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.