To apply for a visa, and to
check your visa status before travel, contact the Thai
Embassy or Consulate in your own country (see list of
Thai Embassies &
Consulates abroad). A passport valid for at least three
months from your entry date is required for entry into the
country. Once a visa is issued at your country of origin it
must be used within 90 days.
Transit & Tourist Visas
Citizens of 56 different nationalities,
including most of the large western countries, may enter Thailand
without a visa for a period of 30 days without charge. This
visa may be extended in Thailand for a period of one week
at a cost of 500 baht at the discretion of the immigration
officer. It’s also possible to leave the country and re-enter
with a 30-day free visa for an unlimited number of trips.
Citizens of a further 76 nationalities,
including many African and Latin American nations, are eligible
to 15-day Transit Visas. Transit Visas are issued on arrival
with a payment of 300 baht and may only be extended at the
discretion of the Immigration Division. Certain other nationalities
may be required to obtain a visa in advance of travel.
The Tourist Visa is valid
for 60 days at a cost of US$15. The Tourist Visa may be extended
by a further 30 days at the Immigration Division on Soi Suan
Phlu in Bangkok or at Immigration Offices in other provinces.
The cost of extension is 500 baht and only one extension is
granted.
Non-Immigrant
Visas
The 90-day Non-Immigrant Visa
must be obtained in advance, outside of Thailand. It costs
US$20. Visits to friends and family, work or extended business
trips, study and retirement are all considered good reasons
for issuance of the visa. Visitors with Non-Immigrant Business
Visas are permitted unlimited entry in and out of the country,
however you must leave the country every 90 days. Extension
of Non-Immigrant Visas may be made at the discretion of the
Immigration Officer. Success depends on your reasons for the
extension, appearance and supporting documentation. The fee
for the extension is 500 baht. It may then be necessary to
report to the Immigration Office on a regular basis (the period
is stamped in your passport) until the actual extension is
granted. Certain categories of workers, executives and retirees
may be able to extend the visa for a full year.
Re-Entry
Permits
Visitors wishing to leave
and re-enter the country may obtain a Re-Entry Permit at an
Immigration Office or at the Immigration Counter at Bangkok
International Airport (Terminal 1). The cost is 500 baht and
a passport-size photo is required. The process normally takes
a few minutes.
Immigration
Office
Immigration Office
Soi Suan Phlu, Sathorn
Tai Road,
Bangkok 10120
Tel: +66 2 287 3101 to
10
Tip: Anyone planning to stay
in Thailand for any length of time should keep a ready supply
of photos and copies of your passport. These are always handy
in case of loss of your passport or for the red tape that
you are sure to encounter at immigration counters and other
government offices.
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