1. Can I apply for a passport through the postal mail service?

No, you cannot. It is because biometric data such as fingerprints, facial images, and iris scans need to be recorded and stored in the passport booklet, so you must come in person to do it.

2. Can I request services without scheduling an appointment?

It is recommended that individuals who wish to apply for a passport to schedule an appointment in advance through the online appointment system. Click here to schedule an online appointment. When your appointment is successfully scheduled, you will immediately receive a confirmation email from the system. The email will specify the date and time of your chosen appointment, along with a checklist of the required documents to bring on the day of your service. This is to help you prepare all necessary documents in advance, avoid long waiting times, or the possibility of not being able to process your passport application.

3. If family members want to apply for passports at the same time, do they need to schedule separate appointments?

They must schedule separate appointments because one appointment slot can only be scheduled for one person.

4. If there is an urgent need to use a passport, what should I do?

You can apply for an emergency passport (valid for 1 year) or an emergency travel document (valid for 30 days and can only be used for one entry into Thailand). Click here for more details.

5. If it is not convenient to come in person to apply for a passport at the consular office, are there any other alternatives?

Applicants for a passport must present themselves to officers. The consular team will also provide mobile consular services, where the team travels to provide services in various states within the jurisdiction. This service is provided regularly throughout the year. 

If you reside within the jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Embassy, you can find information about the mobile consular service at the Mobile Consular Services page.

For further inquiries, please contact a passport officer at (202)640-5310 or email: [email protected]

6. What documents are required when applying for a passport, and where can I find this information?

You can find information about applying for a passport and the required documents on the website https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/th/page/passport.

7. Is it possible to apply for a passport before it expires?

You can apply for a new passport before it expires. 

8. Do the supporting documents for a passport application, such as a copy of the national ID card, copy of household registration, copy of birth certificate, and copy of marriage/divorce certificate, need to be certified as "true copy"?

No need to write "certified as true copy"

9. Do I need to bring a passport photo on the day of my appointment?

No, you do not need to. The officer will take your photo on the day of your appointment. 

10. Is it possible to request the current passport for use while waiting for the delivery of the new passport?

Yes, the officer will return your current passport to you immediately on the day of your service.

11. What should I do if my passport is stolen or lost?

If your passport is stolen or lost and it is still valid, you should report it to the local police where it was stolen or lost. You have to also bring the police report when applying for a new passport on the day of your service. However, if you have an urgent need to use a passport, you can consider applying for an Emergency Passport or an Emergency Travel Document through the postal mail service as an alternative.

12. How do Emergency Passports differ from Emergency Travel Documents?

Emergency Passports and Emergency Travel Documents are issued to individuals whose passports are lost, damaged to the extent of being unusable, or have expired while abroad. These documents are issued with complete supporting evidence, and the applicant requires urgent travel without the possibility of waiting for the issuance of a new passport. The Royal Thai Embassy will consider issuing one of these documents based on the purpose of use, as follows:

Emergency Travel Documents (ETD)

Emergency Passport (EMP)

Individuals with other urgent purposes but have NOT yet planned to return to Thailand.

1 year

Processing Time after Receiving the Application (Excluding Postal Delivery Time)

3-5 business days

8 USD

By mail / in-person

How to Receive

By mail (USPS Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope) 

or

in-person

By mail (USPS Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope) 

or

in-person

13. If I need to change my last name in a passport due to marriage or divorce, what steps should I take?

You need to change your last name in the Thai House Registration system before applying for a new passport. This is because the information on the passport is based on the Thai House Registration database. You can initiate the process to change your last name by yourself or authorize another person to do so on your behalf through the district office or the sub-district office. Afterward, you can use the official documents indicating the name change as supporting documentation when applying for the new passport.

14. If my passport has expired, will I be able to travel back to Thailand?

If your passport has less than 6 months of validity remaining, please contact the airline in advance to inquire whether you can use a passport with less than 6 months' validity for your travel. If the airline does not allow it, you can contact the Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C. or Royal Thai Consulate-General to apply for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD)

15. Is it necessary to have my name registered in the Thai House Registration if I want to apply for a passport?

With the exception of applying for the first passport, it is necessary to have your name registered in the Thai House Registration, also known as the "Tabien Baan". 

16. If I wish to apply for a passport and a Thai national ID card on the same day, or if I do not have a valid ID card due to theft or loss, do I need to schedule separate online appointments to request these services?

In case of Thai passport and Thai national identification card (ID card) have both expired, please ONLY schedule an online appointment for passport renewal. DO NOT schedule an appointment for Thai national ID card renewal because on the day of your service request (if your passport renewal appointment is scheduled successfully), the officer will assist you in renewing your Thai national ID card before processing your passport renewal. However, if you have never had a national ID card, the officer will not be able to issue your first ID card abroad, as the first ID card must be obtained in Thailand only (please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on applying for a Thai national ID card for more details).

17. Is it possible to pay the passport fee with a credit card or personal check?

The Royal Thai Embassy ONLY accepts payments for passport fees and related consular fees (if applicable) by Money Order or Cashier's Check payable to "Royal Thai Embassy." However, the fee for the return mailing of a new passport must be paid in cash.

18. What steps should I take if I wish to have my child or someone born in the United States obtain their first Thai passport? 

Children or individuals born in the United States who wish to obtain their first Thai passport must first apply for a Thai Birth Certificate with the Royal Thai Embassy or the Thai Consulate-General. This process must be completed before they can apply for a passport. Click here for more details on applying for Thai Birth Certificate.

19. What are the options to receive a new passport?  

• Self pickup. 
• By mail. You can receive the passport by mail by providing cash 31 USD to the officer on the day of your passport renewal appointment.
• Authorizing another person to collect on your behalf. You can authorize another person to collect the new passport on your behalf. Please provide the first and last name of the person you wish to authorize to collect the passport to the officer on the day of your passport renewal service. 
• Pickup in Thailand. You can collect the new passport by informing the officer on the day of service that you wish to receive a new passport at the Department of Consular Affairs, Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok).

20. If my family members or friends reside at the same address and have appointments to apply for passports on the same day, can the officer send our passports back to the same address in a single mailing envelope? 

Yes, if applicants reside at the same address, the officer can send the new passports in the same envelope for up to 4 individuals per envelope. You only pay the postal fee of 31 USD (per envelope) in cash to the officer on the day of your service.

21. Where can I apply for a passport in the United States? 

You can make an appointment to apply for a passport at the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., or at the Thai Consulate-General that is most convenient for you, as follows:

Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C. 

2300 Kalorama Rd., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008

Website: https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org

Royal Thai Consulate-General, New York

351 E 52nd St., New York, NY 10022

Website: https://newyork.thaiembassy.org

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago

700 N Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611

Website: https://cgchicago.thaiembassy.org

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles

611 N Larchmont Blvd. #2, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Website: https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org