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.

Thailand currently offers 4 types of tourist visas.

1. Visa on Arrival (VOA)
2. e-VOA
3. eVisa
4. Pre-approved visa from the embassy or consulate

As of 2020, 145 nationalities require a pre-approved visa from the embassy. Of these 145, 18 nationalities are eligible to obtain Visa on Arrival (VOA) or e-VOA. About 56 nationalities are visa-exempt. 

The Thai eVisa system hasn’t been rolled out completely yet. It’s currently available to any nationality living in China, France, Ireland and the UK only.

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 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

30-day entry

1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Bahrain
4. Belgium
5. Brunei
6. Canada
7. Czech Republic
8. Denmark
9. Estonia
10. Finland
11. France
12. Germany
13. Greece
14. Hungary
15. Iceland
16. Indonesia
17. Ireland
18. Israel
19. Italy
20. Japan
21. Kuwait
22. Laos
23. Liechtenstein
24. Luxembourg
25. Macau
26. Malaysia
27. Monaco
28. Mongolia
29. Netherlands
30. New Zealand
31. Norway
32. Oman
33. Philippines
34. Poland
35. Portugal
36. Qatar
37. Russia
38. Singapore
39. Slovakia
40. Slovenia
41. South Africa
42. Spain
43. Sweden
44. Switzerland
45. Turkey
46. United Arab Emirates
47. United Kingdom
48. United States
49. Vietnam

14-day entry

1. Cambodia
2. Myanmar (only if entering by air)

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Visa ON ARRIVAL or e-VOA eligible nationalities

15-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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eVISA eligible nationalities

60-day entry

• Any nationality currently living in China, France, Ireland or UK.

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Visa REQUIRED nationalities

60-day entry

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

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THAILAND VISA EXEMPTION

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. Cambodia and Myanmar nationals can stay up to 14 days in Thailand. All other visa-exempt nationalities can stay up to 30 days in Thailand. 

Except for G7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States), all other nationalities will be granted only 15-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. 

Proof of onward ticket can be print or copy on your phone. If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, get proof of onward ticket from OnwardTicket.

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. As of now, 18 nationalities can obtain Thailand Visa on Arrival (VOA) 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 15 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 (VOA) in Thailand multiple times on your trip without any problems.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I have obtained Visa on Arrival (VOA) multiples 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
• Completed Arrival/Departure card
• One passport size photo (4×6 cm)
• Return/onward flight ticket (must be within 15 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.

Return/onward flight ticket is mandatory and it must be within 15 days of arrival in Thailand. If your return ticket is over 15 days, you will be forced to rebook a flight ticket within 15 days by the Visa on Arrival staff. Rebooking a flight ticket in the airport is not that easy due to limited internet and printing facilities. You will end up spending a lot on rebooking, internet and printing at the airport.

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 your proof of onward travel. 

Hotel booking is mandatory. A minimum of 5 nights or more is required. I strongly suggest booking hotels for all 15 days. Booking a hotel for the first 1 or 2 nights will not work. You will be forced to book the remaining days by the visa on arrival staff.

Proof of funds must be minimum of 10,000 THB for individuals and 20,000 THB for families. You would need to show the 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

Photo must of size 4 x 6 cms. 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.

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. 

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

Visa on Arrival (VOA) processing time

Visa on Arrival can take about 1 hour or more in the airports. Make sure to account for at least 1 hour of time for your Visa on Arrival process in the airport. 
To save time, you can download and fill the Visa on Arrival application form prior to arrival.

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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 lines at the airports. There are special counters set up at the airports 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, arrival/departure card 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 sticker 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. 

How long can you stay in Thailand on e-VOA

You can stay up to 15 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 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 15-days Visa on Arrival will be stamped in your passport.

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

• eVisa Thailand E-Visa on Arrival | THB 560 processing fee plus 7% VAT
• Thailand eVisa on Arrival by VFS Global | THB 600 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 15 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 plus a 600 THB service fee charged by the visa agent. This fee must be paid with a credit/debit in Thai Baht (THB) only. 

The additional THB 600 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. 

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THAILAND eVISA

Thailand eVisa 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 eVisa. Therefore, visa validity and entry are exactly the same as the pre-approved visa from the embassy. 

This new eVisa system hasn’t been rolled out completely yet. So currently, any nationalities that are living in China, France, Ireland or UK can only apply through the eVisa system.

Even though it’s called an eVisa, the visa process is not completely online yet. Only the application submission and visa fee payment can be done online. Rest needs to be done in person such as scheduling an appointment, submitting the passport and picking up the visa.

Thailand eVisa application procedure

You can apply for eVisa on the Thai eVisa portal. You must fill the online application, upload the required documents, pay the visa fee and schedule an appointment at the nearest Thai mission.

On the day of the appointment, you must appear at the Thai mission with your documents and passport. You will be notified when a decision is made. You will go back to the Thai mission to collect your visa. 

Using eVisa portal, you can apply visas for up to 10 people as a group. 

The Thai ministry of foreign affairs has created a nice step-by-step guide on how to use apply for a visa using the eVisa portal.

Documents required for eVisa

The following documents are required for e-VOA.

• Passport ID page
• Digital photo (4×6 cm)
• Visa or PR card (if you are living in a country other than your country of passport)
• Bank statements or payslips
• Round trip flight tickets
• Hotel booking

The above documents must in JPG or PDF format only. Each file must be 0.5MB or less in size.

Thailand eVisa fee

Thailand eVisa fee is 1,000 THB for a single-entry tourist visa and 5,000 THB for a multiple-entry tourist visa. You have to pay the visa fee using a credit/debit card in your local currency, so the visa fee may vary a bit due to currency exchange rates.

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THAILAND TOURIST VISA FROM THE EMBASSY

You can apply for a pre-approved Thailand tourist visa (also called a category TR visa) if you are one of the following.

• Visa REQUIRED nationality
• Visa ON ARRIVAL eligible nationality but would like to stay longer than 15 days
• Visa EXEMPT nationality but would like to stay longer than 30 days

How long can you stay in Thailand on tourist visa

You can stay up to 60 days on a tourist. Extensions are available.

Passport validity required for tourist visa

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

Blank pages needed in the passport for tourist visa

You must have at least 2 blank page in your passport.

Thailand tourist visa application procedure

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

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. 

Documents required for Thailand tourist visa

The following documents are required for Thailand tourist visa.

• Completed Thailand tourist visa application form (you can download from your nearest Royal Thai embassy website)
• Original passport with at least 6 months of validity and 1 full blank page
• Passport size photo (3.5×4.5 cm) (1-4 photos depending on your nationality)
• Roundtrip flight tickets
• Hotel reservation
• Bank statements (last 3 months showing at least 20,000 THB per individual or 40,000 THB per family)
• Proof of residence (if applying from a country other than the country of passport)

Tourist visa photo size

Photo must of size 3.5 x 4.5 cms. It must have been taken within the last 6 months. You may need 1-4 photos for your visa depending on the nationality. So just carry about 4 photos when heading to the embassy. 

Tourist visa fee

Thailand tourist visa fee is 1,000 THB ($32 USD) for a single-entry tourist visa and 5,000 THB ($160 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. 

Tourist visa processing time

Thailand tourist visa processing time is 3 to 5 working days. 

For Afghanistan, Iraq and North Korea passport holders, the visa processing can take 4-6 weeks as the documents need to be sent to Bangkok for background verification. 

Tourist visa 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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THAILAND TRANSIT VISA FROM THE EMBASSY

If you are a Visa REQUIRED passport holder and would need to transit through Thailand, you would need to apply for Thailand transit visa.

NOTE
If you are a Visa ON ARRIVAL eligible passport holder, you can avail Visa on Arrival while transiting through Thailand, but it would cost you 2,000 THB. Though, applying for a transit visa would be cheaper.

The documents required and processing time are exactly the same as Thailand tourist visa. The visa fee is slightly lesser, it’s about 800 THB.

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ENTERING AND LEAVING THAILAND

Entering Thailand by air

If you are visa exempt or have a pre-approved visa from the consulate, head straight to the immigration. Make sure to grab and fill the arrival/departure card before your immigration.

If you have to obtain Visa on Arrival (VOA), head to the Visa on Arrival section first. The procedure to obtain Visa on Arrival at the airports in Thailand is quite easy, but it can be time consuming. So make sure to account 1-2 hours for Visa on Arrival procedure. 

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 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. Also, grab an arrival/departure card if you haven’t received one on the flight. Complete the application form and arrival/departure card. 

There will be examples of completed application forms on the wall to assist you with filling the application form. Stand in the line for document check

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 document check, you will be given a token number. Wait for your token number to be called/displayed. When your token number is called/displayed, head to the counter and pick up your passport with visa stamp. Verify the details on the visa to make sure everything is ok.

After you pick up your visa, head to the immigration area.

Entering Thailand by land

If you are a visa-exempt nationality or hold a pre-approved Thailand visa, head straight to the 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 the Visa on Arrival application form before you arrive at the land border. Also, grab an arrival/departure card and fill it. 

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

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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
• Completed departure card

IMPORTANT
Make sure to fill in all the details in your departure card before the passport control. You will be sent back to the beginning of the line if your departure card is not filled in.

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.

Leaving Thailand by land

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

• Your original passport
• Completed departure card
• Visa to the next country

If the next country you will be entering requires a visa, you must present the visa to Thai immigration. 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, Thailand tourist visa is quite easy to obtain. As of 2020, 145 nationalities require a pre-approved visa from the embassy. 18 nationalities are eligible to obtain Visa on Arrival (VOA) or e-VOA and the rest are visa-exempt.

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