Thailand re-entry permit guide
Leaving Thailand on a single-entry visa or an extension? A re-entry permit (TM.8) costs 1,000 baht, or 3,800 for multiple. Who needs one and how to get it.
Leave Thailand without a re-entry permit and the permission to stay you were relying on can end the moment you go, even if the date in your passport hasn't arrived yet. The permit keeps it alive. It isn't a new visa, doesn't add any days and doesn't extend your stay.
It's form TM.8, and it costs 1,000 baht for a single re-entry or 3,800 baht for multiple.
Who needs one
You need one before you travel if you're staying on a single-entry Non-Immigrant visa, or on an extension based on work, family, retirement or education, because extensions don't come with a permit. That includes the Non-O family and retirement routes. The same goes for any other permission to stay that would end when you leave.
Some multiple-entry visas and specialist programmes don't need a separate permit, because their own rules cover re-entry.
Single or multiple
A single permit covers one trip out and back. A multiple permit covers repeated trips for as long as your current permission to stay lasts.
Neither lasts beyond the stay it's protecting, so if the date in your passport is coming up soon, paying 3,800 baht for multiple doesn't get you any more time.
How to apply
Take the TM.8 form and your passport with your current visa or extension in it. Bring a photo and copies too, plus any extra paperwork your local office asks for.
You can apply at an immigration office or at some airports, but it has to be done before you leave the country. Airport desks change their hours and cut-off times, so don't rely on one unless you've checked it'll be open for your flight.
Check the stamp
When you get the permit, check:
- it's single or multiple, whichever you paid for
- the expiry date
- your name and passport details
- what you'll need to show when you come back
When you return, show the permit at immigration and check your new entry stamp before you leave the counter.
For the visa behind your current stay, see the Thailand visa comparison. The visa hub has the rest of the paperwork guides, including 90-day reporting.