If you intend to travel to Thailand, you need to have the following documents:
- A passport that will be valid for at least 6 months.
- Visa (most citizens of the world need a tourist visa to enter Thailand).
- Airplane tickets, which must be presented at passport control.
- Confirmation of hotel or other accommodation reservation.
Getting a visa to Thailand: requirements and procedure
You may need a tourist visa to visit Thailand, depending on your citizenship and the purpose of your trip.
To find out in more detail whether you need a visa to Thailand, as well as for how long you can enter the country without a visa, depending on your citizenship, use the search engine on the page by entering your citizenship.
Types of tourist visas for Thailand and their validity periods:
• Single entry visa, valid for three months. After leaving the country, re-entry is not allowed, even if you have not used all the days.
• Multiple entry visa, valid for six months and allows you to enter and leave the country several times during this period.
• Visa on arrival in Thailand, which is granted to citizens of certain countries for 15 days and cannot be extended.
Visas on arrival (VoA) to Thailand
You can apply for a visa on arrival in advance on the website https://online.vfsevisa.com/thai/en/on-boarding and avoid queues. The visa on arrival can be used only on the day of its receipt.
Requirements for obtaining a visa on arrival (VoA) to Thailand:
- Passport must be valid for more than 30 days.
- A confirmed return ticket.
- You must provide the address of your residence in Thailand where you plan to stay.
- You must have enough money for the trip (10,000 baht per person, 20,000 baht per family).
After you fill out the application, you will receive a Transaction Reference Number (TRN), which you need to print or have in electronic form to present upon arrival in Thailand.
Electronic visa for Thailand
The e-visa allows you to obtain either a single or multiple entry visa for those wishing to visit Thailand. The cost of an e-Visa to Thailand is USD 82 (or equivalent), regardless of citizenship. Payment is made through the secure e-Visa web portal at the time of application. Payment is non-refundable.
You can apply for an electronic tourist visa to Thailand at https://thaievisa.go.th/.
How to apply for an e-Visa to Thailand?
First, go to https://thaievisa.go.th/ and create a personal account to apply for a visa.
Applicants will need the following documents:
- (Single entry visa) Valid passport with a validity of at least 6 months and at least 2 blank pages. Applicants must fill out an online visa application with their first and last name as per the passport details.
- (Multiple Entry Visa) Valid passport with a validity period of at least 6 months after the date of departure from Thailand and at least 2 blank pages. Applicants must fill out the visa application form online with their first and last name as it appears on the passport.
- A passport-size photograph.
- The planned date of travel.
- Proof of residence in Thailand, such as hotel reservation, letter of invitation from relatives or friends in Thailand.
- (Single entry visa) Proof of financial solvency - bank statement or income statement (equivalent to 10,000 Thai baht for a single person or 20,000 Thai baht for a family).
- (Multiple entry visa) Proof of financial solvency - equivalent to 200,000 Thai baht.
After successfully creating an account, the person must follow the following steps: Fill out an application as an individual and apply for a new visa. It is imperative to check whether your data meets the requirements of Thailand. Next, choose the type of tourist visa you need, upload a scanned copy of your passport to enter biometric data; provide all the necessary personal information, such as home address, contact phone number, citizenship, date of birth, marital status, etc. After that, you need to provide full information about your trip, including details of accommodation and flights (if they are already booked). Upload all the required documents, double-check the application, and submit the visa application. The last step is to pay the visa fees.
Once your e-Visa application is approved, you will receive a confirmation email. It is recommended that you print a copy of this email before you leave for your trip, as you will need it to show to airlines and Thai immigration officials upon entry into the country.
Obtaining a visa to Thailand through an embassy or consulate
Some countries are not eligible to apply for an e-visa/visa on arrival. Citizens of these countries need to contact the local Thai embassy or consulate to apply for a tourist visa.
Requirements for a tourist visa to Thailand:
- A valid passport with a validity of at least six months and at least two blank pages for visas.
- A copy of your passport's personal data.
- A completed and signed Thailand visa application form. The application form should be filled in using a computer; manual filling in of the forms is not accepted.
- A return ticket confirming your intention to leave the country after the visa expiration date.
- Two passport-size photographs (3.5 x 4.5 cm).
- Proof of sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of your stay in Thailand, such as a bank statement for the last six months.
- Proof of accommodation in Thailand (hotel reservation, letter of invitation from relatives, friends, etc.)
- Proof of payment of the visa fee for a Thai visa.
- If you are visiting family or friends in Thailand, you need to have proof of your relationship.
- For a multiple-entry visa, you will also need a copy of your bank statement for the last 6 months with a minimum balance of 7000 USD for each month, a travel plan, a certificate from your place of work indicating your position, length of service, duration of paid leave, and for students - a certificate of full-time study.
The process of applying for a tourist visa to Thailand through an embassy or consulate includes the following steps:
1. Applying to the Thai embassy or consulate, making an appointment.
2. Collecting the necessary documents for a tourist visa to Thailand.
3. Submitting a visa application. You can do this in person or through a mailbox, in which case you must attach a pre-paid envelope with an address.
4. Waiting for the application to be processed.
5. Obtaining a passport and visa. If you apply by post, the documents will be sent to you by mail.
6. Entering Thailand within the specified period specified in the visa. If you do not enter the country within this period, your visa will expire.
The processing time for a tourist visa in Thailand depends on the specific embassy or consulate through which you apply, and is on average 5-10 business days.
Health insurance in Thailand
You may need a health insurance policy to travel to Thailand. You can apply for insurance on the Visit World website here. Remember that a reliable insurance policy is the key to your confidence while traveling. Do not risk your own finances and health, choose the right insurance package and let your trip leave only pleasant memories
