Thailand Immigration Office Finder
Find your nearest Thailand immigration office, check available services, queue expectations, documents required, and practical preparation tips before you visit.
Find your immigration office
Select your province and service to get office details, queue guidance, and a document checklist.
Adds a document checklist to results
Detailed Office Guides
In-depth guides — hours, queues, transport, documents, and tips for each office.
Bangkok — Chaeng Wattana
Thailand's main immigration hub. All visa types. Very busy — arrive by 07:30.
Chiang Mai Immigration Office
Most popular northern office. Promenada Mall location. Moderate queues.
Phuket Immigration Office
Busy office serving Phuket's large expat and tourist population. Arrive early.
Pattaya Immigration Office (Jomtien)
High-volume office for retirees and expats. One of Thailand's busiest regional offices.
Koh Samui Immigration Office
Island office in Nathon. Relaxed atmosphere — complex cases to Surat Thani mainland.
Hua Hin Immigration Office
Low-traffic, well-regarded office. Popular with retirees for smooth processing.
Krabi Immigration Office
Serves Krabi, Koh Lanta, and Koh Phi Phi. Quieter office — busier in high season.
Chiang Rai Immigration Office
Quieter northern alternative to Chiang Mai. Serves Chiang Rai province.
Udon Thani Immigration Office
Major Isaan expat hub. Known for efficient, friendly service. Retirement visa renewals.
Khon Kaen Immigration Office
Northeast Isaan office. Growing expat community. Efficient routine processing.
Before you visit immigration
Essential preparation that can save your trip — and prevent a wasted day.
Documents
Always bring originals AND clear photocopies of every document. Immigration often keeps copies. Standard: passport data page, current visa/extension, TM30 receipt, application form.
Photocopies
Make at least 2 copies of every page. Many offices have copy machines (฿1–2/page) but it's faster to arrive prepared. Copy: passport, visa stamp, extension, TM30, bank letter.
Passport Photos
Bring 2–4 recent 4×6cm photos on a white background. Required for most applications. Many offices have photo machines on-site but expect ฿100–200.
Arrive Early
Bangkok offices: arrive by 7:00–7:30am to get queue numbers. Regional offices: 8:00–8:30am. Afternoon sessions at some offices (1:00pm restart). Never arrive at 11:30am.
Cash Only
Immigration offices are cash-only. Bring exact amounts: ฿1,900 extension, ฿1,000 single re-entry, ฿3,800 multiple re-entry. ATMs available near major offices.
Dress Code
Dress conservatively — shoulders covered, no shorts at some offices. Think business casual. Flip-flops and sleeveless tops have occasionally caused issues at stricter offices.
Public Holidays
Thai public holidays and immigration-specific closures happen regularly. Check the Royal Thai Embassy website or call ahead. Offices also close during Songkran (April) for several days.
TM30 Before You Go
If you've moved or re-entered Thailand recently, ensure your landlord has filed TM30. Some offices now check TM30 compliance before processing applications.
How Thailand Immigration Offices Actually Work
Different offices interpret rules differently
Thailand's immigration system is technically uniform, but individual immigration officers and offices apply discretion differently. What's accepted at Chiang Mai may get additional scrutiny in Bangkok, and vice versa. This is why experienced expats often establish a relationship with a specific local office over time.
Bangkok vs. provincial offices
Bangkok's Chaeng Wattana is the country's main hub — highest volume, widest services, but longest queues. Provincial offices like Hua Hin, Udon Thani, and Chiang Rai are often faster with friendlier service and shorter processing times. Many retirees and long-stayers specifically choose to live in areas with manageable immigration offices.
Why queue times vary so much
Queue times depend on: day of week (Mondays and days after holidays are worst), time of arrival, season (Dec–March is peak expat renewal season), and the specific service you need. Re-entry permits are usually fast (20–30 min). Annual retirement visa renewals can take 3–5 hours at busy offices.
Immigration officer discretion
Officers have real discretionary power — particularly on document presentation, financial proof adequacy, and application completeness. Being polite, well-dressed, and organised with clearly labelled document sets genuinely helps. Arguing or showing frustration rarely improves outcomes.
Why agents use specific offices
Experienced visa agents are selective about which office they use for each type of application. They know which offices are faster, which officers are currently strict, and which documentation sets are working. If using an agent, ask which office they'll use and why — it's a good signal of their competence.
Online vs. in-person services
90-day reporting (TM47) can be done online at tm47.immigration.go.th for most visa types — saving significant time. TM30 can sometimes be filed online by landlords. Visa extensions, re-entry permits, and most formal applications still require in-person attendance.
Peak season congestion
November through March is peak visa renewal season — many retirement and marriage visa holders renew around the same period. Phuket, Pattaya, and Samui offices become particularly congested December–January. Submitting applications in September–October or April–October where possible can dramatically reduce wait times.
TM30 complications
TM30 (address notification) has become increasingly checked at immigration offices before processing applications. If your landlord hasn't filed TM30, your extension application may be rejected or delayed. Resolve TM30 issues before attending the immigration office to avoid wasted trips.
Official Thailand Immigration Bureau
For the official list of all immigration offices, operating hours, and announcements, visit the Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Thailand immigration offices and processes.
Related Tools
90-Day Reporting Tracker
Calculate your next TM47 deadline
Re-Entry Permit Planner
Plan travel without cancelling your visa
Visa Renewal Timeline
Plan your renewal milestones
Stay Days Calculator
Track days, tax threshold, overstay risk
Visa Eligibility Wizard
Find the right visa for your situation
Visa Cost Estimator
Estimate real yearly immigration costs
Need personalised immigration help?
Connect with a Thailand visa advisor for document review, office preparation guidance, and specific case support.
About Thailand Immigration Offices — What Expats Need to Know
Thailand's immigration system operates through a network of provincial offices under the Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau. Each province has at least one immigration office, and major expat hubs like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya have multiple offices handling high volumes of visa extensions, 90-day reports, re-entry permits, and retirement and marriage visa renewals.
Understanding which office to use and how to prepare is one of the most practical skills a long-stay foreigner in Thailand can develop. The wrong office, wrong documents, or wrong timing can mean a wasted day or a rejected application. This tool provides office-level guidance — including typical traffic levels, arrival timing, transportation options, and document checklists for common service types.
The Thailand immigration office that processes your application must generally correspond to the province where your TM30 (address notification) is registered. While this rule is not always enforced uniformly, using the correct local office reduces the risk of administrative complications. Bangkok residents should note that the main Chaeng Wattana office and the Don Mueang sub-office both serve Bangkok addresses — with Don Mueang often having shorter queues for straightforward applications.
For 90-day reporting (TM47), the online portal at tm47.immigration.go.th allows most long-stay visa holders to submit reports without visiting an office — a significant time-saver. For visa extensions, annual non-immigrant renewals, and re-entry permits, in-person attendance remains standard for most visa types. Always verify current requirements with the official Thai Immigration Bureau website before visiting.