Thai passport (Thai: หนังสือเดินทางไทย) is the passport issued to citizens and nationals of Thailand by the Passport Division of the Department of Consular Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thai biometric passports have been issued since August 2005.
The history of Thai passports can be traced back to travel documents first issued during the reign of King Chulalongkorn in the late-19th century. The first passport regulations in Thailand were enacted in 1917, in order to ensure the country's security during World War I. A Thai passport booklet was first introduced in 1939 in Thai and French language which was changed to Thai and English in 1977. The first machine-readable Thai passports were introduced in 1993, and in August 2005 Thailand became only the second country in the world and in Asia (after Malaysia) to introduce biometric passports. In 2019, the validity of Thai passports was increased from 5 years to 10 years.[1]
A 3rd generation passport planned for release in mid 2020 will feature iris scan identification and be valid for 10 years. The number of offices available to apply for a passport will increase from 319 to 500.
Since Srettha Thavisin became Prime Minister of Thailand, his government has sought to empower the Thai passport, which The Passport Index ranked as the 52nd most powerful passport in 2024.[2] One of the ways his government has sought to empower it is by increasing the number of countries with visa exemptions for Thai passport holders. He dicussed the possibility of allowing Thai passport holders to enter Europe more easily with Belgian Prime MinisterAlexander De Croo during his visit to Davos, Switzerland in January 2024.[3] Also in the same month during the state visit of German presidentFrank-Walter Steinmeier to Thailand, he asked Steinmeier to support Thailand's push to get visa exemptions from member states of the Schengen area.[4]
The ordinary Thai passport cover is dark red with the Emblem of Thailand emblazoned in the centre. The official passport has a blue cover, the diplomatic passport a red cover and the temporary passport a green cover. All types have the word『หนังสือเดินทาง ประเทศไทย』(English translation: หนังสือเดินทาง nangsue doen thang- Passport; ประเทศไทย prathet thai - Thailand) above the national emblem and the words THAILAND - PASSPORT below it. The biometric symbol is at the bottom of e-passports. The passport contains 66 pages.
Certificate of Identity (C.I.) - Issued to a Thai citizen who has had a passport stolen, lost, or damaged for 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 government officials in the field of diplomatic service.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the Kingdom of Thailand named herein to pass freely without delay or hindrance and to give all lawful aid and protection. This passport is valid for all countries and areas.
Countries and territories with visa-free entries or visas on arrival for holders of regular Thai passports
Thailand
Visa-free
Visa on arrival or eVisa
Visa on arrival
eVisa
Visa required
As of 2024, Thai citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 83 countries and territories, ranking the Thai passport 63rd in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.[1]
Thai Passport Holders Living as Permanent Residents Abroad[edit]
For some countries, Thai nationals may enter as tourists without an advance visa provided they can produce official documentation of lawful permanent residence abroad. In particular, Thai permanent residents of the United States or Canada can show their US Green Card or Canadian Permanent Resident Card together with their Thai passport in order to gain entry to many countries in Central America and the Caribbean. Notable example is Jamaica. (Note that in many cases US or Canadian permanent residence will allow a traveler to gain entry as a tourist regardless of their nationality).
