Transferring Australian visa to new Thai passport - passport holder is waiting for new Thai passport

[Tomtomtom69]

Hi,

I tried using the search function and going through at least 10 pages of the visa section but couldn't find anything. Went to the VFS website but again nothing. Finally I found a form on the immigration department website www.immi.gov.au that you need to fill out to process a change of passport but it seems to be unclear whether this form can be used for Thais currently OFFSHORE as in they have a valid Australian visa but since the passport they are using is close to expiration, they need to obtain a new one before being permitted to leave Thailand. It seems to be quite straightforward to use this form if you are currently in Australia and are needing to obtain a new passport and transfer an existing visa, but vague if the passport holder is still overseas in this case still in Thailand.

So since my fiancee is in this situation, i.e. is in possession of a valid 1-year multi entry Australian tourist visa class 600 I believe which she has used once before now using her old passport, but now her passport is less than 6 months from expiry, so she is getting a new one, which will arrive in the mail in another few days. Therefore, what does she need to do to TRANSFER her visa (which is the usual electronic visa granted by Australian authorities) to the new passport?

Or can she just travel on two passports, showing the old one to the check-in counter alongside the new one (since the passport number used for the original application and the visa granted within are linked) and again on arrival in Australia, whereby only the new passport is stamped?

If so, could the visa transfer then proceed after arrival in Australia using the change of details form I have mentioned from the immi website, or does this procedure need to occur prior to travel?

We would like to book tickets soon and don't know which option to use.

[jamesbrock]

The form you found (form 929) can be used both onshore and offshore.

This page has the information you need: http://www.thailand.embassy.gov.au/bkok/DIAC_Obtain_passport.html

[Will27]

You can use form 929 if you want, but travelling with both passports as you suggested

is a lot easier.

When you arrive in Aust, present both passports to the Customs officer.

The officer will then refer you to Immigration who will add the new passport details

to that visa.

Just make sure you travel with the visa letter grant to show the airline in Thailand.

[wazzi]

We have just recently gone through trhis, We were in Thailand when my wife renewed her Thai passport. We used form 929 to advise Diac of the change of details from Thailand. Carried both passports into Australia but had no problems as immigration already had the new passport details thanks to form 929