Official source re-verified 1 August 2026: the Immigration Bureau re-entry-permit handbook. It lists Form TM8, the document requirements, a 1,000 THB single-permit fee and a 3,800 THB multiple-permit fee.
Check the permission, not the visa label
A TM8 concerns an existing temporary permission to stay. It is relevant when departure would otherwise end that permission and the holder wants to return before its existing permitted-until date. The visa category alone does not answer that question.
Before relying on a re-entry permit or deciding it is unnecessary, compare:
- the permitted-until date in the passport;
- the number and validity of entries on the current visa or endorsement; and
- whether the aim is to preserve the current permission rather than seek a fresh permission on a later arrival.
A still-valid multiple-entry visa or endorsement may authorise another entry, but it should be read together with the current permission. A work permit, APEC Business Travel Card or other non-Immigration credential does not by itself preserve a separate Immigration extension. Where the stamps are unclear, the responsible Immigration office decides what endorsement is required.
Single vs multiple — the math
Using the official fees re-verified on 1 August 2026, the multiple permit becomes cheaper from the fourth trip during the underlying permission's remaining validity.
Calculation basis: 1,000 THB single and 3,800 THB multiple, per the Immigration handbook re-verified 1 August 2026.
| Trips planned | Single × N | Multiple flat | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ฿1,000 | ฿3,800 | Single |
| 2 | ฿2,000 | ฿3,800 | Single |
| 3 | ฿3,000 | ฿3,800 | Single (close) |
| 4 | ฿4,000 | ฿3,800 | Multiple |
| 5+ | ฿5,000+ | ฿3,800 | Multiple |
The table compares official fees only. A multiple permit does not extend the underlying permission, so the relevant trip count is the number of departures before that permission expires.
Where the official material says to apply
The Immigration Bureau handbook says the application is made before departure. Reopened on 1 August 2026, the official Suvarnabhumi Airport service page again publishes a re-entry-permit service, the TM8 document set and the official fees. A separate current AOT Immigration (Re-Entry) listing, also checked on 1 August 2026, places that office on Floor 2 in the Arrival public area and publishes daily hours of 08:00–16:30. Confirm the intended departure-day route directly with the airport before relying on this location.
For a Pattaya filing, Jomtien Immigration is the responsible local office. Its current hours and any local copy requirements are not stated in the national handbook and must be confirmed with that office.
Published application sequence
- Confirm that the office or departure airport is accepting TM8 applications.
- Submit Form TM8, the passport and copy, and one 4 × 6 cm photograph, as listed in the Immigration handbook re-verified 1 August 2026.
- Pay the official fee: 1,000 THB for a single permit or 3,800 THB for a multiple permit, as of 1 August 2026.
- Read the returned endorsement and its expiry date.
The permit does not extend the permitted-stay date. It preserves the underlying permission only until that permission expires.
If you forgot the re-entry permit
If you have already left without the required permit, the permission of stay it was meant to protect has normally ended. A later arrival is assessed on whatever visa or exemption is valid for that arrival; it does not restore the old extension. Confirm the available route with the relevant Royal Thai Embassy or Immigration office.
The official handbook reviewed on 1 August 2026 does not publish a retroactive TM8 procedure. A fresh admission does not recreate an extension that ended on departure.
What changed in this verification
1 August 2026: the official Suvarnabhumi service page confirms the service, TM8 evidence and fees. A separate current AOT listing now supplies an Immigration (Re-Entry) office location on Floor 2 in the Arrival public area and daily hours of 08:00–16:30; because this is not described as the departure checkpoint counter, travellers should confirm the intended departure-day route with the airport. The official 1,000 THB single and 3,800 THB multiple fees were re-verified with no published change.
FAQ
I have a multi-entry visa already — do I still need a re-entry permit?
Read the current visa or endorsement together with the permitted-until stamp. A valid unused entry may authorise a later arrival, while a TM8 preserves an existing permission. The Immigration office can confirm which result the stamps produce.Can I get a re-entry permit retroactively?
No. The permit must be issued before departure. A later entry does not restore the permission that ended.Can I buy a multi-entry permit when I already have a single?
Ask the issuing office to check the existing endorsement. As of 1 August 2026, the published official fees are 1,000 THB for a single permit and 3,800 THB for a multiple permit.Does the re-entry permit continue after I extend my stay?
Do not assume it does. The permit is tied to the underlying permitted-stay date shown in the passport. Ask the officer to confirm the new expiry date and obtain a new permit if required before travel.I'm on Non-O-A with a multiple-entry endorsement — do I need a permit?
Read the current endorsement and its expiry date. If it still authorises another entry, a separate TM8 is not normally needed; an extension of stay may have different re-entry conditions, so ask the officer to confirm before departure.Pattaya walkthrough: Re-entry permit at Jomtien 2026