One of the most frequently asked question whenever a foreigner wants to travel to Thailand would be “Do I need a visa?” A visa is a clearance to enter or leave a territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry.
Prior to traveling to Thailand for tourism purpose, you have to check if you are eligible to enter Thailand under the “Visa Exemption Rule“; or whether you have to obtain a valid tourist visa before arriving in Thailand which is known as “Visa on Arrival”.
Visa Exemption vs. Visa on Arrival
Summary of Countries and Territories entitled for Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival
Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme
Visa Exemption Rule allows nationals of the following countries to enter Thailand without visa. It means that nationals of the following countries are not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand if the visit is for tourism purpose. Nationals will be permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 30 days on each visit by air. The number of days a foreigner is allowed to stay varies per nationality. It is best to check your Embassy with the corresponding number of days allowed to stay in Thailand for your nationality. If you belong to Tourist Visa Exemption category, an additional prerequisite is required such as provide proof of adequate finances for your duration of stay in Thailand.
Visa on Arrival
Nationals of 22 countries may apply for Visa on Arrival so they can enter Thailand provided they meet all the criteria. Contact your respective Embassy or Siam Legal International to check the details of Visa Requirements by country.
If you are a foreign national and wishes to extend your stay in Thailand, Siam Legal offers online Visa services. You may check from several Thai Visa options which one is appropriate for you.
