Thailand, with its lovely culture, stunning beaches, and delicious cuisine, continues to be a top destination for travelers worldwide, including ourselves (with our favorite destinations being Chiang Mai and Koh Samui for month-long stays).
If you’d like to come to Thailand, you know that the visa situation can be quite a headache, especially as the country is now only granting a 30-day visa exception. That being said, understanding the different types of tourist visas available is key to making the most of our journey and staying for 3 months at a time, as we did in 2023!
In this blog post, we will go through all the tourist visas that are available and how to apply for them. We will also cover the visa extension process and share the recent online E-Extension Visa process!
Last update: January 2024
Type of Tourists Visa in Thailand
Visa Exemption
The Visa Exemption is a widely utilized option for tourists visiting Thailand, primarily because it requires only a passport valid for over 6 months upon entry, and best of all, it’s FREE! However, despite its convenience, this visa only permits a stay of up to 30 days. It’s imperative to verify if your nationality qualifies for this benefit before planning your trip.
As of October 2023, here are the 64 countries that are allowed to stay for 30 days in Thailand upon entering the country:
| 1. Andorra | 23. Ireland | 45. Peru (30 and 90 days) |
| 2. Argentina (90 days) | 24. Israel | 46. Philippines |
| 3. Australia | 25. Italy | 47. Poland |
| 4. Austria | 26. Japan | 48. Portugal |
| 5. Bahrain | 27. Korea (30 and 90 days) | 49. Qatar |
| 6. Belgium | 28. Kuwait | 50. Russia |
| 7. Brazil (30 and 90 days) | 29. Laos | 51. San Marino |
| 8. Brunei | 30. Latvia | 52. Singapore |
| 9. Cambodia (14 days only) | 31. Liechtenstein | 53. Slovak Republic |
| 10. Canada | 32. Lithuania | 54. Slovenia |
| 11. Chile (90 days) | 33. Luxembourg | 55. South Africa |
| 12. Czech Republic | 34. Macau | 56. Spain |
| 13. Denmark | 35. Malaysia | 57. Sweden |
| 14. Estonia | 36. Maldives | 58. Switzerland |
| 15. Finland | 37. Mauritius | 59. Turkey |
| 16. France | 38. Myanmar (14 days only) | 60. Ukraine |
| 17. Germany | 39. Monaco | 61. United Arab Emirates |
| 18. Greece | 40. Mongolia | 62. United Kingdom |
| 19. Hong Kong | 41. Netherlands | 63. United States |
| 20. Hungary | 42. New Zealand | 64. Vietnam |
| 21. Iceland | 43. Norway | |
| 22. Indonesia | 44. Oman |
Note: Travelers from Korea, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Chile will receive permission to stay in Thailand for up to 90 days under Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme
Important: Passport holders who are not eligible to enter Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme or Visa on Arrival Scheme are required to get a tourist visa through a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate prior to their visit.
Tourist Visa (TR)
The Tourist Visa (TR) is a great option for those planning a more extended stay in Thailand and this is what we’ve done in 2023 to stay for 3 months.
The Tourist Visa typically allows a stay of up to 60 days, which can be extended for an additional 30 days at the discretion of Thai immigration authorities for a total of 3 months. You can opt for either a single-entry or multiple-entry tourist visa, depending on your travel plans.
Single Entry Visa (SEV)
Single Entry Visa allows you to enter Thailand once and can be extended up to 3 months
- Validity: Usually valid for entering Thailand within 3 months from the date of issue.
- Duration: Once you enter Thailand, you can stay for up to 60 days.
- Extension: It’s possible to apply for an extension of stay for another 30 days at an immigration office in Thailand, making the total potential duration of stay up to 90 days.
Multiple Entry Visa (MEV)
Multiple Entry Visa allows you to enter Thailand as many time as you’d like over a 6 month period and can be extended up to 3 months per visit.
- Validity: Allows multiple entries into Thailand over a 6-month period from the date of issue.
- Duration: Each entry allows a 60-day stay, meaning you can come and go as many times as you want during the 6-month validity, but each stay can’t exceed 60 days.
- Extension: Like the Single-Entry Tourist Visa, each entry can potentially be extended for an additional 30 days at a Thai immigration office.
How to Apply
Visa Exemption
There is no application required for this visa if you qualify.
Keep in mind that you must provide the address of your hotel / airbnb once you enter the country. You might also be required to provide the following information:
- Proof of a return ticket exiting Thailand within 30 days
- Proof of funds of at least 10,000 THB for single travelers, or 20,000 THB per family during your stay in Thailand
Note: On the few Visa Exemption we got, we never had to provide a proofs of return ticket or proof of funds as we entered by air through either Bangkok or Chiang Mai airports. Let us know if you had to provide these by leaving us a comment in the comments section below.
Visa fee
FREE!
Tourist Visa (Single & Multiple Entry)
You need to apply for these visa at your local Thai Embassy!
Important: Do not try to apply for a Single or Multiple Entry Visa at an Thai Embassy outside of your country of residency, as you will likely get your visa declined!
You also need to apply within 3 months of your entry to Thailand, so don’t apply to early as well!
Documents Required
- Passport or travel document with an expiry date of no less than 6 months
- Visa application form (filled out)
- One recent 4 x 6 cm. photograph of the applicant
- Round-trip air ticket or e-ticket (paid in full)
- Proof of financial means (10,000 baht per person/20,000 baht per family) such as bank statement
- Proof of Hotel or private accommodation booking
Visa fee
30 USD
Note: Fee is subject to change, so make sure to always double check with your local Thai Embassy!
Tips for Visa Application
Here are our tips to ensure a smooth visa application process and approval
- Plan Ahead: Start the visa application process well in advance to avoid last-minute hassles. (You want usually to apply within 3 month of your entry to Thailand)
- Check Requirements: Review the specific requirements for your chosen visa type and ensure you have all necessary documents.
- Be Honest: Provide accurate information during the application process to prevent any complications later on.
- Stay Updated: Always double check the latest information on your local Thai Embassy website as these policy do change from time to time.
How to Extend your Visa
Once you have entered the country you can usually extend your stay for a final 30 days extension. ‘
Online Application
Important: Thailand is rolling out an E-Extension Visa program that let you apply for your extension online. We have not try this yet as it was launched in early 2024. Feel free to check it out: Thailand Official E-Extension Website (news related to this announcement)
We will update this post with our experience once we have the chance to try out this process! In the meantime if you were able to extend your Visa Except or Tourist Visa that way, we would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment in the comment section below!
In Person Application
Based on our multiple experiences in Chiang Mai (2019, 2022, 2023), here’s what the application process looks like:
- Head to the Immigration Bureau in the city of your stay. These bureaus are situated in major cities across the country, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. (major locations listed below)
- Bring along the required documents & money (list provided below)
- Complete the requisite forms, readily available at the Immigration Bureau or downloadable online. People will check that these form are filled property before let you submit them at the office.
Tip: download these forms (link below) and filled them out at home, as you will save a lot of precious time! - Submit your application and pay the necessary fee.
- Wait for your extension to be process (this could take between 30 minutes to a few hours based on how many people are applying)
- Retrieve your passport and updated visa. Once your extension request is approved, collect your passport and the new visa from the Immigration Bureau.
Tip: Double-check the visa’s expiration date for accuracy.
Our tip: Plan to spend at least half a day doing this, and do it as soon as you can because your extension will be added to the last day you’re allowed to stay according to your latest visa stamp in your passport.
Required documents:
- Your passport
- Photocopies of the relevant pages on your passport:
- The personal information page, showing your picture, name, expiry/issue date, etc.
- The page showing your Visa
- One passport-sized photo (4 x 6 cm)
- Form TM7
- Form TM30 (should be filed by your landlord)
- 1,900 THB (in cash) to pay for the 30 days extension fee
Here is the form you need to fill out:
- Form TM7
- Form TM30
(note: there is an immigration app that your landlord should use to provide you with this form that will looks very different)
Major Immigration Offices in Thailand
- ChiangMai Immigration Office (Centra Festival Branch)
Business Hours: 9am to 12pm – 1pm-5pm Monday to Friday - Bangkok Immigration Office
Business Hours: 8:30am to 12am – 1pm-5pm Monday to Friday - Phuket Immigration Office
Business Hours: 10am to 12pm – 1pm-3pm Monday to Friday - Koh Samui Immigration Office
Business Hours: 8:30am to 12am – 1pm-4:30pm Monday to Friday
Our Bottom Line
Navigating Thailand’s visa requirements doesn’t have to be daunting. By understanding the different types of tourist visas available and following the application guidelines diligently, you can set off on your Thai adventure with confidence and easily stay up to 3 months in this wonderful country.
Whether you’re soaking up the sun on pristine beaches or exploring ancient temples, let your visa be the least of your worries as you immerse yourself in the wonders of Thailand.
For more information and updates on Thailand’s visa policies, visit the official website of the Royal Thai Embassy or consult with authorized visa agencies in your country. We suggest the following pages that should hopefully stay updated with the latest information:
- Visa Exemptions and Bilateral Agreements
- Tourist Visa For Thailand
- Thai Embassies Around The World
- Thai Immigration Forms
Of course, feel free to leave us a comment in the comments section below if you have any questions for us as we will be happy to answer any we can based on our own experience.
4 Comments
Kylie · January 29, 2024 at 1:16 pm
Thanks for sharing! Am I understanding correctly that on a Multiple Entry Visa you could possibly stay up to 6 months by:
1) Entering for the first time and being successful to extend stay by 30 days (total 90 days)
2) Leaving and entering a second time and being successful to extend stay by 30 days (total 90 days, cumulative 180 days)
Thanks! Kylie
Mr. Nomad Numbers · February 4, 2024 at 2:10 am
You are correct! Are you considering applying for a multiple entry visa?
Flipflops & Jandals · January 29, 2024 at 9:03 pm
Helpful info thanks as I have just been looking into this over the last week. Do you have recommendations or advice if we wanted to stay 3.5 months? And I keep seeing conflicting info on how many times in a year we can go back to Thailand – do you know the current restrictions?
Mr. Nomad Numbers · January 30, 2024 at 1:49 am
Hi Flipflops & Jandals.
I haven’t heard anything about doing more than 3 month in a single shot in Thailand at the moment on a tourist visa. You could consider a student visa for a year but you will need to make sure you take some classes (learning Thai being a very common on) that would get you 12 months stay in the country.
That being said visa run are quite common and most people will do these (with as little as 24 hrs between te-entry) to reset their visa clock. Though I heard story of people getting black listed from entering Thailand (for up to 5 years) from doing too many. So like with everything if you don’t abuse the system you should be fine.
Since you can get 3 months on a SEV why do you need 3.5? Could you get a MEV, spend a week outside of Thailand (probably less than that) and re-enter again for another 3 months?