Thailand Tourist Visa

The big question... "Do I need a Thailand Tourist Visa?"

Visa on Arrival means that you arrive at one of the airports in Thailand with NO Thai visa in your passport. When you reach the passport-counter, you will then get a "visa" (more like a stamp) in your passport.

First:

Here are the nationalities who DO NOT need a visa to enter Thailand (also called Tourist Visa exemption). This means that you are one of nationalities who will get a visa stamp when you arrive at the airport in Thailand. And there is no charge for the visa exemption.

• Period of stay: 30 days if you arrive by air

Here are the 41 countries + Hong Kong listed in the Visa Exemption:

If you belong to one of the countries mentioned above, you should:

• Have a passport valid for 6 months after the date you return from Thailand.

  Example: If you leave Thailand on January 15th, your passport must be valid until July 15th.

• Have a round trip air ticket which shows that you`re leaving the country within 30 days

  Will you get into trouble if you only show a one-way ticket?

  In theory, yes. But in real life; you`ll likely be alright. When I arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, the officials didn`t even ask for my itinerary. And I met other travellers who showed their one-way ticket, but the officials just let them pass.

  But don`t get me wrong. Not all Thai officials are like that. This rule was apparently made to prevent over-stayers, so it`s not 100 % that you won`t get into trouble.

• Evidence of adequate finances 10.000 B (per person)

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Here are the nationalities who MUST have a Thailand Tourist visa:

This means that if your country is listed below, you have to get a Thai visa when you arrive at the airport.

• Period of stay: 15 days

Do you belong to one of the countries mentioned above?

Then you should:

• Have a passport valid for 6 months after the date you return from Thailand.

• Have a round trip air ticket which shows that you`re leaving the country within 15 days

• Evidence of adequate finances 10.000 B (per person)

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New Visa Rules -- The Backpackers` Strategy

If you`re going backpacking for
more than 30 days overall in Thailand, I suggest you apply for the tourist visa (with multi-entries).

This is why:

In December 2008, new visa rules came into force in Thailand.

Example: You arrive in Thailand and stay there for 4 weeks. You travel overland to Laos, then back to Thailand (by overland). When you arrive in Thailand this time, you only have 15 days of stay!

So, if you`re travelling overland and one of your stays is over 15 days you should apply for a tourist visa.

When and where should I apply for a tourist visa?

Here are some choices:

• Apply at your nearest Thai embassy in your home country, before departure.

• If you`re already on the road outside Thailand: Apply at a Thai embassy in the neighbouring countries (Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia)

If you apply for a Thailand tourist visa, it will last for 30 days or 60 days depending on which nationality you are.

If you have obtained a tourist visa before you travel to Thailand, and come from one of the countries listed in "Tourist Visa Exemption" (listed above) -- your period of stay is 60 days.

If your country is not listed and you hold a Thailand tourist visa before entering Thailand, you have 30 days period of stay.

Example: This means that if you apply for a tourist visa in your home country (say, Netherlands) before leaving for Thailand, you can go backpacking for 60 days in Thailand.

Here are the documents you need to apply for a Thailand tourist visa:

• Passport/travel document valid for at least 6 months after the date you return from Thailand

• Filled out visa application

• Recent passport-sized photographs

• Round trip air ticket

• Evidence of adequate finance: 10.000 baht per person. 20.000 baht per family.

The validity of a Thailand tourist visa?

3 or 6 months. This means that you have to use your visa within 3 or 6 months. It is NOT the same as period of stay!!!

Price: 1000 Baht per entry

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Thailand Tourist Visa Run

Changed your mind and want to apply for a Tourist Visa?

If you`re in Laos, go to the Thai embassy in Vientiane (opens in a new window)

If you`re in Cambodia, the Thai embassy is in Phnom Penh (opens in a new window -- you`ll be directed to the Embassy`s Contact Page)

Phone: (855) 23 726 306

If you`re in India (New Delhi):

Address: 56-N Nyaya Marg Chanakyapuri

Phone: (91-11) 26118103, 26118104

If you're in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur):

Address: 206 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

E-mail: thaikula(at)mfa.go.th

Office hours visa: Monday to Friday -- 0930 to 1300, and then 1430-1700

Consulate Section: Monday to Friday -- 0930 to 1130 (visa application), 1430-1630 (visa collection)

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Thailand Tourist Visa Extension

If you want to stay longer in Thailand and have to extend your visa, do it before it expires! There are three extensions here:

1. If you already possess a tourist visa, it can be extended up to 30 days

2. If you want to extend your 30 days visa free stay (like when you arrive at the international airport, you get a stamp in your passport saying you can stay in the country for 30 days), it can be extended once and you can stay in the country for another 14 days.

3. If you want to extend your 15 days visa free stay (like when you border cross to Thailand, you get 15 days), you can do it once and you can stay in the country for another 7 days.

Price: 1900 baht for EACH extension mentioned above (yup, expensive!)

Most offices will ask for:

• 1-2 passport sized photos

• 2 photocopies of the main pages of your passport, Thai arrival card, arrival stamp/visa.

• Your fingerprint

Go to ...

Bangkok Immigration Bureau
507 Soi SuanPlu
Sathorn Thai Road
Open: Mon-Fri 8:30 - 16:30. Closed on Saturday, Sunday and official holidays.

New address from October 1, 2009: Building B, Bangkok Government Center, Chaengwattana Road (close to the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chaengwattana Road.)

If you`re in Northern Thailand…

Chiang Mai Immigration Office
71 Airport Road, T Suthep, A Muang,
Chiang Mai 50200
Phone: 053 201755-6

If you`re in Southern Thailand…

Phuket Immigration Office
482 Phuket Road, A.Muang
Phone: (66) 076.221.905
Open: Mon-Fri 8.30 am - 4.30 pm. Closed Saturday, Sunday and official holidays.

If you`re in Bangkok and want to extend your Thailand visa, you might try the travel agents on Khao San Road. They can do the extensions for you. But beware of the fact that some of them have faked the stamps...

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Overstaying your Thailand Tourist Visa

If you overstay your Thailand visa, it will cost you 500 B per day (in theory). The maximum charge is 20.000 Baht.

But have in mind that some travelers have been charged more than 500 B per day. There`s a legal clause which states that the stated rules and regulations are to be implemented at the official`s discretion. So just because there`s some law written down somewhere, it doesn`t mean that they should follow it to the letter.

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You`re done with Thailand Tourist Visa, where do you want to go next?

Cambodia tourist visa?

Laos visa requirements?

Need a Malaysia visa?

Visa for India?

Want to know more about the border crossings?

Back to Visa?

Return from Thailand Tourist Visa to Backpacking Tips Asia Homepage.