Visitors to Thailand must obtain a visa from one of the Thai diplomatic missions unless they come from a visa-exempt country or a country whose citizens are eligible to obtain visas on arrival.
Thailand currently offers visa-free travel to nationals of 57 countries and territories. The Thai government maintains bilateral agreements on visa waivers with some of these countries. Nationals of 21 countries can obtain a visa on arrival.
As of May 2014, visa runs are no longer allowed, meaning that if foreigners wish to re-enter Thailand after their visa-free or visa on arrival period has expired they have to obtain a visa in advance. In August 2014 Thailand Prime Minister ordered the Immigration Police to be more flexible as the strict application of the law was affecting schools and the tourist industry.
Video Visa policy of Thailand
Thailand visa policy map
Maps Visa policy of Thailand
Visa exemption for normal passports
90 days (5 nations)
The governments of the following countries have concluded bilateral visa waiver agreements with Thailand. Holders of normal passports from these countries are allowed to travel to Thailand without a visa for 90 days.
30 days waiver (6 nations)
Holders of normal passports issued by these countries which have bilateral agreements on visa waivers with Thailand are allowed to stay up to 30 days.
30 days exemption (44 nations)
Holders of normal passports of the following countries are granted visa-free travel to Thailand for a period of up to 30 days. The exemption is granted at most twice in a calendar year when entering overland or via a sea border but there is no limitation when entering by air.
1 - Malaysian nationals do not have a limitation on the number of visa exempt entries.
2 - for British citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) only.
Most of the visa-exempt nationalities listed above may apply to extend their stay for another 30 days since 29 August 2014.
14 days (2 nations)
Under bilateral agreements, holders of normal passports of the following 2 countries can stay without a visa for a maximum of 14 days:
Visa exemption for service category passports
Holders of diplomatic or service category passports issued by the following countries and territories are allowed to visit Thailand without a visa for visits up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):
D -- diplomatic passports only.
Visa-free agreements for holders of diplomatic, service and official passports was signed with Georgia on 26 September 2018, Kosovo (diplomatic passports only) in September 2018, Latvia in June 2018 and they yet to enter into force.
Visa on arrival for normal passports
Nationals from the following 21 countries may apply for a visa on Arrival which allows them to stay for up to 15 days at major entry points whether by air or by land. Visa on arrival may not be extended.
The fee for visa on arrival was increased from 1,000 baht to 2,000 baht on 27 September 2016. From 1 December 2016 to 31 August 2017 the fee for visa on arrival was decreased to 1,000 baht in order to encourage tourism.. The fee for visa on arrival was increased from 1,000 baht to 2,000 baht on 1 September 2017..
There are 48 Immigration checkpoints providing visa on arrival, including:
International Airport
Land and harbor checkpoint
Transit
Passengers transiting through Suvarnabhumi Airport for less than 12 hours do not require a visa, unless they are travelling on Angkor Air, Beijing Capital Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Eastar Jet, Golden Myanmar Airlines, Indigo, Intira Airlines, Jeju Air, Jet Asia Airways, Jetstar Asia Airways, Jetstar Pacific, Jin Air, Juneyao Airlines, Lao Central Airlines, Tigerair Mandala, Norwegian Air, Orient Thai Airlines, Regent Airways, Shandong Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, South East Asian Airlines, SpiceJet, Spring Airlines, T'way Airlines, Thai Smile, Tigerair or VietJet Air.
Those transiting through Don Mueang International Airport for less than 12 hours do not require a visa only when travelling on Thai AirAsia or Thai AirAsia X.
Citizens of Pakistan are required to obtain a visa when transiting through Thailand at all times.
APEC Business Travel Card
Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing "THA" on the back of the card can enter visa-free for business trips for up to 90 days.
ABTCs are issued to nationals of:
Mandatory yellow fever vaccination
Nationals of the following countries or nationals arriving from the following countries require an International Certificate of Vaccination in order to enter Thailand, unless they produce evidence that they do not reside in the following areas. Failure to fulfill this requirement could result in refusal of entry into Thailand.
E-visa
Thailand plans to introduce electronic visas in 2018.
The Thai Government have announced that the electronic visa for Thailand will be available before the end of 2018. Citizens from France, the UK, the UAE and China will be able to process their travel visas for Thailand online.
Visa types
General visa types
- Courtesy: Upon official request, the Royal Thai Embassy may grant courtesy visas/laissez-passer to diplomats/UN officials/others who wish to enter the Kingdom on official duty and/or other purposes
- Permanent resident: To qualify for this visa, you must have stayed in Thailand for 3 consecutive with the one-year visa extensions. If married to a Thai for 5 years, one must be earning 30,000 baht/month. If single, your monthly income must be 80,000 baht minimum.
- Tourist: If an individual wishes to remain in Thailand for more than 30 days, he/she may wish to obtain a tourist visa at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate prior to arriving in Thailand. The tourist visa must be used within validity date, that varies with the number of entries purchased, and allows an initial stay of 60 days. After arrival in Thailand, a tourist visa or a visa exempt entry may be extended once for an additional 30 days according to immigration Bureau order 327/2557. There is a 1,900 baht fee for each extension.
- Transit: This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for the following purposes: to travel in transit through the Kingdom in order to proceed to the country of destination or to re-enter his/her own country (category "TS"); the person in charge of or crew of a conveyance coming to a port, station, or area in the Kingdom (category "C")
Non-Immigrant visa types
- Type B: to conduct business; work; attend business conferences; teach school; attend scuba diving, muay Thai, and massage courses
- Type D: diplomatic visa
- Type ED: to study; to come on a work study tour or observation tour; to participate in projects or seminars; to attend a conference or training course; to study as a foreign Buddhist monk
- Type EX: to undertake skilled work or to work as an expert or specialist
- Type F: to perform official duties, e.g., military exercises or governmental assignments
- Type IB: to invest or perform other activities relating to investment, subject to the provision of the established laws on investment promotion
- Type IM: to invest with the concurrence of the Thai ministries and governmental departments concerned
- Type M: to work as a film-producer, journalist, or reporter with permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Type O: to visit family; to perform duties for a state enterprise or social welfare organizations (NGOs); to receive medical treatment; to be a sports coach as required by the Thai government; to be a contestant; to be a witness in a judicial process
- Type O-A: retirement visa
- Type R: to perform missionary work or other religious activities with the concurrence of the Thai ministries or government departments concerned
- Type RS: to conduct scientific research or training or teaching in a research institute
- Type S:to participate in an officially recognised sports event.
Statistics
Most visitors arriving to Thailand on short term basis were from the following countries of nationality:
* ASEAN member state
Re-Entry Permit
If you have an extension of stay or simple permit to stay (of a tourist or non immigrant visa), but would like to travel outside Thailand for a short period then you will need to apply for a Re-Entry permit..
Work Permit
To legally work in Thailand, a foreigner must apply for a work permit. Work permit is a legal document that states a foreigner's position, current occupation, or job description and the Thai company he is working with. It also serves as a license to perform a job or an occupation allowed for foreigners inside Thailand. A foreigner is eligible to apply for a work permit as long as he has a non-immigrant visa or a resident visa, has an available employer who will provide documents for work permit, and the occupation he will perform is not prohibited to foreigners.
One Stop Service Centre for Visas and Work Permits
The One Stop Service Centre for Visas and Work Permits was established on 1 July 1997 by authority of the Regulations of the Office of Prime Minister promulgated on 30 June 1997. The objective of this centre is to simplify visa extension and permit issuance procedures to create a good investment environment. It aims to facilitate applications of visa extension and work permits (e.g., stay permission, re-entry permit, work permit). The Centre is located on Chamchuree Square Building, Floor 18, Phatumwan, Bangkok.
Foreigners who are eligible to apply for visa extension and work permits at the One Stop Service Centre
- Foreigner who is an executive or expert with privileges accorded to them by the following laws:
1.Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (1977); 2.Petroleum Act B.E. 2514 (1971); 3.Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act B.E. 2522 (1979);
- Foreigner who is an investor.
1.If investing not less than 2 million Baht, he or she will be granted a 1-year permit. 2.If investing not less than 10 million Baht, he or she will be granted a 2-year permit.
- Foreigner who is an executive or expert.
- Foreigner's associated company should be registered with capital or possess asset of not less than 30 million Baht.
- Foreigner who is a member of the foreign press must present a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a copy of an ID Press Card issued by the Department of Public Relations.
- Foreigner who is a researcher or developer on science and technology.
- Foreigner who is employed in a branch office of an overseas bank, foreign banking office of an overseas bank, provincial foreign banking office of an overseas bank or a representative office of the foreign bank in which all offices are certified by the Bank of Thailand.
- Foreigner who works on the necessary and urgent basis for a period of no longer than 15 days.
- Foreigner who is an official of the representative office for foreign juristic persons concerning the International Trading Business and Regional Office of Transnational Corporation in accordance to the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999).
- Foreigner who is an expert on information technology.
- Foreigner who works at regional operating headquarters.
See also
- Visa requirements for Thai citizens
- Thai passport
- Thai national ID card
- Tourism in Thailand
References
External links
- Thailand Immigration Bureau
- Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Thailand Visa on Arrival
Source of article : Wikipedia
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