Immigration into the Kingdom is governed by the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (A.D. 1979) and is administered by the Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police, Ministry of Interior.
Immigration rules are subject to frequent changes, and all visitors to Thailand are recommended to check their particular requirements with their local Royal Thai Embassy before departure.
A. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Any foreign person seeking to enter Thailand, unless covered by a Visa Exemption regulation, must obtain a visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate in their country of residence prior to arrival in Thailand.
2. A foreign person in transit and tourists from the countries listed below are permitted to obtain an entry visa on their arrival at designated entry points in Thailand. An entry visa allows a maximum stay of 15 days;
Bhutan, China (including Taiwan), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Poland, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine.
3. With effect from 06 December 2008, any person eligible to enter Thailand under the 'Visa Exemption Rule' will be granted a stay of maximum 30 days but only if entering the Kingdom via an international airport. Persons entering Thailand through a land border checkpoint from a neighbouring country will be granted a maximum stay of just 15 days.
Citizens of the following countries are covered by the Visa Exemption Rules:
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vietnam.
In all such cases the entrant to Thailand must be able to satisfy the following conditions:
a) The purpose of visit is strictly tourism.
b) They must be in possession of a confirmed flight ticket (e-ticket acceptable) to show they will be flying out of Thailand within 30 days or 15 days of entry, as appropriate. Open tickets do not qualify. Travelling overland out of Thailand by train, bus, etc to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (including en route to Singapore), Myanmar (Burma), etc is not accepted as proof of exiting Thailand.
You may be asked to show your flight ticket on entering Thailand. If you do not possess a flight ticket to show you will be exiting Thailand within 30 or 15 days of entry you are likely to be refused entry and may not even be allowed to check in for your flight at your point of departure.
c) They having access to living expenses of 20,000 baht (approx £400) per person or 40,000 baht (approx £800) per family. It may be necessary to be able to prove this on entry.
4. For a stay longer than 30 days, all aliens must have a valid visa which can be obtained from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate prior to entry into Thailand. The exceptions are nationals of the Republic of Korea, Brazil, and Peru who are currently allowed to stay up to 90 days after obtaining an entry stamp at the Immigration checkpoint of entry. These lists of countries change periodically. The Immigration Bureau adds and removes countries as circumstances dictate. Therefore, checking with a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate is recommended before travelling.
B. TYPES OF VISAS AND PURPOSES OF VISIT
In Thailand, there are numerous visa categories, with eight major types issued under the Immigration Act. Each category is restricted to a specific purpose. Aliens are advised to strictly adhere to the rules governing each visa category. A visa authorizes entry into Thailand for a specific length of time depending upon the type of visa. The passport will show the date of authorized entry. The permissible duration of stay is always entered in the passport.
1. Transit Visa "TS". Applicable to aliens entering Thailand with an intention to travel on to another country.
1. Tourist Visa "TR". Applicable to aliens visiting Thailand for sightseeing purposes only.
2. Non-Immigrant Visa. Applicable to aliens entering Thailand on a temporary basis for a particular purpose:
• "B" - Business.
• "B-A" - Business or investment.
• "IB" - Investment or other affairs connected with an investment under the law governing investment promotion.
• "IM" - Investment which has been approved by the ministries or departments concerned.
• "ED" - Study or observation.
• "RS" - Scientific research or teaching in a research or educational institution in Thailand.
• "M" - Performance of duties connected with the mass media.
• "R" - Missionary work with approval from the ministry or department concerned.
• "Ex" - Performance of skilled or expert work.
• "O" - Other purposes as prescribed in the ministerial regulations (as dependents, retired persons, sports trainers, or for family reunions, medical treatment, and legal proceedings).
• "O-A" - Temporary residence.
3. Diplomatic Visa "D". Applicable to those aliens entering the Kingdom on a diplomatic or consular mission or for the performance of duties with international organizations.
4. Official Visa "F". Performance of official duties (involving the Thai government).
5. Immigrant Visa (Permanent Residence). Applicable to those aliens entering Thailand for permanent residence purposes.
6. Non-Quota Immigrant Visa. Applicable to permanent residents wishing to leave Thailand and return within a year.
9. Courtesy Visa. Applicable to those diplomatic and/or official passport holders who enter the Kingdom for purposes other than official duties and to those ordinary passport holders who enter the Kingdom in response to an official Thai request.
C. LENGTH OF STAY
Length of stay in Thailand depends on the type of visa:
• Transit Visa - not exceeding 30 days
• Tourist Visa - not exceeding 60 days
• Non-Immigrant Visa - not exceeding 90 days
• Diplomatic, Official, and Courtesy Visa - as necessary
D. EXTENSION OF STAY IN THAILAND
• Transit Visa - a transit visa may be extended for 7 to 10 days depending on applicant's nationality.
• Tourist Visa - a tourist visa may be extended for a maximum of 7 to 30 days depending on applicant's nationality.
• Non-Immigrant Visa - Non-immigrant visa categories "B" or "B-A" are usually extended for a period not exceeding 1 year at a time from the date of arrival except "IM" which shall not exceed 2 years, and "IB" which is generally 2-3 years depending on the recommendation of the BOI and the size of the investment.
The government fee for an extension of a transit, tourist, or non-immigrant visa is Baht 1,900.
E. OVERSTAYING
The period of stay allowed is always stamped or written in the passport upon arrival in Thailand. Every alien is responsible for checking his/her passport for the authorized length of stay. Any alien who overstays in the Kingdom is subject to a fine of Baht 500 for each day after the expiration date of the permitted length of stay up to a maximum of Baht 20,000. This fine may be paid at the Immigration Division or at the airport upon departure. If an alien cannot or is otherwise unable to pay the fine for overstaying a visa, he/she is subject to detention at the Immigration Detention Center.
F. CHANGE OF VISA
The Thai government gives foreigners who did not get a chance to apply for a Non-Immigrant visa before arriving in Thailand to change their visa if they need to stay in Thailand longer. This procedure may be done within the country. A foreigner who is eligible for a change of visa must have entered Thailand with a Tourist or Transit visa granted by a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad. The foreigner must apply for a change of visa not less then 30 days before his current visa is due to expire. Various documents are required depending on the purpose of the application for a Non-Immigrant visa.
G. RE-ENTRY PERMIT
Aliens holding any kind of visa for stay in Thailand who wish to leave and return to the country by the expiry date of such visa without having to apply for a new visa must apply for a re-entry permit prior to departure. A re-entry permit allows the alien to re-enter Thailand and use the time remaining on his/her visa. If a re-entry permit is not applied for, the visa will automatically be canceled although it has not expired. To facilitate the travel schedules of aliens, aside from the Immigration offices throughout Thailand, a re-entry permit may be obtained at Don Muang (Bangkok), Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, and Sukhothai international airports, as well as other designated immigration checkpoints throughout the country. Don Muang (Bangkok) International Airport operates 24 hours, 7 days a week, while other checkpoints operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. The fee for single re-entry is Baht 1,000 while that for multiple re-entries is Baht 3,800. It is advisable to request a multiple visa if one expects to be frequently traveling out of Thailand. This allows him more than one entry into Thailand during his travels.
If one leaves Thailand before his visa has expired and wants to return but does not have a re-entry permit, he must apply for another visa. Exits may only be legally made at designated immigration control points. The crossing of any border is an exit for immigration purposes, whether or not the exit point is controlled. Thus, forays into neighboring countries are deemed exits, legal or otherwise, and returning to Thailand from such trips is a new entry, requiring proper visas or re-entry permits.
H. Thailand Work Permit
In almost all cases it is necessary for an applicant for a Thai Work Permit to hold a Non Immigrant Visa issued in their normal country of residence. To obtain a visa which allows the applicant to subsequently apply for a work permit he/she will need to satisfy the following conditions:
1. The applicant has been offered a job by a legitimate registered company (or intends to start a Thai company to employ himself/herself), and
2. The company requests that the applicant be given a non-immigrant visa so the company may apply for a Thai work permit for him/her, and
3. The company knows the person to be dependable, upstanding, and law abiding and that they will respect the laws and customs of the Kingdom of Thailand.
4. Applicants (you) should apply for this visa within 30 days before you plan to depart your country.
The Consulate or consular officer will ask for copies of the registration documents and financial statements from the company.
The Applicant will be required to provide all of the following documents:
Passport - copies of every page. Each copy must be signed by employee.
Non-Immigrant Visa
Departure Card TM.6
Education Qualifications (signed copy) *
Transcript of Education Qualification (signed copy) *
Certificates or licenses held by applicant (signed copy) *
CV or Resume – describe in detail the applicant’s past positions, duties, performance, length and place of employment.
3 full face photographs (5 x 6 cm.) which should have been taken within the previous 6 months.
Marriage Certificate (if married to Thai National). This includes the original and signed photocopies. Also include wife’s Thai ID card, birth certificates of children, and household registration.
Note: The applicant may be required to have these documents certified by his/her Embassy and also need to have them translated into the Thai language.
The Employer will be required to provide the following documents:
Commercial Registration Department Certificate showing that the organization for which the applicant is going to work has been duly registered as a juristic person, giving the name of the Managing Director and/or Director, and its objections and registered capital.*
Shareholders List certified by the Commercial Registration Department.*
Factory License (if required) issued by Factory Department, Ministry of Industry.*
VAT Certificate - Phor Phor 20*
Withholding Tax – Phor Ngor Dor 1 (if renewing work permit)*
A job description which identifies the key skills and duties of the person to be employed.
Other Notes:
An application for a work permit generally will take 1 - 2 months to process.
It is essential that the applicant’s non immigrant visa remains valid during the application process.
Under no circumstances should the applicant attempt to work until the visa is issued. Penalties for working without a valid work permit can be severe.
When approved the applicant will be required to appear in person to collect the work permit and identify him/herself by producing their passport.
1. Applying for Thai Nationality
Aliens who wish to apply for Thai nationality under the Nationality Act B.E. 2508 (A.D. 1965) must be permanent residence holders for 5 continuous years, have reached the age of 45, and be able to speak and understand Thai. An exception may be made to this rule if there is reasonable cause, such as marrying a Thai and having children born in Thailand or having studied in a local university/college as an undergraduate. The applicant must complete an application form and submit various required documents to appropriate authorities. The official fee is Baht 5,000 and the processing takes 2 to 3 years. In the case of a minor child sponsored by a mother or father having Thai nationality, there must be evidence of both sponsorship and the child's birth. Likewise, a wife seeking Thai citizenship based on her husband's Thai nationality must submit evidence of the husband's nationality, the marriage, and a formal request for Thai citizenship.
Under the new provisions of the Thai Nationality Act (No. 2) B.E. 2535 (A.D. 1992), any person, whether born inside or outside Thailand, whose father or mother has Thai nationality, is entitled to register his/her Thai nationality at the local district office where he/she wants to have his/her name registered in a house registration. He/she must submit various required documents.
Please click here to find your nearest Thai Embassy.
