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How to Get a Thai Passport in Bangkok: Process, Pricing, Delivery

If you, your partner or friend needs to get a Thai passport in Bangkok, here's the scoop.

My wife needed a renewal and I decided it was worth going along to see how the service matched up to the UK. Apologies in advance for a couple of the poor-quality pictures — a mixture of poor light and a bad phone.

We took a cab to Chaeng Wattana Government complex, which is the main place to get passports in Bangkok.

You can also get a passport done at Klong Toey MRT station, in one of what the government describe as “pop-up” passport offices.

The new office is in the Metro Mall area of the station, with 20 booths able to serve about 800 people a day. It is open Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 3.30

Our trip was to Chaeng Wattana , so I'll document the experience going there.

chaeng-wattana-passport-office

How We Got There

The journey cost us 125 Baht, including the toll way payment, and took 15-20 minutes from the Huay Kwang area.  In busy traffic allow an hour.

We got there at around 11 am, though I'd recommend getting there around 9 am if you want to be in and out sharply.

The entrance is on the main road of Chaeng Wattana . You can literally stop right outside.

You can't miss it; it has a big water feature outside. See the picture below.

When you to the front door, go in and straight up the escalator to the second floor.

Bypass all the translation/visa touts that try to sell you their services. You're there for a Thai passport, so you won't need anything they have to sell; though you might want to visit the coffee shop or canteen when you have finished.

What Documents You Need to Get a Thai Passport

  • Thai citizen I.D. card.
  • Tabien Baan.
  • Two passport photos.
  • Details of your current address.
  • If you're getting a Thai passport for a child and you are a foreign national, then your Thai partner must be present too.
  • If you are a foreign national and need to get a passport for your Thai child, take your passport along to show too.
  • Take photocopies of all documents with you. It's always handy to have, just in case they ask to keep a copy.

Note: There is a copy shop there.

If you need it, do a right at the top of the escalator (same floor). Walk straight and turn the corner. You should see a nice lady boasting a 1980s-style copy machine.

So, hang a right at the top of the escalator and join the queue for the ticket window. Show your ID card, get a ticket and take a seat. Well, not you, but your Thai wife, girlfriend, friend, whatever.

To my horror, we were given number 982. The screen was showing 763!

“Holy crap”, we'll be here all day. Let's get a coffee” (any excuse).

There's two coffee shops on the ground floor and a big restaurant with reasonable food options. Very handy. We spent 30 minutes downstairs having food and drinks and went back to join the queue.

To our surprise the screen was showing number 910 already!

That's a warning for you. Don't wander off and miss your spot. It moves fast. You'll soon see why when you're inside. It's a super-efficient setup with multiple officers processing passports.

I whipped out my laptop and starting tinkering on some work as the queue quickly filtered down.

Within 20 minutes my wife had gone in to get her passport. She was out within 15 minutes!

Since first writing this post we've been back to get a Thai passport for my daughter at the Chaeng Wattana government complex.

It was an even faster experience than the time we went for my wife. They've upgraded the passport centre with lots more booths and the processing time is now faster. We were done in 30 minutes and the whole experience was a walk in the park.

thailand-passport

The 3-Step Process Inside the Passport Booth

It's pretty straight forward, so don't worry. It's all high-tech now: nice and private and way quicker than the UK, that's for sure.

There's basically 3 steps:

Step 1: For those getting an e-passport, a member of staff measures your height and takes your biometric data by picture and fingerprint. You'll have to have your right and left index fingers done separately, twice, using a scanner too. For standard passports it's the usual spell your name, give in your passport photo, etc.

Step 2: You then verify and sign to certify your information.

Step 3: You then apply for the postage service.

Passport Cost & Delivery/Pick Up

The cost was 1,000 Baht, and 60 Baht to post to our home within 4-6 days. Note that you pay afterwards at a separate counter on your way out. You'll be directed there once the process is complete.

You can pick up your passport within 2 days if you don't mind going back there, but there are some specific rules to be aware of, particularly if you are having someone else pick it up on your behalf.

  1. If in Bangkok you can pick-up your passport 2 working days after the application date.
  2. If you order an e-passport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up an automatic gate simulation at the Chaeng Wattana building so you can practice using it on an automated machine.
  3. Applicants outside of Bangkok are required to apply for postage service which will take 5 – 7 working days for passport to be mailed through EMS.

*To pick-up a passport, you must bring your notification of passport pick-up together with your I.D card.

If you can't go in person you can designate a representative. The representative must bring:

  • The notification of the passport pick-up date
  • The I.D card of the applicant and the representative
  • a certified copy of the representative’s I.D.card
  • Foreign nationals can't collect the passport of a Thai national

It really is an extremely efficient service. The entire process took one hour, tops.

It's comfortable there, there's food, coffee, TV, plenty of toilets and photocopying facilities, and even a nice mural to look at if you walk straight at the top of the escalator.

Taxis stop regularly outside so you'll have no trouble getting home.  I'm not sure what the nearest BTS/MRT station is but it's not close.

Thai Passport Office Address

Option 1:

Chaeng Watthana, 13 Yaek 3-2-15,
แขวง ทุ่งสองห้อง เขต หลักสี่
Bangkok, 10210

Option 2:

Klong Toey MRT Station
ถนน พระรามที่ 4 คลองเตย
Bangkok, 10110

You can reserve an appointment for the Klong Toey office on the government website by clicking here.



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  1. Shanti says

    I would to know if I am able to obtain a Thai passport, my dad has recently died and he was full Thai my mum is full Australian an i will need to travel back and forth to deal with the family land my question is can I apply for a Thai passport ? And what will I need to do?
    Reply

  2. Herman says

    Hi, great website! Lots of very useful info. You made me discover the transferwise service and i used it a lot and saved lots of money. Thank you.

    I need a Thai passport for my 16 months daughter.
    She doesn't have a Thai ID card. She is registered on the Tabien baan.

    The Thai mother is going to go to Korat to apply for a passport for our daughter, she has the correct Tabien baan.
    I am in Belgium so cannot go to Korat with them...
    I read in the comments i might need to give a certification letter, would a little letter and a scan of my passport be enough or do i need some official document?

    Any feedback greatly appreciated.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      hi Robert, looking at the requirements any person under 20 years old needs to have both parents there. Your son will also need to have his Thai ID card. Here are the requirements I'm looking at the website:Applicant is required to come in person. For applicants under 20 years old, both of parents are required to attend the Embassy with the applicant. Applicants who have travelled to UK on Tourist Visas cannot apply for an E- passport. In this case, please contact Royal Thai Embassy for the Certificate of Identity. Processing time is about 4 - 6 weeks. The fee is £25 in cash only. Thai nationals must bring his/her Thai Identity card to submit the passport application.
      Reply

    • John West says

      Hi Think found out a fair bit before but just want to clarify.
      My wife's Son's 2 Daughters are aged at present 12 and 11 years old and believe they have to have passports in their own names and they will be applying for their first Thai passports.
      Is this also dealt with at Chaeng Watthana also and the Daughters name under the Son's surname.
      What is the procdure when they live with the Grandmother who is the Son's Mother and the same surname.
      What requirementsare needed for them please.
      thank you all
      John West
      Reply

      • TheThailandLife says

        The requirements are not different. The children will need to go with their parents to get their passports, which will be under their legal name. Both mother and father will need to be present, or if only one parent can attend the other needs to sign a declaration form, or one parent can attend to apply for the passports and then the other parent can pick them up.If the grandmother is the sole legal guardian, then she can apply for the children to have passports. But if they are simply staying with her and she is not the legal guardian, then the parents will have to be involved in the process.
        Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Clive, yes you can obtain a passport before the expiry of the current one. Just go along with the relevant paperwork as stipulated in the post, and you can pick up a passport after two days, or have it posted to you and it will arrive within 4 to 6 days.
      Reply

  6. Simon Day says

    Hi, great site ,
    Can you please help me? I have a Thai fiancee who has two children. She has to go her local district office to get documents to say the children are free to travel and get a passport. She went in early January 2018 but has to go back. Now it's March she still has not gone back with many excuses. She needs two witnesses. Now I worry she going slow only wanting monthly support or another problem I not know about. Does anyone know how difficult it is to get these documents. Personally I think it's just procedural and if your keen you'd get it done.
    Thannks in advance,
    Simon
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      The issue may be with consent from her former husband/partner. He would need to A) go with her to consent to the children having passports, or B) sign a consent form that she takes with her to apply. Or C) she applies, then he collects the passports and signs consent, or vice versa.It may be that your fiancee simply doesn't understand the rules around getting the passports, or has been mis-advised by her local district office. The district office is not where the passports are issued. She can do it in Bangkok if she lives there, or there may be one closer to her hometown.
      Reply

  9. Richard Yu says

    Good Afternoon Sir,
    i would be most grateful if my question is of your knowledge to answer. my wife want to renew her passport at cheang wattana which can be collected personally withing 2 days but what if she collect her passport after 5 days ?Is she allow to do so? her plan is to fly back to her hometown after applying her passport and stay at her hometown for 4-5 days and returning to bangkok. to clear the doubt of whether the postal service will keep up with her schedule, she rather chose to collect it herself in bangkok. your reply is most appreciated. thank you
    Reply

  10. T.Doyle says

    Im standing in line with my wife in Udon Thani immigration to renew her passport we got here early so we could get in and out quick BUT W.T.F this is a joke 500 tickets a day and its taken for ever to do 20 people at a time. Don't recommend Udon for a renewal.
    Reply

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