Updated 16 October 2026. Airport desk arrangements and opening times can change. Confirm with your departure airport or a Thai immigration office before relying on airport processing.
Our old 2009 article said that you could not get a re-entry permit at Bangkok’s airport. That blanket statement is outdated. Airports of Thailand now lists re-entry permit information for Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the Thai Immigration Bureau publishes the application requirements and fees. But travelers should still avoid making a last-minute airport desk their only plan.
What is a Thailand re-entry permit?
A re-entry permit is used in qualifying cases when a foreign national who already has permission to stay in Thailand needs to leave and return without losing the remainder of that permission. Without a permit when one is required, the existing permission to stay can end on departure, even if its original expiry date was later.
A re-entry permit is not a new visa, does not extend the end date of your existing permission and does not turn a tourist trip into employment authorization. Your current status and re-entry stamp must be valid for the trip. Some immigration statuses have special rules, so confirm applicability before paying.
Single vs. multiple re-entry permits
| Permit | Official fee | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Single re-entry | 1,000 THB | One departure and return during the existing permitted stay |
| Multiple re-entry | 3,800 THB | Several departures and returns while the current permission remains valid |
These fees are stated both in the official Immigration Bureau public handbook and in the Suvarnabhumi Airport service listing. A single permit is consumed by one eligible return; a multiple permit still expires when the underlying permission to stay ends. Agent service charges, if any, are separate.
Where can you apply?
At a Thai immigration office before your trip
For many travelers, this is the safer option. It gives you time to correct documentation problems and avoids arriving at the airport with an unresolved immigration question. Contact the office handling your address or status to confirm its current service process, operating days and whether an appointment is needed.
At Suvarnabhumi Airport
Airports of Thailand maintains an official page titled “Re-entry Permit” for Suvarnabhumi. It confirms that the service exists in the airport’s information, but the listing should not be treated as a guarantee of immediate availability at every hour, terminal, checkpoint or for every immigration category. Ask airport/immigration staff for current desk location and procedure before your departure. Allow extra time.
Do not assume Suvarnabhumi’s page automatically confirms the same setup at Don Mueang or at every international airport; check your particular airport.
Documents to prepare
The Immigration Bureau’s public handbook lists the following typical materials:
- Your passport and a photocopy of relevant pages, including identification and latest entry/extension endorsements.
- A completed TM.8 re-entry application form.
- A recent 4 × 6 cm photograph meeting the stated requirements.
- Any entry/departure documentation specifically required in your case.
- The applicable government fee and any documents connected to restrictions on travel, where relevant.
Carry originals as well as copies and follow the current instructions given by immigration staff. Documentary requirements may be updated.
Five mistakes to avoid
- Confusing a visa’s printed dates with permission to stay. Check the current immigration stamp and any extension.
- Believing a re-entry permit adds days. It preserves the existing expiry date; it does not create a new period of stay.
- Leaving without a permit when one is required. A return flight ticket does not preserve your immigration permission.
- Applying too late. Technical, staffing or document issues at the airport can disrupt a flight.
- Relying on the rule for someone else’s status. Visa exemption, tourist visas, retirement extensions and other statuses are not interchangeable.
Common questions
Do I need a re-entry permit if I am only visiting Thailand briefly?
Not everyone does. The question matters especially when you want to preserve an existing stay or extension. Confirm with immigration based on your actual status.
Can a re-entry permit replace a visa run?
No. A re-entry permit preserves an existing period of stay. It does not reset entry permission. See our 2026 visa-run explainer for the separate entry rules.
Will a multiple permit remain valid after my extension expires?
Ordinarily not. The permit is tied to the permission it protects; check its stamped validity before each trip.
Official sources
- Airports of Thailand: Suvarnabhumi re-entry permit information
- Thai Immigration Bureau: Public handbook for re-entry permit applications (PDF)
Bottom line: Arrange the permit before departure, check your underlying stay date and use the airport desk as a verified option—not as an assumed last-minute rescue.
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