Visa Exemptions in Thailand allow travelers from select countries to enter the country visa free strictly for tourism purposes. When travelers leave the country they forfeit any remaining days left on their Single Entry Tourist Visa bought in their home country.
The mutual visa waiver agreement will help boost Thailand’s tourism industry, a key driver of the economy. It will also cut down on back-to-back border runs to extend short-term visas.
30-Day Visa Exemption
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Thai immigration bureau gave people a chance to extend their tourist visas or visa exemptions a number of times. However, this sort of discretion is not in place these days and most people will need to visit a local immigration office to extend their entry stamp for 30 more days. The fee is 1,900 baht.
If a person intends to stay longer than this, they must show a flight ticket or confirmed travel itinerary from a country outside Thailand to prove that they will be leaving the country before their airport permit or visa expires. Failure to do this will result in overstaying the allowed length of stay and the person may be required to leave the country or pay an overstay fine.
A temporary visa exemption for a 30-day stay for tourism purposes has been introduced to facilitate visitors from China and Kazakhstan who wish to visit the country. This initiative is expected to boost tourist arrivals from these markets.
15-Day Visa Exemption
Those who qualify can apply for this visa on arrival at an Immigration Office in Thailand. This allows you to stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days. You can extend your stay for another 30 days, but this must be done before your visa expires or you will be required to leave the country.
In a bid to boost tourism, Thailand recently waived its entry requirements for Chinese citizens. It is expected to do the same for citizens of other countries as well, as Thailand is hoping to reach its goal of attracting 80 million foreign tourists by 2027.
Travelers on a visa exemption must be aware of the rules and regulations regarding their stay in Thailand, as Thai police have been known to sweep areas frequented by low-budget travelers who overstay their short-term visas. Overstayers are subject to fines and may be required to purchase a ticket out of the country.
Single Entry Tourist Visa
This visa allows nationals of China and Kazakhstan to travel to Thailand on a single-entry basis for 30 days. This temporary visa is in accordance with the cabinet policy to promote tourism and boost people-to-people connections.
This type of visa is only available at a Thai Embassy or Consulate and the application fee is usually around US$100. You will need to have two recent passport photos and proof of your financial means, e.g. a letter from your employer or bank statement.
If you plan to use this visa for long-term stays in Thailand, it is important to note that the granting of this visa will be very subject to scrutiny. Immigration will look at the fact that you have been coming back and forth on Tourist or Visa Exemption stamps over a prolonged period of time and this may cause concern to the officers. Overstaying your visa in Thailand will result in a fine of 500THB per day and you could face blacklisting for 1-10 years.
Multiple Entry Tourist Visa
As a country renowned for its exotic beaches, gastronomy, culture and rich natural beauty, Thailand attracts millions of visitors each year from around the globe. These tourists are the lifeblood of Thailand and help to drive tourism, business and income for locals and businesses alike.
Many of those visitors will utilize their Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) to visit neighbouring countries and re-enter the Kingdom again before their METV expires. This can create issues when Immigration officers start to look at them and question their reasons for such frequent visits; effectively utilizing tourist type visas to live here which is a big no-no for Immigration here.
The application requirements for a METV varies according to the Embassy or Consulate through which it is lodged. However, most require proof of employment (salary bank statement / pay slip); self-assessment and company registration documents for those who are self-employed; and travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage. Generally it takes 5-10 working days for the embassy to review and process the visa.