Thailand is located in Southeast Asia, a country known for its tropical climate, famous destinations such as Bangkok, or many beautiful islands for tourists.
What is a Thailand visa?
A Thai visa is required for those individuals who intend to visit Thailand for certain reasons. The type of visa you are applying for must be approved beforehand. The visa is a must unless you are traveling from a country that is visa-exempt.
Below you will find more information regarding the Thai visa, types of Thailand visas, documents required to apply for it, and other additional information.
How to travel in Thailand without a visa?
A Thailand visa is required for every individual who is planning to travel in Thailand but it is not required for those countries that are visa-exempt.
If you are traveling from one of the Thai visa waiver countries then you can visit Thailand using only your passport. The duration can be from 14 days to a maximum of 90, depending on the country.
However, if your duration is nearing the end, then you can apply for an extension in the immigration department in Thailand. Keep in mind that you will have to pay a fee in order to be eligible to apply for the extension.
If you stay longer than you have to, then you will be charged for each day.
For standard passport that is granted by the countries below, you are allowed to stay in Thailand for a maximum of 90 days:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- South Korea
- Peru
For a standard passport that is granted by the following countries, the maximum number of days you can stay in Thailand is 30 days:
- Some European countries such as Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine.
- Other countries such as Australia, Brunei, Canada, Hong, Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Monaco, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam
You can also fly to Thailand without a visa for a maximum of 14 days if you are from:
- Cambodia
- Myanmar
Types of Thailand visas
A Thai visa depends on the purpose of your visit, so for example, if you are planning to visit Thailand for tourism purposes, then in that case you will need a Thai tourist visa. Find below the types of Thai visas.
Thai tourist visa
This type of visa is issued to people who plan to visit Thailand for tourism purposes only such as sightseeing, holidays, or other activities. This type of visa is short-term only and does not enable the owner to participate in any jobs or other paying work.
To apply for a tourist visa you must do so in your country’s embassy or consulate of Thailand. The process to apply is through the embassy or consulate where you will be contacted and asked to submit your application with the required documents and pay the fee.
The required documents are:
- A passport
- Completed visa application
- Evidence that you are returning once the visa expires
- Two biometric photographs with a size of 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm
- Evidence of financial support
For the visa to be processed, it will take around a maximum of 10 working days.
Thailand transit visa
A Thai transit visa will be requested if you need to fly through Thailand to move to a third country. That being said, the Thai Transit Visa is also provided to people who play kinds of sports and crewmen who fly for factors similar to their profession, in relation to nationals transiting in Thailand.
The Thai transit visa has some categories:
- TS category is the general one that is granted to individuals who want to move from Thailand to another country.
- S category is granted to people who play different kinds of sports and want to travel to Thailand to take part in competitions or similar activities.
- C category is granted to those people who are part of a crew and travel to Thailand for transport purposes.
Besides the requirements similar to the tourist visa, a Thai transit visa also has some specific requirements depending on the category
If you want to transit from Thailand to a different country you will need:
- Evidence of traveling, which can be a verified and paid ticket
- Another visa of the country you are transiting at
If you are a sportsman and want to take part in an activity then you will need:
- Invitation letter that indicates your involvement in that particular activity.
- Approval letter of the company that is sending you to take part in the event.
If you are part of a crew then you will need:
- Approval letter from employer that indicates the intention you have in Thailand
- Evidence of transport routes or parking authorization
Thai work permit visa
A Thai work permit visa is needed if your intention to travel in Thailand is for work purposes.
The requirements to get a Thai work permit are as follows:
- A valid passport
- Thai work visa application
- Biometric photos that can be taken online in our application
- Evidence of finances
- Authorization document from the Department of Employment in Thailand
- Certificate of criminal records from the relevant authorities
To get the work permit visa you must follow these steps:
- Request an application at the Embassy or consulate of Thailand or you can apply online if available and also schedule an interview.
- Gather the necessary documents
- Send the documents and the application
- Be patient for the processing of your application
- Once it’s all done, all you need to do is collect your visa
Thai study visa
A Thai study visa is for those individuals who are planning to study in Thailand and have been approved by an educational institution. This type of visa is for non-immigrants only.
To be eligible for the Thai student visa you have to:
- Be enrolled in a university or similar institutions.
- Be enrolled in a minimum of 3 courses.
- The weekly lessons must be 15 hours in total.
For a single entry or several entries, a Thailand Student Visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days. While you are most probably to have a study course of at least one year, you can still get a 90-day visa. However, if you want to extend it, you will have to contact the Thailand immigration department and pay a certain fee.
Thai business visa
A Thailand business visa should not be mistaken with that of a work permit as they are two different types of visas. A business visa is for those individuals who plan to travel to Thailand for business meetings, conferences, or any other business activities.
Two forms of business visas are issued by the Thai government:
- Thai Business Visa Single-entry, which enables you to access Thailand for up to 90 days.
- And Thai business multiple-entry visa which enables the holder to stay in Thailand for multiple times up to 90 days per entry.
Besides other similar requirements of visas that were mentioned above, a business visa in particular also requires:
- Invitation letter from the employer.
- Invitation letter of the institution in Thailand.
- Additional documents that confirm your relationship with the business associates.
- Documents about the company or institution you are going to work at such as their.
How to apply online for a Thai visa?
Applying online is one of the ways that you can get a Thailand visa.
To get your Thai e-visa is very simple, follow the steps below:
- Go to the official website where you can apply for a visa online.
- Fill in the visa application and afterward submit it.
- Make a payment online.
- After the payment, the e-visa will be sent to you via email.
It is important to enter precise details when registering for the Thailand E Visa. Make sure that you review your application carefully before submitting it.
