Changing from old to new passport

[Takiap]

I'm sorry if this has been discussed on here before, but I can't seem to find anything on the subject. So, my question is this........

I'm on the last page of my passport and will be getting a temporary passport next week which I will be using until my new one arrives in three months. Now, I will be heading off to Malaysia next month and I need to know if I can simply get stamped out of Thailand in my old/current passport, and then present my new passport when entering into Malaysia.

I know from past experience that if you have a current Thai visa, you need to fly through a trillion loops to get the visa transferred from one passport to the other, but on this occasion, I'm just on a 60 day extension.

So, to sum it all up again, I will be leaving Thailand when the extension ends, and then going to Panang for a one year visa. Can I simply present my current passport when leaving Thailand, and then begin using the new passport when entering Malaysia?

Hope someone can enlighten me

[moja]

Yes. We recently did what you are planning to do with no problems at all.

[pharvey]

Yep, I can second that. I hold 2 passports and have left a country on one and entered the destination country on the 2nd passport on several occassions. No problems whatsoever.

[lomuamart]

That's interesting because I was turned back at Malaysia once when I presented my new passport as the exit stamp was in the old one. I was told that they couldn't give me an entry stamp unless they saw where I had exited from on the new one. It was easily rectified by going back to Thai Imm and getting them to re-stamp.
However, the old passport had already been invalidated by the Brit Embassy, so that might have made the difference. Malaysian Imm were adamant though that the Thai officer should have stamped me out on the new passport.
As said, it wasn't a major issue, I just had to walk back over the bridge - Sungai Kolok.

[moja]

If you have both passports with you I cannot see that you will have a problem as your old passport will show you leaving Thailand if nec. In KL they were not in the least bit interest in a departure stamp from BKK but maybe we were lucky.

[STEVE G]

I suppose it's a bit different at a land border where you must have come from Thailand. I imagine they have the same problems with people repeatedly crossing to get extended stays.
If you turn up at KL airport with no exit stamp from Thailand, it's surely no different from arriving there from the UK with no exit stamp from anywhere.

[crazy88]

Hi Takiap

I hold a British passport. Posted to HK with VERY short notice. All done on time and returned to my home address. 7 working days door to door. Renewal of full passport and non-b visa.

Crazy 88

[lomuamart]

crazy,
Don't think Takiap is a Brit.

[Takiap]

No, not a Brit, just from one of your old colonies...lol (South Africa)

Anyway, thanks for all the replies guys. Will give an update on how I get along as soon as I return.

[Takiap]

As promised, here's the update.........

Arrived at the Malaysian border with old and new passport in hand. Was told I cannot leave on the old one if I intended entering Malaysia on the new one. I was then told to go into the one office where a very pleasant Thai immigration lady duly stamped something in my new passport to show what my previous visa details were. From there on, no problem. Stamped out in new passport and off to Penang.

In Penang, applied for a 1 year Non O multiple entry (Thai wife & kids), paid 550 ringit and was told to collect the next day. Went back the next day and collected my passport together with the visa I applied for.

What I needed:

Two passport photos
Photocopy of passport
Photocopy of wife's ID card
Photocopy of marriage certificate
Photocopy of the kids birth certificates
Photocopy of house blue book

I never had copies of the house book but they were happy with me simply leaving the actual book with them and of course it was returned to me when I collected my passport.

As a matter of interest, I phoned the embassy in KL to ask about a one year visa and they said they don't issue them. So, if your other half is Thai, Penang is where you should go for your visa.

For those just wanting tourist visas, be warned that they will only issue three in a row. I saw someone get turned away as they had already had three so the are enforcing it.

Well, that's me for the next 15 months

Not sure if I'll just extend when this one runs out or not, as I quite enjoy the trip down there..........it's that bloody mutton curry I can't seem to resist. I'm sure I put on a few pounds every time I'm there....lol.

[lomuamart]

Thanks for the report, Takiap.
Good to hear you got the passports sorted out. Also very interesting to hear that you didn't need to show any funds in a Thai bank account to get the visa.
I've heard that KL want to see 100K. Two years ago, Penang wouldn't give me anything but a single entry Non O on the same basis and with the same evidence that you provided.
Consulates, especially, have new bosses regularly and so their requirements change.
Agree about the food down there, it's great. I'm sure you'll have tried a banana leaf curry in Little India before, but if you havn't you should!!!