Visitors to Thailand must obtain a visa from one of the Thai diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries, or citizens who may obtain a visa on arrival, or citizens eligible for an e-Visa.[1]

Visa policy map

Visa policy of Thailand
  Thailand
  Visa not required (90 days within 6 months)
  Visa not required (30 days)
  Visa not required (14 days)
  Visa on arrival (15 days)
  eVisa (60 days)
  Visa required in advance

History

In May 2014, there was a brief crackdown on visa runs, meaning that if foreigners wish to re-enter Thailand after their visa-free or visa on arrival period has expired they have to obtain a visa in advance, or remain outside Thailand at least for one night.[2] In August 2014, Thailand Prime Minister ordered the Immigration Police to be more flexible as the strict application of the law was affecting schools and the tourist industry.[3] On 31 October 2018 it was announced that within 30 days (by the end of November 2018), overstay visas will no longer be allowed, and there will be no remaining overstayers in the kingdom by that date.[4]

Visa exemption for ordinary passports

Due to bilateral visa exemption agreements with Thailand, citizens of the following countries and territories may enter Thailand without a visa for up to the duration listed below.[1][5] They may enter via any port of entry (unless otherwise noted).

90 days within any 6 months (6)

30 days (10)

14 days (2)

T - Temporary measure: 90 days from 1 September 2023 until 30 April 2024, then 30 days.[6]
1 - For Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport only.

The reciprocal visa-free regime with  China will be effective since 1 March 2024. The duration of stay is 30 days at a time, no more than 90 days within any 180 days.[7]

Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme

Under the Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme, citizens of countries and territories around the world may enter Thailand without a visa for a stay of up to 30 days, provided the purpose of entering Thailand is for tourism only.[1][5][8] They may apply to extend their stay for another 30 days since 29 August 2014.[9]

Citizens of the following countries are eligible for the scheme, and may enter Thailand via any port of entry:[1][5][8]

Citizens of the following countries and territories are also eligible for the scheme, but are limited to a maximum of two visa-exempt entries per calendar year when entering Thailand via land or sea. There is no limit imposed when entering Thailand by air.[1][5][8][10][11]

B - Visa exemption under a bilateral agreement.
T1 - Temporary measure from 25 September 2023 until 29 February 2024.[12]
T2 - Temporary measure from 10 November 2023 until 10 May 2024.
1 - For Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport holders only.
2 - For British citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) only.

Visa exemption for diplomatic or service passports

  Thailand
  Diplomatic and service category passports
  Diplomatic passports

Holders of diplomatic or service passports issued by the following countries and territories are allowed to visit Thailand without a visa for a maximum period of up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):[5]

D - diplomatic passports only.
1 - 30 days

Visa on arrival / Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

Besides traditional visa on arrival policy, from 21 November 2018 Thailand started issuing tourist visas valid for 15 days in a simplified procedure to visitors from the countries whose citizens are eligible for visa on arrival.[13] Electronic visa application also became available from February 2019 in some of the consulates of Thailand abroad.[14][15][16][5][17]

Thai visa on arrival stamp on a Russian passport
External image
image icon Map of entry points with Visa on Arrival facility
Visa type eVisa eVOA VOA
Multiple Single Single Single
Duration of stay 60 days 15 days
Validity 6 Months 3 Months 30 days N/A
Visa-fee Depend on applicant's nationality and resident place (cheaper than VOA) Standard: 2,560 THB

Express: 4,560 THB

 Standard: 2,000 THB

Express: 2,200 THB

Processing time 3-10 working days Standard: 24-72 hours

Express: less than 24 hours

 May up to several hours (depends on the busyness of visa office)
Proof of fund 60,000 THB (upload proof online) 20,000 THB (upload proof online) Following items may be checked at port of entry:
  • 10,000 THB cash per person, or
  • 20,000 THB cash per family, or
  • Equivalent foreign currency
Extendable Yes No
Application submission thaievisa.go.th thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com Visa office at the port of entry
Eligible citizens

Visa on arrival

E-Visa

1 - Already visa-exempt from visa requirement through a bilateral visa waiver agreement.[10]
2 - Already visa-exempt from visa requirement temporarily.

Eligible ports of entry

There are 48 immigration checkpoints providing visa on arrival, including:[18]

International Airport

# - Airport which accepts e-visa on arrival

Land and harbor checkpoint

Visa required in advance

Citizens of the following countries and territories must apply for a visa at the Thai embassy or consulate in their home country. Thai embassies or consulates abroad only accept applications of these citizens if they have a residence permit of the country they want to apply from.[19]

Latin American Countries

Transit

Passengers transiting through Suvarnabhumi Airport for less than 12 hours do not require a visa, unless they are travelling on Angkor Air, Beijing Capital Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Eastar Jet, Golden Myanmar Airlines, IndiGo, Intira Airlines, Jeju Air, Jet Asia Airways, Jetstar Asia Airways, Jetstar Pacific, Jin Air, Juneyao Airlines, Lao Central Airlines, Tigerair Mandala, Norwegian Air, Orient Thai Airlines, Regent Airways, Shandong Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, South East Asian Airlines, SpiceJet, Spring Airlines, T'way Airlines, Thai Smile, Tigerair or VietJet Air.[1]

Those transiting through Don Mueang International Airport for less than 12 hours do not require a visa only when travelling on Thai AirAsia or Thai AirAsia X.[1]

Citizens of Pakistan are required to obtain a visa when transiting through Thailand at all times.[20]

APEC Business Travel Card

Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing "THA" on the back of the card may enter Thailand without a visa for business trips for up to 90 days.[1]

ABTCs are issued to citizens of:

Mandatory yellow fever vaccination

Mandatory yellow fever vaccination for Thailand

Citizens of the following countries or citizens arriving from the following countries require an International Certificate of Vaccination in order to enter Thailand, unless they produce evidence that they do not reside in the following areas. Failure to fulfill this requirement could result in refusal of entry into Thailand.[21]

Visa types

General visa types

  • Courte Upon official request, the Royal Thai Embassy may grant courtesy visas/laissez-passer to diplomats/UN officials/others who wish to enter the Kingdom on official duty and/or other purposes
  • Permanent resident: To qualify for this visa, you must have stayed in Thailand for 3 consecutive years with the one-year visa extensions. If married to a Thai for 5 years, one must be earning 30,000 baht/month. If single, your monthly income must be 80,000 baht minimum.
  • Tourist: If an individual wishes to remain in Thailand for more than 30 days, he/she may wish to obtain a tourist visa at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate prior to arriving in Thailand. The tourist visa must be used within validity date, that varies with the number of entries purchased, and allows an initial stay of 60 days. After arrival in Thailand, a tourist visa or a visa exempt entry may be extended once for an additional 30 days according to immigration Bureau order 327/2557. There is a 1,900 baht fee for each extension.
  • Transit: This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for the following purposes: to travel in transit through the Kingdom in order to proceed to the country of destination or to re-enter his/her own country (category "TS"); the person in charge of or crew of a conveyance coming to a port, station, or area in the Kingdom (category "C")

Non-Immigrant visa types

  • Type B: to conduct business; work; attend business conferences; teach school; attend scuba diving, muay Thai, and massage courses
  • Type D: diplomatic visa
  • Type ED: to study; to come on a work study tour or observation tour; to participate in projects or seminars; to attend a conference or training course; to study as a foreign Buddhist monk
  • Type EX: to undertake skilled work or to work as an expert or specialist
  • Type F: to perform official duties, e.g., military exercises or governmental assignments
  • Type IB: to invest or perform other activities relating to investment, subject to the provision of the established laws on investment promotion
  • Type IM: to invest with the concurrence of the Thai ministries and governmental departments concerned
  • Type M: to work as a film-producer, journalist, or reporter with permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Type O: to visit family; to perform duties for a state enterprise or social welfare organizations (NGOs); to receive medical treatment; to be a sports coach as required by the Thai government; to be a contestant; to be a witness in a judicial process
  • Type O-A: retirement visa
  • Type R: to perform missionary work or other religious activities with the concurrence of the Thai ministries or government departments concerned
  • Type RS: to conduct scientific research or training or teaching in a research institute
  • Type S:to participate in an officially recognised sports event.

Statistics

Most visitors arriving to Thailand on short term basis were from the following countries of nationality:

Country 11/202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012
 Malaysia 4,044,0391,948,5495,511619,6234,265,5744,020,5263,494,4883,494,8903,418,8552,613,4183,041,0972,554,397
 China 3,095,154273,56713,0431,251,49810,997,33810,535,2419,806,2608,757,6467,936,7954,636,2984,637,3352,786,860
 South Korea 1,468,399538,76612,077262,0171,890,9731,796,4261,709,2651,464,2001,373,0451,122,5661,295,3421,163,619
 India 1,452,341997,9136,544263,6591,996,8421,598,3461,415,1971,194,5081,069,422932,6031,050,8891,013,308
 Russia 1,276,801 435,008 30,759 590,151 1,483,337 1,472,789 1,346,338 1,090,083 884,136 1,606,430 1,746,565 1,316,564
 Vietnam 964,606468,3931,794132,1271,048,1811,028,150935,179830,220751,162559,415725,057618,670
 Singapore 898,687 614,627 5,931 126,771 1,059,484 1,069,867 1,032,647 967,550 938,385 844,133 955,468 831,215
 Laos 815,827 502,124 733 380,207 1,854,792 1,664,630 1,682,087 1,388,020 1,220,522 1,053,983 976,639 975,999
 United States 815,395453,67837,880212,6691,165,9501,122,2701,056,423975,643867,505763,520823,486768,638
 Hong Kong 731,087162,2401,657124,5181,045,3611,015,749821,064751,264669,617483,131588,335473,666
 Japan 720,497290,1469,461322,6771,806,4381,656,1011,544,4421,439,5101,381,7021,267,8861,536,4251,373,716
 United Kingdom 705,602444,43238,663223,087992,574986,854994,7551,004,345947,568907,877905,024873,053
 Indonesia 680,030235,6322,57799,530710,494644,709576,110534,797469,125497,592594,251447,820
 Taiwan 651,694 94,834 1,675 117,511 790,039 687,748 573,077 522,273 552,699 394,149 502,176 394,225
 Germany 628,221365,03045,874231,782852,481886,523850,139837,885761,819715,240737,658682,419
 Australia 614,121336,6889,577123,827767,291801,203817,218796,370807,450831,854900,460930,241
 Cambodia 529,006379,6654,914165,027910,696948,824840,871674,975537,950550,339481,595423,642
 France 481,578 268,587 23,461 237,317 745,346 749,556 740,190 738,878 681,114 635,073 611,582 576,106
 Philippines 416,871178,0214,07872,762506,430432,237381,252339,150310,968304,813321,571289,566
 Myanmar 348,089 193,778 7,256 55,279 378,232 368,188 365,606 341,626 259,678 206,794 172,383 129,385
 Israel 206,236 146,293 14,038 29,444 195,856 188,788 173,673 161,579 141,031 138,778 134,874 129,551
 Netherlands 205,661 116,354 8,539 52,402 241,608 236,265 222,409 235,762 221,619 211,524 218,765 208,122
 Canada 186,906 90,608 6,440 58,499 273,214 276,094 258,494 244,869 227,601 211,059 229,897 219,354
 Saudi Arabia 165,933 96,389 467 4,227 30,006 28,337 33,531 24,834 19,168 12,860 21,452 17,084
 Italy 160,687 85,254 5,322 60,602 272,374 279,905 264,524 265,597 246,094 219,875 207,192 200,703
 Kazakhstan 145,268
 Sweden 141,516 97,378 17,094 111,994 287,341 311,949 323,736 332,895 321,690 324,865 341,398 364,681
 Spain 139,793 87,400 3,514 25,904 188,997 181,880 179,584 168,900 150,995 116,983 123,084 113,141
  Switzerland 132,673 81,180 11,429 52,361 192,130 207,471 209,528 209,057 206,480 201,271 199,923 191,147
 United Arab Emirates 123,457 65,857 4,061 7,492 130,158 128,270 137,218 130,941 124,719 117,907 123,926 113,547
 Bangladesh 125,765 81,106 1,955 21,838 136,677 129,574 121,765 100,263 107,394 88,134 82,418 72,657
 Poland 101,871
 Denmark 100,986 64,249 8,480 66,848 162,456 169,373 161,920 165,581 159,435 160,977 163,186 167,499
 New Zealand 76,512 35,900 1,151 15,709 112,680 116,726 117,962 111,595 112,411 108,081 118,395 113,871
 Austria 76,038 42,683 5,486 36,381 111,428 116,656 104,784 100,373 97,869 100,968 106,278 94,667
 Belgium 75,698 48,684 5,386 26,394 114,669 114,270 112,266 111,013 106,090 99,729 101,109 94,896
 Norway 70,756 46,521 5,763 39,778 127,992 128,841 127,850 131,039 135,382 145,207 154,049 148,796
 Finland 61,990 38,561 6,139 59,567 128,014 140,961 140,464 134,238 134,750 142,425 141,692 154,919
Total 24,838,066 11,153,026 427,869 6,725,193 39,916,251 38,178,194 35,591,978 32,529,588 29,923,185 24,809,683 26,546,725 22,353,903

Work permit

To legally work in Thailand, a foreigner must apply for a work permit. Work permit is a legal document that states a foreigner's position, current occupation, or job description and the Thai company he is working with. It also serves as a license to perform a job or an occupation allowed for foreigners inside Thailand. A foreigner is eligible to apply for a work permit as long as he has a non-immigrant visa or a resident visa, has an available employer who will provide documents for work permit, and the occupation he will perform is not prohibited to foreigners.[22]

One Stop Service Centre for Visas and Work Permits

The One Stop Service Centre for Visas and Work Permits was established on 1 July 1997 by authority of the Regulations of the Office of Prime Minister promulgated on 30 June 1997. The objective of this centre is to simplify visa extension and permit issuance procedures to create a good investment environment. It aims to facilitate applications of visa extension and work permits (e.g., stay permission, re-entry permit, work permit). The Centre is located on Chamchuree Square Building, Floor 18, Phatumwan, Bangkok.[23]

Foreigners who are eligible to apply for visa extension and work permits

  • Foreigner who is an executive or expert with privileges accorded to them by the following laws:
    1. Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (1977);
    2. Petroleum Act B.E. 2514 (1971);
    3. Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act B.E. 2522 (1979);
  • Foreigner who is an investor.
    1. If investing not less than 2 million Baht, he or she will be granted a 1-year permit.
    2. If investing not less than 10 million Baht, he or she will be granted a 2-year permit.
  • Foreigner who is an executive or expert.
  • Foreigner's associated company should be registered with capital or possess asset of not less than 30 million Baht.
  • Foreigner who is a member of the foreign press must present a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a copy of an ID Press Card issued by the Department of Public Relations.
  • Foreigner who is a researcher or developer on science and technology.
  • Foreigner who is employed in a branch office of an overseas bank, foreign banking office of an overseas bank, provincial foreign banking office of an overseas bank or a representative office of the foreign bank in which all offices are certified by the Bank of Thailand.
  • Foreigner who works on the necessary and urgent basis for a period of no longer than 15 days.
  • Foreigner who is an official of the representative office for foreign juristic persons concerning the International Trading Business and Regional Office of Transnational Corporation in accordance to the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999).
  • Foreigner who is an expert on information technology.
  • Foreigner who works at regional operating headquarters.

See also

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Thailand.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Phuket: Strict new immigration regulations mean crackdown on visa runs
  3. ↑ Phuket: Coup leader calls for Immigration to relax 'out-in' visa clampdown
  4. ↑ No more overstayers, no more corruption at Immigration – Hakparn
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Summary of Countries and Territories entitled for Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival to Thailand" (PDF). กรมการกงสุล กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ (in Thai). Department of Consular Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "Thailand Extends Visa-Free Visits for Russian Tourists". Voice of America. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  7. ↑ "ไทย-จีน "วีซ่าฟรี" เริ่ม 1 มี.ค. อยู่ครั้งละ 30 วัน ลุ้นนักท่องเที่ยวคึกคัก". Thairath (in Thai).
  8. 1 2 3 "Visa Exemption Scheme | Royal Thai Embassy". thaiembassy.sg. Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  9. ↑ "Thailand to Offer Extra 30 Days to Visa Exempt Travellers". asiatraveltips.com. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  10. 1 2 Royal Thai Consulate General, Hong Kong. "Revision of the Visa Exemption Scheme Regulation" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  11. ↑ "Thailand Visa Exemption Available for 7 New Countries".
  12. ↑ "Thailand to waive tourist visas for Chinese to boost economy". NIKKEI ASIA.
  13. ↑ "Visa on Arrival".
  14. ↑ "Thailand offers online visa applications from February".
  15. ↑ "E-visas available from February 2019. China first country". 3 December 2018.
  16. ↑ "China First to Benefit From Thai E-Visas Next Year". Archived from the original on 2018-12-04.
  17. ↑ "Launch of Online Stickerless E-Visa Application Platform &Termination of Visa Application in Person and by Post". สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงเอเธนส์. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  18. ↑ Royal Thai Embassy, Singapore. "VISA ON ARRIVAL". Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  19. ↑ "สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงย่างกุ้ง".
  20. ↑ Thailand makes transit visa mandatory for Pakistani passengers
  21. ↑ Thailand Visa Information : List of countries which require International Health Certificate for Yellow Fever Vaccination.
  22. ↑ "Thai Visas for Americans". US Embassy and Consulate. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  23. ↑ "Thailand Visa Information : Non-Immigrant Visa "B" (for Business and Work) - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand". mfa.go.th. Retrieved 2018-09-08.


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