Tourist visa for Thailand

What visa to go on holiday in Thailand ?

When you plan a trip to Thailand, you may need a visa. But if you stay in Thailand doesn't exceed 30 days, depending on the country your are from, no need to ask for a visa before departure, you will get the equivalent of a free visa on arrival (see below the list of countries). It is a measure of the Thai government to boost tourism, which is in place for years.

Do I mandatory need a visa to go to Thailand ?

No. If you come for holiday and you do not stay in Thailand more than 30 days and are from one of the more of 50 countries listed below you do not need a visa. The only thing you need is a passport valid at least 6 months after your arrival in Thailand and that's it! You will get a free visa (technically it's a visa waiver) for a period of 30 days if you are citizen of the many countries allow to get this visa waiver (it also works if you arrive to Thailand through a land border but limited to 2 times per year when there is no limit when arriving in Thailand by air). This visa waiver covers more than 50 countries including United States, United Kingdom, Australia and most European countries.

List of countries whose citizen do not need tourist visa for a 3à days trip to Thailand :

South Africa, Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Czech Republic, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Swiss, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, United States of America

What visa to stay more than 30 days in Thailand ?

If you plan to stay more than 30 days in Thailand as a tourist, you can apply for a 60 days tourist visa Thai Royal Consulates or Embassies before departure.

Note that since August 29, 2014, it is possible to extend your visa waiver or tourist visa once and get additional 30 days upon request to the Immigration Office ).

List of elements required to obtain a 60 days tourist visa

The passport (original and photocopy). The passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of departure.

The completed form

A color photo ID

Photocopy of residence permit (for travel document holders)

A copy of the airline ticket booking with details (entry ticket and exit of Thai territory within less than 90 days)

A copy of financial proof: the statement of recent bank statement with an amount of 1,000 euros minimum (the copy of bank statement printed on the internet is not admissible or this copy must be signed and stamped by the bank) or a bank statement

The visa fee

Remote visa request

Some agencies can do the visa request process for you. You can easily find them on Google. Just check reviews first as some are not lefal or serious companies or even canbe scammers. Tere is also a evisa system available for some contries here: www.thaievisa.go.th

Overstaying in Thailand

The Thai authorities do not joke with visas overstay. So be vigilant! Legally you will have to pauy a fine per day of overstay whatever happens, but you also risk prison contrary to what some may say on forums. Even though in practice this is rare, it happens especially if you are unable to pay the fine . Overstays older than 90 days will result in a prohibition to return to Thailand, the number of years will vary depending on the overstay delay and if get busted or come yourself to Immigration. In short, avoid overtay !. The fine is 500 THB per day but you calso get more complications. Whatever happens, hotels and guesthouses may reject you if your visa is over.

Visa runs in Thailand

To avoid overstay or simply avoid going to extend visa and pay the visa extension fee, there is a very common practice in Thailand: the visa run. It consists in leaving the country through one of its borders and return immediately to get a new visa waiver. This is usually more expensive that asking for a visa extension at any Immigration office but most travel agencies especially in the cities relatively close to a border offer this type of service. Thai authorities want to fight this practice and limited to 2 per year the numbers of visa waivers you can get if you come to Thailand by land (since January 2017). By air, there are no limitations, each new entry on the Thai territory, you will get a new 30 days visa waiver permit (for the countries listed above).

The multiple entries tourist visa with METV

The tourist visa with multiple entries is available for tourists of all nationalities. The fee is 5,000 THB (Embassy of France demand 150 euros) and the visa validity period is 6 month with a duration of stay up to 60 days per visit. in other words, after 60 days maximum, the holders of such visas must leave Thailand and can then return to a period of maximum 60 days again and so on until expiry of the validity of the visa.