passport

  • Thailand NewsSyrians arrested at Phuket Airport with fake passports

    Syrians arrested at Phuket Airport with fake passports

    In a dramatic bust at Phuket International Airport yesterday, two Syrian men were arrested for attempting to enter Thailand with forged passports. The suspects, Abdulkarim and Mohamad, both aged 23, yesterday, September 30, travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket on Batik Air Malaysia, flight OD540. They presented what appeared to be United Arab Emirates (UAE) passports—but they didn’t fool the sharp-eyed…

  • TravelWhat to do when you lost your passport in Thailand

    What to do when you lost your passport in Thailand

    Losing your passport in Thailand can feel overwhelming, but don’t panic. With the right steps, you can manage the situation smoothly. Here’s a simple guide to help you through the process and get things back on track. 1. Stay calm and gather your info First things first, don’t freak out! Losing your passport can feel like the end of the…

  • Thailand NewsBorderline chaos: Malaysian tourists banned from entering Thailand

    Borderline chaos: Malaysian tourists banned from entering Thailand

    Border drama unfolded yesterday when 39 Malaysian tourists found themselves banned from entering Thailand, thanks to unresolved passport issues, outstanding tax debts, and past criminal records. Kedah Immigration Director Mohd Ridzzuan Mohd Zain spilled the details yesterday, September 16, revealing an array of reasons for the entry denials. “We had 10 cases of damaged passports, torn, waterlogged, missing pages, and…

  • Thailand NewsChinese woman detained over illegal passport ad in Thailand

    Chinese woman detained over illegal passport ad in Thailand

    Royal Thai Police (RTP) detained a Chinese woman for allegedly commissioning and installing a controversial advertisement promoting passport services for relocating to another country. The suspect claims she was merely an intermediary working for a company in Hong Kong and communicated via a Chinese app and LINE, earning 17,000 baht for her role. The RTP, led by Thiti Sangsawang and…

  • Thailand NewsIndian man glues passport pages to hide Thailand trips from wife

    Indian man glues passport pages to hide Thailand trips from wife

    A 33 year old logistics operator from Satara, India, found himself in hot water at Mumbai International Airport. Immigration officials detained the Indian man just before he could board a flight to Thailand, uncovering his audacious attempt to conceal past trips from his wife. Tushar Pawar’s arrest followed the discovery that he had tampered with 12 pages of his passport, glueing…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s 60-day visa exemption unleashes unlimited entry by land

    Thailand’s 60-day visa exemption unleashes unlimited entry by land

    Three days into Thailand’s 60-day entry visa exemption, a tourist discovered there are no restrictions on the number of entries by land in a calendar year. Tod Daniels, ASEAN NOW‘s visa expert reported that the tourist did two free stamp land entries this year, left Thailand then entered the country again, and got a new 60-day entry with no issues.…

  • Thailand NewsPolice arrest Russian gang leader for sale of counterfeit passports

    Police arrest Russian gang leader for sale of counterfeit passports

    Thai immigration officials apprehended the leader of a Russian gang involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit passports. The operation, which caused damages exceeding 30 million baht, had its manufacturing hub in the Dominican Republic before smuggling the fake documents into Thailand. Today, July 10, the Immigration Bureau held a press conference to announce the arrest of 44 year…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok airport’s automatic passport control ready for check-in

    Bangkok airport’s automatic passport control ready for check-in

    The head of the Thai Immigration Bureau inspected the readiness of Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s new automatic passport control channels, which will start being used by Thai citizens tomorrow, July 3. He also took the time to dine with the immigration officers, expressing the need to uphold their welfare. The Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, visited the immigration checkpoint…

  • Thailand NewsSyrian nationals detained in Phuket for alleged forged passports

    Syrian nationals detained in Phuket for alleged forged passports

    A trio of Syrian nationals were detained by the Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police in Phuket for allegedly carrying forged passports. Law enforcement officials first apprehended a suspect at the Phuket International Airport when he attempted to leave the country using a fraudulent United Arab Emirates passport. Subsequently, two other individuals were taken into custody on the island.…

  • Thailand News2 Chinese men arrested at Bangkok airport for fake Canadian passports

    2 Chinese men arrested at Bangkok airport for fake Canadian passports

    Officers from the Immigration Bureau arrested two Chinese men at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok for attempting to travel to Taiwan on fake Canadian passports. EVA Air check-in staff reported to the immigration police that two Chinese nationals presented their Canadian passports at the counter for the flights to Taipei in Taiwan. According to the flight schedule, the two were…

  • Thailand NewsChaos outside passport office claims lives in Myanmar

    Chaos outside passport office claims lives in Myanmar

    In Myanmar’s Mandalay, a rush for escape turned fatal as two lives were lost in a stampede outside a passport office yesterday. According to an AFP report, the victims, two women aged 52 and 39, succumbed to the overwhelming surge of hundreds clamouring to secure their passage out of the country, amplifying the harrowing toll of Myanmar’s societal upheaval. A…

  • Thailand NewsThai passport holders visa waiver with China boosts tourism

    Thai passport holders visa waiver with China boosts tourism

    Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the imminent signing of a visa waiver agreement between Thailand and China. The deal, to be sealed on Friday during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Thailand, promises to liberate citizens from both nations to explore each other’s territories freely, igniting a tourism revolution. Addressing the crowd at the Thailand 2024 – The…

  • Thailand NewsThai Consular introduces electronic documents services including e-passports

    Thai Consular introduces electronic documents services including e-passports

    Thailand‘s Department of Consular Affairs has introduced biometric e-passports and AI-powered consular applications. Below is a list of the e-services that the Department of Consular Affairs have launched: E-passports. The star of the show is the e-passport, boasting biometrics galore – facial images, fingerprints, and iris scans, all in line with international standards. E-visa. With an online system already rocking…

  • Thailand NewsPM Srettha seeks extension to visa-free countries list for Thai passport

    PM Srettha seeks extension to visa-free countries list for Thai passport

    Currently boasting entry to 34 nations without a visa, the Thai government is seeking to extend this list for Thai passport holders. In a recent Cabinet meeting, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavasin announced his pursuit of a much more powerful Thai passport that will extend the list of visa-free countries. Applauding recent expansions, including visa-free access to China, Russia, and…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s national park passports sold out, new supplies expected mid-January

    Thailand’s national park passports sold out, new supplies expected mid-January

    The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation announced that the National Park passports are currently out of stock, with new supplies expected around mid-January. Atthaphon Charoenchansa, the department’s director, revealed that the passports, which are used to record visits to various national parks across the country, are being continuously printed in collaboration with the National Park Association. Originally,…

  • Thailand NewsKing’s son returns to Thailand: Grabs first Thai ID and passport

    King’s son returns to Thailand: Grabs first Thai ID and passport

    His Majesty the King‘s second eldest son, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, has made a monumental return to Thailand, marking his presence by securing his first-ever Thai ID card and a brand-new passport. The royal revelation was brought to light by political maven Chompoonute Nakornthap, aka Cherie, in a Facebook post that set social media abuzz. The tantalising post yesterday, December 15, featured…

  • Crime NewsPassport pretender: Chinese woman’s Phuket Airport arrest sparks legal turbulence

    Passport pretender: Chinese woman’s Phuket Airport arrest sparks legal turbulence

    A Chinese woman was arrested last night for passport fraud at Phuket International Airport. The woman, identified as a 44 year old Chinese national, Jian Qi, attempted to bypass immigration control using a passport that did not belong to her, a crime that could lead to a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 baht…

  • Visa InformationYour guide to a visa run in Thailand

    Your guide to a visa run in Thailand

    Visa run in Thailand refers to the practice of leaving the country temporarily in order to reset or renew one’s visa or extend their permitted stay in the country. This is often done by foreign tourists, ex-pats, or digital nomads who wish to stay in Thailand for a longer period than their visa or visa exemption allows. Typically, a visa…

  • Thailand NewsPassport rip leaves TikTok creator unable to fly to Thailand

    Passport rip leaves TikTok creator unable to fly to Thailand

    A passport rip left a TikTok creator unable to fly to Thailand. Arabella Leat’s holiday plans to Thailand with her mum were ruined due to the small rip on her passport, the UK tabloid Daily Star reported. The young woman was left disappointed and unable to board her flight after airport staff deemed her passport unfit for travel. Arabella posted a TikTok…

  • Thailand NewsThai cops go above and beyond to help Chinese tourist return home

    Thai cops go above and beyond to help Chinese tourist return home

    Good eggs from the Royal Thai Police force in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand, helped a Chinese tourist get her passport back in the nick of time before her flight back to China last night. At 10pm, officers at Chang Phuak Police Station received a call from a distressed Chinese tourist. The tourist rented a car from a car rental…

  • ExpatsPayPal to lock out Thai users at end of month

    PayPal to lock out Thai users at end of month

    Most PayPal users in Thailand will be locked out of the service next month unless they jump through a series of complex and quite silly hoops that are intelligible only to Thai citizens. After a year of nothing but statements, PayPal told customers this morning that they cannot use the service after December 15 unless they take “certain actions” that,…

  • Hot NewsFormer Miss Grand Myanmar denied entry to Thailand, not arrested

    Former Miss Grand Myanmar denied entry to Thailand, not arrested

    In an update to a previous story, Miss Grand Myanmar 2020 was not arrested but was denied entrance to Thailand after returning from Vietnam. Previously, it was reported that she was arrested by the Royal Thai Police but authorities are now saying she was not arrested, only denied entry based on irregularities in her passport. Han Lay, the 23-year-old beauty…

  • Tourism NewsSaturday passport offices in Bangkok see a huge demand

    Saturday passport offices in Bangkok see a huge demand

    The Covid-19 pandemic is winding down, or at least the travel restrictions that came with it are, and for Thai people, this means it’s time to get the heck out of the country, according to passport office statistics this weekend. Two Bangkok-area passport offices were open on Saturday and reported a huge demand for processing passports on the weekend. As…

  • Tourism NewsThree Asian countries have the most useful passport

    Three Asian countries have the most useful passport

    For years, Europe has had the most powerful passports for travelling, but as the world emerges in the post-Covid-19 era, three countries in Asia hold the top spots now. Japan holds the top spot, with Japanese passport holders having easy access to 193 different countries. Singapore and South Korea are tied for second with 192 countries easily accessed with a…

  • Thailand NewsCertificates of vaccination can now be submitted through Mor Prom app from today

    Certificates of vaccination can now be submitted through Mor Prom app from today

    From today, those who have been fully vaccinated can now submit an application through the Mor Prom mobile app to receive a certificate of vaccination online. The move by the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute was made to help reduce long queue lines over applying for the certificates. The institute’s director, Kitpong Sunchatawirul, says the previous time-consuming lines were not ideal, so the institute decided to…

  • Tourism NewsWorld’s most travel-friendly passport list – 2021

    World’s most travel-friendly passport list – 2021

    The Henley Passport Index, which rates which passports are the most travel-friendly, has just released the list for 2021, with Japan once again at the top of the list. But the Index noted that this year’s international travel freedom comparison is mostly theoretical as the current Covid-19 situation continues to limit most international travel. With a Japanese passport, travellers can…

  • Phuket NewsForeigners seeking 60 day tourist visa extensions crowd Phuket Immigration

    Foreigners seeking 60 day tourist visa extensions crowd Phuket Immigration

    Many foreigners seeking to extend what some are calling the “Covid visa” crowded Phuket Immigration this morning. The queue stretched from the second floor, out the door and down the stairs at the front of the building. One man told the Phuket News that many were waiting to file a 60 day tourist visa extension. The visa extensions are intended…

  • ExpatsDeceased Phuket expat’s body stuck in hospital due to passport mix-up

    Deceased Phuket expat’s body stuck in hospital due to passport mix-up

    In a nightmarish scenario, a deceased Phuket expat’s body is stuck in a Thai hospital as his step‐daughter claims hospital administrators won’t release the body due to a passport mix‐up. Gemma Swift, the step‐daughter of 75 year old David Donoghue, who died 2 weeks ago, says she is pleading with embassy staff in Thailand to resolve, what she says, is…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Thai surrogacy ring, vaccine-passport | February 8

    Thailand News Today | Thai surrogacy ring, vaccine-passport | February 8

    An alleged illegal transnational surrogacy ring, posing as a cleaning company, has busted by Thailand’s cybercrime police after surrogate mothers were unable to deliver the children to buyers overseas due to the current travel restrictions. Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau raided 10 locations suspected of being involved in the underground transnational surrogacy network, arresting 3 alleged agents and…

  • Tourism NewsThai Vietjet announces 6 and 12 month unlimited travel passes

    Thai Vietjet announces 6 and 12 month unlimited travel passes

    Following the successful launch of Hat Yai Pass and Northeastern Pass, today, Thai Vietjet is now introducing the ‘Thailand Power Pass’ – an unlimited flight pass that allows passengers to fly on Thai Vietjet’s domestic network as often as they like within 6 or 12 months. The passes are available in two types – a 6 months pass at 12,000…