Do I need a visa to visit Thailand?

12.01.2024 - 07:23 / lonelyplanet.com

Citizens of dozens of countries can enter Thailand visa-free.

This makes it one of the easiest countries in Asia to visit impulsively. Other travelers and visitors on longer trips need a visa, but they're easy and inexpensive to obtain.

There's a lot to see and do in Thailand, and your visa must cover the full period of your stay. Make sure you know the requirements before your trip – read on for the basics.

Entry procedures for tourists to Thailand are very straightforward, whether you arrive by air or overland. Thailand shares land borders with Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, and many people zip in and out multiple times on a multi-destination trip around Southeast Asia.  

Many travelers can arrive in Thailand visa-free; the remainder have to apply for tourist visas. For all visa classes, you need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry, with several spare blank pages. You can be denied entry without proof of an onward ticket and sufficient funds for your stay, but in practice, this is rarely checked. You'll also need to enter an address in Thailand on your arrival card, but again, this is rarely followed up. If you don't have a hotel booked, pick a name from a guidebook or an online search.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversees immigration and visa policies; check the website or contact the nearest Thai embassy or consulate for the current rules. The 'Do I need a tourist visa?' section of Thailand's e-visa website is very helpful for identifying requirements based on your nationality.

Thailand allows visa-free entry for tourists from many countries for stays of 30 to 90 days. The exact list of countries and permitted durations of stay varies, but it usually includes the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and more prosperous nations in Asia, South America and the Middle East. 

Citizens of some smaller European countries and a handful of destinations in Asia can get a tourist visa on arrival (VoA) for stays of 15 days.  

There are desks handling the paperwork at more than 30 airports and land border crossings. You'll need a recent passport photo, proof of funds to support yourself and tickets for onward travel within 15 days. The cash fee is 2000B (about US$60), payable in Thai Baht.

If you are not eligible for visa-free travel or a VoA, you will need to apply for a tourist visa ahead of your visit. It allows a stay of up to 60 days and is valid for three or six months. Fees and conditions vary; contact your local Thai embassy or consulate for the latest rules.

The Thai government's e-visa process makes applying online a possibility for eligible nationalities. Use the Q&A form to understand if this process is open to