Thailand tourist visa: Requirements and application procedure

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.

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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. 

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Passport validity required for visa exemption

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

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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.

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THAILAND VISA ON ARRIVAL (VOA)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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THAILAND ONLINE VISA ON ARRIVAL (e-VOA)

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.

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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.

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Passport validity required for e-VOA

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

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Blank pages needed in the passport for e-VOA

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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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e-VOA application tracking

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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. 

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Processing time

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

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Application tracking

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

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THAILAND TOURIST VISA FROM THE EMBASSY

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

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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. 

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURE AT THE AIRPORT

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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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SUMMARY

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.