Exceptionally Simple Re-Entry Permit Question

[JeffreyO]

Hello,

I searched for a solution to this but there were some comments about rules changing so I wanted to verify. I am on my first entry of a double entry tourist visa (roughly 2 weeks into my stay). I have a flight scheduled mid next month for Hong Kong and would not like to have my second entry used yet. I understand the purpose of the re-entry permit is to keep your current visa entry valid however the verbage on the Suvarnabhumi airport website and Thai Visa's site have confused me.

http://www.thaivisa.com/re-entry-permit.html

This states "

If you have an Single entry visa, extension of stay or Permanent Residence and would like to travel outside of Thailand for a short period then an re-entry permit will be needed."

I have a double entry visa. Does this mean that I MUST use my second entry rather than a re-entry permit? I was hoping on coming back, extending another 30 days and flying somewhere else for further tourism, such as Malaysia or Singapore, spending a week or so and coming back, activating my second entry. In fact, the ability to travel the region was a major part of why I picked this as a tourist hub... please advise so I know going forward. Thank you.

[Crossy]

No, you can get a re-entry to protect your current entry.

Do remember that you don't get any extra days so you must re-enter Thailand before the end of your current permission to stay.

[JeffreyO]

Great! Regarding a 30 day extension, if I apply before I leave for Hong Kong, that would have no impact on the re-entry permit as well, correct?

[steve187]

To follow on from Crossy

are you coming back from HK before your current permission to stay stamp expires. if yes then get a single re-entry 1,000 baht, arrive back in Thailand get a permission to stay stamp til the same date you have now, and then extend for 30 days,1.900 baht, then another trip out and on re-entry get another 60 days and that could be extended for 30 days as well

yes you could extend and at the same time get a single re-entry on the extension permission to stay stamp.

[Crossy]

If you intend extending before flying to HK you must get the re-entry permit AFTER you get the extension, the permit only protects the current permission to stay date.

If you're flying out of BKK or DMK you can get the permit at the airport, there's a 200 Baht service charge but the girls do everything and you don't need photos or the form. In my experience it's also a lot quicker than doing it at immigration.

[ubonjoe]

If you get the 30 day extension the re-entry permit would be valid util the date it ends. You could apply for the extension and get the re-entry permit during the same trip to immigration.

[JeffreyO]

Excellent information. This has been exactly what I needed. I have not obtained the re-entry permit and am more than well enough off to afford a simple 200 baht fee for the 'service', which as I have read is more of an express fee than anything else.

I will extend in early January and fly out around mid-January, obtaining the permit from Suvarnabhumi before my flight leaves. I suppose the last questions are how long does it take to obtain and I read the office is after security? Going through security and back out in case I go to the wrong place would be... unfortunate and time consuming.

[ubonjoe]

It should not take more 20 minutes unless the were very busy.

The re-entry permit desk at Suv is just before the normal (not fast track) departure immigration desks when you get off the escalator.

[marcbriant]

Is it a re-entry permit desk at Don Muang airport?

[Mario2008]

Is it a re-entry permit desk at Don Muang airport?

Yes, they also have a re-entry permit desk.