Foreign nationals who visit Thailand or wish to stay there temporarily or permanently will have to apply for a Thailand Visa. Thai Visas are issued for single or multiple entries purpose, usually for a period of 30 days to 1 year. You are not allowed to re-enter Thailand if you leave the country with a single-entry visa, even if you have not exhausted the number of days you were issued. This is the reason why you need a Thailand Re-Entry Permit.
The Re-Entry Permit for Thailand allows visa-holders who were issued a single-entry visa to leave the country and be able to re-enter without the visa becoming invalid. If you do not get get one before you leaving Thailand, you will have to re-apply for a new visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad before allowed to enter the country again.
Who Needs a Re-Entry Permit for Thailand?
Holders of a Single-Entry Visa who wants to leave and re-enter Thailand will need a Re-Entry Permit. You can get one for both Tourist Visas and Non-Immigrant Visas. Hence, if you are living in Thailand long-term (as a student or a worker) and want to go in and out the country without losing your visa and the need to re-applying for it, are advised to get a Re-Entry Permit.
Note: The duration issued with the re-entry permit is same as the one issued with your visa. That means if you are granted 60 days of stay with your visa and have used 20 days, even if you have been issued a Re-Entry Permit, you will only be allowed to stay for 40 days.
Who Is Not Eligible for a Thailand Re-Entry Permit?
No Re-Entry Permit is needed if you are with one of the following situations:
- Holder of a Thailand Visa On Arrival, of which allows you to stay for a maximum 15 days and non-extendable.
- Holder of a Thailand Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa or Multiple-Entry Non-Immigrant Visa. In which case you can leave and re-enter Thailand multiple times for the duration your visa is issued.
- From a country whose nationals are exempted from a Thailand Tourist Visa.
How Many Types of Re-Entry Permits for Thailand Are There?
There are 2 types of Thai Re-Entry Permits in Thailand:
- Single Re-Entry Permit, which is valid for a 1-time use for you to leave and enter the country for once..
- Multiple Re-Entry Permit with the permission to leave and enter the country multiple times for the duration that your original visa is issued.
What Documents Do You Need for a Re-Entry Permit for Thailand?
You will need these supporting documents for the Re-Entry Permit application in Thailand:
- Your passport with the visa stamp stipulated at the time you entered Thailand
- Photocopies of the following pages on your passport, e.g.:
- The personal information page
- The page showing issue/expiry date
- Any amendments to the personal data (if applicable)
- The page showing your hidden legal name
- Stamp of the latest entry in Thailand
- Extension of Stay stamp (if applicable)
- An image of yourself, taken within the last 6 months (dimensions: 4 x 6 cm).
- Re-Entry Permit Form TM. 8, to be downloaded from the website of the Immigration Department of Thailand.
- Arrival/Departure Card in Thailand (TM. 6) plus a copy of it.
- Any other documents that the official may think fit.
How to Apply for a Thailand Re-Entry Permit?
You can apply for a Re Entry Permit for Thailand from an Immigration Office at your local place in Thailand before your trip or at an international airport on the day of your trip.
Applying for a Thailand Re-Entry Permit at a local Immigration Office
You can apply for a Re-Entry Permit from a local Thai Immigration Office a couple of days before your trip if you know the exact day you leave. Check the opening hours of the local Immigration Office in your location and bring the required documents with you to the counter.
The process will take from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the number of people waiting in line. The Re-entry Permit will be attached to your passport once issued.
Applying for a Thailand Re-Entry Permit at an international airport
If you need to travel shortly, you can apply for a Re-Entry Permit at an international airport in Thailand on the day you travel. You can apply so from one of the Re-Entry Permit counters in the airport before you go through the customer.
The process will take from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the number of people waiting in line, so you should spare enough time before your flight.
The Re-entry Permit will be attached to your passport once issued.
Note: If you will live in Thailand long-term (e.g. holder of a Work Permit or a Non-Immigrant Visa for being an international student), you should get a 1 year Thai Visa Extension before applying for a Re-Entry Permit.
How Much Is a Thailand Re-Entry Permit?
Depending on whether you’re applying for a single-entry permit or a multiple one, the cost of a Thai Re-Entry Permit will be different:
- Single-Entry Thailand Re-Entry Permit: 1,000 Thai Baht
- Multiple-Entry Thailand Re-Entry Permit: 3,800 Thai Baht