As one of Southeast Asia’s most sought-after tourist destinations, Thailand has relatively painless entry requirements for nationals of countries that have been granted visa exemption for tourism purposes. The complete list of these countries can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s or Immigration Bureau’s website.
Generally, nationals of these visa-exempt countries are granted 30 days’ length of stay in Thailand if they arrived by air, and 15 days if they arrived from the bordering countries. (Holders of passports issued by Brazil, Korea and Peru can stay in the country for up to 90 days.) If the point of entry is from Malaysia, the length of stay granted to tourists is 30 days (with an option to stay for 7 more days if application for extension of stay is granted).
Visa-exempt tourists, however, are required to comply with the following documents and other requirements:
- A passport with at least six month validity;
- A forward or return trip ticket;
- At least 10,000 Baht for each person or 20,000 Baht for a family;
- Yellow fever, smallpox and cholera vaccination if tourist arrived from or traveled through countries identified as infected areas of these diseases.
Re-entry for visa-exempt tourists is granted within 6 months from date of first entry. They can stay for no more than 90 accumulated days.
Re-entering Thailand can be done several ways. First, if visa-exempt tourists are nearing the end of their 30-day stay but want to stay longer, they can leave Thailand temporarily and visit neighboring countries so when they return, they can be granted permission to stay (not a visa) for another 30 days (if they crossed the border by air; otherwise, only 15 days will be granted if border crossing was done overland).
This process can be done again – twice at most – until tourists reach the accumulated 90 days. Border crossing for this purpose does not require a minimum number of days away from Thailand before being granted re-entry. In some cases, travelers spend just enough time in another country’s border before heading back to Thailand.
Those who have already accumulated 90 days of visa-exempt stay should leave Thailand for at least 90 days before they can be permitted to re-enter (and repeat the cycle).
Since tourist visas are not issued in Thailand except for visa on arrival or VOA granted to visa-required nationals, visa-exempt travelers who were only granted permission to stay can make a visa run to Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos where there are Thai embassies that accept applications for a 60-day tourist visa (which can be extended for up to 30 days). Travelers who want to maximize their vacation in the country may apply for an extension of stay from any Immigration office throughout Thailand before their 60 days expire.
Application for extension can be made in person, by a representative or by registered mail. Travelers can apply for an extension of stay at every port of entry except at the Suvarnabhumi Airport Checkpoint. Extended stays are granted at the discretion of the immigration official.
For lucky applicants who were granted a tourist visa with double entry, they can opt to do another border crossing before their 60-day length of stay and 30-day extension is up. On their re-entry to Thailand, their second 60-day tourist visa takes effect, with the option to extend their stay for another 30 days. Altogether, a tourist visa holder granted with double entry can enjoy up to 180 days of stay in Thailand.
Visa runs are also done for purposes other than tourism. Depending on circumstances, a traveler may apply for a 90-day single-entry non-immigrant ‘B’ visa, or a one-year multiple-entry non-immigrant ‘B’ visa.
Visa run services have mushroomed around border crossings to address this special need of tourists. This means that anyone wishing to renew their permission to stay or get a tourist visa can do so quite easily. For those who would rather not endure the long road trip to the border, direct flights out of Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phuket are available daily.
It is crucial to keep in mind that crossing a border renders the visa, except the multiple-entry type, null and void. If a tourist is granted a 60-day visa but want to visit Laos within those 60 days, he or she should obtain a reentry permit before leaving Thailand. Failure to do so would require another visa application in the bordering countries.
Thailand is one country with constant need for English as a Second Language teachers. If you intend to work as such, you need to secure a non-immigrant visa “B” and work permit, ideally processed on your behalf by your prospective employer.
Thailand is also expatriate haven for retirees. If you are at least 50 years old and can produce documents that show you have savings of at least 800,000 Baht or a monthly income of no less than 65,000 Baht, you may be granted with non-immigrant “O-A” visa valid for one year stay. Working while issued with this type of visa is strictly prohibited.
For nationals of countries who are required to enter Thailand with a tourist visa, they may opt for the following:
- Apply for a tourist visa at the nearest Thailand consulate for a stay of no longer than 30 days (or 60 days if visa was approved at a Thailand embassy). Length of stay can be extended up to 30 days, at the discretion of immigration officials;
- Secure visa on arrival (VOA) and stay in Thailand for no more than 15 days. Requirements for entry for this type of visa are the following: Passport with at least 6 months validity; a fully paid ticket usable within 15 days from the date of entry; and 10,000 Baht for individual or 20,000 Baht for a family. Extension of stay is not granted for VOA unless there are circumstances that impede travel, such as illness.
Generally, it is cheaper to arrange for a tourist visa at one’s home country than it is to get VOA approved in Thailand, especially when the expected length of stay is longer than 30 days.
The penalty for overstaying in Thailand is 500 Baht a day.
With so many places to see in Thailand, 30 days may not be enough, so it always pays to be vigilant of your length of stay or status of your visa if you plan to stay behind or keep coming back.
