In May 2014, there was a brief crackdown on visa runs, meaning that if foreigners wish to re-enter Thailand after their visa-free or visa on arrival period has expired they have to obtain a visa in advance, or remain outside Thailand at least for one night.^[2]

In August 2014, Thailand Prime Minister ordered the Immigration Police to be more flexible as the strict application of the law was affecting schools and the tourist industry.^[3]

On 31 October 2018 it was announced that within 30 days (by the end of November 2018), overstay visas will no longer be allowed, and there will be no remaining overstayers in the kingdom by that date.^[4]

Bilateral agreements edit

Due to bilateral visa exemption agreements with Thailand, citizens of the following countries and territories may enter Thailand without a visa for up to the duration listed below.^[1][5] They may enter via any port of entry (unless otherwise noted).

_{1 - For Chinese citizens with People's Republic of China passports, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports or Macao Special Administrative Region passports only.
2 - No more than 90 days within any 180 days.}^[6]
_{3 - For air arrivals only.
T - Temporary measure: 90 days from 1 September 2023 until 30 April 2024, then 30 days.}^[7]

Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme edit

Under the Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme, citizens of countries and territories around the world may enter Thailand without a visa for a stay of up to 30 days and may extend their stay for another 30 days,^[8] provided the purpose of entering Thailand is for tourism only.^[1][5][9]

Citizens of the following countries may enter Thailand for unlimited times without visa by air but are limited to a maximum of 2 visa-exempt entries per calendar year when entering Thailand via land or sea (unless otherwise noted).^{[1][5][9][10][11]}

_{B - Visa-exempt entries will be granted based on existing bilateral agreements.
T1 - Temporary measure from 10 November 2023 until 10 May 2024.
T2 - Temporarily exempt from business visa as well from 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2026.
T3 - Temporary measure from 25 September 2023 until 31 August 2024.
1 - For Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport holders only.
2 - For British citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) only.}

Non-ordinary passports edit

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports issued by the following countries and territories are allowed to visit Thailand without a visa for a maximum period of up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):^[5]

_{D - Diplomatic passports only.
1 - 30 days}

Besides traditional visa on arrival policy, from 21 November 2018 Thailand started issuing tourist visas valid for 15 days in a simplified procedure to visitors from the countries whose citizens are eligible for visa on arrival.^[12]

The e-Visa application also became available from February 2019 in some of the consulates of Thailand abroad.^{[13][14][15][5][16]}

Eligible citizens edit

_{E - Already visa-exempt in general.}

Eligible ports of entry edit

There are 48 immigration checkpoints providing visa on arrival, including:^[17]

Citizens of the following countries and territories must apply for a visa at the Thai embassy or consulate in their home country.

Thai embassies or consulates abroad only accept applications of these citizens if they have a residence permit of the country they want to apply from.^[18]

Sri Lanka and Thailand are working on a mutual visa waiver after both parties signed an FTA in 2024.^[19]

_{1 - Except Algeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Libya, Mauritius and South Africa.}

Passengers transiting through Suvarnabhumi Airport for less than 12 hours do not require a visa, unless they are travelling on Angkor Air, Beijing Capital Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Eastar Jet, Golden Myanmar Airlines, IndiGo, Intira Airlines, Jeju Air, Jet Asia Airways, Jetstar Asia Airways, Jetstar Pacific, Jin Air, Juneyao Airlines, Lao Central Airlines, Tigerair Mandala, Norwegian Air, Orient Thai Airlines, Regent Airways, Shandong Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, South East Asian Airlines, SpiceJet, Spring Airlines, T'way Airlines, Thai Smile, Tigerair or VietJet Air.^[1]

Those transiting through Don Mueang International Airport for less than 12 hours do not require a visa only when travelling on Thai AirAsia or Thai AirAsia X.^[1]

Citizens of Pakistan are required to obtain a visa when transiting through Thailand at all times.^[20]

Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing "THA" on the back of the card may enter Thailand without a visa for business trips for up to 90 days.^[1]

ABTCs are issued to citizens of:^[21]

Citizens of the following countries or citizens arriving from the following countries require an International Certificate of Vaccination in order to enter Thailand, unless they produce evidence that they do not reside in the following areas.

Failure to fulfill this requirement could result in refusal of entry into Thailand.^[22]

General visa types edit

• Courte Upon official request, the Royal Thai Embassy may grant courtesy visas/laissez-passer to diplomats/UN officials/others who wish to enter the Kingdom on official duty and/or other purposes
• Permanent resident: To qualify for this visa, you must have stayed in Thailand for 3 consecutive years with the one-year visa extensions. If married to a Thai for 5 years, one must be earning 30,000 baht/month. If single, your monthly income must be 80,000 baht minimum.
• Tourist: If an individual wishes to remain in Thailand for more than 30 days, he/she may wish to obtain a tourist visa at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate prior to arriving in Thailand. The tourist visa must be used within validity date, that varies with the number of entries purchased, and allows an initial stay of 60 days. After arrival in Thailand, a tourist visa or a visa exempt entry may be extended once for an additional 30 days according to immigration Bureau order 327/2557. There is a 1,900 baht fee for each extension.
• Transit: This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for the following purposes: to travel in transit through the Kingdom in order to proceed to the country of destination or to re-enter his/her own country (category "TS"); the person in charge of or crew of a conveyance coming to a port, station, or area in the Kingdom (category "C")

Non-Immigrant visa types edit

• Type B: to conduct business; work; attend business conferences; teach school; attend scuba diving, muay Thai, and massage courses
• Type D: diplomatic visa
• Type ED: to study; to come on a work study tour or observation tour; to participate in projects or seminars; to attend a conference or training course; to study as a foreign Buddhist monk
• Type EX: to undertake skilled work or to work as an expert or specialist
• Type F: to perform official duties, e.g., military exercises or governmental assignments
• Type IB: to invest or perform other activities relating to investment, subject to the provision of the established laws on investment promotion
• Type IM: to invest with the concurrence of the Thai ministries and governmental departments concerned
• Type M: to work as a film-producer, journalist, or reporter with permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Type O: to visit family; to perform duties for a state enterprise or social welfare organizations (NGOs); to receive medical treatment; to be a sports coach as required by the Thai government; to be a contestant; to be a witness in a judicial process
• Type O-A: retirement visa
• Type R: to perform missionary work or other religious activities with the concurrence of the Thai ministries or government departments concerned
• Type RS: to conduct scientific research or training or teaching in a research institute
• Type S:to participate in an officially recognised sports event.

Most visitors arriving to Thailand on short term basis were from the following countries of nationality:

To legally work in Thailand, a foreigner must apply for a work permit. Work permit is a legal document that states a foreigner's position, current occupation, or job description and the Thai company he is working with. It also serves as a license to perform a job or an occupation allowed for foreigners inside Thailand.

A foreigner is eligible to apply for a work permit as long as he has a non-immigrant visa or a resident visa, has an available employer who will provide documents for work permit, and the occupation he will perform is not prohibited to foreigners.^[23]

The One Stop Service Centre for Visas and Work Permits was established on 1 July 1997 by authority of the Regulations of the Office of Prime Minister promulgated on 30 June 1997.

The objective of this centre is to simplify visa extension and permit issuance procedures to create a good investment environment. It aims to facilitate applications of visa extension and work permits (e.g., stay permission, re-entry permit, work permit).

The Center is located on Chamchuree Square Building, Floor 18, Phatumwan, Bangkok.^[24]

Foreigners who are eligible to apply for visa extension and work permits edit

• Foreigner who is an executive or expert with privileges accorded to them by the following laws:
  1. Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (1977);
  2. Petroleum Act B.E. 2514 (1971);
  3. Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act B.E. 2522 (1979);
• Foreigner who is an investor.
  1. If investing not less than 2 million Baht, he or she will be granted a 1-year permit.
  2. If investing not less than 10 million Baht, he or she will be granted a 2-year permit.
• Foreigner who is an executive or expert.
• Foreigner's associated company should be registered with capital or possess asset of not less than 30 million Baht.
• Foreigner who is a member of the foreign press must present a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a copy of an ID Press Card issued by the Department of Public Relations.
• Foreigner who is a researcher or developer on science and technology.
• Foreigner who is employed in a branch office of an overseas bank, foreign banking office of an overseas bank, provincial foreign banking office of an overseas bank or a representative office of the foreign bank in which all offices are certified by the Bank of Thailand.
• Foreigner who works on the necessary and urgent basis for a period of no longer than 15 days.
• Foreigner who is an official of the representative office for foreign juristic persons concerning the International Trading Business and Regional Office of Transnational Corporation in accordance to the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999).
• Foreigner who is an expert on information technology.
• Foreigner who works at regional operating headquarters.

• Visa policy of Laos
• Visa requirements for Thai citizens
• Thai passport
• Thai national ID card
• Tourism in Thailand

• Thailand Immigration Bureau
• Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Thailand Visa on Arrival