With effect from 1 July 2022, international passengers may only transit at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport and Phuket International Airport and any transit must not exceed 24 hours and not leave the transit area.

Transit of less than 24 hours or without going through immigration does not require a transit visa. A transit visa is required for a change of airport and a stopover of more than 24 hours.

The documents you must provide to support your Thai transit visa application include:

• A valid passport or travel document valid for at least six months and two blank pages for the visa
• A completed and signed application form for a transit visa to Thailand, which you can download from the website of the Thai embassy/consulate where you are applying, or receive it when you arrive if you apply in person.
• Two passport-size photos
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover the duration of your stay. You need 10,000 Thai baht if you are traveling alone and 20,000 Thai baht if you are traveling with your family.
• Hotel reservation

If you are transiting through Thailand on your way to a third country:

• Proof of onward travel, such as a paid and confirmed travel ticket
• Visa for a third country, if a visa is required

If you are traveling to participate in a sporting event:

• Invitation letter indicating your participation
• A letter of confirmation from an organization in your country

If you are traveling as a crew member of a vehicle:

• A letter of confirmation from your employer stating the purpose of entry into Thailand
• Proof of travel itinerary 

A transit visa to Thailand can be issued for the following periods:

• As a single-entry visa for up to 30 days
• As a multiple-entry visa valid for sixty days and with a maximum permitted stay of 30 days per entry (two, three or four entries)

The fee for a Thai transit visa is 800 Thai baht per entry, which is approximately 26 USD.

Rules of import of pets to Thailand

Your pet will not be quarantined upon entry to Thailand if these requirements are met. Unless otherwise noted, the following rules apply to domestic dogs and cats only.

1. Microchip of a pet

Thailand's pet import regulations require your dog or cat to have an ISO 11784 15 digit unencrypted microchip for all animals entering Thailand or onward transits. If your pet's microchip is not ISO compliant, you may want to carry a microchip scanner with you.

2. Vaccination

Unless your animal is in a country with no rabies cases in the past 12 months, each animal must have a vaccination/certificate clearly stating your animal's current rabies vaccination, including the vaccine manufacturer, batch number and expiry date. Rabies vaccination must be given within 21 days of arrival in Thailand and no more than 12 months prior to arrival.

In addition, your dog must be vaccinated against leptospirosis at least 21 days before the trip. If not vaccinated, your dog must be tested for leptospirosis with a negative result within 30 (thirty) days prior to departure. All pets must be vaccinated against other serious infectious or contagious diseases (Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus) with an approved vaccine at least 21 days before departure from the country of origin. Cats should be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV).

3. Test for rabies

Thailand does not require a rabies test (FAVN) for pets imported from any country.

4. Medical certificate

The health certificate for Thailand must be completed in English and stamped (endorsed) by the government of the exporting country responsible for the import and export of animals. If you are traveling from the United States, this may be a state Department of Agriculture office or a CFIA office if you are traveling from Canada. If you are not traveling from one of these countries, the forms must be certified by your country's governing body responsible for the import and export of animals. A copy of your passport must accompany your animal.

5. Internal and external parasites

It is recommended that a dog or cat be treated for internal and external parasites (mites and tapeworms) before entering Thailand.

6. Permissions

You must obtain an import permit from the Livestock Development Department well in advance of your pet's arrival. The permit is valid for 60 days.

An import permit is required for any live animal transiting through Bangkok.

7. Procedures after import

When entering Thailand, pets may be quarantined for up to 30 days for testing at a quarantine center upon arrival. If the results of all checks and tests are acceptable, the animal will be released to you.

8. Entry to Thailand by plane

Pets can arrive in Thailand in the aircraft cabin or as checked baggage or air cargo at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. It is necessary to notify the animal quarantine station in advance. Pets can also enter Thailand in Phuket, although an import permit is required and an import permit must be negotiated with the veterinary authorities.

Your pet is not allowed to come into contact with other animals while in transit at any approved port of call or airport. They are not allowed to leave the territory of the port, except for the officially approved transit quarantine zone.

When checking in for a flight, the following documents must be presented for the issuance of an import permit: a photocopy of the animal owner's passport, the original record of the animal's vaccination (and the animal's passport, if applicable), the original of the official health certificate and a photocopy of the printed import permit.

Domestic dogs and cats will not be quarantined if they arrive with a valid import permit and comply with all regulations for entry into Thailand. However, the Quarantine Officer has the right, at his discretion, to detain any pet/animal at the quarantine station for a period of not less than 30 days after arrival, during which time it must undergo tests and/or treatment as deemed necessary. These costs are covered by the owner of the animal.

Pets transported through Thailand as air cargo require a transit permit, which must be obtained through an import permit application.

9. Puppies and kittens

Thailand requires that puppies and kittens be vaccinated no earlier than 3 months of age and wait 30 days before entering the country.

10. Prohibited breeds

Thailand does not publish a list of prohibited dog breeds, but all pit bull breeds must be spayed or neutered. It is recommended to use the services of a local agent for customs clearance of pit bull dogs and their hybrids.

11. Export of pets. Accommodation in Thailand

Cats and dogs cannot be taken out until they have been microchipped and vaccinated against rabies and have waited 30 days. Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated against rabies until they are 3 months old, so the minimum age for export is 4 months. Your pet must also have a health certificate, export permit (if applicable).

All pets to be exported must be inspected 48 hours prior to departure at the airport before an export license is issued. The export license and health certificate are issued and collected after inspection and a copy is sent to the owner before departure.

12. Other animals

Rabbits are subject to the same requirements as those listed above. Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals such as rodents are not required to be vaccinated against rabies, but may meet other requirements and must have a health certificate to enter Thailand. Pet owners are advised to contact the relevant authorities in their country and/or country of destination for further information.

13. CITES

If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should make sure that it is not protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In this case, you will have to apply for additional permissions. More than 180 countries participate in and enforce the CITES Convention. 

Non-Thai nationals can use their local or foreign driver's licenses in Thailand. A driver's license in Thailand is valid as long as it is written in English and has a photo. However, they may have difficulty renting a car from some rental companies. It is best if a foreign national has an International Driving Permit (IDP) to book a car online.

Traffic rules

• In Thailand, you drive on the left side.
• The speed limit in Thailand ranges from 60 to 120 km/h
• Usually in cities, the speed is 60 km/h. When driving on the highway, the speed limit increases to 100 or 120 km/h depending on the road.
• Road signs in Thailand are usually in English and Thai
• Seat belts and motorcycle helmets are mandatory in Thailand
• Seat belts on the front seats of cars and helmets on motorcycles are mandatory in Thailand. In fact, many drivers and motorcyclists break the law, but we recommend that you protect yourself as much as possible when traveling on Thai roads.
• Drunk driving is illegal in Thailand
• Police roadblocks and inspections

Thai Customs allows visitors to enter Thailand with personal items worth up to 80,000 baht without paying import duties, provided that:

1) the items are for personal or professional use;

2) the number of goods is reasonable;

3) the items are not restricted or prohibited.

The following data refer to prohibited (restricted) goods required to obtain an import or export permit

Prohibited goods are:

• goods that are prohibited to be imported or exported abroad. The importation or exportation of these goods is considered a crime and whoever commits it will be subject to the sanctions provided by the relevant national law. In addition, the commission of this act is considered an offense under Articles No. 27 and 27 (bis) of the Customs Law dated 2469 BE (1926), which prohibits the export or import into Thailand of the following items:
• Pornography and immoral material
• Products with the national flag of the Kingdom of Thailand.
• Narcotic substances such as marijuana, hashish, cocaine, morphine, heroin and opium, as well as bad money, counterfeit bonds, forged official and royal seals.
• Pirated goods, including music cassettes, CDs, videos and computer programs
• Goods with counterfeit trademarks

Restricted Goods:

• Goods which are subject to import/export restrictions under the Act and thus require the permission of the relevant entities.
• In addition, there are a number of goods that are subject to import control by other relevant authorities, namely:
• Medicines, food products and additional products that require a prior license from the Department of Medicine and Food under the Ministry of Health.
• A license from the Department of Fine Arts is required for registered or unregistered antiques or art materials.
• Arms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks and counterfeit firearms require the necessary license from the Ministry of the Interior.
• Other systems, such as electric shock devices, which must be declared as some of these items require a license before import.
• The Law on Cosmetics stipulates that in order to protect public health, it is necessary to control the import of cosmetics and provide data on the importer, the location of the manufacturing plant, the warehouse, in addition to the main components of these products.
• Wildlife, flora, fish and other marine animals require import licenses from the Department of Plant and Wildlife Conservation, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries.
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Expensive goods are subject to re-import

When departing from Thailand: If a traveler has expensive goods/items (such as cameras, video cameras, laptop and recording devices) and intends to bring them back to Thailand, he can inform the customs department at the airport after receiving the boarding passes. if these goods/materials have serial numbers (unique or branded items).

The customs officer takes the necessary steps to record the removal of these personal items that are subject to re-importation as he allows all registered items to be entered and duty-free upon their owner's return to Thailand.

Jewelry

Anyone who has jewelry and wants to take it out must go through customs before leaving customs at the airport.

Foreign currencies

There is no specific limit on the entry/exit of foreign currencies, but they must be declared if the amount exceeds 20,000 dollars (or equivalent), according to Ministerial Decree No. 25 of 1987.

Foreign currencies are declared to the customs officials at the airport/port by filling in the form indicated by them. This form is signed and given to the competent employee.

Thai currency

Anyone with more than 50,000 THB must declare it at the time of departure, except for those who want to go to the Republic of Laos, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of Cambodia, Malaysia, the Republic of Vietnam.

Tax exemption

The tax credit applies to goods worth less than 10,000 THB, provided that:

For personal use and in reasonable quantities.

Exclude from restricted or prohibited goods.

Cigarettes and tobacco

Cigarettes and tobacco (and alcoholic beverages) are entered with a certain amount for personal use. These items are listed as exempt from customs charges, provided they do not exceed 200 cigarettes / or (250) grams of tobacco (and in case of exceeding this amount, the traveler must approach the Red Line at the checkpoint to declare them.

Personal baggage (except motor vehicle or spare parts) regardless of age or ownership.

Thailand's embassies in various countries can be found here.