3 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

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.

 

Agree. There could be improvements. Any that would, in my thinking the main impreovment would be removing any need at all for special stamps to exit and re-enter. What do they prove?

 

However for me the big plus is that Thai PR is for lifetime, never needs any review of any kind. 

On 11/20/2025 at 5:59 PM, scorecard said:

...However for me the big plus is that Thai PR is for lifetime, never needs any review of any kind. 

 

I view it differently. Yes, Permanent Residence it is for lifetime if you never leave Thailand for the rest of your life. Otherwise, it is valid until leave you Thailand, unless you buy a new visa that will allow you to return to Thailand as a Permanent Resident, ie as an immigrant, within a limited period of time, ie one year.

14 minutes ago, Maestro said:

 

I view it differently. Yes, Permanent Residence it is for lifetime if you never leave Thailand for the rest of your life. Otherwise, it is valid until leave you Thailand, unless you buy a new visa that will allow you to return to Thailand as a Permanent Resident, ie as an immigrant, within a limited period of time, ie one year.

 

All essentilaly true, but not a problem, easy and fast to get the needed stamps in your books, when needed.

 

By the way the visa* number they insert in the Exit / re-entry stamps doesn't override the main PR approval, that remains for life, no PR renewal or review ever needed, and PR cancels automatically when you die.

 

(* Visa number: this is an administrative number specific to granting the Exit and re-Entry stamp, not really a mainstream visa number.)  

1 hour ago, Maestro said:

 

I view it differently. Yes, Permanent Residence it is for lifetime if you never leave Thailand for the rest of your life. Otherwise, it is valid until leave you Thailand, unless you buy a new visa that will allow you to return to Thailand as a Permanent Resident, ie as an immigrant, within a limited period of time, ie one year.

 

I agree with you 100%.

59 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

All essentilaly true, but not a problem, easy and fast to get the needed stamps in your books, when needed.

 

By the way the visa* number they insert in the Exit / re-entry stamps doesn't override the main PR approval, that remains for life, no PR renewal or review ever needed, and PR cancels automatically when you die.

 

(* Visa number: this is an administrative number specific to granting the Exit and re-Entry stamp, not really a mainstream visa number.)  

 

After going through the trouble of travelling to CW and losing half a day, try getting your visa easily when you only know on Friday afternoon that you have to travel on the weekend. Not having the visa definitely overrides the PR approval. So, I don't agree with you. 😉

On 11/27/2025 at 11:14 AM, onthemoon said:

 

After going through the trouble of travelling to CW and losing half a day, try getting your visa easily when you only know on Friday afternoon that you have to travel on the weekend. Not having the visa definitely overrides the PR approval. So, I don't agree with you. 😉

I travel outside Thailand about 20 times a year which is a decrease from 40/50 times a year. I always ensure that I can leave Thailand at a day's notice as was the case last Friday afternoon when I had to leave the following day.

1 hour ago, rimmae2 said:

I travel outside Thailand about 20 times a year which is a decrease from 40/50 times a year. I always ensure that I can leave Thailand at a day's notice as was the case last Friday afternoon when I had to leave the following day.

Sure,

before I retired I was a regional director of a management consultung company with my office in Bkk because I ave family in Thailand and I did between zero to 4 trips abroad every week, often just day trips but I needed to always have a current Exit and re-entry stamp so about 1 week before my multiple entry one year validity stamp expired I went to immigration at CW  and got a new one year muliple stamp.

 

Further, the secretary I shared in Bkk was well aware of my Exit - Re-entry stamp needs and she made sure I was in Bkk for a full day with no local appointments about 1 week before my current stamp expired, so I could go to CW and get the new stamp. There was an overlap of the two stamps for about 1 week but that's not important.  

Good evening.

Sorry, i tried the search button in the thread to get me to the information, as i think i read it here some years ago, but it is so many pages now xDD.

My passport is expiring this year, then my question is, do i need to have any stamp transferred from my old passport to my new passport? I dont plan to travel out this year and my rentry one is expired already, but am not sure about the one that is put in the passport upon receiving the PR booklet.

Do i need to go to an immigration office in Pattaya or Chaeng Wattana to have iit updated or is it not relevant and the Police book and PR should suffice when going to bank or something else with government?

Any reply greatly appreciated.

Thks

Ant.

12 minutes ago, anthonyT said:

Good evening.

Sorry, i tried the search button in the thread to get me to the information, as i think i read it here some years ago, but it is so many pages now xDD.

My passport is expiring this year, then my question is, do i need to have any stamp transferred from my old passport to my new passport? I dont plan to travel out this year and my rentry one is expired already, but am not sure about the one that is put in the passport upon receiving the PR booklet.

Do i need to go to an immigration office in Pattaya or Chaeng Wattana to have iit updated or is it not relevant and the Police book and PR should suffice when going to bank or something else with government?

Any reply greatly appreciated.

Thks

Ant.

I have had a couple of passport renewals since I got PR in the 1990s. With a still-valid non-quota immigrant visa in the old passport, it was no issue leaving or entering Thailand. Simply present both passports to immigration both on the outbound and inbound leg.

I have always waited until I applied for a new non-quota immigrant visa before I presented both the old and new passports to the Immigration Department at Chaeng Wattana. I was never advised I had to do anything else and never had an issue.

I received a new passport back in November and went to the three banks where I have accounts in order to update their records. UOB and SCB showed no interest in my old passport or the stamps in it. They simply entered my new passport data into their computer system. Bangkok bank made photocopies of both the new passport and the old passport including the latest non-quota immigrant visa and the most recent entry stamp. When it comes to banks, you'll need a passport, and perhaps two if they want copies of the old one and its stamps. Not sure if Bangkok Bank will subsequently want to see both passports for service at the teller. In the past Bangkok Bank has made copies of my stamps when conducting business at the branch.

If there is a smart bureaucrat/politician, the best step would be to give lifelong valid multi entry stay visa to any foreigner who has purchased property in Thailand and who would only need to show a certificate of his revenue or pension from abroad and the proof of property purchase in Thailand, to submit for this visa. That's it, No further hassles or absurd requirements.

But for this, you would need a group of very intelligent, progressive people on the top level, that we are all sure, are plentiful in the governance of this lovely country.

On 1/13/2026 at 5:41 PM, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

I have had a couple of passport renewals since I got PR in the 1990s. With a still-valid non-quota immigrant visa in the old passport, it was no issue leaving or entering Thailand. Simply present both passports to immigration both on the outbound and inbound leg.

I have always waited until I applied for a new non-quota immigrant visa before I presented both the old and new passports to the Immigration Department at Chaeng Wattana. I was never advised I had to do anything else and never had an issue.

I received a new passport back in November and went to the three banks where I have accounts in order to update their records. UOB and SCB showed no interest in my old passport or the stamps in it. They simply entered my new passport data into their computer system. Bangkok bank made photocopies of both the new passport and the old passport including the latest non-quota immigrant visa and the most recent entry stamp. When it comes to banks, you'll need a passport, and perhaps two if they want copies of the old one and its stamps. Not sure if Bangkok Bank will subsequently want to see both passports for service at the teller. In the past Bangkok Bank has made copies of my stamps when conducting business at the branch.

When I got a new passport many years ago, I actually went to CW to have the stamps moved. They explained that it is not necessary. If I wanted to have the stamp in the new passport, I would have to apply for a new visa, but expiry was far in the future. Like you, I have travelled with two passports many times since.

KBank and SCB require the passport, Bangkok Bank was happy with my pink ID and tabien baan. Maybe that's one of the cases where different branches make different decisions.

On 1/13/2026 at 5:41 PM, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

I have had a couple of passport renewals since I got PR in the 1990s. With a still-valid non-quota immigrant visa in the old passport, it was no issue leaving or entering Thailand. Simply present both passports to immigration both on the outbound and inbound leg.

I have always waited until I applied for a new non-quota immigrant visa before I presented both the old and new passports to the Immigration Department at Chaeng Wattana. I was never advised I had to do anything else and never had an issue.

I received a new passport back in November and went to the three banks where I have accounts in order to update their records. UOB and SCB showed no interest in my old passport or the stamps in it. They simply entered my new passport data into their computer system. Bangkok bank made photocopies of both the new passport and the old passport including the latest non-quota immigrant visa and the most recent entry stamp. When it comes to banks, you'll need a passport, and perhaps two if they want copies of the old one and its stamps. Not sure if Bangkok Bank will subsequently want to see both passports for service at the teller. In the past Bangkok Bank has made copies of my stamps when conducting business at the branch.

22 hours ago, onthemoon said:

When I got a new passport many years ago, I actually went to CW to have the stamps moved. They explained that it is not necessary. If I wanted to have the stamp in the new passport, I would have to apply for a new visa, but expiry was far in the future. Like you, I have travelled with two passports many times since.

KBank and SCB require the passport, Bangkok Bank was happy with my pink ID and tabien baan. Maybe that's one of the cases where different branches make different decisions.

many thanks for the replies!

Ant.

On 11/27/2025 at 9:52 AM, Maestro said:

 

I view it differently. Yes, Permanent Residence it is for lifetime if you never leave Thailand for the rest of your life. Otherwise, it is valid until leave you Thailand, unless you buy a new visa that will allow you to return to Thailand as a Permanent Resident, ie as an immigrant, within a limited period of time, ie one year.

From just abve "...it is valid until leave you Thailand, unless you buy a new visa that will allow you to return to Thailand as a Permanent Resident,

with all respect I find thie phrase / wording to be quite confusing. What it raally mens is getting an exit and re-entry stamp in your passport and a duplicate of the stamp in your PR book.

The process to do this at a immigration office includes giving you a 'temporary visa' <with a number> issued at the immigration office where you are applying for an exit and re-entry stamp. It remains valid until uou return to Thailand when the original PR approval details become the main PR approval force (which is valid until your death* (unless you gain a criminal record etc.

*keeping in mind that Thai PR is for lifetime (cheewit in Thai language), doesn't need review / reissue ever.

On 3/1/2026 at 12:56 PM, scorecard said:

From just abve "...it is valid until leave you Thailand, unless you buy a new visa that will allow you to return to Thailand as a Permanent Resident,

with all respect I find thie phrase / wording to be quite confusing. What it raally mens is getting an exit and re-entry stamp in your passport and a duplicate of the stamp in your PR book.

The process to do this at a immigration office includes giving you a 'temporary visa' <with a number> issued at the immigration office where you are applying for an exit and re-entry stamp. It remains valid until uou return to Thailand when the original PR approval details become the main PR approval force (which is valid until your death* (unless you gain a criminal record etc.

*keeping in mind that Thai PR is for lifetime (cheewit in Thai language), doesn't need review / reissue ever.

I made the mistake of not giving a link to the visa I referred to, ie the non-quota immigrant visa to keep the permanent permission to stay, ie the permanent residence, the immigrant status, alive . The only example I have on file is from 1983 and the text of this type of visa stamp may have changed since then.

For a permanent resident, this non-quota immigrant visa, good for a specified number of return journey(s), does indeed serve the analogous service as the re-entry permit for the holder of a temporary permission to stay, ie it keeps the existing permission to stay alive.

For anyone who may be wondering, the prefix "non-quota" indicates that the visa does not count against the annual quota of immigrant visas available per country. Unless this quota has been changed, it is generally 100 per country, but only 50 for small countries.

I should be grateful if a permanent resident would be so kind as to post a recent non-quota immigrant visa for my album.

FYI today I renewed Red Book at a Police Station in Bangkok and only a photo was required. Blue book, white PR book and Passport not required.

35 minutes ago, kevinhol said:

FYI today I renewed Red Book at a Police Station in Bangkok and only a photo was required. Blue book, white PR book and Passport not required.

You say 'RENEWED'. Do you mean:

• a). You got a completely new Thai police registration RED book?Or

• b). The officer added, to your already existing RED book, the new photo you just gave him and he entered the date that happened and he 'reminded' you that this process is reqired every 5 years?

• Which is it?

14 hours ago, scorecard said:

You say 'RENEWED'. Do you mean:

• a). You got a completely new Thai police registration RED book?Or

• b). The officer added, to your already existing RED book, the new photo you just gave him and he entered the date that happened and he 'reminded' you that this process is reqired every 5 years?

• Which is it?

b)

5 years ago when I did the same other documents mentioned in my post were required to be shown.

I’ve had PR for 12 years. I own a condominium that I am now renovating.

During renovation I moved to a nearby apartment very close to my condo and in the same police (red book) area.

 So I’m looking for knowledge and experience in two areas—

(1) The manager of the apartment building I am living in submits TM 30 forms (registering foreign guest/resident) to immigration despite my permanent resident permit.

But maybe she’s correct to do this?  I don’t know.....

(2) Also, given that I will probably be in this apartment for 1-2 years, should I notify the police station where I’m registered that I have taken temporary residence in another location?

Thanks for any thoughts and feedback.

On 7/4/2026 at 1:55 PM, Bubbha said:

I’ve had PR for 12 years. I own a condominium that I am now renovating.

During renovation I moved to a nearby apartment very close to my condo and in the same police (red book) area.

 So I’m looking for knowledge and experience in two areas—

(1) The manager of the apartment building I am living in submits TM 30 forms (registering foreign guest/resident) to immigration despite my permanent resident permit.

But maybe she’s correct to do this?  I don’t know.....

(2) Also, given that I will probably be in this apartment for 1-2 years, should I notify the police station where I’m registered that I have taken temporary residence in another location?

Thanks for any thoughts and feedback.

1. She is wrong to inform to submit a TM30 form for a PR but it is probably ignored.

2. Technically you are supposed to switch your tabian baan to your new address and change in in your alien book. But this is impossible because the apartment owner will not put you on the building's tabian baan which has probably never been activated and has no house master. So just let sleeping dogs lie and be like probably half the Thai population and have a tabian baan that doesn't reflect where you ually live.

On 3/3/2026 at 5:40 PM, Maestro said:

I made the mistake of not giving a link to the visa I referred to, ie the non-quota immigrant visa to keep the permanent permission to stay, ie the permanent residence, the immigrant status, alive . The only example I have on file is from 1983 and the text of this type of visa stamp may have changed since then.

For a permanent resident, this non-quota immigrant visa, good for a specified number of return journey(s), does indeed serve the analogous service as the re-entry permit for the holder of a temporary permission to stay, ie it keeps the existing permission to stay alive.

For anyone who may be wondering, the prefix "non-quota" indicates that the visa does not count against the annual quota of immigrant visas available per country. Unless this quota has been changed, it is generally 100 per country, but only 50 for small countries.

I should be grateful if a permanent resident would be so kind as to post a recent non-quota immigrant visa for my album.

The picture is of an endorsement prior to multiple entry visas, showing the visa holder had paid for 3 return trips. It was very annoying as you had to estimate how many trips you expected to make in the year and pay for that number of re-entries. If you underestimated you had to go back to Immigration and buy more re-entries, as I had to once. If you overestimated, you wasted the money. Very annoying if you had to travel a lot.

5 hours ago, Arkady said:

The picture is of an endorsement prior to multiple entry visas, showing the visa holder had paid for 3 return trips. It was very annoying as you had to estimate how many trips you expected to make in the year and pay for that number of re-entries. If you underestimated you had to go back to Immigration and buy more re-entries, as I had to once. If you overestimated, you wasted the money. Very annoying if you had to travel a lot.

I'd like to update myself on the stamps put by immigration into the passport of a Permanent Resident.

1. Does a Permanent Resident nowadays still need to get a stamp (endorsement, non-quota immigrant visa, re-entry permit or whatever it may be labelled nowadays) in his passport before leaving Thailand so as not to forfeit his permanent residence status?

2. If so, what does this stamp look like?

3. What is the TM form number to apply for it?

4. What is the fee for it?

5. What does the arrival stamp being given upon arrival in Thailand with such an entry permit look like?

On 7/9/2026 at 12:04 AM, Maestro said:

I'd like to update myself on the stamps put by immigration into the passport of a Permanent Resident.

1. Does a Permanent Resident nowadays still need to get a stamp (endorsement, non-quota immigrant visa, re-entry permit or whatever it may be labelled nowadays) in his passport before leaving Thailand so as not to forfeit his permanent residence status?

2. If so, what does this stamp look like?

3. What is the TM form number to apply for it?

4. What is the fee for it?

5. What does the arrival stamp being given upon arrival in Thailand with such an entry permit look like?

The exit and entry stamps are the same as normal ones, but in addition you need the Exit Permit. Fee for 1 year is 3,800 THB. I think the form is TM13.

Edited July 14Jul 14 by Kinnock

On 7/9/2026 at 12:04 AM, Maestro said:

I'd like to update myself on the stamps put by immigration into the passport of a Permanent Resident.

1. Does a Permanent Resident nowadays still need to get a stamp (endorsement, non-quota immigrant visa, re-entry permit or whatever it may be labelled nowadays) in his passport before leaving Thailand so as not to forfeit his permanent residence status?

2. If so, what does this stamp look like?

3. What is the TM form number to apply for it?

4. What is the fee for it?

5. What does the arrival stamp being given upon arrival in Thailand with such an entry permit look like?

1) Yes, both an endorsement in the TM16/TM17 and the non-quota immigrant visa in the passport are required.

2) Kinnock has supplied a copy of the non-immigrant visa. Below is the endorsement and departure and arrival stamps from the TM16/TM17 Residence Certificate booklet.

3) TM22 is the form for the non-immigrant visa and TM13 is the form for the endorsement in the TM16/TM17.

4. TM22 is 1,900 baht for single entry and 3,800 for multiple. TM13 is 1,900.

5. Same as the ones below in the TM17 residence certificate booklet.

Edited July 14Jul 14 by Etaoin Shrdlu

Something to add to the knowledge base. When leaving for a trip to Vietnam a few years ago from Don Muang the immigration officer checking passports on the way out stopped me and started flicking back and forth. He asked me to wait and went to fetch someone higher up.

She said that I had an old reentry permit in my passport (prior to the current one) and that I hadn't used it. I explained that I had the permit when COVID started and decided not to travel.

She said that if I don't use a reentry permit that I should have it cancelled. She then said that she would cancel it there and then but try not to forget next time.

Who knew?

31 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Something to add to the knowledge base. When leaving for a trip to Vietnam a few years ago from Don Muang the immigration officer checking passports on the way out stopped me and started flicking back and forth. He asked me to wait and went to fetch someone higher up.

She said that I had an old reentry permit in my passport (prior to the current one) and that I hadn't used it. I explained that I had the permit when COVID started and decided not to travel.

She said that if I don't use a reentry permit that I should have it cancelled. She then said that she would cancel it there and then but try not to forget next time.

Who knew?

Never heard of that rule. But as they have no idea of all of the rules themselves, it may well be BS. Many I know get a re entry permit with their annual extension each year, just in case, but don't necessarily use it. I have done that a few times myself.

18 hours ago, Doctor Tom said:

Never heard of that rule. But as they have no idea of all of the rules themselves, it may well be BS. Many I know get a re entry permit with their annual extension each year, just in case, but don't necessarily use it. I have done that a few times myself.

What is the annual extension that you are referring to?

What is required if one travels outside Thailand is as stated in recent post by Etaoin Shrdlu.

17 minutes ago, kevinhol said:

What is the annual extension that you are referring to?

What is required if one travels outside Thailand is as stated in recent post by Etaoin Shrdlu.

Annual extension of what?

• Extension of PR annually? Never heard of that, and my understanding (having held PR for 29 years) is that PR is for lifetime. The pink plastic card(in regard to time validity) says in Thai 'cheewit' meaning lifetime. Further discusions I've had with the English speaking Social Security Fund staff at the national HQ indicates the same 'Cheewit' lifetime.

• Or what?

1 minute ago, scorecard said:

Annual extension of what?

• Extension of PR annually? Never heard of that, and my understanding (having held PR for 29 years) is that PR is for lifetime. The pink plastic card(in regard to time validity) says in Thai 'cheewit' meaning lifetime. Further discusions I've had with the English speaking Social Security Fund staff at the national HQ indicates the same 'Cheewit' lifetime.

• Or do you mean the 'exit and re-entry stamp'. For decades I travelled from Bangkok to several regional countries, or further, every week. So I held a multiple entry exit and re-entry stamp good for one year (in my PR book and my passport) and renewed it on or just before the expiry date showing on the exit and re-entry stamp (in my PR book and my passport). So in effect, through my own process, the admin' mngr in my company, in Bkk had become knowledgeable about this process and got the documents ready for me to go to immigration to get the multiple entry exit and re-entry stamp before the current stamp expired. Although my office was in Bkk my family ived in Chiang Mai so I always took the documents to the Immigration office in Chiang Mai (near CM airport). The CM Immigration staff were always welcoming anf riendly and I was in and out within 30 or 40 minutes.

  The first time I got a multiple entry exit and re-entry stamp (in my PR book and my passport) wasn't aligned to anything.

On 7/3/2026 at 4:05 PM, scorecard said:

You say 'RENEWED'. Do you mean:

• a). You got a completely new Thai police registration RED book?Or

• b). The officer added, to your already existing RED book, the new photo you just gave him and he entered the date that happened and he 'reminded' you that this process is reqired every 5 years?

  Books& Literature

• Which is it?

I may be wrong but I dont think there are any new red books.I think there is a stock going back many decades which are being used up gradually.That would explain why they fall to bits so easily.Mine lives in a safe except for an annual outing to Chaengwattana.But I could be completely wrong.

1 minute ago, jayboy said:

I may be wrong but I dont think there are any new red books.I think there is a stock going back many decades which are being used up gradually.That would explain why they fall to bits so easily.Mine lives in a safe except for an annual outing to Chaengwattana.But I could be completely wrong.

I think you are 100% correct.

My Red book has fallen apart on the spine and I guess 2 visits back at the very big Chiang Mai police centre the officer called an officer who came quickly, took my book and returned it 2 hrs later well repaired.

But since then it's fallen apart again. My Thai adult son is nowadays responsible for these book and he keeps them safe.

My last viit to the police centre was about 1 year back. Pleasany new officer on duty (good English) and he seemed to be very knowledgeable.

When all completws hetouched my son's hand to get his attenton, then asked me 'how old are you now?' I responded 81 years old.

He then looked at my son and said 'there's no bring your father again, just come around the 5 year date, bring the RED book and a new photo'.