Updated: 4 June 2023 Visit the PCEC’s Thai Visa & Immigration website pages for information on entry and extension of stay in Thailand as well as address reporting requirements.
This page contains the latest information we have on Thai Immigration matters that may be temporary or otherwise not included in our Thai Immigration webpages. |
The information presented here relates to requirements or practices of at the Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration Office which may not yet be included on the PCEC’s website. |
CHONBURI IMMIGRATION OFFICE (JOMTIEN SOI 5) REQUIRES YOU TO WEAR A FACE MASK TO GAIN ENTRANCE INTO THE BUILDING |
RECENT REPORTS REGARDING APPLICATION FOR NON IMMIGRANT O VISA FOR RETIREMENT PURPOSE AT THE CHONBURI (PATTAYA) IMMIGRATION OFFICE
Update: Two additional reports from Non-Immigrant O Visa (Retirement) applicants; one on May 10, 2023 and the other on May 12, 2023. Both reported that Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration is now requiring the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank be seasoned for 2 months before they will accept the application for the Visa. It appears that the policy at Jomtien Immigration Office is to now require the 2 month seasoning of the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank before they will accept an application for the Non-Immigrant O Visa (retirement purpose). |
CHONBURI (PATTAYA) IMMIGRATION OFFICE - JOMTIEN - HAS ESTABLISHED DESKS OUTSIDE FOR CERTAIN SERVICES WITH NO NEED TO JOIN THE LONG QUEUE FOR THE ENTRY DOOR (Retirement Extension Renewal, 90 Day Address Reporting, and TM.30 Reporting) Due to the long lines, the Chonburi Immigration Office has set up desks outside in the parking area - to the right of the entry gates for those wishing to renew their retirement extensions of stay, do their 90 day address reporting, or filing the TM.30 address report if arriving to a new address.
ALERTS!! We have received some recent reports that Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration Office is now placing greater emphasis on TM.30 address reporting.
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US & UK EMBASSIES NO LONGER PROVIDE A LETTER TO IMMIGRATION TO USE FOR REQUESTING THAI IMMIGRATION TRANSFER STAMPS TO A NEWLY ISSUED PASSPORT
They note that if a Thai government office requests one, your cancelled passport and your newly issued passport will suffice. However, their announcement does not indicate if they have coordinated this decision with Thai Immigration. With effect from June 1, the British embassy in Bangkok will no longer provide a confirmation letter to nationals who have obtained a new British passport. An embassy press release states that the Thai immigration bureau has agreed to transfer visa stamps from the old to the new British passport without such a letter. Click here for the Pattaya Mail article. |
BORDER RUNS TO CAMBODIA FROM PATTAYA - BEST TO USE A SERVICE
But post-Covid, it is recommended that you register with a Pattaya tour and minibus operator in advance of travel to the border. The company must then send a passport copy to the border post of choice to check that the applicant is eligible for the new permission. Unregistered individuals arriving at the frontier under their own steam will not be allowed to return the same day and would need to spend several days or a week in Cambodia pending a review of their application. Click here for the article in the Pattaya Mail. |
THAI IMMIGRATION TESTING ONLINE SYSTEM FOR EXTENSIONS OF STAY (CURRENTLY ONLY IN BANGKOK)
Note: It DOES NOT include extensions based on retirement. Click here for the Pattaya Mail article, Click here for The Pattaya News article. Click here for Barry Kenyon's article in the Pattaya Mail giving a reason for retirement extensions not being include. |
TM.6 ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE CARD TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
For those entering at all international airports. The suspension does not apply to entry at land borders. Click here for the The Pattaya News article. |
EU ACCEPTS 'THAILAND DIGITAL HEALTH PASS' The European Union has accepted Thailand Digital Health Pass, issued by the Public Health Ministry on Mor Prom application. Thailand is now connected to the EU Digital Covid certificate system and Thai travelers can use Thailand Digital Health Pass as a proof of Covid-19 vaccination to enter 60 countries and territories. Click here for the Pattaya Mail article. Click here for The Pattaya News article. |
OBTAINING AN EXTENSION OF STAY AFTER ENTERING WITH AN e-VISA
This email should be retained after arrival in Thailand. A copy is required by the immigration bureau if and when a foreigner applies for an extension of stay. Click here to read the article. Click here for Ministry of Foreign Affairs eVisa portal. |
PATTAYA IMMIGRATION – LEGALIZATION OF MARRIAGE LICENSE IF FOREIGN SPOUSE IS OBTAINING A LONG STAY EXTENSION
We have seen other reports that the marriage license will not be accepted unless the person’s Embassy has certified the document and it has also been stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Legal Department in Bangkok. Click here for information regarding MFA “legalization” of documents.
In the case of a marriage license from the UK, per Darren and the reports received, the process is to have the document “legalized” by the UK Government, then by the Thai Embassy in London, and then by the MFA in Bangkok. We suggest you start the process so you have ample time before your extension renewal date to complete the process.
Currently, this the only information we have.
NOTE: If you are in this situation and not from the UK, you may wish to start now in determining what may be required if from a country other than the UK. We suggest you contact your Embassy as to whether they will certify the marriage license so you can then take it to the MFA for “legalization” or if your country has a similar arrangement with their Thai Embassy. For US Citizens, any Government certification will depend on the State which issued the marriage license. We will appreciate receiving any information on the process that you can share with your fellow Expats. |
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