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Thailand Tourist Visa
Requirements

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"Thailand tourist visa" was last updated on Dec 22, 2013
All information below is subject to change

If you belong to one of the countries mentioned above, you should:

• Have a passport valid for 6 months after the date you return from Thailand. 

Example: If you leave Thailand on January 15th, your passport must be valid until July 15th.

• Have a round trip air ticket which shows that you're leaving the country within 30 days 

Will you get into trouble if you only show a one-way ticket? In theory, yes. But in real life; you'll likely be alright. When I arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, the officials didn't even ask for my itinerary. I met other travelers who showed their one-way ticket, but the officials just let them pass.

But don't get me wrong. Not all Thai officials are like that. This rule was apparently made to prevent over-stayers, so it's not 100% that you won't get into trouble.

• Evidence of adequate finances 10.000 B (per person)

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Here are the nationalities
who MUST have a Thailand Tourist visa:

This means that if your country is listed below, you have to get a Thai visa when you arrive at the airport.

Period of stay: 15 days

Do you belong to one of the countries mentioned above?

Then you should:

• Have a passport valid for 6 months after the date you return from Thailand.

• Have a round trip air ticket which shows that you're leaving the country within 15 days

• Evidence of adequate finances 10.000 B (per person)

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Overland crossings -
15/30 days visa-free entry

As a backpacker in Thailand, what kind of Thai visa should you get?

If you're going backpacking for more than 30 days in Thailand, I suggest you apply for the tourist visa (with multiple entries).

This is why:

In December 2008, new visa rules came into force in Thailand.

Example: You arrive in Thailand and stay there for 4 weeks. You travel overland to Laos, then back to Thailand (by overland). When you arrive in Thailand this time, you only have 15 days of stay!

So, if you're traveling overland and you're planning to stay in Thailand more than 15 days you should apply for a tourist visa.

When and where should you apply for a Thailand tourist visa?

Here are some choices:

• Apply at your nearest Thai embassy in your home country, before departure

• If you're already on the road outside Thailand: Apply at a Thai embassy in the neighbouring countries (Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam or Singapore)

If you apply for a Thailand tourist visa, it will last for 30 days or 60 days depending on which nationality you are.

If you have obtained a tourist visa before you travel to Thailand, and come from one of the countries listed in "Tourist Visa Exemption" (listed above) - your period of stay is 60 days.

Example: If you apply for a tourist visa in your home country before leaving for Thailand (you're from the Netherlands), you can go backpacking for 60 days in Thailand.

If your country is not listed and you hold a Thailand tourist visa before entering Thailand, you have 30 days period of stay.

Here are the documents you need to apply for a Thailand tourist visa:

The Thai Government applied new (stricter) rules in August 2011.

• One completed and signed application form
• One photo (colour, size 4 x 6 cm)
  

Citizens of following countries are required to provide 5 photos and 5 copies of application form: Citizens of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Democratic People Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

• Copy of ID card
• Copy of residence certificate (Carnet de Residence/ Family Record Book)
• Passport/travel document valid for at least 6 months after the date you return from Thailand
• Hotel reservation in Thailand with name and dates of checking in/out (NEW!)
• Airline ticket or confirmation slip with flight number and date of entry/exit

The validity of a Thailand tourist visa?

3 or 6 months. This means that you have to use your visa within 3 or 6 months. It is NOT the same as period of stay!!!

Price: 1000 baht per entry

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Thai Visa Run

Changed your mind and want to apply for a Tourist Visa?

If you're in Laos, go to the Thai embassy in Vientiane (opens in a new window)

If you're in Malaysia (KL): Address: 206 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Office hours visa: Monday to Friday - 0930 to 1300, and then 1430-1700 Consulate Section: Monday to Friday - 0930 to 1130 (visa application), 1430-1630 (visa collection)

If you're in India (Delhi): Address: 56-N Nyaya Marg Chanakyapuri

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Cambodia-Thailand
Joint Single Visa

On December 27th, 2012, the Cambodia-Thailand joint single visa scheme came into force. This means that you can obtain one tourist visa to visit both countries. The purpose behind this new visa is to boost the tourism in each country.

Jan 05, 2013: This scheme is fresh and new, and all info below on this topic is subject to change. It will be updated if/when new information comes.

Duration: 90 days from date of issuance

Who can apply: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bahrain, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, India, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US.

Where to apply: at the embassies or consulate offices of either country.

Fees: You have to pay both tourist visa fees, meaning Cambodian tourist visa fee and Thai tourist visa fee. You pay 1,000 B when you enter Thailand and pay the Cambodian visa fee when you enter the country, or vice versa.

Advantages:

• You get one visa for two countries
• Great if you're starting your journey in Cambodia and then Thailand (many travelers stay longer in Thailand)

Disadvantages:

• It's a single entry visa, which can be problematic for backpackers who start in Thailand, travel to Cambodia and want to return to Thailand (most travelers do). The Thai visa will then be "finished" and you have to apply for a new Thailand tourist visa or use the 30 days/15 days approach.
• Might seem more of a hassle since you can't pay the fees at the time of getting a visa, but have to pay the fees at two different places.

How much is a Cambodian tourist visa?

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Extension of Thai visa

If you want to stay longer in Thailand and have to extend your visa, do it before it expires! There are three extensions here:

1. If you already possess a tourist visa, it can be extended up to 30 days
2. If you want to extend your 30 days visa free stay (like when you arrive at the international airport, you get a stamp in your passport saying you can stay in the country for 30 days), it can be extended once and you can stay in the country for another 14 days.
3. If you want to extend your 15 days visa free stay (like when you border cross to Thailand, you get 15 days), you can do it once and you can stay in the country for another 7 days. (PS: I can't find information on how this third option works for the nationalities who recently got their 30-day overland visa-free entries reinstated).

Price: 1,900 baht for EACH extension mentioned above (yup, expensive!)

Most offices will ask for:

• 1-2 passport sized photos
• 2 photocopies of the main pages of your passport, Thai arrival card, arrival stamp/visa.
• Your fingerprint

Go to Bangkok Immigration Bureau:

If you're in north Thailand: Chiang Mai Immigration Office 71 Airport Road, T Suthep, A Muang, Chiang Mai 50200

If you're in south Thailand: Phuket Immigration Office 482 Phuket Road, A. Muang Open: Mon-Fri 8.30 am - 4.30 pm. Closed Saturday, Sunday and official holidays.

If you're in Bangkok and want to extend your Thailand visa, you might try the travel agents on Khao San Road. They can do the extensions for you. But beware of the fact that some of them have faked the stamps.

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Overstaying your Thai visa

If you overstay your Thailand visa, it will cost you 500 B per day (in theory). The maximum charge is 20.000 Baht. If you do overstay your visa, pay the fine at the airport or at the immigration office before you leave the country.

But have in mind that some travelers have been charged more than 500 B per day. There's a legal clause which states that the stated rules and regulations are to be implemented at the official's discretion. So just because there`s some law written down somewhere, it doesn't mean that they should follow it to the letter.

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Further reading: How is the weather in Thailand? The pros and cons of backpacking in the low season North Thailand itineraries South Thailand itineraries

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