You are here: Home / Bangkok Living / How to Get a Thai Passport in Bangkok: Process, Pricing, Delivery

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.



Last Updated on

Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Peter says

    I am a Canadian married with Thai wife back year 2001 in Pak Chong, Nikon Ratchsima, our child was born in Bangkok.

    Now we officially divorced since 2012, and our kid is living with me since I have full custody. I want to help my kid to get Thai citizenship certificate years ago, but my ex-wife never help to do. So how could I help my kid fir the process, and where is the office I should apply for, and what kind documentI have to provide beside of the birth certificate?
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      You will need your wife's help. The law states that to get a passport both mother and father 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 passport and then the other parent can pick it up. You could try contacting the Canadian Embassy in and explaining that you are not in touch with the mother and see what they advise. If it isn't possible then you may need the help of a lawyer.
      Reply

  2. Marley Flattley says

    Hi My name is Marley I am from Malta and my wife is from Colombia and we are living and working in Bangkok and we recently had a baby girl. I was wondering is there a way to get her a Thai passport ? and what documents do I require.
    Thank you for your help
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      No you can't. Unless at least one parent is Thai, or one has permanent residence, a child born in Thailand has no claim to Thai citizenship. The Thai Birth Certificate arranged by the hospital will have put something on the birth certificate that reflects your daughter's status.
      Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      I don't know if this is currently available, but I would assume you'd need to be seen before 9.30am to get the expedited service. This is the case with the freedom to marry document legalisation, so I assume it would be similar.
      Reply

  6. Mr.Jarum says

    hello I would like to know how to get the thailand passport and of course I become thai citizen already that why please share it to me how can I get this passport....and also I am from mae hong song .... looking from hear some thing new to me here thanks....
    Reply

  7. Anon P says

    Hi, I am 18 and wanting to make a Thai passport. I know all the rules of having to have both parents with me to sign the papers. However, the only parent that is in Thailand is my dad because my parents are divorced and my mother is in NZ. Is it possible for just one parent to sign the forms since parents are divorced or will both have to sign either way?
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      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.Here are the requirements for those under 20 with divorced parents...For applicants who are under 20 years old and his or her parents are divorced:- Current passport - A photocopy of Thai House Registration or Thai Identity Card bearing 13-digit number - A photocopy of Thai Birth Certificate - A photocopy of Divorce Certificate - A photocopy of Child Custody Document - A photocopy of Parents’ Valid Passports - A photocopy of Parents’ Thai House Registration or Parents’ Thai Identity Cards
      Reply

  8. Mats says

    Hi Robert,
    I'm currently living in China. How do my Thai wife get our 3 year old son his first passport to come visit me here in China. Do i have to write a letter of consent for my wife since my name is on the birth certificate.

    Regards Mats
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      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.
      Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Thanks for your email on this, Clive. I didn't know this was happening but it does seem like a good opportunity for those in this province to get a passports done. Please comment back and let us know how your wife got on.
      Reply

    • David says

      I am told that this is true and was shown a photo of a sign in Prachuap with those dates and normal government office hours. The office IS open on Saturday and Sunday also.

      This took place in Hua Hin last year and there were signs on the roads all over town. This year it has moved to Prachuap town.

      We are going down on either Friday or Saturday.
      Reply

      • Clive Evans says

        David - I travelled down from Pranburi today and here is what I sent to Peter - he We have been to renew my wife's Thai passport today. We got to the Tourist Office in Prachuapkhirikhan (next to City Hall) around 0745 and were able to enter the second floor entrance straight away. Plenty of parking space across the road behind the City Hall plus a little place to eat if you need it.

        My wife and our 2 Thai friends were given applications forms requiring Thai name plus Anglicised version for passport (as per ID card), address, telephone number and the names of any persons who would act as contacts (in our case her husband (me) and her son)

        Once the form was completed they were let inside for the processing of the form and biometric data

        We were out by 0830 with receipts and payment of 1,000 baht for passport and 40 baht for EMS postage of the passport. It might be useful for the respondent who is going at the weekend to know that it is possible to get in earlier than the advertised 0830 and thus beat the weekend crowds.asked that I reply direct to you
        Reply

  10. Laf says

    Hi my mother is a thai national and my father is British but we live in the uk. I am 27 years old and would like a thai passport how do I go about trying to get one as I am half. Do you have to serve in the thai army or is that a myth? I go to Thailand in August 2018
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      You should be able to get your passport from the Thai embassy in London. Contact them for the requirements, though most of the Thai embassies around the world appear to have the same rules: and that is they will give you your first Thai passport without having an ID card, but to be issued a second one, or renew that one, you will need to have a Thai ID card.Technically you are eligible for the military service, however, you need to be registered on a house document in Thailand to be called up, because that is how the military do the drafting - through the inspection of a Tabien Baan (house registration document). Also consider that most half-Thai males tend to get out of doing military service through a doctor's note or some other way. If you are living in the UK then you certainly will not get a call up, and I wouldn't worry about being drafted if you visit Thailand for a holiday, particularly if you are not registered on a house document there. In any event that you were to be drafted, I'm sure some palm greasing would ensure safe passage out of it.
      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

FOLLOW ME

Search TTL

Copyright © TheThailandLife.com 2024
No content on this site may be copied without written consent.

Send this to a friend