Here's the story:

I have been in Thailand for about 18 months on triple entry tourist visas from the Thai Embassy in London.

I had just used my final extension which was valid until March 3rd. I had changed my return flight back to the UK until 22nd April as I am moving back to London permanently then. I was planning to leave for Cambodia/Laos on 3rd March and apply for a tourist visa, which would have seen me through until 22nd April.

- Enter cock up -

I lost my passport last weekend. It takes 6 weeks to get a replacement passport sent from the UK (from when they receive the application). I have been to the British Embassy in BKK and it appears I have three options:

1) Apply for an emergency travel document - which I understand only allows one return trip out of the country - and change my return flight to on/before 3rd March. This would be the cheapest option and ensure I don't overstay my visa. However I am not mentally prepared to leave for good in just 2 weeks time. And I'd like to stay with my girlfriend until April as we were both expecting.

2) Simply wait for my new passport to arrive in about 7 weeks. Then take my scheduled flight home on the 22 April and pay the overstay fine (will be the max 20,000 baht fine). I am considering this option as it's less hassle and I can stay until my preferred date. However it is technically illegal and if the police get to me first I could be in trouble/deported. And we can't go on any holidays - which was definitely part of the plan - before I leave as the hotel will require my passport.

3) This is the wildcard option that I need some advice on. Would it be possible for me to leave Thailand on a UK emergency travel document on/before 3rd March and apply for a tourist visa in Cambodia/Laos with that document. Has anyone done this? Was it successful?

This is probably my preferred option if it's possible. I could do the round trip for less than 20,000 baht and wouldn't be staying in Thailand illegally so no looking over my shoulder. However I have big concerns about the application being rejected and myself being left stranded - enter nightmare scenario!

Also:

- What length of tourist visa do they offer in Cambodia/Laos? Just need to make sure any visa I apply for would see me through from 3rd March until 22nd April.

- And I have written the above statements under the assumption that the visa I lost along with my passport is still valid until 3rd March. I presume this is recorded on the Thai immigration system. Or did the loss of the passport invalidate the visa, making me an illegal as we speak?

I would appreciate any advice/info people are willing to share with me, especially anyone who's been involved in the visa industry.

Many thanks

The emergency travel document (aka emergency passport) would allow you travel to get a visa. See: https://www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document

Others have gotten them and traveled within the region.

It should only take 4 weeks or less to get your new passport See here for info on getting your new passport: https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y

You need to make a police report for your lost passport before going to the embassy to get it and apply for a new passport.

After you get the travel document you would need to go to immigration to have them stamp your current entry and permit to stay in it. You will need a copy of the police report when you do this and complete a Lost or Stolen Passport Form. Do you have copies of your lost passport and TM6 departure card? This would make it easier at immigration if you do.

The best location to get a tourist visa would be in Vientiane Laos where it is next day service. Cambodia takes up to 4 days.

You could also do a border run and get a 30 day entry since you are from the UK (G7 country rules).

The emergency travel document (aka emergency passport) would allow you travel to get a visa. See: https://www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document

Others have gotten them and traveled within the region.

It should only take 4 weeks or less to get your new passport See here for info on getting your new passport: https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y

You need to make a police report for your lost passport before going to the embassy to get it and apply for a new passport.

After you get the travel document you would need to go to immigration to have them stamp your current entry and permit to stay in it. You will need a copy of the police report when you do this and complete a Lost or Stolen Passport Form. Do you have copies of your lost passport and TM6 departure card? This would make it easier at immigration if you do.

The best location to get a tourist visa would be in Vientiane Laos where it is next day service. Cambodia takes up to 4 days.

You could also do a border run and get a 30 day entry since you are from the UK (G7 country rules).

Thanks for the info.

I will call the Thai Embassy in Vientiane Monday just to make sure I can get a tourist visa with the "emergency passport".

I got a police report last week so that's already sorted. Stupidly I don't have a photocopy of my passport, although I think the office in my condo block may have a scan. Might be able to get a copy of that.

Will a single entry tourist visa from Laos give me 60 days? If so that would be perfect, seeing me through until my flight home.

I thought the 30 day visa exemption period was only available once. Are you saying every 30 days you can leave the country, then return by air and get another 30 days without a visa required?

As you are British you can now get a 30 visa exempt stamp from a land border , (no need to fly in), this changed on 1/12/13 for the G7 countries. There is no set limit to the amount of times you can do this, but different border points will have their own limits.

The emergency travel document (aka emergency passport) would allow you travel to get a visa. See: https://www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document

Others have gotten them and traveled within the region.

It should only take 4 weeks or less to get your new passport See here for info on getting your new passport: https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y

You need to make a police report for your lost passport before going to the embassy to get it and apply for a new passport.

After you get the travel document you would need to go to immigration to have them stamp your current entry and permit to stay in it. You will need a copy of the police report when you do this and complete a Lost or Stolen Passport Form. Do you have copies of your lost passport and TM6 departure card? This would make it easier at immigration if you do.

The best location to get a tourist visa would be in Vientiane Laos where it is next day service. Cambodia takes up to 4 days.

You could also do a border run and get a 30 day entry since you are from the UK (G7 country rules).

Thanks for the info.

I will call the Thai Embassy in Vientiane Monday just to make sure I can get a tourist visa with the "emergency passport".

I got a police report last week so that's already sorted. Stupidly I don't have a photocopy of my passport, although I think the office in my condo block may have a scan. Might be able to get a copy of that.

Will a single entry tourist visa from Laos give me 60 days? If so that would be perfect, seeing me through until my flight home.

I thought the 30 day visa exemption period was only available once. Are you saying every 30 days you can leave the country, then return by air and get another 30 days without a visa required?

You won't have a problem getting a tourist visa with your emergency travel document. It will give you a 60 day entry.

Their is no restriction of any kind on visa exempt entries by air of any kind. You can also get a 30 day at a border crossing now also. By land some crossings are limiting the number for back to back entries to 3 or 4..