to allow you to enter and how long you can stay. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter Thailand.
  

Visa = visa

Permission to stay = permission to stay

Extension of permission to stay or extension of stay = extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom

Re-entry permit = re-entry permit

The misnomer "visa extension" is sometimes used colloquially, even on the website of the Immigration Bureau and by immigration officers, to mean "extension of temporary stay in the Kingdom". A confusion between visa and permission to stay, and their respective validity periods, can lead to unpleasant situations, a recent one having been posted here: http://www.thaivisa..../#entry5769851. Therefore, when it is important to prevent possible confusion, it is useful to use the correct terms and doing so is not being picky.

[wpcoe]

I didn't realize you could get multi-entry re-entry permits at the airport. I thought it was only single-entry. Good to know!

[TwoDogz]

Nice to know.

What time does it close on Sundays ?

And where is this special desk actually...easy to find ? Is it before or after passport control ?

[Mario2008]

At Suv, it is before passport controll but there is only a desk at 1 of the departure halls. So ask to make sure you use the right hall for the re-entry permit.

At Suv. the desk is open from 06:00 till 24:00 only.

[David48]

My 'friend' warmly appreciates all the excellent advice received here ...

Thank you all for taking the time to reply.