Thailand Travel Visa Guides for Tourists
When considering applying for a Thailand travel visa you have several options which are based on where you’re from and the duration of your expected stay.
It’s also important to stay up-to-date with current visa requirements, changes and enforcement’s happen frequently.
Let’s first take a look at what many people qualify for, a tourist visa exemption.
Tourist Visa Exemption
Most countries (especially in the west) are exempt from applying for a visa and can stay in Thailand for up to 90, 30 or 15 days. You arrive at an immigration checkpoint and get stamped in your passport for the amount of days which applies to your country (See Rules Here).
This exemption can usually be extended for another 15 – 30 or more days. A foreigner just needs to visit the local immigration office with the right documents in hand.
– More About Tourist Visa Exemption Here
Single Entry Thai Visa (SETV) 60 Days
The SETV is given to various countries that wish to visit Thailand for the purpose of tourism for the period of 60 days. This can be extended for 30 days if required (See Rules Here).
The SETV is likely to be the most popular visa used after the exemption mentioned above. If a visitor planning to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days (if that exemption applies to them) or for more than 60 days then the best visa to get is this, the SETV.
– More About The Single Entry 60 Day Thai Visa Here
6 Months Multiple Entry (METV)
The METV has to be applied for in your home country unless you have residency within other countries. It had to be done in person to receive it that day, within an hour (UK Hull), however, it can now also be done online (See Rules Here).
There are more requirements for the METV including income and a visitor must leave the country at some pint, and apply for visa extensions at the immigration office.
– See 6 Month METV Visa Article Here
30 Day Tourist Visa Extension
Tourist visas and exemptions can usually be extended. The most common extension for most countries is 30 days that are applied for at a Thai immigration office – usually Chaeng Wattana Bangkok (See 30 Day Extension Info Here).
While it is a pain to visit the immigration, especially if you have done an extension many times it is over and done within a couple of hours or so and then you’re free to continue enjoying Thailand.
Just make sure all the paperwork is correct.
– More About 30 Day Tourist Visa Extension at Chaeng Wattana Bangkok
Applying for a Thailand Tourist Visa Online Guide
Thailand has introduced an online system for visitors to apply for visas, and this includes tourist visas. Various countries are able to use this service and for these countries that are eligible, it is the only way to apply.
This makes applying for a Thailand travel visa a heck of a lot easier in many ways, although applications online can present their own difficulties. The first thing an applicant needs to do is to see if the country they are now staying in is eligible.
Currently, the USA, UK, Europe, China, and some others are eligible. You may check eligibility through the official website’s FAQ section. In addition, various citizens from a country other than the country they are applying from may also be eligible to apply (See Applying for a Thailand Tourist Visa Online Guide Here).
Thai Visa At Vientiane (Laos) Thai Embassy
Single entry tourist visas (60 days) can be applied for at any of the neighboring countries at a Thai Consulate or Embassy. If you have spent a month or so already in Thailand and decide to stay longer this is a possible solution (See Applying at Vientiane Thai Embassy Here).
