06-03-11 Guide for Tourist Visas in Thailand

Visas for Thailand

IMMIGRATION AND VISAS

Passport Requirements

A passport is required by all travellers except the following:

1. Travellers with a 'Laissez-Passer' issued by the United Nations.

2. Travellers with a Seaman Book travelling on duty provided it is issued to or in:

2.1. Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea,
Kuwait, Laos, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines,
Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United
Arab Emirates, The United Kingdom and Vietnam;
2.2. Citizens of the United States of America, except if issued in the Marshall Islands; in which case it is not
accepted;
2.3. Hong Kong (A Special Administrative Region of China);

3. Citizens of Thailand with a certificate of identity.

4. Citizens of Singapore with a certificate of identity provided it is endorsed with a visa.

5. Citizens of Singapore with a document of identity provided the bearer is born in Singapore and the
document specifies that it is only valid for entering Thailand and states the period of stay.

6. Travellers with papers issued to people without nationality or citizenship and refugees.

7. Travellers with South Africa temporary passports.

8. Travellers with travel permits issued by Macao (A Special Administrative Region of China).

Document Validity

Passports and alternative papers, or either of them, must be valid for at least 6 months upon arrival.
a. Expired passports issued to citizens of Thailand are accepted.
b. Citizens of Oman must have passports valid for at least one month.
c. Residents of Thailand may enter with travel papers valid on arrival.

Additional information

All passports must be in good condition.

Visa Issuance

http://visados.com/en/visa-for-Thailand 1/5
06-03-11 Guide for Tourist Visas in Thailand
Issuing of Visa
1. Before arrival: Travellers are kindly requested to contact the nearest representation of Thailand.

2. Upon arrival: A visa can be issued to travellers staying for no more than 15 days (only at Bangkok, Chiang
Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Krabi, Phuket, Samui International, Surat Thani and Utapao airports) provided
they are:
2.1. Citizens of Cyprus, Estonia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia,
Slovenia and Ukraine;
2.2. Travellers with Chinese Taipei passports;
2.3. Citizens of Bhutan, People's Republic of China, Czech Republic, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland and
Slovak Republic with normal passports.
2.4. If having the visa upon arrival, the traveller must:
- have at least a sum of THB 10,000 (about USD 320) for each person or THB 20,000 (about USD 640)
for each family; and
- be able to provide an address while in Thailand; and
- has a passport that must be valid for at least a period of six months and in good condition, with at least two
clear visa pages for visa endorsements; and
- has tickets (standby tickets are not accepted) for an onward or return trip within 15 days from the date of
arrival (if the traveller fails to do so, he will be denied entry); and
- is coming for tourism only.

N.B.
The application form must be filled out in English and submitted along with a copy of the return or onward
ticket, the fee and two recent passport photos (size 4 x 6 cm, taken not less than 6 months ago). Facilities of
passport photo are only available at Bangkok International Airport. The fee for issuing the visa is THB 1,000
that must be paid in local currency. The fee for passport photo is THB 170 per photo.
Travellers must clear Customs and Immigration Quarantine directly at the place where the visa is acquired. If
travellers do not abide by such rules, this will result in re-applying for a visa and repayment of the visa fee at
the country of final destination.

Visa Exemptions

All travellers must hold a visa except the following:

1. Thai citizens.

2. A visit for tourism for no more than 30 days for:

2.1. Travellers with British passports that are endorsed 'British Citizen';
2.2. Travellers with British passports which are endorsed 'British National (Overseas)' issued in Hong Kong;
2.3. Citizens of Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Luxembourg, Malaysia,
Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, South
Africa (also if they have temporary passports), Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab
Emirates and Vietnam, who have normal passports;
2.4. American citizens with normal passports (except for passports that are issued in the Marshall Islands);
2.5. Singaporean citizens so long as they have an identity document or a normal passport;
2.6. Citizens of People's Republic of China with passports that are issued by Hong Kong (A Special
Administrative Region of China) or Macao (A Special Administrative Region of China);
2.7. Citizens of Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Oman or Vietnam with

http://visados.com/en/visa-for-Thailand 2/5
06-03-11 Guide for Tourist Visas in Thailand
diplomatic or official passports.

3. A tourist visit for no more than 90 days for:

3.1. Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Republic of Korea or Peru provided they have:
3.1.1. Official or diplomatic passports;
3.1.2. Normal passports;
3.2. Citizens of Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy,
Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Romania,
Russia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine or Uruguay with
diplomatic or official passport;
3.3. Bhutanese or Indian citizens with diplomatic and official passports.

4. Panamanian citizens with diplomatic or official passports, staying for no more than 90 days; it is possible to
extend visit duration. This is also applicable to family members;

5. A tourist visit for no more than 30 days to travellers with a 'Laissez Passer' issued by the United Nations
who are coming to attend a conference or meeting and holding:
- An official letter from the United Nations or an invitation letter from the organization; and
- Approval from the Immigration Authority that the traveller does not need a visa.

6. Foreign residents of Thailand with a re-entry permit that is issued by Thailand.

7. Travellers staying for no more than 90 days provided they have a Business Travel Card issued by the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (ABTC); the back of the card must indicate that it is valid for travelling
to Thailand:
7.1. if the traveller is a citizen of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member state, holding an ABTC
together with a national passport;
7.2. if the holder is a citizen of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member state, then holding an
ABTC together with a national passport and evidence of residence in the country that has issued the ABTC;

TWOV (Transit Without Visa)

TWOV is permissible for Transit travellers continuing their trip to a third country within 12 hours provided
that they do not leave the transit lounge, and that they have tickets with confirmed reservations and other
necessary documents for their onward trip.

Additional information

1. Travellers to Thailand with a visa issued before arrival are permitted to travel on a one-way ticket.
2. All travellers must have necessary papers for their next trip.
3. Travellers aged more than 12 years old must have enough money to cover the expenses of their visit (at
least THB 20,000 or USD 640 per person/family). Proof of such money includes letters of credit, vouchers,
or well-known credit cards, which are recognized in Thailand.
* Exemption:
Travellers with a re-entry visa.
4. Travellers who do not need a visa may stay for no more than 90 days in Thailand within any half-year
period provided they have return or onward tickets; extension of stay is possible but it may not exceed the

http://visados.com/en/visa-for-Thailand 3/5
06-03-11 Guide for Tourist Visas in Thailand
90-day-duration within any half-year period. Fee: THB 1,900 (and one photo is requited).

Warnings

Travellers who do not respect visa requirements will have to pay a fine for overstay (about THB 500 for each
day, but not more than THB 20,000 as a whole). Besides, the transporting carrier will be subject to payment
of a fine of THB 20,000. Above all, the traveller will be denied entry and immediately deported.

CUSTOMS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Import regulations

1. Travellers, regardless of age, who have their own personal passports are allowed free import of:
1.1. One still camera with 5 rolls of film or one movie camera with 3 rolls of 8 or 16 millimeter film;
1.2. 250 grammes of tobacco or an equal weight of cigars or 200 cigarettes;
1.3. One litre of alcoholic drinks.

2. Non-residents are allowed free import as follows:

- Travellers with transit visas or who can obtain a visa on arrival are allowed up to THB 10,000 per person
or THB 20,000 per family.
- Travellers with tourist visas are allowed up to THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family.

3. Prohibited Goods (without a licence):

1. Firearms and ammunition including explosive articles and fireworks, narcotic drugs such as heroin.
2. Gold bars, which must be declared on arrival and can, if no import licence is available, be left in Customs
bond at the airport of entry to be recollected on departure.
3. Meat from any country affected by Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow and foot-and-
mouth diseases. This limit applies to meat from all European Union countries and any other infected country.
Travellers with such diseased meat will be fined THB 40,000 and will be imprisoned for up to two years or
either penalty.

Export regulations

There are no restrictions on exporting tobacco and its products; however, it is prohibited to export any
quantity without a licence:
1. Religious items except for one small Buddha image normally carried by person;
2. Antiques or art works whether they are officially registered as art or not.

Crew members customs regulations

The same rules apply to crew members as to normal travellers.

Pets

- Import of pets must be accompanied by a health certificate and are subject to taxation (to know the
applicable duties, please refer to: igtf.customs.go.th/igtf/enmain_frame.jsp).
http://visados.com/en/visa-for-Thailand 4/5
06-03-11 Guide for Tourist Visas in Thailand
- Dogs and cats also require a certificate of vaccination against rabies. Before shipping, any person wishing to
import or transit animals or birds into or through Thailand should confirm the exact flight plan and arrival date
along with details of the animal(s) such as sex, breed and quantity with the Bangkok Airport Animal
Quarantine Station at the following: tel: + 66 1340731/2; fax: +66 1343640.
- The Department of Livestock Development of Thailand has banned the import of the following into
Thailand: Pitbull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier.
- Export of any animal is only permitted if an export license and an official health certificate are obtained at the
chief veterinary officer of Bangkok airport. Pet animals can enter as cargo, as traveller's checked luggage or
in the cabin.

Baggage Clearance regulations

A traveller's luggage should be cleared at the first airport of entry in Thailand. Exempt:
a. 1. Luggage of transit travellers whose final destination is within Thailand, which is either Chiang Mai
International Airport, Chiang Rai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Koh Samui Airport, or
Krabi International Airport as long as the transfer of luggage is through Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International
Airport (BKK) and does not include transport to Bangkok Don Muang (DMK);
2. Luggage of transit travellers whose destination is outside Thailand.

Airport tax

All travellers are not required to pay any airport tax upon departing from the airport.

Currency Import regulations

Local currency is allowed up to THB 50,000 per person or THB 100,000 per family with one passport.
There are no restrictions on importing foreign currencies, but sums higher than USD 20,000 or its equivalent
must be declared to the Customs Officers upon departure.

Currency Export regulations

Local currency is allowed up to THB 50,000 per person or THB 100,000 per family with one passport.
There are no restrictions on exporting foreign currencies, but sums higher than USD 20,000 or its equivalent
must be declared to the Customs Officers upon departure.

Additional Information on regulations

1. Infringement of such rules or any incorrect declaration will result in heavy penalties and confiscation of the
items concerned. Importing heroin may lead to life imprisonment or even to capital punishment.
2. The traveller must declare objects bought abroad if the total worth of these items exceeds THB 10,000 for
each person.

http://visados.com/en/visa-for-Thailand 5/5