Expiring passport - need advice

[anonymousz]

Dear Thaivisa Experts,

 

I need your valuable advice. I am an EU passport holder and facing the following problem. My passport is expiring in April 2017. Thats a validity of another 5 months.

My ED Visa is expiring on 23rd November. I managed to get another 7 days until 30th of November. I applied for a new passport last week. It seems that the passport will arrive in early December at my embassy in Bangkok so I might have to overstay to receive my passport. I am trying to think of a way to avoid overstay. I am looking at following scenarios.

 

1st Scenario: Leave Thailand on the 30th and try to get a on arrival visa in Cambodia (Poipet). stay a few days in Cambodia and then go to the Thai embassy try and get a single entry tourist visa (60 days + 30 days) and then return to Thailand via the Poipet border. Questions: will Cambodia issue me a on arrival visa on a passport thats expiring in 5 months. If yes...when I return to the border of Poipet to re-enter thailand, will Thailand let me in on a passport with a tourist visa but expiring in 5 months.

 

2nd Scenario: Leave Thailand on the 30th and try to get a on arrival visa in Cambodia. stay a few days in Cambodia then return to Thailand with a 15 days overland stamp to give myself enough time so that I can pickup my new passport at my embassy. Questions: same as above

 

3rd Scenarion: Wait until my new passport arrives. go to immigration, transfer overstay stamp to new passport. Leave Thailand (Vientiane, Pnompenh) pay overstay fine then get a tourist visa in either one of these embassies.

Questions: Will having an overstay stamp of e.g 10 days affect me getting a visa for Thailand again?

 

What is the best scenario or do you have any other recommendations based on your experience. Note my current passport does not have any tourist visa stamps other then 1 year of ED visa which expired.

 

Hope to get some good answers.

 

Regards

 

 

 

[Upnotover]

I am pretty sure Cambodia need 6 months validity on your passport on entry so that would not seem to be an option.  Hong Kong might be a better idea as they don't require passport validity longer than your intended stay.

[anonymousz]

Ok given the fact that I will get a visa in HK...returning to Thailand will i get 30 days on the same passport?

[JackThompson]

Given Thailand has the 6-mo rule, perhaps a better question would be: where can you go with your existing validity, apply for a new passport there, receive it, obtain a Thai Tourist Visa, and return? 

 

I realize Hong Kong would be an expensive option for this, though I would do it to avoid an overstay - especially an overstay in your brand-new passport (ouch).  Maybe others know of another choice.

[anonymousz]

I have already applied for the passport and paid, its been rejected the first time therefore the problem. it should arrive early December. I just need to decide whether I should wait and overstay or leave and return with the old passport. If i can return to Thailand from HK and get a 30 days stamp that would be an option. I have heard of instances where people received visas when arriving in Thailand with passports valid less then 6 months

[elviajero]

• Don't overtstay. If you get caught you could be prosecuted and banned.
• You won't get a tourist visa anywhere unless you've got 6 months left on your passport.
• As advised, fly to a country that doesn't have a 6 month rule for entry to the country.
• On return you'll get another 30 day visa exempt entry that, if needed, can be extended by 30 days.
• Once you get your new passport you can go out again for a new visa.

[anonymousz]

4 minutes ago, elviajero said:

• Don't overtstay. If you get caught you could be prosecuted and banned.
• You won't get a tourist visa anywhere unless you've got 6 months left on your passport.
• As advised, fly to a country that doesn't have a 6 month rule for entry to the country.
• On return you'll get another 30 day visa exempt entry that, if needed, can be extended by 30 days.
• Once you get your new passport you can go out again for a new visa.

 

If i fly to HK and return to Thailand will I get a visa on my passport even its valid only 5 months? "

• On return you'll get another 30 day visa exempt entry that, if needed, can be extended by 30 days." The 6month rule doesn't apply when returning to Thailand?
  

[elviajero]

44 minutes ago, anonymousz said:

 

If i fly to HK and return to Thailand will I get a visa on my passport even its valid only 5 months? "

• On return you'll get another 30 day visa exempt entry that, if needed, can be extended by 30 days." The 6month rule doesn't apply when returning to Thailand?

Yes, but it's not a visa. You only need a passport valid for the permission to stay being given when entering Thailand. 30 days in your case.

[anonymousz]

2 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Yes, but it's not a visa. You only need a passport valid for the permission to stay being given when entering Thailand. 30 days in your case.

 

can you confirm this 100%? on some embassy websites I see that even for the 30 day exempt there must be a validity for 6 months

[HooHaa]

1 hour ago, JackThompson said:

Given Thailand has the 6-mo rule, perhaps a better question would be: where can you go with your existing validity, apply for a new passport there, receive it, obtain a Thai Tourist Visa, and return? 

 

I realize Hong Kong would be an expensive option for this, though I would do it to avoid an overstay - especially an overstay in your brand-new passport (ouch).  Maybe others know of another choice.

 

Thailand does not have the 6 month rule. You should resist the urge to give advice when you have vey little knowledge to back it up.

[anonymousz]

Ok thanx a lot i am looking now at both options. Flying to HK and return with 30 days visa exempt. But i am still considering the possibility of waiting for my new passport as my embassy advised me. They said it would arrive early december. so that would mean approx 7 days of overstay. Then I would need to transfer the overstay stamp to the new empty passport and leave the country to get another visa. Would that be a problem to have 7 days of overstay in a new passport? My embassy advised me to wait even on overstay for 7 days

[elviajero]

35 minutes ago, anonymousz said:

 

can you confirm this 100%? on some embassy websites I see that even for the 30 day exempt there must be a validity for 6 months

I can 100% confirm it. You need 6 months remaining to get a visa, but you don't need 6 months when entering the country. The information on embassy websites is not always current or correct. I can't, however, link you to anything official to confirm what I am saying.

[elviajero]

Just now, anonymousz said:

Ok thanx a lot i am looking now at both options. Flying to HK and return with 30 days visa exempt. But i am still considering the possibility of waiting for my new passport as my embassy advised me. They said it would arrive early december. so that would mean approx 7 days of overstay. Then I would need to transfer the overstay stamp to the new empty passport and leave the country to get another visa. Would that be a problem to have 7 days of overstay in a new passport?

Yes it could be a problem, and you should avoid immigration offices when on overstay.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Suggest you dig through this www site from IATA, the International Air Transport Association, and find the paragraph that explains the passport validity rule for Thailand.

 

http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/TH-Thailand-passport-visa-health-travel-document-requirements.htm

 

This is where it should say that the passport must be valid for the proposed period of stay in Thailand, which could well be less than 6 months.

 

If/when you find it, print it out.  You may need to show it to your airline, might even have to show it to Thai Immigration when you arrive back here.  Do hope they've also heard of this rule.

 

And, please post the IATA paragraph here and the url so others may see it.

 

Mac

[BritTim]

As mentioned, one cast iron solution is an in/out by air to Hong Kong. Luckily, Hong Kong flights are relatively cheap right now. Another option would be to get an emergency travel document from your embassy (usually takes only a day or two) allowing you to make a border hop to Laos with assurance that the Lao authorities will not give you a problem with the 5 month passport validity.

 

As a practical matter, although the rules for both Cambodia and Laos stipulate minimum 6 month validity, at land borders this is often overlooked. At Cambodia border posts, a small donation can often help obscure their eyesight (but avoid Poi Pet). If you are a bit of a gambler, you could try.

 

As others advise, avoid overstay stamps. They may not be an immediate problem, but they can be used against you in the future if you get into another immigration pickle.

[basatop]

Another country for you to go is:Japan - they want only "valid passport"(even 1 day is OK) which may give you more time.There are quite a few countries with 3 months requirement.If you are from US - in Turkey you have same as in Japan:valid passport.In your place - I would listen to your embassy advice and wait till december - it is very near.Then ask here our knowledgable friends - which border point to use fot your nxt move.

CHEERS!

[buick]

could you request that your new passport be sent to your embassy in HK, fly there and wait to pick it up?  you could get a visa at the thai embassy once you get the new passport.  a more costly approach but seems like an option.

[JackThompson]

10 hours ago, HooHaa said:

 

Thailand does not have the 6 month rule. You should resist the urge to give advice when you have vey little knowledge to back it up.

 

Try putting [ thailand entry passport validity ] into a google search and find info from sources like the US Dept of State:

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/thailand.html

 

Quote

 

If you are a U.S. citizen tourist staying in Thailand for fewer than 30 days, you do not require a visa to enter the country, but your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your entry into Thailand.

 

 

There are dozens of similar sources all saying the same thing.  Granted, there is lots of misinformation out there.  Maybe someone can link to something authoritative which says this rule is not the case? 

 

I agree with others that overstay should be avoided.

 

[ubonjoe]

19 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Maybe someone can link to something authoritative which says this rule is not the case? 

It depends upon which country you are from. For most visa exempt countries it is for the length of stay while for others it is 6 months.

The following is from the IATA  "Timaticweb" obtained by entering the needed info here. https://www.klm.com/travel/kz_en/prepare_for_travel/travel_planning/travel_clinic/visaform.htm

 

Quote

National USA (US)               /Embarkation USA (US)
Destination Thailand (TH)       


 Thailand (TH)



Passport required.
- Passports issued to nationals of USA must be valid for the

  period of intended stay.

 

[anonymousz]

 This morning I went to airport immigration. They told me that I would not be allowed to enter Thailand again on a passport valid less then 6 months. They recommended me to overstay and get someone to pickup my passport at the embassy. then after getting the new passport i could pay overstay fine at border and re-enter with a new tourist visa on new passport

[BritTim]

21 minutes ago, anonymousz said:

 This morning I went to airport immigration. They told me that I would not be allowed to enter Thailand again on a passport valid less then 6 months. They recommended me to overstay and get someone to pickup my passport at the embassy. then after getting the new passport i could pay overstay fine at border and re-enter with a new tourist visa on new passport

 

What is your nationality? As @ubonjoe stated, the passport only needs to be valid for the duration of the intended stay for most nationalities entitled to visa exempt entry. This has been confirmed many times, and the IATA database is a reliable reference.

 

Unfortunately, there is a lot of incorrect information about Thai immigration rules online, and it is not helped by the fact that many of the officials at Thai consulates do not know the rules either.

[anonymousz]

Today i asked at the airport immigration office..i explained them my situation and they said...its not possible. my nationality is Greek. Then i also went to air asia both and they said the same. they cant issue a ticket for me as i will not be allowed to re-enter thailand

[ubonjoe]

36 minutes ago, anonymousz said:

Today i asked at the airport immigration office..i explained them my situation and they said...its not possible. my nationality is Greek. Then i also went to air asia both and they said the same. they cant issue a ticket for me as i will not be allowed to re-enter thailand

If that was the regular immigration office near the airport that shoud not be considered definitive info.

Air Asia is not a member of the IATA and has it written in their terms and conditions that you must have 6 months remaining on your passport. Some people have convinced them to allow boarding of a flight by showing them the IATA info I posted earlier about passport validity.

[anonymousz]

It was the immigration inside chiang mai airport...thanx a lot guys...i will consider my options and get back to you

[BWPattaya]

I am aware that you are not British so this may or may not apply to you. When a UK citizen applies for a new passport the expiring one is cancelled so it cannot be used. You have to wait for new passport to arrive. 

[Cyama]

Any chance that you could request extension of your current passport validity from your embassy? 

[anonymousz]

47 minutes ago, Cyama said:

Any chance that you could request extension of your current passport validity from your embassy? 

Not possible.

[stewsan]

I had a similar situation. I went to Vietnam for a month and completely forgot to pick up my passport in Bkk. I called the embassy and they said they would send it to HCMC. I gave them my phone number in VN and they called a week later and said my passport was here in hcmc. 

 

When  I left back to Thailand, the immigration officer at the HCMC airport gave me a slight hassle but then he found a special "note" folded up in the passport and all was ok. 

 

I entered Thailand using my one year visa in my old passport and told to go to immigration and have it switched. 

 

Good luck!

 

[bangon04]

4 hours ago, BWPattaya said:

I am aware that you are not British so this may or may not apply to you. When a UK citizen applies for a new passport the expiring one is cancelled so it cannot be used. You have to wait for new passport to arrive. 

Almost true, but in fact a UK passport holder is allowed to hold up to 3 valid UK passports at the same time IF he/she can show good cause. Therefore it is easy for a business traveller to renew one while using the other.

[sandyf]

On 11/21/2016 at 9:46 PM, bangon04 said:

Almost true, but in fact a UK passport holder is allowed to hold up to 3 valid UK passports at the same time IF he/she can show good cause. Therefore it is easy for a business traveller to renew one while using the other.

That would only apply if an application has been made for an additional passport. If the application is for a replacement passport then the existing passport is cancelled when a new passport number is raised in your name.

The UK passport is issued as a passport of the European Union and I would suspect the procedure is common to all European passports.

The OP would be well advised to listen to his embassy otherwise he may become trapped in another country with an invalid passport.