Thailand Visa for Tourists in 2024: A Comprehensive Guide

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

30-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

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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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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THAILAND VISA EXEMPTION

Currently, Thailand offers visa exemption to 64 countries. Most countries in that list get a 30-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 30 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 15 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 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 out.

A 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 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 15 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 a 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 get a 15-day Thailand Visa on Arrival (VOA) in 2023 – 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 15 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.

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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 15-day Visa on Arrival will be stamped in your passport.

You can apply for e-VOA from any 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 15 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 fees 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

The following 91 nationalities are required to obtain a Thailand tourist visa from the embassy.

1. Afghanistan
2. Algeria
3. Angola
4. Antigua and Barbuda
5. Aruba
6. Azerbaijan
7. Bahamas
8. Bangladesh
9. Barbados
10. Belize
11. Benin
12. Bosnia and Herzegovina
13. Botswana
14. Burkina Faso
15. Burundi
16. Cape Verde
17. Cameroon
18. Central African Republic
19. Chad
20. Comoros
21. Congo, Dem Rep of
22. Congo, Rep of
23. Cote d’Ivoire
24. Curacao
25. Djibouti
26. Egypt
27. Equatorial Guinea
28. Eritrea
29. Eswatini
30. Gabon
31. Gambia
32. Ghana
33. Grenada
34. Guinea
35. Guinea-Bissau
36. Guyana
37. Haiti
38. Honduras
39. Iran
40. Iraq
41. Kenya
42. Kiribati
43. Lebanon
44. Lesotho
45. Liberia
46. Libya
47. Madagascar
48. Malawi
49. Mali
50. Marshall Islands
51. Mauritania
52. Micronesia
53. Moldova
54. Montenegro
55. Mozambique
56. Nepal
57. Nicaragua
58. Niger
59. Nigeria
60. North Korea
61. North Macedonia
62. Pakistan
63. Palau
64. Palestinian Territories
65. Rwanda
66. Samoa
67. Sao Tome and Principe
68. Senegal
69. Sierra Leone
70. Sint Maarten
71. Solomon Islands
72. Somalia
73. South Sudan
74. St Kitts and Nevis
75. St Lucia
76. St Vincent and the Grenadines
77. Sudan
78. Suriname
79. Syria
80. Tajikistan
81. Tanzania
82. Timor-Leste
83. Togo
84. Turkmenistan
85. Tuvalu
86. Uganda
87. Vatican City (or Holy See)
88. Yemen
89. Zambia
90. Zimbabwe

VOA and Visa Exempt nationals are also eligible to apply for Thai tourist visa from the embassies.

Validity and allowed stay

Single-entry visas are valid for 3 months and multiple-entry visas are valid for 6 months.

Both of these visas allow up to 60 days of stay on each entry. A 30-day extension is also possible from the local immigration office.

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
• A copy of your passport data/ID page
• 2 passport-size photos
• Flight tickets in and out of Thailand
• Hotel reservations for the entire trip 
• Bank statements (last 3 months showing at least 550 USD per individual or 5500 USD per family)
• Proof of relationship, if applying as a family

Read the Thailand Tourist Visa guide for more details such as the processing time, fee and application process at the embassy.

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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.