Judging by the crowd on its first day of business, the Thai Passport Office in Pattaya is going to be a hit.
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon and City Council President Sanit Boonmachai opened the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office June 3 at the Avenue galleria on Second Road.
Staffer Kritthong Duangmanee said the first day drew a large number of Thais wanting to renew or apply for passports. Applicants all seemed happy to avoid the trip to Bangkok.
The first day at Pattaya’s new passport office was quite busy with people coming in to renew or apply for a passport.
Kritthong said the ministry opened the first passport office in Chonburi in Pattaya because of its large population and central location. The ministry is opening a number of passport offices around the country with the first on the Eastern Seaboard located in Chanthaburi.
Phakathip Baribunrat, 45, came to the passport office the first day to renew her passport, saying that traveling to Bangkok wastes an entire day.
Thais need only their identification card or birth certificate to apply. Office staffers will take the required photograph. The fee for a new passport is 1,040 and passports are delivered via post within 5-7 business days. For more information call 038-422-438.
