3 Easy Steps To Check Which Visa you Need For Thailand

For all visa information, I suggest using only 1 website which is managed by the Thai government:

https://www.thaiembassy.com/

You can find information on this website which should answer all your questions in regards to which Visa you will need.

1. Which Visa do you need?

Ask yourself these 3 questions to determine which visa you need.

1.1 Visa Exempted?

If you are a citizen of one of the countries below, you do not need a Visa in advance to enter Thailand, as long as your stay doesn’t exceed the maximum number of days.*

Max duration	Exempted countries
90 days	Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Korea, Peru
30 days	Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam
14 days	Cambodia, Myanmar

Check the official government website for the complete list of exempted countries.

1.2 Not eligible for Visa Exception?

Check the official Thai Embassy website to find out if your nationality is eligible for Visa on Arrival.

Your country is not included in the Visa Exception: Skip ahead to 2.1 Visa application process
Your country is included in one of the lists: Answer question 1.3

1.3 Staying more than 30 days?

When you want to stay over 30 days and are eligible for Visa Exemption or Visa on Arrival, you can simply attend the local Thai immigration office. Present immigration with the required documents and pay a fee to extend your trip for another 7-30 days.

Required documents:

Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months
Visa application form TM.7 (filled out)
One (1) recent 4 x 6 cm photograph of the applicant
Photocopy of passport page
Photocopy of your current visa from your passport
Photocopy of your departure card

1.4 Would you like a multi-entry Visa?

To apply for a multiple entry Visa, you have just 1 option:

Get your Visa at the Thailand Embassy in your home country or another country.

This visa may be good for up to 6 months with a maximum period of stay of up to 60 days, depending on your nationality.

2. Visa on Arrival?

2.1 Visa on Arrival

Citizens of countries who are not eligible for Visa Exemption may be eligible for Visa on Arrival.

A Visa on Arrival will only permit you entrance to Thailand for 15 days.

If you do not possess a flight ticket to show that you will be exiting Thailand within 15 days, you will most likely be refused entry.

Below you find a list of countries eligible for Visa on Arrival:

Max duration	Countries eligible for Visa on Arrival
15 days	Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu

The Visa on Arrival allows entry into Thailand provided that you can meet the following requirements:

The visit is strictly for tourism purposes.
The passport must be genuine and should be valid for at least 30 days.
You must have a valid address in Thailand, whether a hotel or apartment, that can be verified.
You must have a confirmed return ticket to show that you are flying out of Thailand within 15 days of entry. Open tickets do not qualify. Travelling overland out of Thailand by train, bus, etc to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (including en route to Singapore), Myanmar, etc. is not accepted as proof of exiting Thailand. You must provide confirmation of a flight ticket leaving Thailand.

Important notes:

Have 2-3 photocopies of all documents with you when applying for Visa Exemption, Visa on Arrival or a Tourist Visa at your local embassy.
Be sure to have 2,000 THB ($59) on hand for your application.
Be sure to enter Thailand at one of the international checkpoints.

3. How to apply for your Visa from your local Thai Embassy

3.1 Visa Application process

To apply for a Tourist Visa, you will need to attend a Thai Embassy outside of Thailand, either in your home country or another country. Be prepared with the correct documents and the required fee.

The Visa length is dependent upon your nationality and will cost 2,000 THB ($59). The application process takes approximately 2-5 business days.

Required documents:

Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months
Visa application form TM.7 (filled out)
One (1) recent 4 x 6 cm photograph of the applicant
Round-trip air ticket or e-ticket (paid in full), or proof of departure
Proof of financial means (20,000 baht per person/40,000 baht per family)

Step 1

Attend local Thai Embassy
Submit all required documents
Pay application fee

*Application process should take 2-5 business days

Step 2

Pick up passport with Tourist Visa stamp
Plan your trip to Thailand

Important notes:

Don’t forget to check if your country is included on the list of Visa Except or Visa on Arrival approved countries before applying.
Make sure your picture is clear. Look directly at the camera, do not wear glasses and be sure that the picture has the right format (4x6cm). A standard passport photo is ideal.
Upon approval, you can enter Thailand at any of the 24 international checkpoints (by land, ferry, or air). See the full list here.

Application tips:

Intended temporary address in Thailand: Book a stay for your first day and use this address on your application form.
Intended length of stay in Thailand (number of days): If you are not sure when you will leave Thailand, use the maximum number of days allowed to stay (30 days for most nationalities).
Exit through checkpoint: If you do not have a pre-bought flight ticket to depart Thailand, you may be required to provide some form of documentation to prove your exit. Example: Bus or ferry ticket.

4. Frequently Asked Questions

Is a return ticket required?

An outbound flight or bus ticket from Thailand is required, but in most cases, they won’t ask you. For some nationalities, you will be required to show proof of flight, a bus or ferry ticket will not be accepted. If you don’t have a proof-of-exit ticket, officials can refuse you to board the flight to Thailand or refuse your entry to the country upon arrival.

How long should my passport be valid?

Thailand law requires your passport to be valid for at least another 6 months.

Can I enter Thailand after the starting date or before the exit date of the Visa?

Yes, you can enter or exit Thailand on any date within the validity period of your Visa.

What are the fees you have to pay for overstaying?

The fine depends on the number of days you have overstayed. The minimum charge is 500 Baht per day. This goes to a maximum of 20,000 Baht for overstays of 40 days or longer.

The good news is that if you pay the fine and leave the country, you won’t have any problems returning to Thailand at a future date. There won’t be any black mark next to your name.

If you cannot pay the fine, you may be taken to holding cells until you can raise the funds to pay the fine. This may result in a black mark next to your name and affect future travel to Thailand.

There can be very serious consequences for those who have overstayed numerous times. Your passport could be stamped with a stamp declaring you in violation of the immigration laws and regulations of Thailand.

This stamp will label you as an “undesirable alien”, which could make travel and obtaining entry to other countries, as well as Thailand, extremely difficult and often impossible.

If you have overstayed for an extended period of time, you will be banned from re-entering the country. See the tables below for more information regarding overstays:

About the author(s)

Kate

Kate is a writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.

Maarten

Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.