Leave Thailand without a re-entry permit while holding an unexpired single-entry visa or extension, and your permission may be cancelled at the border — even if the sticker still has months left. A re-entry permit (TM.13) preserves your current visa when you travel abroad and return.
When you need one
| Scenario | Re-entry permit |
|---|---|
| Single-entry Non-Immigrant + planned trip abroad | Required before exit |
| Multi-entry visa with remaining entries | Usually not required |
| Extension stamp in passport, single-entry base visa | Required before exit |
| Tourist exemption / TR only | Exit ends stay — different rules |
Task context: Extension hub · 90-day reporting
Single vs multiple
Single re-entry: Valid for one return before permit expiry. Cheaper. Use when you have one known trip.
Multiple re-entry: Valid for repeated returns before permit expiry. Higher fee. Use for frequent regional travel on the same long-stay permission.
Both are tied to your current visa validity — a re-entry permit cannot extend beyond the underlying permission.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single re-entry | 1,000 THB | Guideline; cash at Immigration |
| Multiple re-entry | 3,800 THB | Guideline; confirm current notice |
| Passport photos | 100–200 THB | Near office copy shops |
Application steps
- 1
Apply before you fly
File at Immigration while your visa and extension are valid — not at the airport minutes before boarding unless emergency counters exist.
- 2
Complete TM.13
Specify single or multiple. Errors here are expensive to fix abroad.
- 3
Bring passport and photos
Original passport, copies of biodata and visa pages, passport photos to office spec.
- 4
Pay fee and receive stamp
Re-entry stamp goes in passport alongside visa. Photograph it before travel.
- 5
Return before permit and visa expiry
Airline check-in may deny boarding if dates do not align. Use visa expiry calculator.
Bangkok filing tips: Chaeng Watthana & IT Square guide
Documents
TM.13 counter file
- Passport original
- TM.13 form completed
- Passport photographs
- Copies of visa and latest extension stamp
- Cash for single or multiple fee
- Flight itinerary (sometimes requested — carry printout)
Interaction with 90-day reporting
Leaving Thailand generally pauses the in-country 90-day TM.47 cycle. On return:
- New entry stamp may restart the 90-day clock
- TM.47 address should match post-trip residence
- Unresolved late TM.47 issues remain on record
Read TM.30 vs 90-day reporting if both obligations apply.
Warning
Flying out without re-entry on a single-entry permission often voids the visa. Embassies abroad cannot “restore” the old stamp — you reapply from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get re-entry at the airport?
Historically some airports offered emergency counters — never rely on this. File at Immigration beforehand.
Does re-entry permit add visa days?
No. It preserves existing permission for return only.
Multiple re-entry expired but visa valid?
Apply for a new permit before the next trip if still on single-entry pattern.
Land border exit same rules?
Yes for permission preservation — re-entry stamp required before leaving by land or air.
