Thailand visa in new UK passport

[SundayAfternoon]

So, my passport is full and I need to get a new one. I've been on the UK gov website and the instructions are there. All fairly straight forward.

My question is, what's the process for getting my existing Thai visa put into the new passport?

Do I need to do it in BKK or can it be done in Chiang Mai?

[Crossy]

What type of visa do you have? or are you on an extension of stay?

Actual visas (from a consulate or embassy overseas) are not transferred to new passports, you simply present both old and new when you arrive at immigration.

I believe the following applies (perhaps someone could correct me if not). If you have any kind of non-immigrant visa head to your local immigration office and they will transfer details of your current stay to the new passport. Tourist visas and visa exemptions needn't bother and just present both passports on the way out of the country.

If you have an extension of stay, again head to your local immigration office, they will transfer all details to your new passport (using up 2 pages), you'll also need to transfer your re-entry permit if you have one.

Both the above are free

Some immigration offices ask for a letter from your embassy asking for the transfer, you'll have to ask the embassy in Bangkok for said letter as it doesn't come as standard.

[Lite Beer]

Moved to the Visa Forum

[lopburi3]

As said for extensions of stay you have to visit the immigration office that extended your stay but for normal visa or visa exempt entry of 90 days or less type you just exit showing both passports and stamps are done then. To use a valid visa in an old passport you just present both on entry.

[true blue]

chiang mai immigration will do all the transfers,but they do use up three pages of your new passport,no cost.

[OJAS]

chiang mai immigration will do all the transfers,but they do use up three pages of your new passport,no cost.

But do they require an Embassy letter requesting the transfer (which the OP could presumably obtain from the CM Consulate if necessary)?

[SundayAfternoon]

Am embassy letter for their own visa? How ridiculous!

At least in theory it seems fairly straightforward. Thanks for the info.

[theoldgit]

Am embassy letter for their own visa? How ridiculous!

At least in theory it seems fairly straightforward. Thanks for the info.

The embassy letter is to confirm that the passport is new and includes a request to transfer the stamps.

I went to Chaengwattana last week with my old and new passports and their completed form, and the guy wouldn't transfer the stamps without an embassy letter.

I went back a couple if days later armed with my embassy letter, and the lady IO transferred the stamps without asking for a letter.

Took two pages plus another for my re-entry.

[OJAS]

Am embassy letter for their own visa? How ridiculous!

At least in theory it seems fairly straightforward. Thanks for the info.

The embassy letter is to confirm that the passport is new and includes a request to transfer the stamps.

I went to Chaengwattana last week with my old and new passports and their completed form, and the guy wouldn't transfer the stamps without an embassy letter.

I went back a couple if days later armed with my embassy letter, and the lady IO transferred the stamps without asking for a letter.

Took two pages plus another for my re-entry.

Inconsistency even within the same immigration office on the need for an Embassy letter does not appear to be all that unusual. When I had my stamps transferred from my old to new passport at Rayong Immigration several months ago I was not asked for a letter (despite having gone to the trouble of obtaining one just in case). However, a couple of fellow Brit Rayongites have subsequently posted stating that the letter was, indeed, required in their cases.

So my advice to the OP would be to obtain a letter regardless.

[ubonjoe]

Am embassy letter for their own visa? How ridiculous!

At least in theory it seems fairly straightforward. Thanks for the info.

You still have not answered the question as to whether you have an extension of stay (it is not a visa) from immigration or a valid visa that you got from an embassy or consulate.

If you have a visa then the letter would not be required because you do not need to go to immigration. Just do it at airport or border when you leave the country.

[SundayAfternoon]

I have a valid visa.

[ubonjoe]

Then you don't need to go to immigration. Just go to the airport and they will put your entry/permit to stay dates in new passport and stamp you out of the country. You will have to use both passports to enter the country to use your visa until it expires and you get a new one because your visa cannot be transferred to your new passport.

[SundayAfternoon]

Ok, thanks for the advice.