Generally, a foreign citizen who wishes to enter the Kingdom
of Thailand is required to obtain a visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or a
Royal Thai Consulate-General. However, nationals of certain countries do not require a visa if they meet visa exemption requirements as follows:
they are nationals of countries which are exempted from visa
requirements when entering Thailand for tourism purposes. Such
nationals will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of not
exceeding 30 days. For more information, please see Tourist Visa
Exemption;
they are nationals of countries which hold bilateral
agreements with Thailand on the exemption of visa requirements. For
more information, please see List of Countries which have Concluded
Agreements with Thailand on the Exemption of Visa Requirements.
Nationals of certain countries may apply for visa upon
arrival in Thailand. Travellers with this type of visa are permitted
to enter and stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 15 days.
For more information, please see Visa on Arrival.
Travellers travellling from/through countries which have
been declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas must acquire an International
Health Certificate verifying the receiving of a Yellow Fever
vaccination. For more information, please see List of Countries which
are Declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas.
Nationals of certain countries are required to apply for a
visa only at the Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate-General
in the applicant’s country of residence, or at the Royal Thai Embassy
which has jurisdiction over his or her country of residence.
Travellers are advised to enquire about authorised office for visa
issuance at any Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General
before departure. Contact details and locations of Royal Thai
Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General are available at
www.mfa.go.th/web/10.php.
To apply for a visa, a foreigner must possess a valid
passport or travel document that is recognised by the Royal Thai
Government and comply with the conditions set forth in the Immigration
Act of Thailand B.E.2522 (1979) and its relevant regulations. In
addition, the visa applicant must be outside of Thailand at the time of
application. The applicant will be issued with a type of visa in
accordance to his or her purpose of visit. For more information on
types of visas and general requirements for each type of visa, please
see Types of Visa and Issuance of Visa.
In general, applicants are required to apply for a visa in
person. However, Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai
Consulates-General in some countries and in some cases may also accept
applications sent through representatives, authorised travel agencies
or by post. Please enquire at the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai
Consulate-General where you intend to submit your application of
acceptable ways of application.
Please note that the period of visa validity is different
from the period of stay. Visa validity is the period during which a
visa can be used to enter Thailand. In general, the validity of a visa
is 3 months, but in some cases, visas may be issued to be valid for 6
months, 1 year or 3 years. The validity of a visa is granted with
discretion by the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General
and is displayed on the visa sticker.
On the other hand, the period of stay is granted by an
immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry and in accordance
with the type of visa. For example, the period of stay for a transit
visa is not exceeding 30 days, for a tourist visa is not exceeding 60
days and for a non-immigrant visa is not exceeding 90 days from the
arrival date. The period of stay granted by the immigration officer is
displayed on the arrival stamp. Travellers who wish to stay longer
than such period may apply for extension of stay at offices of the
Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, located at Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn
Road, Bangkok 10120, Tel 02-2873101-10 or at an Immigration office
located in the provinces. For information on application for extension
of stay, see the Immigration Bureau website at www.immigration.go.th
Foreigners entering Thailand are not permitted to work,
regardless of their types of visa, unless they are granted a work
permit. Those who intend to work in Thailand must hold the correct
type of visa to be eligible to apply for a work permit. Information on
Work Permit applications could be obtained from the website of the
Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment,
Ministry of Labour at www.doe.go.th/workpermit/index.html
Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General have
the authority to issue visas to foreigners for travel to Thailand. The
authority to permit entry and stay in Thailand, however, is with the
immigration officers. In some cases, the immigration officer may not
permit foreigner holding a valid visa entry into Thailand should the
immigration officer find reason to believe that he or she falls into
the category of aliens prohibited from entering Thailand under the
Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).
According to the Immigration Act of Thailand B.E. 2522
(1979), foreigners who fall into any of the following categories are
prohibited to enter Thailand:
Having no genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of
passport; or having a genuine valid passport or document used in lieu
of passport without valid visa issuance by the Royal Thai Embassies,
the Royal Thai Consulates-General or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
with exception of those who meet visa exemption requirements. The
terms and conditions of visa issuance and visa exemption are prescribed
by the Ministerial Regulations.
Having no appropriate means of living following entry into the Kingdom.
Having entered the Kingdom to be employed as an unskilled or
untrained labourer, or to work in violation of the Alien Work Permit
Law.
Being mentally unstable or having any of the diseases stated in the Ministerial Regulations.
Having not yet been vaccinated against smallpox; or
inoculated, or undergone any other medical treatment for protection
against disease; and having refused to have such vaccinations
administered by the Immigration Doctor.
Having been imprisoned by judgment of the Thai Court; or by
lawful injunction or judgment of the Court of a foreign country, except
for when the penalty is for a petty offence, or negligence, or is
provided for as an exception by the Ministerial Regulations.
Having behaviour which could cause possible danger to the
public; or having the likelihood of being a nuisance or constituting
any violence to the peace, safety and security of the public or to the
security of the nation; or being under warrant of arrest by competent
officials of foreign governments.
Reason to believe that entry into Kingdom is for the purpose
of being involved in prostitution, the trafficking of women or
children, drug smuggling, or other types of smuggling which are against
public morality.
Having no money or bond as prescribed by the Minister under Section 14 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).
Being a person prohibited by the Minister under Section 16 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).
Being deported by either the Government of Thailand or that
of other foreign countries; or having been revoked the right of stay in
the Kingdom or in foreign countries; or having been expelled from the
Kingdom by competent officials at the expense of the Government of
Thailand unless exemption is provided by the Minister on an individual
basis.
