Hi, I think i have a problem after reading in pattaya today newspaper that a new imigration law requires you to have 18 month on your passport to get a one year extension for retirement. I was going to go to Jomtiem tomorow to renew and on checking my passport i find it expires on the 22 sep 2014 .My present extension expires 11 oct 2013.. So i need to get a new passport .Have i time to do it . I believe you have to send via hong kong but i have no details of what is required, Where to send how you pay how long it takes , I am always well prepared when i go to imigration but this has caught me out . Any information would be appreciated thanks Pete

You can get a new UK passport in 4 weeks so you should do it now.

No such rule exists. You do not need to have 18 monhts left on your passport. The new rule is that the extension will not exceed the duration of your passport validity, in otherwords you will get an extension of stay till 22 Sept. 2014.

Visa require 18 months, extensions can only be made up to passport expiration date. So you would not get a full year if passport expires in less than a year.

That 18 month number is for multiple entry visas so perhaps confusion from incorrectly calling an extension a visa.

You just need at least 12 months remaining on your passport to get the full one year extension now. In example if you only have 6 months remaining on your passport your extension will be for 6 months. Then when you get a new passport immigration will transfer your stamps but extension date will not be changed until you return and apply for an extension again.

Thank you all for swift the reply, It had me worried as i dont like confulltration at the imigration office as some officers tend to be less than helpfull when you have a problem . If lose your rag it only gets worse so thanks again . pete.