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Thailand tourist visa: Requirements and application procedure

Updated: December 16, 2022

Thailand Tourist Visa Image
Photo by Webshark25|Arshia Seyyed Shakeri (Own work) [CC0 or FAL], via Wikimedia Commons

Thailand has a liberal visa policy offering Visa EXEMPTION and Visa ON ARRIVAL to many nationalities in the world. For those who REQUIRE a visa, Thailand tourist visa is the easiest to obtain if you understand and follow the visa requirements properly.

There 5 ways you can enter Thailand as a tourist.

  1. Visa Exemption
  2. Visa on Arrival (VOA)
  3. e-VOA
  4. E-Visa
  5. Pre-approved visa from Thai embassy

A Thailand tourist visa is only for visiting Thailand for the purpose of tourism for a short period of time. If you plan to stay longer, look into Thai ED Visa, which allows you to study and live in Thailand for up to one year.

Without further delay, let’s dive into Thailand visa requirements, eligibility, application procedure and entry-exit formalities at the airport.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • THAILAND TOURIST VISA REQUIREMENTS BY NATIONALITY
    • Minimum passport validity required to enter Thailand as a tourist
    • VISA EXEMPT nationalities
    • VISA ON ARRIVAL (VOA) or e-VOA eligible nationalities
    • E-VISA eligible nationalities
    • VISA REQUIRED nationalities
  • THAILAND VISA EXEMPTION
    • How long can you stay in Thailand on visa exemption
    • How many times can you enter Thailand with visa exemption
    • Passport validity required for visa exemption
    • Documents to carry for visa exemption
  • THAILAND VISA ON ARRIVAL (VOA)
    • How long can you stay in Thailand with VOA
    • How many times can you obtain VOA
    • Passport validity required for VOA
    • Documents required VOA
    • Photo size
    • VOA fee
    • Processing time
  • THAILAND ONLINE VISA ON ARRIVAL (e-VOA)
    • How long can you stay in Thailand with e-VOA
    • Passport validity required for e-VOA
    • Blank pages needed in the passport for e-VOA
    • Where to enter Thailand with e-VOA
    • Thailand e-VOA application procedure
    • Documents required for e-VOA
    • Visa fee
    • Processing time
    • Application tracking
  • THAILAND E-VISA
    • Validity of Thailand E-Visa
    • When to apply for E-Visa
    • How long can stay in Thailand on E-Visa
    • Passport validity required for E-Visa
    • E-Visa application process
    • Documents required for E-Visa
    • Photo requirements
    • Visa fee
    • Processing time
    • Application tracking
  • THAILAND TOURIST VISA FROM THE EMBASSY
    • Validity of Thailand tourist visa
    • When to apply for Thailand tourist visa
    • How long can you stay in Thailand on a tourist visa
    • Passport validity required for tourist visa
    • Blank pages needed in passport for tourist visa
    • Tourist visa application procedure
    • Documents required
    • Photo size
    • Visa fee
    • Processing time
    • Application tracking
  • ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURE AT THE AIRPORT
    • Entering Thailand by air
    • Leaving Thailand by air
  • ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURE AT THE LAND BORDER
    • Entering Thailand by land
    • Leaving Thailand by land
  • SUMMARY

***

THAILAND TOURIST VISA REQUIREMENTS BY NATIONALITY

Thailand tourist visa requirements by nationality
Thailand tourist visa requirements by nationality

Minimum passport validity required to enter Thailand as a tourist

For visa EXEMPT and visa REQUIRED nationalities, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival in Thailand.

For visa ON ARRIVAL eligible nationalities, the passport must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival in Thailand. 

—

VISA EXEMPT nationalities

90-day entry

  1. Argentina
  2. Brazil
  3. Chile
  4. Peru
  5. South Korea

45-day entry

  1. Andorra
  2. Australia
  3. Austria
  4. Bahrain
  5. Belgium
  6. Brunei
  7. Cambodia
  8. Canada
  9. Czech Republic
  10. Denmark
  11. Estonia
  12. Finland
  13. France
  14. Germany
  15. Greece
  16. Hong Kong
  17. Hungary
  18. Iceland
  19. Indonesia
  20. Ireland
  21. Israel
  22. Italy
  23. Japan
  24. Kuwait
  25. Laos
  26. Latvia
  27. Liechtenstein
  28. Lithuania
  29. Luxembourg
  30. Macao
  31. Malaysia
  32. Maldives
  33. Mauritius
  34. Monaco
  35. Mongolia
  36. Myanmar (* only if entering by air)
  37. Netherlands
  38. New Zealand
  39. Norway
  40. Oman
  41. Philippines
  42. Poland
  43. Portugal
  44. Qatar
  45. Russia
  46. San Marino
  47. Singapore
  48. Slovakia
  49. Slovenia
  50. South Africa
  51. Spain
  52. Sweden
  53. Switzerland
  54. Turkey
  55. Ukraine
  56. United Arab Emirates
  57. United Kingdom
  58. United States
  59. Vietnam

—

Visa ON ARRIVAL or e-VOA eligible nationalities

30-day entry

  1. Bhutan
  2. Bulgaria
  3. China
  4. Cyprus
  5. Ethiopia
  6. Fiji
  7. Georgia
  8. India
  9. Kazakhstan
  10. Malta
  11. Mexico
  12. Nauru
  13. Papua New Guinea
  14. Romania
  15. Saudi Arabia
  16. Taiwan
  17. Uzbekistan
  18. Vanuatu

—

E-VISA eligible nationalities

60-day entry

  • Citizens or permanent residents of the following countries are eligible for E-Visa.
  1. Albania
  2. Algeria
  3. Andorra
  4. Austria
  5. Belgium
  6. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  7. Bulgaria
  8. Canada
  9. China
  10. Congo, Rep. of
  11. Congo, Dem. Rep. of
  12. Croatia
  13. Cyprus
  14. Czech Republic
  15. Denmark
  16. Dominican Republic
  17. Estonia
  18. Finland
  19. France
  20. Germany
  21. Greece
  22. Grenada
  23. Hong Kong
  24. Hungary
  25. Iceland
  26. Ireland
  27. Italy
  28. Jamaica
  29. Kosovo
  30. Latvia
  31. Libya
  32. Liechtenstein
  33. Lithuania
  34. Luxembourg
  35. Macao
  36. Malta
  37. Monaco
  38. Mongolia
  39. Montenegro
  40. Netherlands
  41. North Korea
  42. Norway
  43. Poland
  44. Portugal
  45. Romania
  46. San Marino
  47. Serbia
  48. Slovakia
  49. Slovenia
  50. South Korea
  51. Spain
  52. Sweden
  53. Switzerland
  54. Trinidad and Tobago
  55. Ukraine
  56. United Kingdom
  57. United States
  58. Vatican City

—

Visa REQUIRED nationalities

60-day entry

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Albania
  3. Algeria
  4. Angola
  5. Anguilla
  6. Antigua and Barbuda
  7. Armenia
  8. Aruba
  9. Azerbaijan
  10. Bahamas
  11. Bangladesh
  12. Barbados
  13. Belarus
  14. Belize
  15. Benin
  16. Bermuda
  17. Bolivia
  18. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  19. Botswana
  20. Burkina Faso
  21. Burundi
  22. Cameroon
  23. Cape Verde
  24. Cayman Islands
  25. Central African Republic
  26. Chad
  27. Colombia
  28. Comoros
  29. Congo, Rep. of
  30. Congo, Dem. Rep. of
  31. Costa Rica
  32. Cote d’Ivoire
  33. Croatia
  34. Cuba
  35. Curacao
  36. Djibouti
  37. Dominica
  38. Dominican Republic
  39. Ecuador
  40. Egypt
  41. El Salvador
  42. Equatorial Guinea
  43. Eritrea
  44. Eswatini
  45. Gabon
  46. Gambia
  47. Ghana
  48. Grenada
  49. Guatemala
  50. Guinea
  51. Guinea-Bissau
  52. Guyana
  53. Haiti
  54. Honduras
  55. India
  56. Iran
  57. Iraq
  58. Jamaica
  59. Jordan
  60. Kenya
  61. Kiribati
  62. Kosovo
  63. Kyrgyzstan
  64. Lebanon
  65. Lesotho
  66. Liberia
  67. Libya
  68. Madagascar
  69. Malawi
  70. Mali
  71. Marshall Islands
  72. Mauritania
  73. Micronesia
  74. Moldova
  75. Montenegro
  76. Morocco
  77. Mozambique
  78. Namibia
  79. Nepal
  80. Nicaragua
  81. Niger
  82. Nigeria
  83. North Korea
  84. North Macedonia
  85. Pakistan
  86. Palau
  87. Palestine
  88. Panama
  89. Paraguay
  90. Rwanda
  91. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  92. Saint Lucia
  93. Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
  94. Samoa
  95. Sao Tome and Principe
  96. Senegal
  97. Serbia
  98. Seychelles
  99. Sierra Leone
  100. Sint Maarten
  101. Solomon Islands
  102. Somalia
  103. South Sudan
  104. Sri Lanka
  105. Sudan
  106. Suriname
  107. Syria
  108. Tajikistan
  109. Tanzania
  110. Timor-Leste
  111. Togo
  112. Tonga
  113. Trinidad and Tobago
  114. Tunisia
  115. Turkmenistan
  116. Tuvalu
  117. Uganda
  118. Uruguay
  119. Vatican City
  120. Venezuela
  121. Yemen
  122. Zambia
  123. Zimbabwe

***

THAILAND VISA EXEMPTION

Currently, Thailand offers visa exemption to 64 countries. Most countries in that list get a 45-day entry. Just a handful of countries in South America and South Korea get 90-day entry.

—

How long can you stay in Thailand with visa exemption

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and South Korea nationals can stay up to 90 days in Thailand. All other visa-exempt nationalities can stay up to 45 days in Thailand. 

Except for G7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and the United States), all other nationalities will be granted only a 30-day entry if entering by land.

Malaysia passport holders are granted 30-day entry when entering by land from Malaysia.

—

How many times can you enter Thailand with visa exemption

There are no restrictions on entering Thailand by air. But you can only enter 2 times in a given year by land.

—

Passport validity required for visa exemption

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival in Thailand.

—

Documents to carry for visa exemption

  • Original passport
  • Proof of onward ticket
  • Proof of funds (20,000 THB for individuals and 40,000 THB for families)

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival in Thailand. 

Your proof of onward ticket can be a print or a copy on your phone. This cannot be a bus or train ticket. This must a flight ticket. If you are traveling on a one-way ticket or planning to take a bus or train to Laos or Cambodia, get a dummy proof of an onward flight ticket.

Proof of funds can be cash, ATM cards or credit cards. There were incidents where tourists were forced to show proof of funds in the form of cash. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I suggest carrying a bit of cash on you in Thai Baht or any major currency.

***

THAILAND VISA ON ARRIVAL (VOA)

Thailand Visa on Arrival in India Passport

Thailand is a popular tourist destination in South East Asia, partly due to its liberal visa-exemption and Visa on Arrival policies. Currently, 18 nationalities can obtain Thailand Visa on Arrival at all international airports and land checkpoints with minimal documentation.

—

How long can you stay in Thailand with Visa on Arrival (VOA)

You can stay up to 30 days on Visa on Arrival (VOA). No visa extensions are allowed.

—

How many times can you obtain Visa on Arrival (VOA)

If you are traveling to many countries in South East Asia, you may have to enter Thailand multiple times. You can obtain Visa on Arrival multiple times on your trip without any problems. 

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I obtained Visa on Arrival (VOA) at the airport and later at a land border in Thailand on my South East Asia trip and I was fine.

—

Passport validity required for Visa on Arrival (VOA)

Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival in Thailand.

—

Documents required for Visa on Arrival (VOA)

The following documents are required for Visa on Arrival (VOA).

  • Completed Thailand Visa on Arrival application form
  • One passport-size photo (4×6 cm)
  • Return/onward flight ticket (must be within 30 days of arrival in Thailand)
  • Hotel booking confirmation (minimum 5 nights)
  • Proof of funds (10,000 THB for individuals and 20,000 THB for families)

Print and complete your Thailand Visa on Arrival application form before heading on your trip to Thailand. If you can’t print it, you can always grab one at the airport and fill it out.

Thailand Visa on Arrival Application Form Sample
Sample Visa on Arrival application form

A return/onward flight ticket is mandatory and it must be within 30 days of arrival in Thailand. If your return ticket is over 30 days, you will be forced to rebook another flight ticket by the Visa on Arrival staff. You will end up spending a lot on rebooking so make sure your flight ticket is within 30 days.

Your return or onward ticket must be a flight ticket. Bus or train tickets are not acceptable. If you plan to travel to a neighboring country by land, you must still provide a flight ticket as proof of onward travel.

If you plan on traveling to a neighboring country by bus or train, get a dummy onward flight ticket for your Visa on Arrival. 

Hotel booking is mandatory. A minimum of 5 nights or more is required. Booking a hotel for the first 1 or 2 nights will not work. You will be forced to book the remaining nights by the VOA staff at the airport.

Proof of funds must be minimum of 10,000 THB for individuals and 20,000 THB for families. You would need to show proof of funds in cash. You can get away by saying that you have your debit and credit cards on you. But, I strongly suggest you have at least 5,000 THB on your and for the remaining, you can show your debit card, credit card and bank statements.

—

Visa on Arrival (VOA) photo size

The photo must be of size 4 x 6 cm. It must have been taken within the last 6 months. You may need 1-2 photos for your visa depending on the checkpoint. Carry at least 2 photos for Visa on Arrival at the land borders.

—

Visa on Arrival (VOA) fee

Thailand Visa ON ARRIVAL fee is 2,000 THB. This fee must be paid in cash in Thai Baht (THB) only. 

You may be forced to pay an additional 200 THB as an express fee for fast processing of your VOA. Sometimes you will not have a choice but to pay this express fee.

Money exchanges are available near the Visa on Arrival sections in the airports. No ATMs are available, so make sure to carry cash in THB or any major currency.

—

Visa on Arrival (VOA) processing time

Visa on Arrival process at airports is quick these days. It used to take at least an hour before. Either way, account for an additional one hour for your Visa on Arrival process at the airport just in case.

To save time, you can download and fill out the Visa on Arrival application form prior to your arrival.

RELATED: How to obtain 30-day Thailand Visa on Arrival (VOA) – A complete guide

***

THAILAND ONLINE VISA ON ARRIVAL (e-VOA)

Thailand e-Visa on Arrival by evisathailand.com
Sample Thailand e-Visa on Arrival. Photo credit: evisathailand.com

Thailand e-VOA speeds up the process of obtaining Visa on Arrival (VOA) at the airport. If you hold an e-VOA, you can skip the regular Visa on Arrival lines at the airports. 

All 18 nationalities that are eligible for Visa on Arrival can obtain e-VOA online. 

There are special counters set up at the airports just for e-VOA holders for obtaining Visa on Arrival. You do not need to carry supporting documents or the visa fee. All you need is your original passport, e-VOA approval and proof of funds.

IMPORTANT
e-VOA is NOT eVISA. Even with an e-VOA, you still have to go through the Visa on Arrival process and obtain your VOA stamp at the airport. It ONLY speeds up the process of obtaining Visa on Arrival at the airport since your document check and visa fee payment were already done online.

—

Hong long can you stay in Thailand with e-VOA

You can stay up to 30 days using e-VOA. No visa extensions are allowed.

—

Passport validity required for e-VOA

Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival in Thailand.

—

Blank pages needed in the passport for e-VOA

You must have at least 1 blank page in your passport.

—

Where to enter Thailand with e-VOA

With an approved e-VOA, you can only enter Thailand from the below 4 international airports. 

  1. Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok (BKK)
  2. Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok (DMK)
  3. Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
  4. Phuket International Airport (HKT)

NOTE
If you plan to enter Thailand from an airport other than the above 4 or from a land border, you must opt for the regular Visa on Arrival. You CANNOT use e-VOA.

 

Thailand e-VOA application procedure

To obtain Thailand e-VOA, you must fill out an online visa application and upload the required documents. Pay the Visa on Arrival fee, service charge and tax. You will receive your e-VOA result in 1-3 working days.

Once your e-VOA is approved, print your e-VOA approval. You must present your passport, e-VOA approval and arrival/departure card at the Visa on Arrival counters at the airport. The 30-day Visa on Arrival will be stamped in your passport.

You can apply for e-VOA from any of one of the two authorized visa agents. These are the only 2 agents authorized by Thai immigration.

  • eVisa Thailand E-Visa on Arrival | THB 495.33 processing fee plus 7% VAT
  • Thailand eVisa on Arrival by VFS Global | THB 500 processing fee

—

Documents required for e-VOA

The following documents are required for e-VOA.

  • Passport cover page
  • Passport ID page
  • Digital photo (4×6 cm)
  • Round trip flight tickets (return flight must be within 30 days of arrival in Thailand)
  • Hotel booking confirmations for the entire stay

—

Thailand e-VOA fee

The fee for e-VOA is 2,000 THB. The visa agent will charge a service fee of 500 THB and tax on top of the visa fee. The visa fee can only be paid in Thai Baht using a credit/debit card. 

The additional THB 500 service fee is non-refundable in case of e-VOA rejection.

—

e-VOA processing time

The processing time for e-VOA is 1-3 working days. Express processing is also available for an additional fee where the application will be processed within 24 hours.

—

e-VOA application tracking

Both eVisa Thailand and VFS Global offer visa application status tracking. 

***

THAILAND E-VISA

Thailand E-Visa is an initiative from Thai immigration to move the Thai visa process online. The idea is to replace the regular pre-approved visa from the embassy with the new E-Visa. The visa validity and entry are exactly the same as the pre-approved visa from the embassy. 

Thailand’s E-Visa portal offers both single and multiple-entry visas. You can apply for either one. But if the officers are not convinced that you need a multiple-entry visa, they may simply issue a single-entry visa. The fee for the multiple-entry visa is not refunded in that case.

—

Validity of Thailand E-Visa

Thailand E-Visa is valid for 3 months or 6 months depending on the entry type. 

  • Single-Entry: Valid for 3 months
  • Multiple-Entry: Valid for 6 months

—

When to apply for E-Visa

You can apply for a Thai E-Visa up to 3 months prior to your trip. The processing takes about 3-10 working days, so it’s recommended to apply at least a month prior to your trip.

—

How long can stay in Thailand on E-Visa

You can stay up to 60 days in Thailand on your single-entry Thailand E-Visa. 

With a multiple-entry E-Visa, you can stay up to 60 days on each entry. All entries must be made within the validity of your multiple-entry E-Visa. Meaning, even if you enter Thailand on the last day of your E-Visa, you will still receive a 60-day entry.

Both single-entry and multiple-entry E-Visas are extendable for additional 30 days at the local immigration office. 

—

Passport validity required for E-Visa

At the time of lodging your E-Visa application, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months for a single-entry E-Visa and 1 year for a multiple-entry E-Visa.

—

E-Visa application procedure

You can apply for your E-Visa on the Thai E-Visa portal. You must fill out the online application, upload the required documents and pay the required visa fee.

The Thai ministry of foreign affairs has created a nice step-by-step video guide and a PDF guide on how to apply for your E-Visa using the Thai E-Visa portal.

—

Documents required

The following documents are required for the Thai E-Visa.

  • A scan of your passport ID page
  • A digital photo (4×6 cm)
  • Fully paid round-trip flight tickets
  • Proof of residence (if not a citizen of the country where you are applying from)

All scanned documents must be in JPG format only. Max allowed file size is 3MB.

—

Photo requirements

The digital photo must meet the following requirements.

  • Photo must have been taken in the last 6-months
  • Must be 4×6 cm in dimensions
  • Must be in JPG format only 
  • Max file size allowed is 3MB

—

Visa fee

The Thailand E-Visa fee is $40 USD for a single-entry tourist visa, paid in the local currency of the Thai consulate you have selected in your E-Visa application. E-Visa fee can only be paid using a credit/debit card. 

—

Processing time

The processing time for E-Visa is 3-10 working days. 

—

Application tracking

The application can be tracked within the dashboard of your account in the E-Visa portal.

***

THAILAND TOURIST VISA FROM THE EMBASSY

Thailand Pre-approved Visa from Consulate
Photo by Webshark25|Arshia Seyyed Shakeri (Own work) [CC0 or FAL], via Wikimedia Commons

The following are eligible to apply for a pre-approved tourist visa. 

  • Visa REQUIRED nationality that are not eligible for Thai E-VISA
  • Visa ON ARRIVAL eligible nationality that would need to stay longer than 30 days and are not eligible for Thai E-Visa
  • Visa EXEMPT nationality that would need to stay longer than 45 days and are not eligible for Thai E-Visa

—

Validity of Thailand tourist visa

A single-entry Thailand tourist visa is valid for 3 months. You must enter Thailand within the validity of this visa.

A multiple-entry Thailand tourist visa is valid for 6 months. You can enter Thailand unlimited times on this type of visa and all entries must be within the validity of the visa. 

—

When to apply for Thailand tourist visa

You can apply for a Thailand tourist visa up to 3 months prior to your trip. The processing can take from 3-10 working days so it’s recommended to apply at least one month prior to your trip.

—

How long can you stay in Thailand on a tourist visa

You can stay up to 60 days on a single-entry Thailand tourist visa. A 30-day extension is possible from the local immigration office.

You can stay up to 60 days for each entry on a multiple-entry tourist visa. A 30-day extension is possible from the local immigration office.

—

Passport validity required for tourist visa

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of applying for your tourist visa.

—

Blank pages needed in the passport for tourist visa

You must have at least two blank pages in your passport for the tourist visa. One page for the visa sticker and one page for entry and exit stamps.

—

Thailand tourist visa application procedure

You can apply for a Thailand tourist visa in person at your nearest Royal Thai embassy or using an authorized visa agent such as VFS Global.

Here is an informational video made by the Royal Thai consulate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on how to fill and arrange the documents for your Thailand tourist visa.

Video by Royal Thai consulate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

IMPORTANT
If you are a Visa REQUIRED nationality, you can ONLY apply for a Thailand tourist visa in your country of passport or residence. That means You CANNOT apply for a Thailand tourist visa while traveling.

If you do not have a Thai mission in your country of passport or residence, you must apply at a Thai mission in a neighboring country that is specifically designated for applicants from your country. 

—

Documents required

The following documents are required for Thailand tourist visa.

  • Completed Thailand tourist visa application form (you can download it from your nearest Royal Thai embassy website)
  • Original passport with at least 6 months of validity with 2 blank pages
  • Copies of your passport data/ID page and last page (2-3 copies depending on the Thai embassy where you are applying from)
  • Passport size photos (1-4 photos depending on the Thai embassy where you are applying from)
  • Roundtrip flight tickets (fully paid and confirmed for certain Thai embassies)
  • Hotel reservations for the entire trip 
  • Full itinerary (full itinerary of your entire stay on a sheet of paper)
  • Bank statements (last 6 months showing at least $700 USD per individual or $1,400 USD per family)
  • Proof of residence (if applying from a country other than the country of passport)
Verifiable Flight Ticket for Visa Application

—

Photo size

The passport photo for the visa application must meet the following requirements.

  • Must be of size 3.5 x 4.5 cm
  • Must be latest taken in the last 3 months
  • Must be on a white background without glasses or a hat

You may need 1-4 photos for your visa depending on the nationality. Carry about 4 photos when heading to the embassy.

—

Visa fee

Thailand tourist visa fee is 1,000 THB ($30 USD) for a single-entry tourist visa and 5,000 THB ($145 USD) for a multiple-entry tourist visa. You have to pay the visa fee in your local currency, so the visa fee may vary a bit due to currency exchange rates. 

Visa agents such as VFS Global charge an additional service fee, courier fee, handling charges, etc. on top of the visa fee.

—

Processing time

Thailand tourist visa processing time is 3 to 10 working days. Most applications are processed within 3 working days but if the embassy requires additional documents from you, it can take up to 10 working days.

—

Application tracking

Thai consulates, embassies, and authorized visa agents provide visa status updates via email. VFS Global provides online visa application tracking for its applicants.

***

ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURE AT THE AIRPORT

Traveling to Thailand

Entering Thailand by air

If you are a visa-exempt nationality, hold an E-Visa or a pre-approved Thailand tourist visa, head straight to immigration.

If you need to obtain Visa on Arrival (VOA), head to the Visa on Arrival section first. To speed up the Visa on Arrival process, you can either opt for e-VOA or express lanes at the airport. You can also download and fill out the Visa on Arrival application form before you arrive at the airport. 

If you don’t have a completed Visa on Arrival form with you, grab one at the Visa on Arrival section. There will be examples of completed application forms on the wall to assist you with filling out the application form.

IMPORTANT
Visa on Arrival fee can only be paid in THB. There are NO ATMs at the Visa on Arrival sections in any of the Thailand airports. So, make sure to carry enough cash in THB (Thai Baht) or major currency. There are currency exchanges at Visa on Arrival sections. So if you have some major currency on you, you can change it into THB.

After you complete your Visa on Arrival procedure, head to the immigration area.

—

Leaving Thailand by air

On exiting Thailand, you will have to go through passport control. You must present the following documents

  • Your original passport
  • Airline boarding pass

If flying out of Bangkok (BKK and DMK), long lines at check-in counters and passport control are common. Arrive at least 2 hours before your departure time.

***

ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURE AT THE LAND BORDER

Entering Thailand by land

If you are a visa-exempt nationality, hold an E-Visa or a pre-approved Thailand visa, head straight to immigration.

If you have to obtain Visa on Arrival (VOA), head to the Visa on Arrival section first. To speed up the Visa on Arrival process, you can download and fill out the Visa on Arrival application form before you arrive at the land border. 

IMPORTANT
The Visa on Arrival fee can only be paid in THB. ATMs and currency exchanges are very rare at the land borders. So, make sure to carry enough cash in THB (Thai Baht).

—

Leaving Thailand by land

On exiting Thailand by land, you must go through passport control. You must present the following documents

  • Your original passport
  • Visa to the next country

If the next country you will be entering requires a visa, you must present the visa of that country. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to leave Thailand. If you will be obtaining Visa on Arrival in the next country, just say that you will obtain Visa on Arrival and you will be fine.

***

SUMMARY

Ancient temples of Ayutthaya
The ancient temples of Ayutthaya

Thailand offers Visa EXEMPTION and Visa ON ARRIVAL to many nationalities. For those who REQUIRE a visa, a Thailand tourist visa is quite easy to obtain. Currently, 18 nationalities are eligible to obtain Visa on Arrival (VOA) and over 50 nationalities can obtain E-Visa. Rest requires a pre-approved visa from the embassy.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

I highly recommend using these websites to plan your trip. I use these websites myself to apply for my visas, book my flights and hotels and purchase my insurance.

01. Apply for your visa
You can get a verifiable flight itinerary for your visa application from DummyTicket. Flight itineraries from DummyTicket are valid for 2 weeks and works for all visa applications.

02. Book your fight
You can find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner. Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel
You can book your hotel from Booking.com. Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination. Use Vrbo for long-term rentals.

04. Get your onward ticket
If traveling on one-way ticket, you can get your proof of onward flight from Expedia. Expedia offers free cancellation on tickets booked within 24 hours. Or use OnwardTicket to get a proof of onward ticket in just 2 minutes.

05. Purchase your insurance
You can purchase travel insurance for your trip from SafetyWing (for short or long trips) or VisitorsCoverage (for US trips).

LEGAL DISCLAIMER
We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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About Me

About Thirumal Motati, founder and travel writer at visa traveler
Hi! I’m Thirumal Motati. I’m on a mission to travel to every country in the world on my “weak” passport. As a digital nomad, I have been traveling full-time for over 6 years. My knowledge and experience have helped many secure their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. Want to learn how to travel the world on a weak passport? Start here

Get verifiable flight ticket for visa application from dummyticket
Rent an onward ticket at OnwardTicket

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