The Thai passport is the passport issued to citizens and nationals of Thailand by Passport Division, Department of Consular Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thai biometric passports have been issued since August 2005.

Introduction to Passport Division

The Passport Division is a government agency under the Department of Consular Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its function is to provide services and accommodate Thai citizens’ needs in issuing valid passports and travel documents.

The Passport Division welcomes all Thai citizens. Walk in clients can apply in person at the Department of Consular Affairs, Chaengwattana Rd. or at the 3 Temporary Passport Offices in Bangkok (Bangna, Pinklao and Thailand’s Overseas Employment Service Center) on 5 working days from 8:00 -15:30 hrs. For those who reside outside Bangkok area can apply at the nearest Temporary Passport Office in Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Songkla, Ubon Ratchathani, Surat Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima or Yala (open in January 2008) on 5 working days from 8.30-16.30 hrs. The passports application service will not be interrupted by lunch breaks.

The normal processing time for issuing a passport is two workdays excluding the application day. Passport pick-up service is available only for the passport applications submitted in Bangkok. The applicants may request that their e-Passports be express-mailed to them which take 5 – 7 working days. Applications submitted outside Bangkok are required to apply for postage service which take 5 – 7 working days.

In addition, the Passport Division has arranged mobile units to provide services in issuing passports in rural areas enhancing our services to reach and cover those living outside Bangkok. 

The Passport Division has promoted and developed services continuingly that meets the government’s Public Diplomacy which aimed to enhance better service efficiency and satisfaction for the people. The Passport Division is 9002 ISO certified which guarantees quality services.

It is an electronic passport which contains technical specifications that comply with the standards set out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It differs from a non-electronic Passport via to the following characteristics:
• It contains biometric data such as finger prints and facial features in a contactless integrated circuit which is embedded in all e-Passports. 
• It is readable by the automatic gates at immigration checkpoints which automatically verify that the embedded information matches that of the bearer.

Why is an e-Passport better than a non-electronic Passport?

• e-Passports contain security features to prevent forgery which contribute to the international effort to counter transnational terrorist activities, illegal entry into the Kingdom, etc.
• e-Passports improve the verification process at Thai immigration checkpoints which facilitates traveling, entry into the Kingdom, and promotes tourism.
• e-Passports give the international community more confidence in Thai passports which boost the Kingdom’s image and economy by attracting more investors and tourists.

Thailand e-passports have been issued since August 2005. The previous model of Thai passport before August 2005 is still valid until expired date specified in the passport and extension of the pre-model of e-passports is not allowed.

• e-Passport application fee : 1,000 Baht 
• postage service (EMS ) fee : 35 Baht Validity for e-Passports
• To maintain the quality and usability of e-Passports, the ordinary e-Passports are valid for 5 years. 
• No extension of validity will be granted and a new e-Passport will be issued when the current one expires. 
• Amendments to e-Passport bearers’ information are not allowed (i.e. changes to the bearer’s name or surname) as corrections will create problems because they will clash with the information already captured in the embedded microchip. Therefore, any amendments must first be reported to the Ministry of Interior before the bearer can apply for a new e-Passport.

Notes : 
- E-Passport (electronic passport), the current version of the Thai passport, has been introduced to the Thai passport system since August 2005.
- Non-electronic Passport or digital passport was the previous version using the Digital Passport System (DPS). Some non-electronic Passports issued before August 2005 will remain valid for 5 years until their expiry dates. 
- Amendments fee :
There is a 100 Baht fee each time an amendment is made.

e-Passport Cancellation 

The Passport Division will cancel the previous Passport when an applicant receives his/her new e-Passport. An applicant who submitted application in Bangkok is required to present the valid previous passport to the Passport Office’s personnel for cancellation when the applicant picks up a new e-Passport. If an applicant applies for postage service or submits an e-passport application at the Passport Office outside Bangkok, he/she is required to present the valid previous passport to the Office’s personnel for cancellation on the application day.

e-Passport Disposal

If an applicant does not pick-up up his/her e-Passport within 90 days, the Passport Division reserves its right to determine whether to dispose of the e-Passport.