Difference Between Transit Visa And Tourist Visa For Thailand

If you’re an experienced traveler, and you’ve been to a lot of countries and even stayed there for a longer period of time, you will probably want to get a visa. However, getting a visa doesn’t come that easy as it seems if you are going to stay in the country for a longer period of time. There are two types of visas that exist out there: Transit visa, and Tourist visa.

Tourist visa – second entry: This visa is valid for a period of 30 days and you will be allowed to stay in Thailand twice provided that you are traveling as a tourist. This kind of visa is only valid if you are arriving by air to Thailand. Since most tourists enter Thailand through airports, and at the same time, you may enter by land into Thailand within 90 days from the date of your first arrival if you hold the tourist visa-not exceeding 30 days, you should apply for the other type of visa which is the “tourist visa with multiple entries” before your second entry.

Difference Between Transit Visa And Tourist Visa For Thailand

We are living in the 21st century where everything is digitalized, and technology has erased the lines of borders and countries. So people usually prefer to travel around the world inside their own laptops with their favorite food and entertainment. Most of the countries allocate different kinds of visas to allow the entry of foreign people. You may want to go on a vacation or visit a close relative or dear ones in any other country.

What are the different types of Visa?

In Thailand there are eight major visa types issued under the Immigration Act. Each category is restricted to the purpose for which the visa has been issued, and foreigners are required to strictly follow the rules governing each visa category. Change of address or status should be relayed to local police within 24 hours.

• Transit Visa “TS”- Applicable to foreigners entering Thailand with an intention to travel on to another country.
• Tourist Visa “TR”- Applicable to foreigners visiting Thailand for sight-seeing purposes only.
• Non-Immigrant Visa- Applicable to foreigners entering Thailand on a temporary basis for a particular purpose including:
  • “B” is for business purposes.
  • “BA” is for business or investment.
  • “IB” is for investment purposes or other affairs connected with an investment under the law governing investment promotion. This is a category of visa with issuance controlled by the Board of Investment.
  • “IM” is for investment purposes, as approved by the appropriate ministries or departments concerned.
  • “ED” is for purposes of study or observation.
  • “RS” is for purposes of scientific research or teaching in a research or educational institution in Thailand with approval from the ministry or department concerned.
  • “M” is for performance of duties connected with the mass media.
  • “R” is for missionary work with approval from the ministry or department concerned.
  • “EX” is for performance of skilled or expert work.
  • “O” is for other purposes as prescribed in the ministerial regulations (as dependents, retired persons, or sports trainers; for family reunions, medical treatment, or legal proceedings).

• Diplomatic Visa “D”- Applicable to foreigners who enter the Kingdom on a diplomatic or consular mission or for the performance of duties with international organizations.
• Official Visa “F”- For foreigners who will perform official duties involving the Thai government.
• Immigrant Visa (Permanent Residence)- Applicable to those foreigners entering Thailand for permanent residence purposes.
• Non-Quota Immigrant Visa- Applicable to permanent residents wishing to leave Thailand and return within a year.
• Courtesy Visa – applicable to those diplomatic and/or official passport holders who enter the Kingdom for purposes other than official duties and to those ordinary passport holders who enter the Kingdom in response to an official Thai request.

How long is the allowed length of stay for each visa type?

The length of stay in Thailand depends on the type of visa granted.

• For Transit Visa, allowed stay must not exceed 30 days.
• For Tourist Visa, allowed stay must not exceed 30 or 60 days.
• For Non-Immigrant Visa, allowed stay must not exceed 90 days.
• Diplomatic, Official, and Courtesy Visas are allowed to stay in Thailand as deemed necessary.

Would an extension of stay be possible?

A transit visa may be extended for 7 to 10 days depending on your nationality. Meanwhile, a tourist visa may be extended for a maximum of 7 days or 60 days (30 days at a time) depending on your nationality as well. Such extensions require a government fee of Baht 1,900 for processing.

You must also submit the following documents for the application:

• Passport or travel document
• One ID photo (2 inches square)