Visa Information

General Information

Information on location and contact number of the Thai Embassy and Consulate-General abroad could be obtained from:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 
Department of Consular Affairs, Visas and Travel Documents Division, 
123 Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok 10210,  Thailand.
Tel.(662) 981-7171 ext. 3201-2, 3204-5 or Direct line 575-1062-4.
Fax.(662) 575-1066 , E-mail : div1303@mfa.go.th

Visa Issuing Authorities

Official Agencies in charge of issuing visas are:

    1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    2. The Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates abroad
    3. The Office of Immigration Bureau

[Top of Page]

Tourist Visa Exemption

-  According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements dated 6 February B.E.2538 (1995) and 8 December B.E. 2541 (1998), passport holders from 57 countries do not require a visa when entering Thailand for tourist purposes if their stay in the Kingdom does not exceed 30 days.

-  The applicant must possess instrument of means of living expenses 10,000 per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly.

List of 57 countries are as follow :

N.B. For those who hold travel documents for aliens, namely; alien passport or C.I. , have to apply for visa even such documents are issued by the above 57 listed countries.

[Top of Page]

Temporary Tourist Visa : Visa on Arrival

-  According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements ,passport holders from 96 countries may apply for visas at the immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days.
-  The applicant must possess instrument of means of living expenses 10,000 per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly.
-  The applicant must produce instrument of means of transport (full paid ticket) which is usable within 15 days since the date of entry.
-  Visa on arrival is provided at 12 designated international checkpoints and applicants should produce the application form to which his/her recent  photograph (2 ½ inches) is attached. The application fee is 300 Baht.
 -  Visitors who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from travelling, etc. They can submit an application at  the Office of Immigration Bureau , Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu,  South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. (662) 287-3127 or 287-3101-10 ext. 2264-5 or website at http://www.police.go.th/thaiimb/frames2.htm

-  List of 96 countries are as follow :

N.B. For those who hold travel documents for aliens, namely; alien passport or C.I., could not apply for this temporary tourist visa at the immigration checkpoints. They have to apply for visa at the Thai Embassy or Consulate-General overseas even such documents are issued by the above 96 listed countries.

-  List of Thailand’s Immigration Checkpoints which provides facilities for issuance of visa on arrival are as follow :

    1. Don Muang International Airport , Bangkok
    2. Chiangmai International Airport , Chiangmai
    3. Phuket International Airport , Phuket
    4. Hatyai International Airport , Songkla
    5. U Tapao Airport , Rayong
    6. Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
    7. Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
    8. Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
    9. Betong Immigration Checkpoint , Yala
    10. Sadoa Immigration Checkpoint , Songkla
    11. Samui Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani
    12. Sukhothai International Airport, Sukhothai

[Top of Page]

Types of Visa

    1. Transit Visa
    2. Tourist Visa
    3. Non-Immigrant Visa
    4. Diplomatic Visa
    5. Official Visa
    6. Immigrant Visa
    7. Non Quota Immigrant Visa

Transit Visa

1. REQUIREMENT

This type of visa will be 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")
    -to participate in sports activities (sportsmen, sportswomen, etc.) (category "S")***
    -the person in charge or crew of a conveyance coming to a port, station or area in the Kingdom (category "C")

2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

    - Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months
    - Visa application form completely filled out
    - One recent photograph of the applicant ( 2 1/2 inches)
    - Instrument of means of transportation (confirmed plane ticket paid in full)
    - Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)
    - Visa of a third country in a passport or travel document
    - Letter of invitation to participate in sports

3. VISA FEE

200 Baht per entry

4. VALIDITY OF A VISA

The validity of a visa is three months.

5. VALIDITY OF A STAY

Travelers coming to Thailand with this type of visa will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period not exceeding 30 days.

6. EXTENSION OF STAY

Those who wish to stay longer can submit the application form at the Office of Immigration Bureau located on Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120 , Tel (662) 287-3101-10 (or at http://www.police.go.th/thaiimb/frames2.htm). The extension of stay as well as the change of certain types of visa is at the discretion of the the Immigration officer.
    
    ***Those who are scheduled to stay in the Kingdom longer than one month, Non-Immigrant Visa category “O” can be issued to them

[Types of Visa]  [Top of Page]

Tourist Visa

1. REQUIREMENT

This type of visa will be issued to applicants wishing to enter the Kingdom for tourism purposes.

2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

    - Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months
    - Visa application form completely filled out
    - One recent photograph of the applicant ( 2 1/2 inches)
    - Plane ticket paid in full
    - Financial means (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)

3. VISA FEE

300 Baht per entry

4. VALIDITY OF A VISA

The validity of a visa is three months.

5. VALIDITY OF A STAY

Upon arrival, visitors with this type of visa will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom of Thailand for a period not exceeding 60 days.

6. EXTENSION OF STAY

Extension of stay for an additional 30 days can be requested from the Office of Immigration Bureau located on Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120 , Tel (662) 287-3101-10. (or at http://www.police.go.th/thaiimb/frames2.htm) The extension of stay as well as the change of certain types of visa is at the discretion of the Immigration officer.

[Types of Visa]  [Top of Page]

1. REQUIREMENT

This type of visa is designed for applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for the following purposes.
    - to perform official duties (Category "F")
    - to conduct business / to work (Category "B")
    - to invest with the concurrence of the Thai Ministries and Government Departments concerned (Category "IM")
    - to invest or perform other activities relating to investment, subject to the provision of the established laws on investment promotion (Category "IB")
    - 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 (Category "ED")
    - to work as a film-producer, journalist or reporter (Category "M")
    - to perform missionary work or other religious activities with the concurrence of the Thai Ministries or Government Departments concerned (Category "R")
    - to conduct scientific research or training or teaching in a research institute (Category "RS")
    - to undertake skilled work or to work as an expert or specialist (Category "EX")
    - other activities (Category "O")

2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED ***

The applicants must submit the following relevant documents depending on the purpose of their visit.
    - Visa application form completely filled out
    - Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months and its copy
    - Two 5 x 6 cm full-faced , bareheaded photos taken within the past six months
    - Birth Certificate ("O")
    - Certificate of Marriage or its equivalents ("O")
    - Transcript / Letter of acceptance from the concerned schools/universities or institutes ("ED") 
    - Letter from Thailand's Board of Investment. ("IB") 
    - Official Note certifying the purpose of travel from the Government Agencies / Embassies and Consulates / International Organizations / State Enterprises in Thailand. ("F" / "B" / "ED" / "M" / "R") 
    - Letter of acceptance from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (Alien Occupational Control Division, Department of Employment , Tel 662-2452745)***
    - Letter from a company stating the objective of the visit to Thailand ("B") 
    - Document showing correspondence with trading partners in Thailand. ("B")
    - Letter of invitation from companies qualified to employ foreigners. ("B") 
    - Employment contract indicating rationale for hiring the applicant as well as his/her salary, position and qualifications (document must be signed by authorized managing director and affixed the seal of the company) ("B") 
    - Copy of Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (only in case the applicant has previously worked in the Kingdom ) ("B") 
    - Copy of corporate documents; namely 1) list of shareholders 2) business registration and business license 3) company profile 4) details of business operation 5) list of foreign workers stating names, nationalities and positions 6) map indicating the location of the company 7) Balance sheet, statement of Income Tax and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30) of the latest year 8) Alien income tax return (Por Ngor Dor 91) and 9) Value-added tax registration (Por Ngor Dor 20) , etc. ("B")
    - Copy of educational records of the applicant and letters of recommendation from the prior employers, identifying job description and length of service time. ("B")
    - Document indicating the number of foreign tourists (for tourism business only), or document indicating export transactions issued by banks (for export business only) ("B") 

3. VISA FEE

500 Baht for single entry and 1,000 Baht for multiple entries 

4. VALIDITY OF A VISA 

Single-entry visas are valid for three months and multiple- entry visas for one year. 

5. VALIDITY OF A STAY

The holders of this type of visa are initially granted a period of stay in the Kingdom not exceeding 90 days unless otherwise instructed by the Office of Immigration Bureau. 

6. EXTENSION OF STAY

Those qualified persons can obtain an additional one year stay permit counting from the date of entry in the Kingdom pertaining to the Office of the Immigration Bureau's regulations on extension of stay. The extension of stay is at the discretion of the Immigration officer.  

N.B. If applicants wish to stay in the Kingdom longer than 90 days, they can submit their application either at the Thai consular mission aboard or at the Office of Immigration Bureau in Bangkok located on  Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120 , Tel (662) 287-3101-10 (or website at (http://www.police.go.th/thaiimb/frames2.htm) . The consular officer must refer the case to the Office of Immigration Bureau for approval. Upon receiving approval, the consular officer may issue the visa as instructed by the Bureau.

*** 1. The document to be submitted for non-immigrant visa application is contingent upon necessities and appropriateness of purposes stated in the application form.
    2. Consular officers reserve the rights to request for additional documents as deemed necessary.
    3. Copies of company documents must be signed by Board of Directors and affixed the seal of the company.
    4.  In the absence of a required document, a letter indicating the unavailability of such document must be provided.
    5. The applicant must sign on each page of the copy
    6. Documents in foreign languages must be translated in Thai. If translated into English , it should be notorized by notary organs.

** For those foreigners who wish to work in Thailand, their employer in Thailand should submit Form WP3 (Application for applying a work permit on behalf of alien according to Section 3) at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

[Types of Visa]  [Top of Page]

Diplomatic/Official Visa

-  Thai Embassies and Consulates-General may upon official request grant visas to diplomatic or official passport-holders who wish to assume duties at a foreign Diplomatic Mission or Consulate or International Organization in the Kingdom and their family members or who desire to enter the Kingdom on official duty.

- Supporting documents are Note Verbale and/or documents issued by the foreign government or international organization, certifying the identity of the person concerned and his/her purposes while visiting the Kingdom.

[Types of Visa]  [Top of Page]

Immigrant Visa

- This type of visa is granted by Thai Embassies and Consulates to aliens who desire to take up permanent residence in the Kingdom, provided that the approval of the Immigration Commission and the Ministry of Interior’s consent have been obtained.

- Applicants who wish to engage in filing a petition must fulfill certain conditions set forth by the Office of Immigration Bureau. (Office of Immigration Bureau is located on Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120 , Tel (662) 287-3101-10 or website at http://www.police.go.th/thaiimb/frames2.htm.

- This type of visa is granted only by the Office of Immigration Bureau in Bangkok to aliens who are domiciled in Thailand having as evidence valid permits to re-enter  the Kingdom. Applicants shall submit their applications together with the Certificate  of Residence directly to the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok.

- For more information, please contact the Office of Immigration Bureau , Soi  Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120 , Tel (662) 287-3101-10 or  website at hhttp://www.police.go.th/thaiimb/frames2.htm.  

   [Types of Visa]  [Top of Page]

Source : Ministry of Foreign Affairs website "www.mfa.go.th/index.html"

Send mail to webmaster@HelloSiam.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 - 2002 HelloSiam.com   All rights reserved.