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New Thai Passports To Have 10 Year Validity?

Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Thai passports.

For those who are unaware, Thai passports generally, at least up to the time of this video, have a validity of 5 years. In times past you could actually renew those passports at Embassies abroad by getting a re-endorsement stamp. Here recently though, more and more you are seeing those passports need to be reissued. 

That stated, in a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: 10-year Thai Passport Launches. I thought this was interesting. Quoting directly: "A new Thai passport was launched on Wednesday with a plan to increase its validity for up to 10 years from next month." and this was published 9 July, 2020. Quoting further: "A Thai passport is currently valid for 5 years from the date of issue."  Quoting further: "The Department said it planned to increase the expiry period to up to 10 years next month." Again this was made in July 2020. 

Now those of you who have watched this channel or have watched the news at all lately would know that a lot of international travel has been highly truncated in recent weeks and months due to the shutdowns and the government responses associated with COVID-19. That stated, it appears that when things come back online, if you are looking to get a new passport it looks as though you will be able to get one for 10 years. I personally am a naturalized citizen so my initial passport was issued for 5 years. I am looking forward to being able to get a passport that lasts for 10 years. It is quite convenient having a passport with that kind of validity as strange as it seems, 5 years can actually go by a lot more quickly than one would think as opposed to 10 years which does seem to really drag on as far as the validity of the password goes. It doesn't seem like you are always updating or I should say renewing a passport if it is valid for 10 years. 

So interesting to note. A good thing I think for Thai nationals in that they will have a passport which will have a validity which will provide for a lot more status especially outside the country for a more prolonged period of time.