Travel

Tourist visas to Thailand

Destinations

Thailand

Joanna Horanin

Like my website?

Current condition

Weather in Thailand

Partly cloudy

26.1

Temperature

Feels like 27.6😎

0
3

Air quality index

Unhealthy for sensitive groups

Last updated at 13/12/2024, 17:00

Hi, I'm Joanna, the author of The Blond Travels. In the worlds of Thailand and Portugal, I feel like a fish in water - and it's no coincidence! I've been exploring Thailand for over a decade, and I've settled in Portugal for 6 years now. My mission is to support Dreamers - just like you - in discovering these fascinating countries and helping those in love with them find their own place on Earth, preferably for good! Let's uncover these unique corners of the world together.

Visas to Thailand – a complicated topic that always appears in the emails I get from you. A lot of my readers want to stay in Thailand for longer. I have written about long-term visas to Thailand here. In this article we will discuss tourist visas, which are an ideal solution for digital nomads and people, who travel to the Land of Smiles to sightsee and enjoy this amazing country.

In 2024 Thailand introduced a 60-day visa exemption. This post has been updated to reflect that.

Going to Thailand for less than 60 days – Visa exemption

What is visa exemption?

Visa exemption is not a visa. This is a visa-free entry for tourists coming to Thailand for a specific, shorter amount of time.

You don’t need to apply for it. Arrive at the airport and get a stamp in your passport with the expiry date of your visa exemption.

Who is eligible?

At the moment there are 93 countries that are eligible for the visa exemption to Thailand. You can find the full list here.

How does it work and how much it costs?

If you are eligible for a visa exemption then you will get a stamp at the airport, which will allow you to enter the Kingdom. The stamp is given when crossing the boarder at an airport or overland. To get such a stamp, you will need:

  • A passport valid for 6 months
  • A return flight
  • A minimum of 20,000 Baht on your account. – This is usually not checked, but it’s good to have it, just in case.

Until very recently many tourists did ‘visa runs’ just before their stay was over. The Thai government has been very strict about it and at the moment you can only do it once in a calendar year.

Going to Thailand for longer than 60 days – Tourists visas

Tourist visa for 3 months

A short-term visa to Thailand for 3 months is given out by an embassy outside of Thailand. You can apply for it in your country. It’s a one-entry visa, which costs around 30 USD. To get it, you will need:

  • A passport valid for at least another 6 months
  • Application form
  • A copy of your return ticket
  • A copy of a hotel reservation for the first few days
  • A proof of having a minimum of 5,000 Euros on your account
  • A letter confirming your employment or self-employment

A tourist visa for 6 months

From 2015 you can get a multiple entry visa to Thailand for 6 months. It’s a perfect solution for digital nomads and people who’d like to spend a bit more time in the Land of Smiles. If you are smart about it, you can extend it, so it lasts you for nearly a year!

At the moment it’s easy to get a tourist visa to Thailand. Every embassy accepts applications and gives the visas in around 3-5 working days. Before you apply, contact your local embassy and check what you need to provide as the rules and regulations change very often. Good luck!

Apply for your visas online

In 2022 the Thai government introduced new e-visas to Thailand. You can now apply for them online. The process is quick and very straightforward. Now you don’t need to go to the embassy to apply for your visa.