Lost Passport in Thailand: How to Transfer Your Entry Stamp to an Emergency Document

If you lose your passport while traveling in Thailand, obtaining a temporary travel document from your embassy is only the first half of the process. Before you can legally board a flight to leave the country or apply for stay extensions, you must formally visit a Thai Immigration office to transfer your original entry stamp and visa status from the immigration database into your new emergency passport.

TL;DR: A lost passport in Thailand needs its own extra step: transferring your original entry stamp to your new document. You need a police report, an embassy-issued emergency passport with a formal cooperation letter, and a visit to Thai Immigration (such as Division 1 at Chaeng Watthana in Bangkok) to complete the free "Transfer of Stamp" process before you can depart or apply for extensions.

Step-by-Step Recovery Process

Step	Action Required	Document / Outcome	Location
1. Police Report	File a report of the lost document	Certified Police Report (Affidavit of Loss)	Local Thai police station
2. Emergency Document	Apply for replacement travel document	Emergency Passport + Embassy Request Letter	Embassy (Bangkok) or Consulate (Phuket/Chiang Mai)
3. Transfer Stamp	Submit documents to transfer entry record	Original Entry/Stay Stamp transferred to new document	Local Thai Immigration Office

1. File a Local Police Report

You must report the loss of your passport to the local Thai police immediately.

Requirements: Bring any copy or photocopy of your lost passport (if saved on your phone), details of your current hotel/accommodation in Thailand, and a passport-sized photo.
Outcome: The police will issue a certified report of the loss.
Warning: Check that your name spelling and passport number on the report match your records. This report is mandatory for the embassy and immigration.

2. Obtain an Emergency Travel Document and Embassy Letter

Visit your home country's embassy (in Bangkok) or consulate-general (in locations like Phuket or Chiang Mai).

Embassy/Consulate Role: They will issue an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) or Emergency Passport.
Cooperation Letter: Crucially, the embassy must also issue an official letter addressed to the Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau of Thailand. This letter requests cooperation to transfer the entry stamp and visa details from your lost passport to the new document.
Requirements: Typically includes the police report, passport photos, outbound flight details, and processing fees.

3. Visit Thai Immigration for the "Transfer of Stamp"

You cannot exit Thailand or pass through airport passport control using a blank emergency travel document. The new document must contain a record of your legal entry into the Kingdom.

Where to Apply:
- Bangkok: Immigration Division 1, Government Complex (Building B), Chaeng Watthana Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10210.
- Other Provinces: The provincial immigration office serving the area where you are currently staying (e.g., Phuket Immigration Office, Chiang Mai Immigration Office).
- Note: Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa holders should process this transfer at the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center (TIESC) at One Bangkok.
Required Documents:
1. Your new Emergency Travel Document/Passport.
2. The original certified police report regarding the lost passport.
3. The official request letter from your embassy/consulate.
4. A completed Transfer of Stamp to New Passport Form (available at the immigration office counter).
5. Photocopies of the new passport photo page, the police report, and any copies of the lost passport showing the original entry stamp or TM.6 card (if you have them).
Cost and Timing: This stamp transfer service is free of charge (no government fee is required). The process usually takes between 30 minutes and a few hours, depending on queue lengths.

Overstay Considerations

If your original permitted stay (such as a 60-day visa exemption or tourist visa) expires while you are waiting for your emergency passport or stamp transfer, you will face overstay fines of 500 THB per day (up to a maximum of 20,000 THB). Ensure you visit the immigration office as soon as you receive your new document to prevent penalties.