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The Thai Visa Re-Entry Permit Guide

For those who have decided to make Thailand their long-term (or semi-long-term) home, there’s always the issue of balancing your visa type with the frequency you’d like to leave the Kingdom.

And while it’s not the most exciting topic, I know that the visa re-entry question can cause plenty of confusion.

To simplify your re-entry permit process for easy travel in and out of Thailand, I’ve compiled this helpful guide that will help you determine if, when, and how you should apply for a re-entry permit in the near future.

Is the clock ticking on your time in Thailand? Read on.

thai visa re-entry permit

What Is a Re-Entry Permit?

If you’ve made the move to stay in Thailand for an extended period of time, you’ve likely already gone through a lengthy process to obtain a visa of one kind or another.

And, as you probably know, entering and exiting the Kingdom without the proper measures in place may invalidate your current visa, leading to a lot of headaches, paperwork, and payments at border control.

Fortunately, a Thai re-entry permit, stamped on your valid visa, allows holders to travel in and out of Thailand without jeopardizing the validity of their current visa.

Note that if you need a re-entry permit and do not get one, your visa will no longer be valid.

Who Needs a Permit?

Because the Thai immigration process is a bit convoluted, the re-entry permit eligibility is as well.

If you are a tourist and the holder of a Single Entry Tourist Visa or a Single Entry Non-Immigrant Visa, you require a permit.

If you have gone from a Non Immigrant O Visa to an extension based on marriage, which permits you to stay in Thailand for a year without leaving and requires 90-day reporting, then you will need a re-entry permit when you leave the country to ensure the extension remains valid.

If you are on a retirement visa extension, you will need a re-entry permit to leave and return while keeping your extension valid.

If any of the above apply to you, you can obtain a re-entry permit and simplify your travel in and out of the kingdom.

Who Doesn’t Need a Permit?

You won’t need a permit if you have a Visa On Arrival or a Visa-Exempt Stamp from specific countries.

You won't need a re-entry permit if you’re in possession of a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa or a Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant Visa.

How Long Does a Re-Entry Permit Last?

The permit doesn't have an expiry date because it is linked to the validity of your visa.

Let's say you have a single entry Tourist Visa that lasts 60 days. On day 30 of your holiday in Thailand you want to go to Singapore for a few days. You would obtain a re-entry permit so that upon leaving Thailand your visa does not become invalid.

The re-entry permit doesn't freeze the visa validity at the point of exit; it simply keeps the visa alive, so to speak.

Now let's say you are enjoying yourself so much in Singapore that you decide to stay for a month. Doing so would mean that your single entry Tourist Visa (kept valid by your re-entry permit) has now expired.

In this case you would have two options. 1. Re-enter Thailand as a tourist and receive the standard 30-day exemption stamp. 2. Apply for a new Tourist Visa from a Thai Embassy.

Are There Different Types of Re-Entry Permit?

Yes. Eligible applicants can apply for either a single re-entry permit or a multiple re-entry permit, depending on their current visa status and their travel requirements.

If you obtain a single re-entry permit, be warned that you’ll be able to leave and re-enter the kingdom once with the stamp on your current visa.

Any time you need to leave the country again, you’ll have to apply for another permit, which will cost you 1,000 THB each time.

If you’re planning on leaving and returning to the Kingdom more than four times a year, a multiple re-entry permit is certainly more cost effective.

What Are the Requirements for a Re-Entry Permit?

You’ll have to go to your local immigration office or the immigration counter at an international airport in Thailand.

Be sure that you bring your boarding pass (at the airport), a 4×6 cm photo of yourself, a completed TM.8 form, photocopies of all of your documents (including your passport photo page, your current and valid visa, and your TM.6 departure slip), and cash to pay for the permit.

What Is the Cost of a Re-Entry Permit?

Those applying for a single re-entry permit must pay 1,000 THB.

Those purchasing a multiple re-entry permit will pay 3,800 THB, making it the more cost efficient option for frequent international travelers.

What Are the Benefits of a Re-Entry Permit?

Whether you’re an avid adventurer, you have an international family, or you’re chasing opportunities in neighboring countries, there are numerous benefits of a Thai re-entry permit — namely, that your visa will still be valid after you’ve left and re-entered the country.

Tourists will find this especially helpful as the re-entry permit allows them more flexibility than their original visa may have offered.

Those teachers, students, and retired expats who are looking to travel or pursue opportunities in different places will now have the opportunity to do so easily.

And finally, the re-entry permit is a fantastic resource for emergencies. If you need to leave the Kingdom quickly to deal with an issue, but don’t have the time to pack up your entire life and leave suddenly, a re-entry permit is invaluable.

Those who have gone through the hassle of applying for a visa will know that any stamp allowing them to escape a voided visa is a great option.

Where Do I Apply for a Re-Entry Permit?

If possible, prepare your application for a re-entry permit ahead of your trip!

You can apply at one of Thailand’s many immigration offices:

Bangkok

Bangkok’s Division 1 Immigration Office in Chaengwatthana is open to those seeking permits Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Here's a map to help you get to the office:

Chiang Mai

Those based in Thailand’s northern city of Chiang Mai should venture to Promenada Mall for their permit; the location is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Here's a map to help you get to the office:

Phuket

Those living in the tropical paradise of Phuket should head to the main immigration department in Phuket Town, which is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Here's a map to help you get to the office:

Can’t make it to one of the major cities?

Don’t worry: there are plenty of Thai immigration offices in airports across the Kingdom. You can use this map to find your local department.

Tips for Getting Your Re-Entry Permit at an Airport

As mentioned above, you can also apply at one of Thailand’s many international airports.

But be forewarned: when applying at an airport, you must be flying out of the kingdom on the same day that you apply for a re-entry permit. So get to the airport in plenty of time.

At Bangkok’s Survarnabhumi Airport, you’ll need to arrive at least three hours early — going through immigration could take as long as 45 minutes.

Head to the immigration section of the departure halls; the booth is open 24 hours a day.

Because this is a last-minute process, you may have an additional administrative fee tacked onto your permit charge. Expect to pay at least 200 THB more.

You’ll have an easier time at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport, where processing a re-entry permit may take as little as 10 minutes. You can find the immigration counter after the passport control station — it’s also open 24 hours a day.

If you’re heading out of Thailand’s Jewel of the North, you can get your re-entry permit at Chiang Mai International Airport, in the international departure zone.

For those departing from Phuket: there has been a lot of contention as to whether or not travelers can obtain a re-entry permit from the Phuket Airport. Be safe and get it from the immigration office in Phuket Town instead.

How Long Does It Take to Process a Re-Entry Permit?

You never really know quite how long your permit processing will take, so be sure to dedicate at least a few hours to the process.

If you’re visiting your local immigration office, your permit will likely be validated between one to six hours. You may want to drop the documents off and come back at the end of your work day to avoid standing in line.

At the airport, the process will likely be much quicker, but you should also leave a substantial amount of time before your flight in the event that it isn’t.

Immigration experts recommend arriving at least three hours prior to your flight’s departure, if you’re looking to obtain a re-entry permit before flying.

You may also want to call the immigration departments of your local airport to see if they can provide any information about the wait time that day.

How Do I Use a Re-Entry Permit?

When you re-enter Thailand with the permit, make sure that the immigration officer knows you are in possession of it by either opening your passport to the re-entry stamp or by pointing to the visa.

If the immigration officer misses the stamp, your visa will be revoked and you’ll be responsible for paying the 500 THB-per-day overstay fee, so take care!

When returning to the kingdom, always write your re-entry permit number on any immigration forms or questionnaires. This will ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Now that you’ve gotten your re-entry permit, you’re free to travel in and around Southeast Asia — and beyond — without the fear that your life in Thailand will be disrupted!

Got any questions or comments about the process? Leave them in the comments below.



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  1. Aaron says

    A friend with a Thai work visa just returned from a trip outside Thailand. I just returned from a trip as well. However, I have a retirement visa. We both got single-entry permits before we left Thailand, to return. My friend says that I now need to go to immigration right away, upon returning, like she did, or I will be charged 500 baht a day... Is this correct? Please let me know right away...!
    Reply

    • Gary farmer says

      If you live in sakon Nakhon then yes as here the IO want a new TM30 from you / your house owner. I think you can't go wrong by attending your IO but bear in mind requirements differ each province and each officer interviewing you. Each time I go abroad I visit and it's a 10 minute paper exercise , cheaper than risking a fine which was only 800 baht last time I got one in Bangkok and not 500 baht a day which is for overstating.
      Reply

      • Gary farmer says

        The fine is in relation to failing to notify your presence in the province and nothing to do with the visa itself. Be aware that your 90 reporting can be messed up as well. I do mine on line and get on line reminders but if you do visit an office they will issue a new date starting from the date you arrived back in Thailand. Just a heads up I've experienced.
        Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Aaron, you need to go to immigration when your next 90 day report is due. If you had a re-entry permit this would have kept your visa valid upon re-entry. Just continue to comply with your reporting as normal. Do you know when your next report is due?
      Reply

      • Winston says

        Remember, you only have to do the 90 day reporting if you have lived in Thailand continuously for 90 days. If you leave the country between the 90 days (even if it's the 89th day), then your reporting will only be 90 days from the date you re-enter Thailand again.
        Reply

        • Gary farmer says

          The problem usually starts with the on line 90 days,system not being aware you left the country so it continues where as immigration says the 90 days restarts on arrival so the two systems give you different dates often. Add to this the TM30 TM30 required on arrival back in Thailand and it starts to get messy
          Reply

          • Winston says

            I am here 4 years and I have never ever had a problem. For the first two years I had my agency doing it for me. For the next 2 years I have been doing it myself. I have never had to keep updating my TM30. The first time I did it and they attached a paper in my passport and told me whenever I renew it I only have to show them the paper in the passport and they renew it at a cost of 60 baht. So why will I go through the hassle of doing it only. of course, if you keep changing your residence, then you have to keep providing a new TM30. So I guess it boils down to: Do you want hassles with online or hassle free doing it at the immigration. At my immigration office it literally takes me under 5 minutes. I have not even had time to fill in my form when I am called in and my form is usually only half filled. But the minute they see the paper in my passport, and it's past the due date, they check my last entry stamp and then renew and give me my next 90 days. Now luckily, I am away at the time of my due date so my 90 days begins from the time I return. I don't need to report to anyone when I return to Thailand again. I just count my 90 days from my date of entry and I go there one day before and renew it.
            Reply

  2. DG says

    I obtained extension of stay by marriage in Jan 2023. I departed Thailand late March w/ mulitple re-entry permit. It appears that I won't return to Thailand until after Jan 2024 in which the extension of stay & re-entry permit expires.

    What is best means/method/procedure to re-enter Thailand w/ expired Extension of Stay/Re-Entry permit? Re-apply for ? Apply when in Thailand or before departing for Thailand?

    I already have address and bank account with sufficient funds.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      The best way would be to apply for a Non-Immigrant O single entry visa to re-enter Thailand. After 60 days you can apply for your extension to stay. You must put the money in your Thai bank account 60 days prior to applying.
      Reply

      • DG says

        @Winston - my wife is Thai citizen, so no problem for her to enter Thailand.

        @TheThailandLife - Thanks.

        So, basically i need to re-apply, start the process over again?

        If so, my thinking is that this re-application should be simpler than the first as i & Thai Immigration Office now have all the necessary documentation, including Thai resident address and Thai bank account.

        To avoid the re-application, I should make a trip and get the extension of stay re-newed, correct?

        Thank you.
        Reply

    • Winston says

      As far as my knowledge goes, it's now not a question of your multiple entry but concern is more about your Thai spousal visa. If that validity expires after you return to Thailand, then it's no longrt valid and your entry will be just like any ordinary tourist and you will have to go through the whole process again of obtaining your Thai spousal visa. May be someone who has experienced this can shed better light on the subject of. As far as your multiple entry visa is concerned, If a multiple entry visa is issued on March 01 e.g. then it it still valid for entry any time before March 01 the following year.
      Reply

      • TheThailandLife says

        He said the re-entry permit and the visa will have expired by the time he returns. Therefore, when entering Thailand, he will be stamped in on a visitor exemption stamp for 30 days. In order to obtain another 1-year extension based on marriage he will need to get a Non O visa from his local embassy before arriving in Thailand. I believe it is also possible to get a tourist visa and then change to a spouse extension too. However, the normal route is the Non O.
        Reply

        • Winston says

          I personally just apply for a multiple entry visa at the time of my renewal. Saves all the hassles of last minute running around especially if you have to leave with not much time on hand. After all It's only 4000 baht but peace of mind. I did that even during the pandemic not knowing when the borders would reopen. It was a waste but it's ok. Just a suggestion what i do. I have to fly into Canada every 6 months to keep my Canadian Status. so that is already 2 planned trips. If i do more than 2 other trips to nearby countries then it is worth the pay. So I just get it done rather than running from pillar to post in case I find myself in a remote are and having to fly out and then risk losing my annual visa.
          Reply

          • Winston says

            A valid retirement visa means you're living here now so you can go and come as many times in the year if you have multiple entry. So you can fly to your home country on a one way ticket and return to Thailand on a one way ticket too. I hope this answers your question. I have been asked at the check in counter in Canada for my return ticket Thailand-Canada. I just show them I have a valid retiree visa and they let me go. But most times they don't ask because they check my passport and do see the visa.
            Reply

      • Martin1 says

        One more aspect - just to make it complete:
        If one has a multiple entry visa, and it is still valid (even on the last day) one does not need a re-entry permit!

        (Sure, extension of stay, single-entry visa do not apply to the forementioned.)
        Reply

        • Winston says

          As long as you enter on or before the last day mentioned on your multiple entry it should be good. (Just ensure that your retiree visa or any other visa you have is still valid). But to be safe I would always enter just a day before because you never know how the person at the immigration will view it. Like I travelled to the Philippines last year and returned and all was good. A month later I travelled to Canada and returned. Then again I wanted to take another visit out of Thailand and on checking my passport found that the multiple entry was stamped as 'used'. I was horrified. True the stamp showing 'multiple' was not very clear at first sight. But the first time returning from Philippines, the immigration would have still seen it but on my second return she must have been in a hurry and stamped it as 'used'. However, my agent fixed that and got the multiple entry stamp reissued at no cost to me. So anything can happy at the Thai immgraton.
          Reply

  4. Nora says

    Hi
    Thanks for your great tips.
    I have a question relating to a re-entry permit. Currently, I am in Thailand and I am holding a Non-B visa which is valid until March 14 with a working permit. I need to go to Singapore on March 4 and I will return to Thailand on March 7.
    My concern is that my visa has only 7 days left when I re-enter Thailand. Some says that my visa must have at least a month when I re-enter Thailand to keep the validity of my current Non-B visa. Otherwise, my current visa will be invalid and I need to enter again with a Tourist Visa. I don't want to lose the validity of my current visa.
    My questions are that
    Will my current visa be invalid when I re-enter Thailand with visa which has only 7 days left?
    Do I need to enter again with a Tourist Visa?
    Can I change Non-B Visa from visa on arrival?
    Thank you so much in advance for your advice.
    Reply

  5. JEAN says

    Hello,
    I have a question about the re-entry permit:
    I have a one year retired 0 visa. (will expire in 2023/03)
    Actually I am in France and will come back on 14/02
    Last time, before leaving Thailand, I paid for a re-entry permit.
    I said I was coming back 2 months later, but I had to stay 4 months... and the date of re-entry is perimated. What will happen when I return to immigration? Thank you for your reply.
    Reply

    • Gary farmer says

      Hi Jean,
      Your reentry permit usually lasts a year from date of issue or until your Non Imm O visa expires if before one year. If your Visa is valid until march and you are returning in February I dont see a problem going by the information you have supplied. Personally I would return and apply to obtain a new o visa at the same time you attend immigration. You will be within the 45 days of the old one expiring and will have a new TM6 so they can issue a new one and record change of TM 6 ready for future on line 90 day reporting so it's a win for you as long as you have the resources to cover the new application ( bank deposits etc) . But that's just my view from experience.
      Reply

  6. Mae says

    Hello, thank you for this helpful article.
    I am working in Thailand and need to review my visa, which expires in Dec 31, annually. This also means my re-entry visa expires on Dec 31. And the visa renewal outcome will be around Jan 3. If I need to travel out of the country in Dec and return mid-Jan, what is the best way around the 31 Dec expiration date?
    Reply

    • Martin1 says

      Hello Mae,

      That is a very special case! A) Technically speaking it is not a "visa" but an extension of stay. B) You can always enter the kingdom (if you are not banned) on a tourist visa, and change the visa type subsequently. Some immigration officers might tell you that you would have to leave the kingdom for that, but which is rubbish. C) If you don't enter on a tourist visa, you would have apply for your (B?) visa in a country abroad again.

      In your case I strongly advise to get your papers right (extension of stay and re-entry permit), and to postpone your trip until this has been accomplished.
      Reply

      • Ilham says

        Hi, thanks for the info. Its very useful. I just want to make sure about a single re entry permit. I heard before that you can only apply for a single re entry permit one time. So if you plan to fly out of thailand for the second time, your long term visa will be void. Can you confirm?
        Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Your passport must have at least 6 month's validity remaining from your date of entry into Thailand. When you get a new passport, having left the country, keep hold of the old one with the visa and re-entry stamp inside for when you return. You can then explain at immigration. They may stamp you in on the old passport or the new one, but will most likely tell you to go to an immigration office to get the visa updated into the new passport. In short, just hand on to it.
      Reply

  8. Jay says

    Hi, I’m heading to Thailand on October 13th, where I’m staying for 12 days, then I’m looking at flying to Cambodia for 5 days, then back to Thailand for another 16. Will I be alright doing the first 12, then leaving, and then coming back in for the 16? Or will there be any issue with that? Basically, my total travel will be 33 days, with the first 12 in Thailand, then 5 in Cambodia, and then back to Thailand for 16. An exciting trip. Will I need to get a re-entry permit? If so, where and when is best to get it? :) Thank you for taking the time to read and respond :)
    Reply

  9. Alan Railton says

    I have had a retirement visa for past 5 years but left Thailand in May and hope to return for a couple of months in November. I font intend to spend as much time in Thailand from now on but would like to visit 3 or 4 times a year for a month.
    How many times per year can I can in on a 30 day tourist visa ? Do they count the number of times in a calendar year ? Or a 12 month period . Thank you
    Reply

    • JamesE says

      By "30 day tourist visa" you really mean 30-day visa exemption, right? If so, there's really no limit. You could enter on a 30-day stamp, get on a plane to Singapore without leaving the airport, get back on a plane to Bangkok without leaving the airport in Singapore, and get stamped in for another 30 days. (It might raise some eyebrows but you could do it...)
      Reply

  10. Andrew says

    Hi Peter,

    I am planning a holiday from Australia to Thailand which I will be eligible for a 30 day tourist visa on arrival.

    Because most flights are cheaper or only originate out of Thailand to nearby countries such as Cambodia and Laos.

    If I was to stay a few days in Thailand and then travel to Cambodia and then come back to Thailand for another few days, will I still be eligible for another 30 day tourist visa on return? Or will I need some type of re-entry permit due to returning under such a short timeframe?

    Thanks
    Andrew
    Reply

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