Thailand Re-Entry Permit (TM.8)

Why the re-entry permit exists

Under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), permission to stay in Thailand ends when the holder leaves the country, unless a re-entry permit has been obtained before departure. This is the single most consequential rule for anyone holding a one-year extension of stay, because departure without the required permit can end the remaining extension. The effect on employment documents must be checked separately with the responsible authorities and employer.

There are two forms: single re-entry, which preserves the permission for one departure and return, and multiple re-entry, which preserves it for unlimited departures until the permission to stay expires. Choose between them from the number of expected journeys and the remaining validity of the underlying permission; neither option adds time to that permission.

The permit does not extend your stay. It preserves the existing permitted-until date. Returning after that date on a valid re-entry permit does not help; the permit and the permission expire together. Applicants sometimes read the permit as a form of extension and plan travel accordingly, which produces an overstay on arrival.

Where and how to obtain it

Document set and the details that get files bounced

1. Form TM.8: Completed in block capitals with the passport details exactly as printed, including the permitted-until date from the current extension stamp.
2. Photograph: A recent photograph in the size and format on the office’s current checklist.
3. Passport and copies: Original plus copies of the biographical page, the current visa, the latest entry stamp, the extension stamp and the departure card where still issued.
4. Fee: Set by ministerial regulation; single and multiple permits carry different fees. Confirm the current amounts at the counter as published by the Immigration Bureau.
5. Timing: Obtain the permit as soon as an extension is granted, not the week before travel. Airport issuance is a fallback, not a strategy.

Interaction with other statuses

• Permanent residents use a residence endorsement rather than a TM.8 re-entry permit; the two are separate instruments and are not interchangeable.
• APEC Business Travel Card holders entering under the card do not thereby preserve a domestic extension of stay; the re-entry permit is still required if an extension is in place.
• A multiple-entry visa issued abroad already permits re-entry within its validity, so a holder of a valid multiple-entry Non-B who has not yet taken a one-year extension does not need a permit; once the extension is granted, the position changes.
• Immigration status and permission to work are separate but connected. If an extension ends, ask Immigration, the labour authority and the employer how the work authorisation is affected before resuming work.
• Re-entry permits cannot be issued after departure. There is no retrospective cure at an embassy abroad.

Common mistakes and how we avoid them

More questions we are asked

Do I need a re-entry permit on a tourist visa?

A single-entry tourist visa is consumed on entry, so departure ends the stay regardless. The permit matters where you hold an extension of stay you wish to preserve.

Can someone else collect it for me?

Practice varies by office; some accept an authorised representative with a power of attorney and signed forms, others require the applicant. Confirm with the specific office before sending a representative.

Does the permit affect the 90-day report?

Leaving and returning resets the 90-day clock from the date of re-entry. Many holders miss the next report because they count from the original date.

What if my passport is renewed?

The permit is affixed in the old passport. Carry both passports, and transfer the stamps at immigration to avoid arguments at the border.

Is a permit needed to travel to a neighbouring country for a day?

Yes. Duration of absence is irrelevant; any departure without the permit ends the permission to stay.