Do I Need a Visa to Enter Thailand?

Siam Legal International
December 20, 2012

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.

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Siam Legal International

Publisher at Siam Legal International

Siam Legal International is one of Thailand´s premier full-service law firms with its headquarters in Bangkok. It has offices strategically located throughout the major cities in Thailand including Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Samui and Phuket along with international representative offices in London and Las Vegas. Siam Legal has an extensive range of corporate and real estate experience accessible to clients both domestically and internationally. It has more than 40 multi-national legal staff with a track record of providing highly effective legal solutions to both local and international clients delivering a high degree of expertise at reasonable cost.