Visa policy of Thailand

Last updated
Thai stamps of visa on arrival (up), entry (right), exit (middle) and overstay (left) on a Russian passport Thailand Immigration Stamps.png
Thai stamps of visa on arrival (up), entry (right), exit (middle) and overstay (left) on a Russian passport

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

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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 Visa policy of Thailand.svg
  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

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

Bilateral agreements

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

30 days

14 days

1 - For Chinese citizens with People's Republic of China passports, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports or Macao Special Administrative Region passports only.
2 - No more than 90 days within any 180 days. [6]
3 - For air arrivals only.
T - Temporary measure: 90 days from 1 September 2023 until 30 April 2024, then 30 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 and may extend their stay for another 30 days, [8] provided the purpose of entering Thailand is for tourism only. [1] [5] [9]

Citizens of the following countries may enter Thailand for unlimited times without visa by air but are limited to a maximum of 2 visa-exempt entries per calendar year when entering Thailand via land or sea (unless otherwise noted). [1] [5] [9] [10] [11]

B - Visa-exempt entries will be granted based on existing bilateral agreements.
T1 - Temporary measure from 10 November 2023 until 10 May 2024.
T2 - Temporarily exempt from business visa as well from 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2026.
T3 - Temporary measure from 25 September 2023 until 31 August 2024.
1 - For Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport holders only.
2 - For British citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) only.

Non-ordinary passports

Thailand
Diplomatic and service passports
Diplomatic passports Visa policy of Thailand for holders of diplomatic and service category passports.png
  Thailand
  Diplomatic and service passports
  Diplomatic passports

Holders of diplomatic, official 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. [12]

The e-Visa application also became available from February 2019 in some of the consulates of Thailand abroad. [13] [14] [15] [5] [16]

External image
Searchtool.svg Map of entry points with Visa on Arrival facility
Visa typeeVisaeVOAVOA
MultipleSingleSingleSingle
Duration of stay60 days15 days
Validity6 Months3 Months30 daysN/A
Visa-feeDepend on applicant's nationality and place of residence (cheaper than VOA)Standard: 2,560 THB

Express: 4,560 THB

Standard: 2,000 THB

Express: 2,200 THB

Processing time3-10 working daysStandard: 24-72 hours

Express: less than 24 hours

May take up to several hours (depends on how busy the visa office is at the moment)
Proof of funds60,000 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
ExtendableYesNo
Application submission thaievisa.go.th thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com Visa office at the port of entry

Eligible citizens

Visa on arrival

e-Visa

E - Already visa-exempt in general.

Eligible ports of entry

There are 48 immigration checkpoints providing visa on arrival, including: [17]

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. [18]

Sri Lanka and Thailand are working on a mutual visa waiver after both parties signed an FTA in 2024. [19]

1 - Except Algeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Libya, Mauritius and South Africa.

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: [21]

Mandatory yellow fever vaccination

Mandatory yellow fever vaccination for Thailand Mandatory yellow fever vaccination for Thailand.png
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. [22]

Visa types

General visa types

Non-Immigrant visa types

Statistics

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

Country1/2024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 508,5633,521,095273,56713,0431,251,49810,997,33810,535,2419,806,2608,757,6467,936,7954,636,2984,637,3352,786,860
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 321,7044,626,4221,948,5495,511619,6234,265,5744,020,5263,494,4883,494,8903,418,8552,613,4183,041,0972,554,397
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 222,5711,660,042538,76612,077262,0171,890,9731,796,4261,709,2651,464,2001,373,0451,122,5661,295,3421,163,619
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 219,1671,482,611435,00830,759590,1511,483,3371,472,7891,346,3381,090,083884,1361,606,4301,746,5651,316,564
Flag of India.svg  India 162,8311,628,542997,9136,544263,6591,996,8421,598,3461,415,1971,194,5081,069,422932,6031,050,8891,013,308
Flag of Laos.svg  Laos 102,319919,401502,124733380,2071,854,7921,664,6301,682,0871,388,0201,220,5221,053,983976,639975,999
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 97,046930,206453,67837,880212,6691,165,9501,122,2701,056,423975,643867,505763,520823,486768,638
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 95,905687,745336,6889,577123,827767,291801,203817,218796,370807,450831,854900,460930,241
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 95,817729,163365,03045,874231,782852,481886,523850,139837,885761,819715,240737,658682,419
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 95,120817,220444,43238,663223,087992,574986,854994,7551,004,345947,568907,877905,024873,053
Flag of France.svg  France 86,504545,003268,58723,461237,317745,346749,556740,190738,878681,114635,073611,582576,106
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan 83,376724,59494,8341,675117,511790,039687,748573,077522,273552,699394,149502,176394,225
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 74,205805,768290,1469,461322,6771,806,4381,656,1011,544,4421,439,5101,381,7021,267,8861,536,4251,373,716
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 70,785762,118235,6322,57799,530710,494644,709576,110534,797469,125497,592594,251447,820
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 65,1881,027,424614,6275,931126,7711,059,4841,069,8671,032,647967,550938,385844,133955,468831,215
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 55,4001,033,688468,3931,794132,1271,048,1811,028,150935,179830,220751,162559,415725,057618,670
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia 47,963583,708379,6654,914165,027910,696948,824840,871674,975537,950550,339481,595423,642
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 47,831802,368162,2401,657124,5181,045,3611,015,749821,064751,264669,617483,131588,335473,666
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 38,022178,25997,37817,094111,994287,341311,949323,736332,895321,690324,865341,398364,681
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 35,742394,134193,7787,25655,279378,232368,188365,606341,626259,678206,794172,383129,385
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 35,418461,251178,0214,07872,762506,430432,237381,252339,150310,968304,813321,571289,566
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 33,368191,98385,2545,32260,602272,374279,905264,524265,597246,094219,875207,192200,703
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 32,708121,700
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 31,004214,26490,6086,44058,499273,214276,094258,494244,869227,601211,059229,897219,354
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 30,400172,489
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 27,442229,539116,3548,53952,402241,608236,265222,409235,762221,619211,524218,765208,122
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 24,472115,22464,2498,48066,848162,456169,373161,920165,581159,435160,977163,186167,499
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 21,013156,33781,18011,42952,361192,130207,471209,528209,057206,480201,271199,923191,147
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 17,23576,19338,5616,13959,567128,014140,961140,464134,238134,750142,425141,692154,919
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 15,45588,70642,6835,48636,381111,428116,656104,784100,37397,869100,968106,27894,667
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 14,74783,95246,5215,76339,778127,992128,841127,850131,039135,382145,207154,049148,796
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 14,166178,11396,3894674,22730,00628,33733,53124,83419,16812,86021,45217,084
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 13,657217,084146,29314,03829,444195,856188,788173,673161,579141,031138,778134,874129,551
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 13,469140,65781,1061,95521,838136,677129,574121,765100,263107,39488,13482,41872,657
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 12,817153,45887,4003,51425,904188,997181,880179,584168,900150,995116,983123,084113,141
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 10,78185,51248,6845,38626,394114,669114,270112,266111,013106,09099,729101,10994,896
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 7,31585,89735,9001,15115,709112,680116,726117,962111,595112,411108,081118,395113,871
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 6,150138,93465,8574,0617,492130,158128,270137,218130,941124,719117,907123,926113,547
Total3,035,29628,150,01611,153,026427,8696,725,19339,916,25138,178,19435,591,97832,529,58829,923,18524,809,68326,546,72522,353,903

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. [23]

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. [24]

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

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of Azerbaijan</span> Policy on permits required to enter Azerbaijan

Visitors to Azerbaijan must obtain a visa from one of the Azerbaijani diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries, or citizens eligible for an electronic visa on arrival, or citizens eligible for an electronic visa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of Vietnam</span> Policy on permits required to enter Vietnam

Visitors to Vietnam must obtain either an e-Visa or a visa in advance, unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of Cambodia</span> Policy on permits required to enter Cambodia

Most visitors to Cambodia must obtain a visa, either on arrival or online, unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of Iran</span> Policy on permits required to enter Iran

Most visitors to Iran must obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa) prior to their arrival in Iran, unless they are a citizen of one of the visa-exempt countries or countries that are ineligible for an e-Visa, in which case they must obtain a visa in advance from one of the Iranian diplomatic missions around the world.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of Papua New Guinea</span> Policy on permits required to enter Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Visitors must obtain a visa on arrival or e-Visa to enter the country. Visitors can also apply for a visa from the PNG diplomatic missions. All visitors must have a passport valid for 6 months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of Egypt</span> Policy on permits required to enter Egypt

Visitors to Egypt must obtain a visa from one of the Egyptian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries that are eligible for visa on arrival.

References

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