Nationals that are not visa-exempt or eligible for VOA must obtain a Thailand tourist visa in person at a nearby Thai embassy.
This article is about applying for a tourist visa at an embassy and all the requirements, conditions, and tips to help you in the process.
QUICK SUMMARY:
- Who requires it: Nationals of 90 countries (visa-exempt and VOA nationalities are also eligible)
- Validity: 3 months for single entry or 6 months for multiple entry
- Allowed stay: 60 days
- Visa fee: 1,000 THB for single or 5,000 THB for multiple-entry
- Extensions: Allowed once for up to 30 days more. Costs 1,900 THB.
If you haven’t already, read the Thailand Visa Guide for available visa options for tourists, their eligibility and requirements.
Table of Contents
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Understanding Thailand Tourist Visa
Tourist visa validity
The single-entry tourist visa is valid for 3 months. You must enter Thailand within the validity of this visa.
The multiple-entry 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.
Duration of stay
Both single and multiple-entry visas allow you to stay for a maximum of 60 days per entry.
Allowed number of entries
There are two types: a single-entry visa and a multiple-entry visa. The latter allows unlimited entries within the validity period.
Allowed ports of entry
With a tourist visa, you can enter Thailand through any international border.
When to apply
When to apply depends on which embassy you apply at, your nationality, and the time of the year. Most Thai embassies process tourist visas within 2 working days.
Some nationalities (see below) must undergo a lengthy background check that increases the processing time by at least 4 weeks.
In summary:
- Latest: 3 days before traveling
- Earliest: 3 months before traveling
Tourist visa extension
You can extend the tourist visa once for 30 days. To do that, prepare all the necessary documents and visit any Immigration Office.
The required documents are:
- Form TM7
- Form TM30
- Form STM2
- Form titled “The Acknowledgement of Penalties for Visa Overstay”
- Copy of the bio-page of your passport
- Copy of the page of your passport that contains the arrival stamp
- 4×6 cm face photo
- 1900 THB in cash
Check this link to download all the forms and read this detailed guide about how to extend your visa in Thailand.
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Thailand Tourist Visa Requirements
Who requires a tourist visa?
The following 90 non-visa-exempt nationalities must obtain a visa from the embassy before traveling to Thailand.
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Benin
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo, Dem Rep of
- Congo, Rep of
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Curacao
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palestinian Territories
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Sint Maarten
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vatican City (or Holy See)
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
The above nationalities are also eligible to apply for Thailand e-Visa online if they reside in one of the eligible countries.
Nationalities eligible for Thailand Visa on Arrival or eVOA can also opt to get a tourist visa for longer stays. The VOA/eVOA allows only 15 days of stay and is also more expensive.
Visa-exempt nationals can consider getting a tourist visa if they want to enter Thailand overland a third time in a calendar year since current rules allow only 2 visa-exempt overland entries.
Documents required
You will need the following documents:
- Original passport
- Completed visa application form (download from the embassy’s website)
- 1 copy of the passport biodata page
- 2 passport-size photos
- Flight tickets in and out of Thailand (If traveling by car, provide vehicle registration and driver’s license)
- Hotel bookings for the duration of stay in Thailand (names and dates must match with flight tickets)
- Bank statement for the last 3 months. The minimum balance required is at least 550 USD for single-entry and 5500 USD for multiple-entry. It may vary between embassies. For families, double the amount.
- (If traveling as a family) A document proving the relationship, for example, a birth or a marriage certificate.
Passport requirements
The passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of application. The passport must also contain at least 2 blank pages for the visa sticker and entry-exit stamps.
Tourist visa application form
The visa application form is the same for all embassies but the embassy location is usually printed on the top. For that reason, application forms downloaded from one embassy will not work for another embassy. You must download the application from the embassy website where you plan to apply.
Use this link to find the website for the embassy you plan to apply.
Photo requirements
The passport-size photos must meet the following requirements.
- Must be 3.5 x 4.5 cm
- Must not be older than 3 months
- Taken against a white background
- Face and eyes must be in a direct position to the camera
- Without sunglasses, a hat, or any other head covering unless due to religious beliefs.
Tourist visa fee
The tourist visa fee is:
- 1,000 THB for a single-entry visa.
- 5,000 THB for a multiple-entry visa.
The fee varies between embassies and is payable in the local currency or USD.
Processing time
Processing time varies between embassies but most will issue visas within 2 working days.
Certain nationalities must undergo a background check that takes 4 to 6 weeks. These are:
- Afghanistan
- Iraq
- North Korea
- Nigeria
In addition, some nationalities will also go through the background check process if they apply at an embassy in a country where they aren’t a legal resident. These are:
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo, Dem. Rep. of
- Congo, Rep. of
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Iran
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Lybia
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen
Other countries may also be on the “Special Considerations” list depending on the reviewing embassy. Additional documents may be required of you during the background check.
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Tourist Visa Application Process
The visa application process is not streamlined across embassies. The experience differs depending on where you apply.
Some embassies require that you make an appointment online and will not accept walk-ins. Appointments can in some cases be made only 2 weeks in advance and for busy embassies get fully booked quickly.
How to apply for a tourist visa
Step 1: Visit the Thai embassy’s website and look for a page about “Applying for a visa”. Check if you need to make an appointment and how. Sometimes you may need to make and verify an account or confirm the booked slot with an OTP code via SMS.
Step 2: Prepare the necessary documents. The embassy’s website will have a link to download the application form. Fill out all personal details.
Step 3: Visit the embassy during the booked slot. Some embassies will not allow you to book another slot for a month if you don’t show up for your appointment!
Step 4: Submit the documents and pay the visa fee. Most embassies will only accept payment in cash in the country’s currency or in US dollars.
Step 5: Go back to the embassy after your visa is ready. Some embassies will require you to book a new appointment. Others will inform you of the processing time (usually 2 business days) so you can just turn up and collect your passport.
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Entry Procedure at the Border
With a tourist visa issued by a Thai embassy, you will already have a full-page visa stamp in your passport, so you don’t need to queue for a visa on arrival.
Proceed directly to an immigration counter where an officer will stamp the visa as “Used” (assuming it’s single-entry) and add an “Entry Stamp” valid for 60 days.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a Thailand tourist visa online?
Yes but only if you are currently present in a country under the jurisdiction of an eligible Thai embassy. Check if you can apply online on the Thai e-Visa portal.
What is the minimum bank balance required for a Thailand tourist visa?
You must have a consistent balance of at least 550-700 USD over the last 3 months. Double that if you are applying as a family.
Do I need to show cash at the Thai border?
You may be asked to show that you have at least 10,000 THB on you before you are allowed to enter (double for a family). While rarely enforced, sometimes border officers will be very insistent on seeing the money in cash.