Thailand visa policy

The Thailand visa policy sets visa requirements for foreign nationals to keep track of who enters the country and to stop illegal immigration.

Certain nationalities can enjoy Thailand visa exemption, while other foreigners need to apply for Thai visas.

Currently, Thailand offers several methods of getting a Thailand visa: travelers can obtain an electronic visa, a visa on arrival, and a regular visa to Thailand.

Nationality, purpose of travel, and duration of a visit are what determine which application method an applicant should use.

A Thailand eVisa was introduced as a facilitation for foreigners from certain countries. Eligible nationals can apply for a tourist visa to Thailand online within a few minutes. It is the most straightforward and quick way to get a Thai visa.

A visa on arrival does not require prearrangement: it is possible to fill out the application form and receive a Thailand visa at the entry point. Still, it is necessary to wait in long queues, and there is always a risk of a visa getting denied.

Nationals eligible neither for a Thailand online visa nor a visa on arrival must apply at the foreign mission for a regular visa. To get it, an applicant must make a personal visit to the Thailand embassy or consulate.

Upon arrival, visa-required travelers must present not only their Thai visa but also a valid passport; an onward ticket and travel insurance are recommended as well. Keep updated with all the entry requirements of Thailand to ensure a stress-free vacation.

Who can enter Thailand?

Currently, the Thai government has no entry bans on particular foreign nationalities.

Visitors from all countries can enter Thailand if they follow the travel restrictions of Thailand.

Foreign citizens must adhere to the rules stipulated by the Thailand visa policy and obtain the proper type of Thai visa if required.

Entry requirements for Thailand

Every person intending to travel to Thailand needs a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Thailand. It is also important that the passport stays in good condition: missing or damaged pages may cause refusal of admission.

Citizens of countries without visa-free access to Thailand need to obtain a Thai tourist visa.

A COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a PCR test with a negative result are not required. However, if a passenger then is going to a country requiring an RT-PCR test for entry, it is necessary to get medical insurance covering COVID-19 treatment before arrival in Thailand.

If a traveler visits Thailand only, travel insurance is recommended but not mandatory.

Persons traveling from countries with yellow fever transmission additionally need to get a vaccination against this disease.

Documents checklist for entering Thailand

Make sure to prepare the documents from this list to travel to Thailand without issues:

• a valid passport
• a Thailand visa (if applicable)
• an onward/return ticket (recommended)
• travel insurance (recommended)

Remember that Thailand entry requirements may get modified, so it is advisable to check the official sources of Thailand for the latest information.

Methods of getting a visa to Thailand

Currently, a Thai visa can be applied by three application methods: online, at the entry port, and by making a visit to the Thailand embassy.

Electronic visa

A Thailand eVisa is an electronic visa obtained online through a simple 3-step application process.

Eligible foreign nationals can apply for a Thailand online visa from any place and at any time, which makes the online application method extremely flexible.

Thai eVisa is a single-entry visa that remains valid for 3/6 months and enables its holders to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days.

Visa on arrival

For a visa on arrival, one does not have to apply in advance: it is available at the entry points in Thailand.

However, it can be difficult to find the right line, waiting in line may take hours, and a traveler may be visa-refused.

Regular visa

A regular visa must be obtained by those not eligible for other methods of application or who intend to stay in Thailand for long-term purposes.

A regular visa to Thailand requires visiting an office in person and having an interview with an embassy consular.

Countries and regions which require a visa for entry into Thailand

Check the visa policy of Thailand to know which application method you should use (if any):

 Electronic visa

• Bulgaria
• Bhutan
• China
• Cyprus
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Georgia
• India
• Kazakhstan
• Malta
• Mexico
• Nauru
• Papua New Guinea
• Taiwan
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Saudi Arabia
• Romania

Visa on arrival

• Andorra
• Bulgaria
• Bhutan
• China
• Cyprus
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Guinea
• India
• Kazakhstan
• Lithuania
• Latvia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Maldives
• Papua New Guinea
• San Marino
• Taiwan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan
• Saudi Arabia
• Romania

Regular visa

• Afghanistan
• Anguilla
• Albania
• Armenia
• Angola
• American Samoa
• Aruba
• Aland Islands
• Azerbaijan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Barbados
• Bangladesh
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Benin
• Bermuda
• Bolivia
• Bahamas
• Botswana
• Belarus
• Belize
• Cocos Islands
• Congo
• Central African Republic
• Ivory Coast
• Cook Islands
• Cameroon
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Serbia
• Cuba
• Christmas Island
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Algeria
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Falkland Islands
• Micronesia
• Faroe Islands
• Gabon
• Grenada
• Georgia
• French Guiana
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Greenland
• Gambia
• Guinea Bissau
• Guinea
• Guadeloupe
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guatemala
• Guam
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Croatia
• Haiti
• India
• Iraq
• Iran
• Jamaica
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Kyrgyzstan
• Kiribati
• Comoros
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• North Korea
• Cayman Islands
• Lebanon
• Saint Lucia
• Sri Lanka
• Liberia
• Lesotho
• Libya
• Morocco
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Madagascar
• Marshall Islands
• Macedonia
• Mali
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Martinique
• Mauritania
• Montserrat
• Mauritius
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• New Caledonia
• Niger
• Norfolk Island
• Nigeria
• Nicaragua
• Nepal
• Niue
• Panama
• French Polynesia
• Pakistan
• Sierra Leone
• Senegal
• Somalia
• Suriname
• El Salvador
• Syria
• Swaziland
• Caicos Islands
• Chad
• Togo
• Tajikistan
• Tokelau
• Timor Leste
• Turkmenistan
• Tunisia
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• United States
• Uruguay
• Vatican City
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Venezuela
• British Virgin Islands
• Samoa
• Yemen
• Mayotte
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Seychelles
• Palau
• Rwanda
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Paraguay
• Sudan
• South Sudan
• Palestine
• United States Virgin Islands
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Isle of Man
• Guernsey
• Solomon Islands
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saint Martin
• Saint Helena
• Reunion
• Puerto Rico
• Jersey
• Curacao
• Cape Verde
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Saint Barthelemy
• Sint Maarten
• Bonaire

Visa-free 

• Andorra
• United Arab Emirates
• Argentina
• Austria
• Australia
• Belgium
• Bahrain
• Brazil
• Canada
• Switzerland
• Chile
• Czech Republic
• Germany
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Spain
• Finland
• France
• United Kingdom
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Iceland
• Italy
• Japan
• Cambodia
• South Korea
• Kuwait
• Laos
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Latvia
• Monaco
• Myanmar
• Mongolia
• Macau
• Maldives
• Malaysia
• Netherlands
• Norway
• New Zealand
• Oman
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• San Marino
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United States
• Vietnam
• South Africa
• Qatar
• Singapore
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Russia
• Brunei Darussalam

Entry requirements for children

Thailand removed COVID-19 restrictions which had certain facilitation for underage travelers. Since then, the Thailand entry requirements for children have been the same as for adults: minors must have a valid passport and Thailand tourist visa.

If a child does not have their own passport, they do not need a separate Thailand eVisa. Parents can include their children in the Thailand eVisa application form provided they are included in their passports.

Transit information

Travelers of all nationalities except Pakistani who transit through Thailand do not need a Thailand visa if they stay within a transit zone for no longer than 12 hours and travel on eligible airlines. Contact the airline you booked the ticket with for relevant information.

If you require a Thai visa for transit, check if you are eligible for an online application: Thailand transit eVisa has a simple procedure, 3-month validity, and allows a 30-day visit for transit, sports, or transport-related purposes.

Important information

• According to the Thailand visa policy, all foreigners can travel to Thailand if they meet the entry requirements.
• Certain nationalities have visa-free access, while others need a Thailand visa.
• A Thai visa has several application methods: it is available as an online visa, a visa on arrival, and a regular visa to Thailand.
• All travelers to Thailand must have a passport valid within 6 months from arrival; it is also recommended to have an upward ticket and travel insurance.