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)
Visa not required (60 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)
  Visa not required (60 days)
  Visa not required (14 days)
  Visa on arrival (15 days)
  eVisa (60 days)
  Visa required

History

A Thai entry stamp on a Chinese passport, indicates the visitor may stay no more than 30 days in this entry Thai entry stamp on Chinese passport.jpg
A Thai entry stamp on a Chinese passport, indicates the visitor may stay no more than 30 days in this entry

In May 2014, there was a brief crackdown on visa runs during 2014 Thai coup d'état, 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

Ordinary passports

Citizens of the following countries and territories may enter Thailand for business and tourist purposes without a visa for the following period: [5]

90 days

60 daysA

14 days

A - May apply to extend their stay for an additional 30 days.
B(xx) - Thailand has bilateral visa exemption agreements with countries with this mark for stays of xx days. For some countries where the length of stay in the agreement was only 14 or 30 days, if those countries are also in the 60 days visa waiver list, the length of stay will be lengthened to 60 days. For some countries where the length of stay in the agreement is 90 days, if those countries are also in the 60 days visa waiver list, the length of stay will be granted to 90 days as in the agreement.
C - Thailand has bilateral visa exemption agreements with countries with this mark for stays of 30 days, limited to a cumulative maximum stay of 90 days within any 180 days.
# - For ASEAN nationals, Thailand has bilateral visa exemption agreements with Laos and Vietnam for stays of 30 days, as well as Cambodia for stays of 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 - For air arrivals only.

Electronic Travel Authorization

According to government plans as of April 2024, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system is expected to launch in a pilot phase by December 2024, with full deployment anticipated by June 2025. The ETA will be required for all visa-exempt travelers entering Thailand, regardless of their mode of entry (air, sea, or land). Applications will be submitted through the existing electronic visa portal and each entry into Thailand will require a separate ETA application, which is planned to be free of charge. It will enable holders to use automated gates at immigration checkpoints by scanning a QR code provided with their authorization. The ETA will not required by certain categories of travelers including holders of diplomatic passports, official passports, UN Laissez-Passer, and Border Pass users. [6]

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: [7]

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): [8]

D - Diplomatic passports only.
1 - 30 days

Visa exemption agreements were signed with Lithuania in June 2024 and Kyrgyzstan in September 2024 and they are yet to be ratified. [9] [10]

Visa on arrival / Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

Sample of Thai e-Visa Thai eVisa.jpg
Sample of Thai 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. [11] It costs 2,000 THB.

The e-Visa application also became available from February 2019 in some of the consulates of Thailand abroad. [12] [13] [14] [8] [15]

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-VisaA

A - All nationalities are eligible for an e-Visa as long as they reside in one of the following countries by the time they lodge an application.
B - Although these countries are visa-exempt in general, their citizens may still have to apply for visa on arrival or e-visa if they are not allowed to enter without visa due to personal reasons (e.g. excessive stay or holding inappropriate travel documents).

Eligible ports of entry

There are 48 immigration checkpoints providing visa on arrival, including: [26]

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. [27]

1 - Except Algeria, Congo-Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa and Tunisia.

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. [28]

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. [29]

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:

Country9/2024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 5,254,7643,521,095273,56713,0431,251,49810,997,33810,535,2419,806,2608,757,6467,936,7954,636,2984,637,3352,786,860
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 3,742,4744,626,4221,948,5495,511619,6234,265,5744,020,5263,494,4883,494,8903,418,8552,613,4183,041,0972,554,397
Flag of India.svg  India 1,536,1961,628,542997,9136,544263,6591,996,8421,598,3461,415,1971,194,5081,069,422932,6031,050,8891,013,308
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 1,382,7851,660,042538,76612,077262,0171,890,9731,796,4261,709,2651,464,2001,373,0451,122,5661,295,3421,163,619
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1,159,7581,482,611435,00830,759590,1511,483,3371,472,7891,346,3381,090,083884,1361,606,4301,746,5651,316,564
Flag of Laos.svg  Laos 899,576919,401502,124733380,2071,854,7921,664,6301,682,0871,388,0201,220,5221,053,983976,639975,999
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan 813,255724,59494,8341,675117,511790,039687,748573,077522,273552,699394,149502,176394,225
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 786,0321,033,688468,3931,794132,1271,048,1811,028,150935,179830,220751,162559,415725,057618,670
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 762,648805,768290,1469,461322,6771,806,4381,656,1011,544,4421,439,5101,381,7021,267,8861,536,4251,373,716
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 707,104930,206453,67837,880212,6691,165,9501,122,2701,056,423975,643867,505763,520823,486768,638
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 697,8861,027,424614,6275,931126,7711,059,4841,069,8671,032,647967,550938,385844,133955,468831,215
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 666,859817,220444,43238,663223,087992,574986,854994,7551,004,345947,568907,877905,024873,053
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 665,174802,368162,2401,657124,5181,045,3611,015,749821,064751,264669,617483,131588,335473,666
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 648,650762,118235,6322,57799,530710,494644,709576,110534,797469,125497,592594,251447,820
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 588,298729,163365,03045,874231,782852,481886,523850,139837,885761,819715,240737,658682,419
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 544,569687,745336,6889,577123,827767,291801,203817,218796,370807,450831,854900,460930,241
Flag of France.svg  France 515,228545,003268,58723,461237,317745,346749,556740,190738,878681,114635,073611,582576,106
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 420,812461,251178,0214,07872,762506,430432,237381,252339,150310,968304,813321,571289,566
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia 414,920583,708379,6654,914165,027910,696948,824840,871674,975537,950550,339481,595423,642
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 399,548394,134193,7787,25655,279378,232368,188365,606341,626259,678206,794172,383129,385
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 194,091217,084146,29314,03829,444195,856188,788173,673161,579141,031138,778134,874129,551
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 190,840229,539116,3548,53952,402241,608236,265222,409235,762221,619211,524218,765208,122
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 181,425191,98385,2545,32260,602272,374279,905264,524265,597246,094219,875207,192200,703
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 172,575178,11396,3894674,22730,00628,33733,53124,83419,16812,86021,45217,084
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 172,521214,26490,6086,44058,499273,214276,094258,494244,869227,601211,059229,897219,354
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 146,525153,45887,4003,51425,904188,997181,880179,584168,900150,995116,983123,084113,141
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 136,235138,93465,8574,0617,492130,158128,270137,218130,941124,719117,907123,926113,547
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 130,531172,489
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 130,138178,25997,37817,094111,994287,341311,949323,736332,895321,690324,865341,398364,681
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 122,139156,33781,18011,42952,361192,130207,471209,528209,057206,480201,271199,923191,147
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 112,440121,700
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 102,640140,65781,1061,95521,838136,677129,574121,765100,263107,39488,13482,41872,657
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 98,248115,22464,2498,48066,848162,456169,373161,920165,581159,435160,977163,186167,499
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 75,24485,51248,6845,38626,394114,669114,270112,266111,013106,09099,729101,10994,896
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 74,01888,70642,6835,48636,381111,428116,656104,784100,37397,869100,968106,27894,667
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 73,93983,95246,5215,76339,778127,992128,841127,850131,039135,382145,207154,049148,796
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 68,61285,89735,9001,15115,709112,680116,726117,962111,595112,411108,081118,395113,871
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 55,48176,19338,5616,13959,567128,014140,961140,464134,238134,750142,425141,692154,919
Total26,088,85528,150,01611,153,026427,8696,725,19339,916,25138,178,19435,591,97832,529,58829,923,18524,809,68326,546,72522,353,903

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. [30]

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 Center is located on Chamchuree Square Building, Floor 18, Phatumwan, Bangkok. [31]

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

See also

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