Why is the passport taken on the ferry from Ko Lipe and when will it be returned?

On the ferry from Ko Lipe to Langkawi, passengers' passports are taken—this is a standard and mandatory procedure for this route, related to border crossing. There's no need to be alarmed.

Why this is necessary: After you pass the Thai exit passport control at the Ko Lipe pier and receive the exit stamp, the ferry company staff collect all passports. This is done for the orderly transfer of documents to Malaysian border officials and to speed up the border processing upon approach to Langkawi.

When it will be returned: Your passports will be returned directly on board the ferry, approximately 30-40 minutes before arrival at the Langkawi port. A crew member will walk through the cabin and distribute the documents. Upon receiving your passport, check if it is your document and if it has the exit stamp from Thailand. With these documents, you will then disembark and go through Malaysian passport control.

This process has been refined over the years but requires attentiveness from the traveler. All details of the boarding and border crossing procedure are described in our guide, based on personal experience. Learn more in the article From Ko Lipe to Langkawi: Complete Guide to the Route in 2026.

Follow the link, here are all the answers to your questions - https://t.me/nashaplaneta_chat