Who needs a re-entry permit?
You need one if you have
- Non-O Retirement (in-country issued)
- Non-O Marriage
- Non-B + Work Permit
- ED visa
- Non-O-A Retirement (after the first year — first year is multi-entry by default)
- Any other single-entry Non-Immigrant visa
You don't need one if you have
- DTV — multi-entry by design (5 years)
- LTR — multi-entry by design (10 years)
- Privilege Visa — multi-entry by design (5–20 years)
- SMART Visa — multi-entry by design
- METV — multi-entry tourist visa, already covered for 6 months
- Tourist visa-exempt entries — just re-enter and get a fresh stamp (subject to the 2/6/year cap)
- APEC Business Travel Card — eligible holders bypass
Single vs multiple — the math
Break-even is simple: 4+ trips out and back during your visa's remaining validity = multiple is cheaper.
| Trips planned | Single × N | Multiple flat | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ฿1,000 | ฿3,800 | Single |
| 2 | ฿2,000 | ฿3,800 | Single |
| 3 | ฿3,000 | ฿3,800 | Single (close) |
| 4 | ฿4,000 | ฿3,800 | Multiple |
| 5+ | ฿5,000+ | ฿3,800 | Multiple |
If you're not sure how many trips you'll take, multiple is the safer pick — especially for retirees who book trips home or short Asia hops on impulse.
Where to apply
1. At the airport before you fly (most convenient)
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) both have re-entry counters in the international departure area. Open during airport operating hours. Bring:
- Passport with your current Thai visa
- Cash (1,000 or 3,800 THB) — ATMs nearby if needed
- One photo (some counters provide; bring one to be safe)
- Completed TM.8 form (re-entry permit form) — available at the counter
Time: 10–30 minutes if there's no queue. Allow 60+ minutes during peak departure hours. Arrive at the airport at least 1 hour earlier than you normally would.
2. At Jomtien Immigration before you travel
Same TM.8 form, same fee. Process takes 30–60 minutes if you arrive early. Best for retirees who don't want to deal with airport stress on departure day.
3. Online (limited rollout)
Thai Immigration's online re-entry portal is available for some visa types via the same e-Extension platform used for visa extensions. Inconsistent and not always accepted — use the airport or in-person option for reliability.
Step-by-step at the airport counter
- Arrive in international departures, find the "Re-entry Permit" counter (signage in English — usually near Immigration outbound)
- Pick up TM.8 form, fill in passport details, address, visa type, expected return date
- Hand over passport, completed form, photo, and cash
- Officer stamps a re-entry permit page in your passport — usually a sticker
- You're done. Proceed to Immigration outbound as normal.
Re-entry permits are valid until your underlying visa expires — not for 90 days, not for some calendar period. The permit lives until your visa dies.
If you forgot the re-entry permit
If you've already left Thailand and forgot, your single-entry visa is cancelled. To return, you need to apply for a fresh visa from your home country (or wherever you'll be when applying) at a Thai embassy. There's no field-fix from outside Thailand.
Some scenarios where this gets people:
- Sudden family emergency — rushed flight, didn't get to airport early enough
- "I'll just re-enter on visa-exempt" — works only for visa-exempt nationals, doesn't restore your original Non-O retirement etc
- Wrongly assuming multi-entry status — check your visa stamp wording carefully
Locale network: Glossary · Visas (DE) · Jomtien · Pattaya (DE) · DE mirror · RU mirror
FAQ
I have a multi-entry visa already — do I still need a re-entry permit?
No. DTV, LTR, Privilege, SMART, and METV are multi-entry by design. Re-entry permits are specifically for single-entry visas (most Non-Immigrant categories issued in-country, like Non-O retirement after conversion).Can I get a re-entry permit retroactively?
No. The re-entry permit must be issued before you depart Thailand. Once you're abroad without one, the visa is cancelled and the only path back is a fresh visa application.Can I buy a multi-entry permit when I already have a single?
Yes. They're separate transactions. If you bought a single re-entry for a planned trip and then realised you'll travel more, you can pay 3,800 THB for a fresh multiple permit at any point. The two don't stack — the multiple permit just supersedes.Does the re-entry permit cost reset when I extend my visa?
When you extend your visa (e.g. annual retirement extension), the old re-entry permit expires with the old visa. You need a new re-entry permit for the new visa period. Bake the cost into your annual budget: 1,900 THB extension + 3,800 THB multi re-entry = ฿5,700/year for the typical retiree.I'm on Non-O-A first-year multi-entry — do I need a permit?
During the first year, no — the original Non-O-A is multi-entry. After your first annual extension at Jomtien, the extension is single-entry and you'll need a re-entry permit thereafter.Pattaya walkthrough: Re-entry permit at Jomtien 2026 · Re-entry permit glossary · TM8 form
Related guides
- Jomtien Immigration — Hours, queue strategy (Where to file)
- 90-day reporting — Required for long-stay holders (Adjacent compliance)
- LTR Visa — 10-year multi-entry by design (No re-entry permit needed)
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