Thailand Visa: All You Need to Know

When moving to Thailand, getting and understanding the visa requirements can be slightly confusing. While looking for this information online, you will often stumble upon a number of sites with contradicting information. However, we have teamed up with our partner in Thailand to bring out the most accurate information that you need to know about migrating to the Land of Smiles.

Located in a tropical climate, Thailand certainly has an interesting history, unique to the Far East. It is the only country that has never been colonised by Europeans,

Added to this, the Thai culture is unstained and you get to experience a pleasant lifestyle. It’s maybe for these reasons that the country is so greatly known as a tourist destination with an increasing popularity with expats from around the world.

Getting the appropriate visa

A requirement by Thai Immigration Law, you will need to obtain a visa before having access to the Land of Smiles.

Most people usually opt for a tourist visa which is valid for 60 days or a non – immigrant visa which is usually valid up to 90 days. Typically, a short term extension of stay is granted up to 30 days for tourist visas or non-immigrant visas, but in case you need to extend your stay for longer, on a non-immigrant visa it’s possible to apply for an extended stay for up to one year for the purposes below;

Business
Education
Marriage
Retirement

Both the tourist and the non-immigrant visa can be issued by a Thai Embassy or Consulate outside of Thailand, while extensions are issued by Thai Immigration within the country itself.

Since many rules and regulations have changed since covid, We suggest that you check with the Thai Embassy for the latest information and requirements before applying for whichever visa you plan on choosing.

The types of visa that can be issued by Thai Embassies or Consulates:

Tourist visa

This visa cannot be used for business or employment purposes. It allows an initial stay of up to 60 days, which can then be extended for another 30 days.

To be eligible for this type of visa, applicants will need to have the following:

A current passport with validity of over 6 months beyond the date of application.
At least 2 blanks pages in their passport.
A completed visa application form.

Business visa

Whether you are employed or you are being sponsored by a Thai company, you can obtain a business visa. This type of visa allows a stay of up to 90 days for a single entry or one year for multiple entries depending on the nature of your work.

To be eligible for this visa, applicants will need the following:

No criminal record.
A good education background.
A viable business plan in place, including business turnover, financial resources etc.

Student visa

If you’re planning to study in Thailand, this visa will allow you to stay for up to 90 days for a single entry or one year for multiple entries. Students will need to provide official documents before and after their application for it to be completed.

To be eligible for this visa, applicants will need the following:

An acceptance letter from the university/school.
Evidence of having enough funds to pay for tuition fees as well as living expenses during the stay.

You should also keep in mind that there are certain restrictions on part time work with this visa.

Retirement or marriage visa

For those who are over 50 years old and who wish to retire in Thailand or people marrying a Thai native, this visa again allows a stay of up to 90 days for a single entry or one year for multiple entries. To obtain this visa, you will have to prove that you have sufficient funds during their stay. However;, For those applying for a marriage visa, a copy of the marriage certificate and proof of a genuine relationship between the applicant and sponsor will need to be provided.

Work visa

This type of visa is needed if the applicant has already been offered a job by a Thai company or employs himself/herself to work in the country. Remember that before a Thailand work visa can be issued, applicants must already hold a non-immigrant visa

Useful links:

Thai Embassy

Thai Embassy & Consulates