Thailand visa requirements

Thailand is one of the top travel destinations in Asia and the world. There are so many different things to do in Thailand, like touring the local beaches and islands, or enjoying the wonderful historical attractions. Even the food in Thailand counts as an attraction!

Some nationalities need to have a visa by the time they travel to Thailand. What are the Thailand visa requirements? Do you need a visa for Thailand? Find out here.

Is Thailand visa free now?

Yes and no: it depends on your nationality. Some nationalities can travel to Thailand visa-free for tourism for certain periods of time, while others are required to apply for a visa.

Is visa mandatory for Thailand?

The answer depends on your nationality. Use our eligibility verifier to check the status of your passport.

Do I need a visa for Thailand?

Having an approved visa for Thailand will be required depending on the location you’re in by the time you apply. Some countries are allowed to travel visa-free for tourism for a specific amount of days.

You will also need to apply for the Thailand visa under these circumstances:

• If you travel by land or sea and plan on staying longer than 15 days
• If you travel to Thailand without a return ticket
• If you plan or need to enter and leave the country multiple times in a short time period 

Thankfully, now you can apply online for the Thailand visa. The entire process is carried out online, saving you the time and the trouble of having to go in person to an embassy.

Visa types available for Thailand

The visa for Thailand is available to be applied for online. You can go through the entire process with professional assistance and in your own language if you apply through Visagov.

Tourist visa

The tourist visa is available as a single or multiple entry visa. Both of them allow the holder to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days. However, if you choose the multiple entry visa, you will be allowed to enter and leave the country more than once, each time for a stay of up to 60 days. 

If you travel for these reasons, then you’ll be obligated to apply for the tourist visa:

• Tourism/leisure/holidays
• Football (soccer) trial
• To visit family
• Medical treatment
• To learn or train for a recreational activity (cooking, scuba diving, boxing, Muay Thai, etc)
• Participants of MICE industry (Meeting, Incentives, Convention, Exhibitions) supported by TCEB (Thailand Convention Exhibition Bureau)

Transit visa

A transit visa for Thailand is required if:

• You need/wish to leave the transit area of the airport
• You have a 12-hour or longer layover
• Your departing flight is not included in the same ticket as your flight arriving in Thailand
• You’re an athlete on the way to a sporting event
• You’re a pilot, captain steering towards a Thai port or station, or part of the crew

It allows for a 30-day stay, and it's valid for 90 days after approval.

Business visa 

As the name implies, this visa is required in order to conduct business in Thailand.

Voluntary work visa

This visa is required if you travel to perform voluntary work with an NGO, charity organization or association. It’s paramount that the work be unpaid.

What are the Thailand visa requirements?

These are the documents that all travelers heading to Thailand will need to apply for the visa: 

• Having a valid passport
• Providing a photograph of the applicant taken within the last 6 months
• Having a document proving your current location

You also need to know what will be asked of you by the time you arrive in Thailand. All the information you need is in our guide about the Thailand entry requirements.

Thailand visa requirements: specific documentation for each type of visa

Besides the general requirements detailed before, there are some specific Thailand visa requirements to meet according to the visa type you apply for.

Tourism

All travelers applying for the tourist visa need to provide:

• Accommodation booking
• Travel itinerary

The reason for traveling also affects which documentation you need to provide in your application. Besides the general and specific documentation, you will also need to upload copies of these documents according to the reason for your trip:

• Football (soccer) trial: letter from the club
• Family visit: personal details of the family member (ID, passport, stay permit, etc)
• Medical treatment: letter of appointment from the hospital or medical center
• To learn or train for a recreational activity: acceptance letter from the institution in charge of the activity
• Participants of MICE industry (Meeting, Incentives, Convention, Exhibitions) supported by TCEB (Thailand Convention Exhibition Bureau): letter from the TCEB

Transit

All travelers applying for the transit visa need to provide:

• Accommodation booking
• Travel itinerary

In this case, the reason for traveling will also affect what documentation you need to provide:

• Athletes: letter from the event organizer in Thailand
• Pilots/captains/crews: employment certificate

Business

If you apply for the single entry business visa, you’ll need to provide financial evidence of no less than 30,000 THB. For the multiple entry visa, the financial evidence has to cover 120,000 THB or more.

You can use documents like bank statements or sponsorship letters as financial proof.

Voluntary work

If you travel for voluntary work, you’ll need to provide:

• Financial evidence of 30,000 THB or more (bank statements, sponsorship letters, etc)
• Letter of confirmation from the voluntary organization signed by an authorized person. A copy of the ID or passport of the signer will also be required.

How do you get a visa for Thailand?

The online application process has been simplified for the traveler’s convenience. You must follow these simple steps:

• Fill out the application form
• Attach all the necessary documents
• Pay the visa fees using a bank card (credit or debit)
• Await your approved visa, which will be sent to your email in a couple of days

Once you receive your approved document, you have to print it and carry it with you to present at the border along with your passport.

Which countries can enter Thailand without visa?

Some countries are allowed to travel to Thailand for tourism without having to apply for a visa. The length of stay allowed will depend on the nationality of the traveler.

You can use our eligibility checker in case of any particular doubts.

How long can you holiday in Thailand without a visa?

There are certain countries that can travel to Thailand for tourism without having to apply for a visa. They will be allowed to enter into the country without presenting a visa if they:

• Travel for tourism purposes
• Have a valid passport with a remaining validity of at least 6 months from the date of entry into Thailand
• Can prove they have an accommodation reservation in Thailand
• Show proof of having a return ticket
• Show proof of having funds of at least 10,000 THB to cover their stay in Thailand

Countries allowed to travel to Thailand visa-free for 90 days

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and South Korea.

Nationalities allowed to stay without a visa for 30 days

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, UK, USA and Vietnam.

Nationalities allowed to stay in Thailand without a visa for 14 days

Cambodia and Myanmar.

Do you need a visa on arrival for Thailand? 

The Thailand visa on arrival is available for citizens of specific nationalities. However, you should know that this is not the most recommended application method, even if your passport’s nationality is eligible. 

On one hand, chances are you’ll run into long queues at the airport when you try to apply. On the other hand, it’s not the safest way to travel: if your application is denied, you will be required to leave the country immediately, incurring in the loss of any reservations you may have made before traveling. As long as you’re in an eligible location, the best application method is online.

Who can apply for the Thailand visa on arrival?

Citizens of the following countries can apply for the Thailand visa on arrival: Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan and Vanuatu.

How much does the Thailand visa on arrival cost?

The cost of applying for the Thailand visa on arrival is 2.000 THB. It can only be paid for in cash in the local currency, so make sure you exchange currencies before traveling.

How many times can I enter Thailand without a visa?

It depends on the way you travel to Thailand. If you travel by air and are part of the visa-exempt nationalities, there’s no limit to the amount of times you can enter the country without a visa (as long as you respect the length of stay allowed). 

However, if you travel by land or sea, you can only travel twice per year without a visa.

Can the Thailand visa be changed once it has been processed?

No, you can’t make any changes once you send in your application. However, they may ask for some additional information or documents. In that case, you will be contacted by our team. 

How far in advance do I need to apply for a Thailand visa?

It’s advisable to apply for the Thailand visa at least one week before your scheduled date of arrival. However, you can do it earlier on if you desire to do so, but not more than 90 days in advance.

What are the entry borders to Thailand?

The available entry points for Thailand are:

• By air: there are several international airports in Thailand. They include Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Phuket International Airport, and Chiang Mai International Airport.
• By land: you can enter Thailand by road from the neighboring countries (Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia).
• By sea: since Thailand has a large coastline, there are multiple ports available if you travel by boat, ferry or cruise. 

Do you need a transit visa for Thailand?

Yes, you will need to apply for a transit visa for Thailand in these circumstances:

• If you wish to leave the transit area of the airport you arrive at
• If your layover lasts more than 12 hours
• If your departing flight is not booked on the same ticket
• If you’re an athlete on the way to a sporting event
• If you’re a pilot, captain or crew