Getting to know Thailand visa before planning your trip
Before planning your trip to any country, a visa may be the first factor that catches your attention. It is similar to when you travel to Thailand. Getting to know the visa in Thailand would help to plan your trip more smoothly and void any unexpected troubles.
Getting to know about Thailand visa will help you plan your trip much smoother – Internet
Why do you need to know about Thailand visa?
A visa will allow you to stay in Thailand for a specific period. Knowing about the Thailand visa helps you to know your eligible length of stay to plan your trip. Also, it allows you to take action correctly if you need more time than the time permitted. In short, knowing about Thailand visas would bring many benefits for you as a traveler in Thailand.
General information about Thailand visa
The Thai government allows foreigners to enter and stay in the Kingdom under several types of visas. Depending on your purpose of stay, there is a different visa type required.
There are 4 common types of Thailand Visa, including Tourist Visa, Non-immigration Visa, Visa on arrival, and Elite Visa.
Tourism Visa
Tourism Visa is issued to individuals visiting Thailand for tourism purposes only. With this visa, visitors can stay in Thailand for up to 60 days. An extension of additional 30 days is feasible for this visa type at a Thai immigration office.
Non-Immigrant Visa
Non-Immigrant Visa is granted to those entering Thailand for non-tourism purposes such as work, study, or business. There are many sub-categories of non-immigrant visas, including those for business, education, and retirement.
Visa on Arrival
Visa on Arrival is available to visitors from specific countries or territories arriving in Thailand by air. This visa type allows foreigners to stay in the Kingdom for 15 – 30 days.
Elite Visa
Elite Visa is a long-term visa designated for investment or retirement purposes. that is valid for up to 20 years. This visa has a validity of up to 20 years.
What type of Thai visa do tourists need to know?
As a tourist, you can seek for visa types for tourism purposes, including Tourism Visa, Visa on Arrival, and Visa Exemption.
Tourism Visa
This visa type is issued for tourism purposes with a validity of 60 days for a single entry. Individuals who hold this visa type are eligible for a possible extension of an additional 30 days. If you plan to stay in Thailand for traveling for 60 days, you should apply for this visa type at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate outside of Thailand before traveling.
Visa on Arrival
Visa on Arrival is applied for citizens from unqualified nationalities for visa exemption. This visa allows you to stay in the kingdom for up to 15 days for tourism purposes. There is a designated immigration counter at the airport or borders for you to get this visa type. Several documents are required to get this visa including a return or onward ticket, and 6-month-validity passports.
There are 18 countries and 1 special economic zone (Taiwan) that are granted a visa on arrival entry to the Kingdom of Thailand, including:
- Andorra
- Bulgaria
- Bhutan
- China
- Cyprus
- Ethiopia
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Romania
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Taiwan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
Visa Exemption
Depending on your nationality, you can enter Thailand without a visa for tourism purposes for 30- 45 days. Citizens of certain countries are eligible for visa exemption for up to 90 days. To obtain this visa, visitors are required to show a return or onward ticket and their passport is valid for more than 6 months.
An example of Visa exemption
If you plan to travel to Thailand for a long time, it’s worth spending some time researching further to find the most suitable visa. The required documents to get each visa type may vary, do make sure that you have them handy before applying for any kind of Thailand visa. Have a great trip!