Re-entering Thailand with new passport

[lomuamart]

Looks like I'll be heading back to the UK around the end of August. My annual extension expires on September 11th so I'll renew it before I go and get the necessary re-entry permit.
However, my passport expires in May 2014 and it seems worthwhile to me to get it renewed whilst I'm back rather than go through the hassle of sending it to HK from here.
If I do renew in the UK, it'll mean that I'll be returning with a valid extension and re-entry permit but on an invalidated passport.
Just wondering if anyone has been through this before and whether they had any problem at Imm here?
I've had roughly the same thing happen years ago when I was doing 30 day runs through Sungai Kolok and Malaysia. It worked OK but did cause some confusion at Thai Imm and resulted in my being refused entry into Malaysia. It was sorted out quite easily but I had to go back over the bridge into Thailand again to get the exit stamp entered in the correct place.
I don't fancy losing the extension.
Any advice appreciated.

[moja]

You should not have a problem at all you just have to show both passports when you return to Thailand and then get your visa etc transferred to your new passport once you are back in HH. However it might be as well to check with immigration when you renew that nothing has changed.

[lomuamart]

Thanks moja.
Quite right, I'll check with Imm here when I do the extension.

[Takiap]

Hi Lomu


I went through this just a few months ago. I first approached HH immigration and was told I could only get a two week extension stamp put into my new passport. I declined and headed down to Ranong for a jaunt over to the Anderman Club. Since there was nobody high enough in rank at that office they sent me to the other office in Ranong. A very pleasant female officer took both my old and my new passport, zapped in a few stamps, and that was it. No money at all, and I was in and out within minutes.


I went through the same thing when I had to switch from my old passport to a temporary passport. That was at the Malaysian border, and again, no cost and all taken care of within the space of a few minutes.


If I was you, I simply return with your old passport and your re-entry permit, and then let them sort it out for you at the airport. It might delay you for a few minutes but it's a better bet that HH in my opinion. As far as I know, HH immigration also charge a few in the event that they are able/willing to do what you're asking.

[Frank Hovis]

The HK passport renewal is pretty straightforward, I just done mine and it took three weeks from sending to getting the new one back. The actual time for processing was less as the postal trackers showed that it took four days to get the application form from here to HK and then 5 days for the new passport to come from the UK to here.
It would have been nicer of they'd kept in touch a little via email or SMS to let me know that the application form was filled in OK etc etc but all in all it was simple and no troubles.

You don't need to send your old passport to HK, just send them a copy of the photo page and keep your old one with you.

[lomuamart]

Thanks for the replies.
I didn't think it would be a problem at the airport but I will check with HH before I go.
Also good to hear that if I do decide to do things through HK then it's pretty painless.
On another note, I'm going to try this "walking through the Thai desks" at Swampy when I return as I'll be with my Thai wife. And vice versa for her at Heathrow (UK/EEC passport holders only etc). I believe both are possible.

[Big Boy]

On another note, I'm going to try this "walking through the Thai desks" at Swampy when I return as I'll be with my Thai wife. And vice versa for her at Heathrow (UK/EEC passport holders only etc). I believe both are possible.

It certainly works here in Thailand, but I'm not so sure about the set up at Heathrow. I always thought Heathrow was the opposite i.e. you can join your wife in her queue, but not vice versa. I don't think the Heathrow set up would even have a rubber stamp to do your wife's passport, and if they did, you could cause HUGE delays.

I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of others regarding Heathrow.

[Nereus]

My annual extension expires on September 11th so I'll renew it before I go and get the necessary re-entry permit.
However, my passport expires in May 2014

Lomu, you do realise that your extension will only be up until your passport expires?
I think if it was me I would get a new one now, and have your visa transferred before you go.

[lomuamart]

Cheers, I'd forgotten about that. Decisions, decisions.
I'm up to my eyeballs with visas/extensions with getting a UK one for my wife as well.
If I apply through HK, I've still got my passport as I only send a copy to them, as Frank Hovis has said. But does anyone know if the UK automatically invalidate my existing passport when they issue the new one? Thought you weren't supposed to be in possession of two valid passports - except in certain circumstances? What I wouldn't want is to get fixed up to travel to the UK and then find the new passport takes longer than expected and I can't travel as my current passport is no good.
If there's any doubt about that, then I'll definitely make do with the 8 months the extension will give me in September and get a new passport in the UK or even when I return as we'll only be away for a month max.

[Big Boy]

I renewed Mrs BB's UK Passport early before we came to live in Thailand. She didn't lose anything - Just had a new passport with 11 years validity.

[sargeant]

Looks like I'll be heading back to the UK around the end of August. My annual extension expires on September 11th so I'll renew it before I go and get the necessary re-entry permit.
However, my passport expires in May 2014 and it seems worthwhile to me to get it renewed whilst I'm back rather than go through the hassle of sending it to HK from here.

I ask a question why dont you renew your passport in BKK when you get back i did it was no problem i dont understand the HK bit

[lomuamart]

BKK don't issue passports any more and havn't done for for a couple of years (I think). Applications bypass them and you send details to HK who then send to the UK who send your new passport over here.
See Frank Hovis's post above. He's recently been through the process.

[Frank Hovis]

The 'old' passport is automatically invalidated from the date of issue of your new passport BUT your 'old' UK passport is always valid for travel back to the UK, there is no real problem for a UK national entering the UK on an expired passport, you might get asked a few questions but they can't really send you back from whence you came as you don't have a valid travel document to go anywhere else but the UK.
Airline staff at your departure point only need to know you have entry clearance to the country you are travelling to and a passport, expired or not, is proof enough of citizenship, especially if you are on a direct flight. A copy of your birth certificate might help should you need to travel on an expired passport.

Somewhere on the maze that is the international passports division website I'm sure it says the maximum time for processing a passport is eight weeks, and that's for new (completely new not renewal) passports.
They have an interactive PDF application form that makes filling it it very simple as the parts you don't need to fill are automatically disabled as you respond to the questions in each section.

[lomuamart]

I can just see it!!
I send off for a new passport soon. Our plans aren't finalised yet and there's every chance that we may go earlier - mid August. My new passport has been issued but hasn't arrived so I travel back on an expired passport. Whilst in the UK, my new passport arrives here. That ain't going to help me much getting back to Thailand!!
Thanks for all your imput, folks. Reckon I've pretty much decided to just go on my existing passport both ways and apply for a new one when back. I really don't need the worry of applying for a new passport here and it maybe not arriving in time. The same goes for the UK side of things. We may only be back 3 weeks.
I'll bite the bullet on the lost time with the upcoming extension.

[VincentD]

Just bear in mind that you need at least six months validity to travel. Airlines won't let you on board if any less than that. Immigration included. So if it expires in May next year, the latest you can come back here on the existing passport is in October/ November this year. (Not sure if allowed to travel with 'exactly' six months validity).