Hey guys, I'll be moving to Bangkok soon for a 6 month internship and have been given a 3 month single entry ED visa (apparently multiple entry visas do not exist). The problem is that I need to head back to Singapore after 3 weeks and would like to avoid paying the heavy fee for a re-entry permit if possible.

Would it be possible for me to tell the immigration officer at don muang airport to give a normal tourist stamp (holding a Singaporean passport so I can stay in Thailand visa free for 30 days) first and then "activate" my ED visa when I return? Or would you guys suggest that I just pay for the re-entry visa?

You will need to pay the "heavy" 1000 Baht fee for the re-entry permit. You can not pick and choose when to use the visa. :-)

Thanks bigt116 for the info! I'm a poor student so Being able to avoid paying any fee would be great haha. How should I go about getting the re-entry permit? Do I apply for it once I land at don muang? Or can I apply for it just before my departure back to Singapore at the same airport?

The 1000 baht fee for a single re-entry permit is that much and you can get one 24 hours a day at either airport in Bangkok.

Its a no brainer, PAY.

At the airports you have to apply for it after you have checked-in for the airline and have your boarding pass.