How to apply for a Thai passport in Thailand
Thai citizens must apply for a Thai e-passport in person because the passport office needs to capture biometric information, including a photograph and fingerprints. The exact documents depend on the applicant’s age, whether this is a first passport or renewal, and whether parental consent or custody documents are needed.
This guide is for Thai citizens applying inside Thailand. If you are applying overseas, check the requirements of the Thai embassy or consulate in that country, as local appointment and payment procedures can differ.
Important: passport fees, office locations and appointment rules can change. Before travelling, check the official Department of Consular Affairs passport information and fees pages:
- Department of Consular Affairs – Thai passport information
- Official Thai passport fees and delivery times
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs – electronic passport information
Who can apply for a Thai passport?
A Thai passport is issued to Thai nationals. The applicant normally needs proof of Thai nationality and identity, such as a valid Thai national ID card or Thai house registration with a 13-digit personal identification number. Children and first-time applicants may need additional evidence, especially a Thai birth certificate.
The applicant must attend the passport office in person. It is not normally possible to apply by post because the passport office must record the applicant’s biometric data.
Quick checklist before you go
- Check whether you need an appointment for your chosen passport office.
- Take the applicant’s original Thai ID card or other official Thai identity document.
- For minors, prepare the original birth certificate and the correct parental consent documents.
- Take any name-change, marriage, divorce, custody, adoption or death certificate documents that explain changes in family status or name.
- Allow extra time if the application involves a lost passport, damaged passport, foreign-born child, custody issue or one parent being unavailable.
Required documents for adults aged 20 or over
Adult applicants usually need:
- Original valid Thai national ID card.
- Current or previous Thai passport, if available.
- Thai house registration if the ID card or official documents do not show the required 13-digit personal number or if the passport office asks for it.
- Name-change certificate, marriage certificate or divorce certificate if the applicant’s current name or surname differs from previous records.
Adults aged 20 or over can usually choose a 5-year or 10-year ordinary passport. Check with the passport office before applying if you need a specific validity period for travel, visa or immigration purposes.
Required documents for children under 15
Children under 15 must normally attend with their parents or legal guardian. Prepare the following:
- The child’s original Thai birth certificate.
- The child’s Thai ID card, if the child already has one.
- Thai house registration showing the child’s details and 13-digit ID number, where required.
- Parents’ original Thai ID cards or valid passports, depending on the parents’ nationality.
- The child’s previous Thai passport, if renewing.
- Marriage certificate, divorce certificate, custody record, adoption/legal custody certificate or death certificate where relevant.
If both parents can attend, they normally sign the parental consent at the passport office. If one parent cannot attend, the attending parent should check in advance what consent form, certified copy of ID, power of attorney or notarised/legalised consent is required.
Applicants aged 15–20
Applicants aged 15 or over but under 20 may be able to attend without their parents, but they still need parental or legal guardian consent. Prepare:
- Original Thai ID card.
- Thai birth certificate if requested, especially for first-time applications or unclear records.
- Previous Thai passport, if renewing.
- Written parental consent or legal guardian consent in the form required by the passport office.
- Copies and/or originals of parents’ or guardian’s ID documents as required.
- Custody, divorce, adoption, death or name-change documents where relevant.
Because consent rules are strict, check with the passport office before the appointment if one parent is overseas, cannot be contacted, is deceased, or does not have legal custody.
Parental consent and custody issues
Parental consent is often the part of a child passport application that causes delays. The requirements depend on the child’s age, the parents’ marital status, and who has legal custody.
Common situations include:
- Both parents attend: both parents usually sign consent at the passport office.
- One parent cannot attend: a consent letter, certified ID copy and/or power of attorney may be required.
- Parents are divorced: take the divorce certificate and any memorandum or court order showing who has custody.
- One parent has died: take the death certificate.
- Adoption or legal guardianship: take the adoption or legal custody documents.
- Parents were not legally married: additional custody evidence, such as a Por Kor 14 child custody record, may be required.
If the family situation is unusual, do not rely on general advice alone. Contact the passport office before attending so the child is not refused because consent is incomplete.
First-time Thai passport applications
A first-time Thai passport application is usually straightforward when the applicant’s Thai nationality and identity records are clear. The passport office may ask for more documents where the applicant was born overseas, has never had a Thai ID card, or has inconsistent names across documents.
For first-time adult applications, prepare the Thai ID card and house registration if needed. For first-time child applications, prepare the Thai birth certificate, the child’s house registration, parents’ identity documents and parental consent documents.
A child born to a Thai parent may be eligible for Thai citizenship, but the Thai birth certificate and civil registration steps must be handled correctly. If the child was born outside Thailand, check with the relevant Thai embassy or consulate about registering the birth before applying for the child’s first Thai passport.
Thai passport fees in Thailand
The Department of Consular Affairs currently lists the following passport fees for applications in Thailand:
| Service | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary passport, 5 years | 1,000 baht | Available at passport offices |
| Ordinary passport, 10 years | 1,500 baht | Usually for adults aged 20 or over |
| Same-day express passport, 5 years | 3,000 baht | Must usually apply before the official cut-off time and collect from the Department of Consular Affairs |
| Same-day express passport, 10 years | 3,500 baht | Must usually apply before the official cut-off time and collect from the Department of Consular Affairs |
| EMS postal delivery | 40 baht | Delivery time depends on the destination |
Fees are not normally refunded once paid. Always check the official fee page before applying, especially if you need urgent or same-day service.
Where to apply for a Thai passport in Thailand
You can apply at a Thai passport office operated under the Department of Consular Affairs. Offices are available in Bangkok and other provinces. The main Department of Consular Affairs office is at Chaengwattana, Bangkok, but many applicants use a regional passport office closer to home.
Some offices require or strongly recommend an online queue reservation. Check the official passport office list and appointment guidance before travelling, as opening hours, public holidays, service capacity and urgent-passport availability can vary by location.
Application process at the passport office
The normal process is:
- Present the applicant’s Thai ID card or other required documents and receive a queue number.
- Confirm the applicant’s English spelling of name, date and place of birth, and contact details.
- Have the photograph and fingerprints taken.
- Review the recorded information carefully before signing.
- Pay the passport fee and delivery fee if using postal delivery.
- Keep the receipt and collection/delivery information.
Check the English spelling of the applicant’s name carefully before signing. If the name is wrong after issue, the passport may need to be replaced.
Processing, collection and delivery
For ordinary applications, passports are usually delivered by post. The official guidance currently lists postal delivery of around 2–3 working days for Bangkok and nearby provinces and around 3–5 working days for other provinces. Timing can vary around public holidays or busy travel periods.
Applicants who collect in person should bring the original receipt and Thai ID card. If someone else collects the passport, they may need the original receipt, ID documents and written authorisation as required by the passport office.
If you need a passport urgently, ask whether same-day express service is available at your chosen office and whether collection must be made at the Department of Consular Affairs.
Replacing a lost or stolen Thai passport
If a Thai passport is lost or stolen in Thailand, report it to the police and take the police report to the passport office when applying for a replacement. The lost passport will be cancelled when the new passport is issued.
If the passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it to the local authorities and contact the nearest Thai embassy or consulate. If urgent travel back to Thailand is needed before a new passport can be issued, the embassy or consulate may be able to issue an emergency travel document or Certificate of Identity for return to Thailand only.
For general advice on lost passports and travel disruption, see our guide to lost and stolen passports.
Replacing a damaged Thai passport
Apply for a new passport if the passport is badly worn, torn, water damaged, altered, missing pages, or the biometric chip may be damaged. Do not write on, cut, laminate, staple, punch holes in, or otherwise alter the passport.
If you are unsure whether the passport is still acceptable for travel, check with the airline and the immigration authority of the destination country before booking. Many countries and airlines can refuse boarding where a passport is damaged or close to expiry.
After the passport is issued: visas and travel planning
A new Thai passport does not automatically transfer visas from an old passport. If the old passport contains a valid visa, check the rules of the country that issued the visa. You may need to travel with both passports or request a transfer/endorsement, depending on the country’s rules.
Before booking international travel, also check passport validity rules. Many countries require at least six months of validity beyond the travel date. Our guide to passport validity for international travel explains the issue in more detail.
Thai Visa Express can assist Thai citizens with visa applications after the passport is issued, including UK visitor visas for Thai citizens, Australian visitor visas and Schengen visa applications. If documents need translating for a visa or overseas authority, see our document translation services.
Need help after getting a Thai passport?
If you have already obtained a Thai passport and need help with a visa application, supporting documents or travel document checks, contact Thai Visa Express.