On 10/11/2025 at 2:18 PM, sas_cars said:

I don't think there's a legal requirement of having a valid Passport if you already have PR. If you don't intend to leave the country, you can happily let it expire and the Red Book serves as your legal ID in Thailand

 

I think you will find that Thai banks will need to see a  PR's passport in certain situations even if that person has no intention of ever leaving Thailand.I doubt whether the red book would cover every contingency.

9 hours ago, MRtommyR said:

What happens about stamping the residence book on departure? Is it just left without an exit stamp? Last time I went through the manned desk I did ask about that and was advised not to use the autogates

No exit stamp. I got a new Non-Quota Immigrant Visa in July with about 10 flights before then all with departure stamp only. All the IOs on arrival are aware and as normal super efficient.

13 hours ago, MRtommyR said:

What happens about stamping the residence book on departure? Is it just left without an exit stamp? Last time I went through the manned desk I did ask about that and was advised not to use the autogates

The thing with the white book is that it has absolutely no meaning. It was introduced before immigration had any computers, and they needed to keep track of when the individual PR holders leave and enters the country. It made sense at the time, because the entry and exit stamps in the passport were not available anymore when you got a new passport.

 

Today, there is a record in the immigration computer. When you change passports, it will be updated in your PR record, so all the previous entries and exits are in the file. We previously had a period of time when PR holders could use the auto-gates, and I used the all the time. No stamp, neither in the passport nor the white book. This was no problem whatsoever. 

 

When you ask the immigration officers today (even at the PR desk at CW), they will still say you'll need a stamp in the white book "in case the computer is down". Admittedly this has happened in the past: one time in the last 35 years that I have been here, to be exact. I will assume they have redundant systems in the meantime to prevent this from happening ever again.

 

The total nonsense of the white book is one of my pet peeves. The other one is the reddish-brown police book.

11 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

I think you will find that Thai banks will need to see a  PR's passport in certain situations even if that person has no intention of ever leaving Thailand.I doubt whether the red book would cover every contingency.

The red book has no meaning whatsoever. I was mentioning the pink ID and tabien baan that some banks are happy with instead of the passport.

On 10/13/2025 at 2:58 AM, rimmae2 said:

No exit stamp. I got a new Non-Quota Immigrant Visa in July with about 10 flights before then all with departure stamp only. All the IOs on arrival are aware and as normal super efficient.

So you just used e-gates to exit the country, without stamping the PR book an Passport. Is it possible to use them on arrival also?  Did you try?

So Anutin has decided he does not want to sign anything so for the foreseeable future years, nothing will get processed right? Not PR and not citizenship. I don’t think he has even signed the degree where they granted citizenship to those stateless minorities.

 

If he hates these so much why not just change the law and be transparent instead of playing that game?

... decree ... not ... degree ...

 

So many negatives about Anutin without supporting evidence of any kind. 

1 hour ago, Jangunnim said:

So Anutin has decided he does not want to sign anything so for the foreseeable future years, nothing will get processed right? Not PR and not citizenship. I don’t think he has even signed the degree where they granted citizenship to those stateless minorities.

 

If he hates these so much why not just change the law and be transparent instead of playing that game?

 

How do you know he has decided this? Did you talk to him?

1 hour ago, onthemoon said:

 

How do you know he has decided this? Did you talk to him?

Well they stopped getting signed pretty much after he became the interior minister, like zero processed after that so it’s a bit hard to draw other conclusions. Or maybe he doesn’t know it’s the role of the interior minister after all Boris Johnson did not “know” ILR existed when he was the PM in the UK.

He has not even signed the decree to grant the nationality to the stateless indigenous people that the government decided apparently in a bid to look good to the UN. Just based on that I think it’s very safe to say that it’s not going to happen for the next 3 years. Or do you people here have some copium to share?

1 hour ago, Jangunnim said:

Well they stopped getting signed pretty much after he became the interior minister, like zero processed after that so it’s a bit hard to draw other conclusions. Or maybe he doesn’t know it’s the role of the interior minister after all Boris Johnson did not “know” ILR existed when he was the PM in the UK.

He has not even signed the decree to grant the nationality to the stateless indigenous people that the government decided apparently in a bid to look good to the UN. Just based on that I think it’s very safe to say that it’s not going to happen for the next 3 years. Or do you people here have some copium to share?

What does 3 years have to do with anything?  The government is to be dissolved and new elections and a new government will be here in a few months.

11 hours ago, sas_cars said:

So you just used e-gates to exit the country, without stamping the PR book an Passport. Is it possible to use them on arrival also?  Did you try?

I have not asked recently if it is possible. Try.

On another thread one poster says if you have PR you can vote in local elections, buy land, don't need a Work Permit, can work any job.

Is this nonsense?

 

 

8 hours ago, JimCM said:

On another thread one poster says if you have PR you can vote in local elections, buy land, don't need a Work Permit, can work any job.

Is this nonsense?

 

 

 

From above:

 

"On another thread one poster says if you have PR you can vote in local elections, buy land, don't need a Work Permit, can work any job.

Is this nonsense?"

 

Yes all total nonsense, not true at all. Renew your visa every 5 years also total nonsense. In fact when PR is approved the foreigner has PR for life / it automatically cancels on the death of the foreigner. There is no regulation or process to renew PR at a given period after issue. 

 

It is true that PR holders have to update their photo in their police registration book issued bythe police after a foreigner has rceived approval for PR. (But the Police registration book is not a PR document.)

 

NOTE:  if the police rgistration book is NOT updated at 5 years this does NOT mean that PR is cancelled. After PR has been approved and the PR book has been issued the police have no control whatever over continuing validity of  the PR approval. If the Police registration book update is late their is a fine, but PR is not cancelled.  

16 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

From above:

 

"On another thread one poster says if you have PR you can vote in local elections, buy land, don't need a Work Permit, can work any job.

Is this nonsense?"

 

Yes all total nonsense, not true at all. Renew your visa every 5 years also total nonsense. In fact when PR is approved the foreigner has PR for life / it automatically cancels on the death of the foreigner. There is no regulation or process to renew PR at a given period after issue. 

 

It is true that PR holders have to update their photo in their police registration book issued bythe police after a foreigner has rceived approval for PR. (But the Police registration book is not a PR document.)

 

NOTE:  if the police rgistration book is NOT updated at 5 years this does NOT mean that PR is cancelled. After PR has been approved and the PR book has been issued the police have no control whatever over continuing validity of  the PR approval. If the Police registration book update is late their is a fine, but PR is not cancelled.  

 If you travel abroad and did not get a non-immigrant visa in advance, or if it has expired by the time you return, your PR is automatically cancelled. Therefore, it is not for life.

 

I have to renew my visa every single year, and I need to make it multiple-entry. If single entry, I would have to get a new visa every month or so.  I wish I needed to renew it only every 5 years, that would help. Or just make the "Permanent" Residency permanent, that would be the sensible solution by the government.

1 minute ago, onthemoon said:

 If you travel abroad and did not get a non-immigrant visa in advance, or if it has expired by the time you return, your PR is automatically cancelled. Therefore, it is not for life.

 

I have to renew my visa every single year, and I need to make it multiple-entry. If single entry, I would have to get a new visa every month or so.  I wish I needed to renew it only every 5 years, that would help. Or just make the "Permanent" Residency permanent, that would be the sensible solution by the government.

So you have PR and have to renew re-entry visa every year ?

So you still need a WP?

So you vote in local elections?

So you can buy land that those without PR can't?

 

I've no idea where @mikeymike100 is getting this misinformation from or his motive for spreading it.

5 hours ago, JimCM said:

So you have PR and have to renew re-entry visa every year ?

So you still need a WP?

So you vote in local elections?

So you can buy land that those without PR can't?

 

I've no idea where @mikeymike100 is getting this misinformation from or his motive for spreading it.

 

Yes, I have to renew the visa every year. People who know that they will never leave the country won't have to do that. It is only important that you have a valid visa in your passport when you return to Thailand.  For those who say they don't need a visa because they never intend to leave, I say it is risky because you never know what happens. To make it clear: The law says you don't need a visa to stay if you have PR. if you ever leave the country for whatever reason, you do need a valid immigrant visa to return to the country, otherwise the PR will be cancelled upon return.

Yes, I still need a WP. This is highly annoying.

No, I cannot vote in local elections. 

No, I cannot buy land.

6 hours ago, onthemoon said:

 

Yes, I have to renew the visa every year. People who know that they will never leave the country won't have to do that. It is only important that you have a valid visa in your passport when you return to Thailand.  For those who say they don't need a visa because they never intend to leave, I say it is risky because you never know what happens. To make it clear: The law says you don't need a visa to stay if you have PR. if you ever leave the country for whatever reason, you do need a valid immigrant visa to return to the country, otherwise the PR will be cancelled upon return.

Yes, I still need a WP. This is highly annoying.

No, I cannot vote in local elections. 

No, I cannot buy land.

 

Seems to me that several osters have pR and are mentionng getting a new visa every year.

 

I suspect they are meaning a new 'Exit and Re-entry' stamp (stamp is placed into the national passport of the PR holder and also in the PR book held by the PR holder. 

 

however that's not quite true:

 

- For PR holders who travel abroad frequently (perhaos meetings) the best option is s 'Multipe entry Exit and Re-entry stamp'. But there is no regulation / requirement for it to be renewed annually. It can be renewed at any time convenient for the PR holder. 

Just now, scorecard said:

 

Seems to me that several osters have PR and are mentionng getting a new visa every year.

 

Just now, scorecard said:

When a foreigner receives PR it's for lifetime and it's therefore not a visa / not a 'must renew visa'. PR never needs renewal / review, it's for lifetime. it auto cancels when a PR holder dies.

 

It cannot be transferred to any other person family or not family when the PR holder is living or when the PR holder dies.

 

Just now, scorecard said:

I suspect they are meaning a new 'Exit and Re-entry' stamp (stamp is placed into the national passport of the PR holder and also in the PR book held by the PR holder. 

 

however that's not quite true:

 

- For PR holders who travel abroad frequently (perhaos meetings) the best option is s 'Multipe entry Exit and Re-entry stamp'. But there is no regulation / requirement for it to be renewed annually. It can be renewed at any time convenient for the PR holder. 

 

On 9/15/2006 at 5:23 PM, Tywais said:

Just a repeat of a post I did before.

---------------------------------------------------

And I would say that a quota limit of 100 is not an issue for US or UK. The following is from the immigration site for accepted PR in 2004.

"The list of 169 applicants who applied residential permit in year 2004 (quota) and the list of the 11 applicants of residential permit (non-quota) passed the preliminary consideration of the Immigration Commission and also approval of The Minister of Interior in March,3 2006"

I converted the Word document to an html page that you can see here: PR Granted 2004

 

I got PR 28 years ago. in those days the masimum approved was 100 for a number of counries and zero for some countries.

 

For the year I got approval the total number actually approved for foreignes from my country was just 5 (total mazimum 100).

 

13 hours ago, onthemoon said:

 

Yes, I have to renew the visa every year. People who know that they will never leave the country won't have to do that. It is only important that you have a valid visa in your passport when you return to Thailand.  For those who say they don't need a visa because they never intend to leave, I say it is risky because you never know what happens. To make it clear: The law says you don't need a visa to stay if you have PR. if you ever leave the country for whatever reason, you do need a valid immigrant visa to return to the country, otherwise the PR will be cancelled upon return.

Yes, I still need a WP. This is highly annoying.

No, I cannot vote in local elections. 

No, I cannot buy land.

cAN i SUGGEST THAT WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT IS AN 'eXIT AND rE-ENTRY STAMP, RATHER THAN A VISA) Can I suggest what your talking about is an 'Exit and Re-entry stamp' / approval, rather than a visa. 

 

However it is true that when the 'Exit and Re-entry stamp' is processed it shows a visa number

 

During covid I had traveled to Australia to attend along  company meeting and I couldn't easily get Aust. gov't permission to leave Australia (a bit later that changed), and I had concens about my Exit and re-entry stamp expiring.

 

I called the Imm. Dept and eventually got transferred to a snr. officer. He explained that a waiver (extension of the Exit and Re-entry stamp expiry date was in process.

 

We chatted for some time, turned out he studed high school and 2 uni degrees in Australia and was keen to try to get some up to date infor re  uni for his teenage son.

 

I asked a snr. Imm officer (speaks very advanced English) about the 'visa' number appearing on the 'Exit and Re-entry stamp'. He laughed and said the word visa shouldn't really be used with the Exit and Re-entry stamp. It's more like an administration number re issue of  'Exit and Re-entry stamps'.

Just now, scorecard said:

Can I suggest what your talking about is an 'Exit and Re-entry stamp' / approval, rather than a visa. 

 

However it is true that when the 'Exit and Re-entry stamp' is processed it shows a visa number.

 

During covid I had traveled to Australia to attend a long  company meeting and I couldn't easily get Aust. gov't permission to leave Australia (a bit later that changed), and I had concens about my Exit and re-entry stamp expiring.

 

I called the Imm. Dept and eventually got transferred to a snr. officer. He explained that a waiver (extension of the Exit and Re-entry stamp expiry date) was in process and would be covered by the waiver. 

 

We chatted for some time, turned out he studed high school and 2 uni degrees in Australia and was keen to try to get some up to date info re a uni for his teenage son.

 

I asked the Snr. Imm officer about the 'visa' number appearing on the 'Exit and Re-entry stamp'. He laughed and said the word visa shouldn't really be used with the Exit and Re-entry stamp. It's more like a progresssive administration number re the issue of  'Exit and Re-entry stamps'.

 

23 hours ago, onthemoon said:

Yes, I still need a WP. This is highly annoying.

No, I cannot vote in local elections. 

No, I cannot buy land.

@mikeymike100

care to comment or admit your post was misinformation?

On 11/16/2025 at 4:00 AM, scorecard said:

cAN i SUGGEST THAT WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT IS AN 'eXIT AND rE-ENTRY STAMP, RATHER THAN A VISA) Can I suggest what your talking about is an 'Exit and Re-entry stamp' / approval, rather than a visa. 

 

However it is true that when the 'Exit and Re-entry stamp' is processed it shows a visa number

 

During covid I had traveled to Australia to attend along  company meeting and I couldn't easily get Aust. gov't permission to leave Australia (a bit later that changed), and I had concens about my Exit and re-entry stamp expiring.

 

I called the Imm. Dept and eventually got transferred to a snr. officer. He explained that a waiver (extension of the Exit and Re-entry stamp expiry date was in process.

 

We chatted for some time, turned out he studed high school and 2 uni degrees in Australia and was keen to try to get some up to date infor re  uni for his teenage son.

 

I asked a snr. Imm officer (speaks very advanced English) about the 'visa' number appearing on the 'Exit and Re-entry stamp'. He laughed and said the word visa shouldn't really be used with the Exit and Re-entry stamp. It's more like an administration number re issue of  'Exit and Re-entry stamps'.

 

The stamp in the passport clearly says "non-quota immigrant visa". It does not say "re-entry permit" as for the non-immigrant visa. If I don't have this visa (that's what it's called, sorry!), or it is expired upon my return, the PR is cancelled and therefore anything but permanent. And that is the point, never mind whether your English-speaking officer calls it visa or any other name.

 

In addition, I need a stamp (endorsement) in the white PR book.

On 11/15/2025 at 4:50 PM, onthemoon said:

For those who say they don't need a visa because they never intend to leave, I say it is risky because you never know what happens.

You can get the needed stamps within a half-day at Government Center.

Therefore, for me, with no planned trips abroad in the foreseeable future, I don't maintain the exit/entry stamps to leave the country.  

5 hours ago, Bubbha said:

within a half-day

 

within half an hour if clued up

7 hours ago, Bubbha said:

You can get the needed stamps within a half-day at Government Center.

Therefore, for me, with no planned trips abroad in the foreseeable future, I don't maintain the exit/entry stamps to leave the country.  

 

That's the way i's meant to work. You get an Exit - Re-entry stamp when you need it.

 

Many times, over many years there's been posts indicating the some PR holders  believe that you MUST get the exit - Re-entry stamps every year. Nor true - you MUST get an Exit - re-entry stamp when you travel abroad. 

 

I recall one case where the PR holder was adamant that the Exit - re-entry stamp issue date had to align to the date of appoval to hold PR. Totally untrue.

 

1 hour ago, jayboy said:

 

within half an hour if clued up

True. the lady officer and her small team come quickly to the seating rea as soon as someone sits there. They are all good listeners and very pleasant, they work with haste to get the stamps completed, and their customer departs the area quite  quickly. 

13 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

That's the way i's meant to work. You get an Exit - Re-entry stamp when you need it.

 

Many times, over many years there's been posts indicating the some PR holders  believe that you MUST get the exit - Re-entry stamps every year. Nor true - you MUST get an Exit - re-entry stamp when you travel abroad. 

 

I recall one case where the PR holder was adamant that the Exit - re-entry stamp issue date had to align to the date of appoval to hold PR. Totally untrue.

 

Correct. You don't need the immigrant visa (it's not called a re-entry permit, you are mixing this up with non-immigrant visas) if you don't need it.

 

That is, if you are 100% sure you will never learn on a Friday afternoon that you will have to fly somewhere over the weekend because a family member or friend needs you. For me, I travel for business a lot anyway, but after retirement, I will also make sure I will always have a visa in my passport.

 

Here is an anecdote: I was once at the airport at immigration when the officer told me the visa had expired - I had forgotten to check. I could cancel the morning flight, take a taxi to CW, get the stamp, and go back to the airport for the evening flight. Very funny, haha. 

 

On 11/15/2025 at 4:50 PM, onthemoon said:

 

Yes, I have to renew the visa every year. People who know that they will never leave the country won't have to do that. It is only important that you have a valid visa in your passport when you return to Thailand.  For those who say they don't need a visa because they never intend to leave, I say it is risky because you never know what happens. To make it clear: The law says you don't need a visa to stay if you have PR. if you ever leave the country for whatever reason, you do need a valid immigrant visa to return to the country, otherwise the PR will be cancelled upon return.

Yes, I still need a WP. This is highly annoying.

No, I cannot vote in local elections. 

No, I cannot buy land.

 

From above:

Yes, I have to renew the visa every year. People who know that they will never leave the country won't have to do that. It is only important that you have a valid visa in your passport when you return to Thailand.  

Note: the member is mentioning visa: this 'visa' is specifically part of the 'Exit and re-entry' requrements. 

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

 

From above:

Yes, I have to renew the visa every year. People who know that they will never leave the country won't have to do that. It is only important that you have a valid visa in your passport when you return to Thailand.  

Note: the member is mentioning visa: this 'visa' is specifically part of the 'Exit and re-entry' requrements. 

 

Yes that's correct. However as a general observation - and I think that's what onthemoon is suggesting, it's absurd that an exit/re-entry permission required at all - as is the very minor and illogical inconvenience of having to obtain a TDAC. Compared to permanent residence status in other countries, it's a very miserly position to hold in Thailand conveying very few rights and privileges of the citizen, whereas in other countries it conveys almost all of them.To make it even more inequitable, other groups of foreign immigrants (eg birds of passage like the mostly not very "wealthy pensioners" of BOI's LTR scheme) are given tax privileges denied to PRs. I'm grateful for having PR and very much value it, and I fully understand why it has emerged in its current form over time.But what is needed is some radical reform, though I'm betting this is not even on the agenda.Still it provides security and that's very much worth having despite the annoying aspects.