New-look 10-year passport

Consular department director-general Chatri Archjananun shows a copy of the new version of the passport on Wednesday, at a passport office in the MBK shopping centre. A revamped passport was launched on Wednesday, with a plan to increase its validity for up to 10 years from next month.

It will double the validity of current passports

The new passport was designed to increase security,  both for the holder and the country. New features include an embossed signature and other biometric data, according to the consular department.

It also features key historical places from the Sukhothai to Rattanakosin periods printed on every page, to provide knowledge for the holders, especially younger generations, according to the announcement

The department said it planned to increase the expiry period to up to 10 years next month.

The note inside the Thai Passport

Types of Thai passport

• Certificate of Identity (C.I.) – Issued to a Thai citizen who has had a passport stolen, lost, or damaged for an emergency return to Thailand. (C.I. valid for 10 days and expires when the holder reenters Thailand.)
• Travel Document for Alien (yellow cover) – Issued to non-Thai citizens who hold a certificate of Permanent Residence in Thailand for traveling abroad. The holder of this travel document must apply for a re-entry permit before leaving Thailand. A Travel Document for Alien will not be issued to a person who holds a valid passport from their country.
• Temporary passport (dark green cover) – Issued while waiting to get a new passport while abroad and when needed to travel to other countries. (Valid for one year and must be returned when the new passport is received.)
• Hajj passport – Issued to Thai Muslims for a pilgrimage to Mecca. (Valid for two years.)
• Ordinary passport (maroon cover) – Issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips. (Valid five years)
• Official passport (dark blue cover) – Issued to individuals representing the Thai government or a government officer on official business.
• Diplomatic passport (red cover) – Issued to members of the Thai royal family, top-ranking government officials, and diplomatic couriers.

Cost of Thai passport

• An ordinary passport is 1,000 Thai baht.
• Official passport is 1,000 baht which can be claimed back upon submission of the receipt.
• A diplomatic passport is free of charge.
• Hajj passport is 400 baht.
• Travel Document for Alien is 500 baht.
• The temporary passport is 296 baht.

The new passports will be issued after the ministry selects a winner for the 12-billion-baht production contract through e-bidding. The bidding process has still not begun.

The present passport contract, the second phase of improvements, ends in February next year.

Source: New-look 10-year passport

(Photo: Chanat Katanyu)

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