How To Get Visa For Bangkok
Visa For Bangkok is an educational blog that provides detailed and helpful information to those who are seeking to work and live legally in Thailand.
Bangkok is a city which has many tourists visit this destination yearly. Especially those travelers who come from the Asian area. Bangkok is such an attractive destination that you can find many people are curious to discover it through their trip. There are many famous places and attractions in Bangkok which you can observe while staying in the city. But one thing that you have to remember, is to apply visa before visiting Thailand.
Hi guys, Bryan here. My friends and I had such a great time in Bangkok, Thaïland that we decided to move there. With our busy lifestyle in London it was really hard to find time to visit friends and have fun so we thought, why not move there? The visa application process is a little more complex than you might expect, but if you follow these steps from Thailand’s Immigration Bureau, you should have no problems at all. Good luck!
How To Get Visa For Bangkok
There are two main ways of getting a visa to Thailand: the tourist visa and the non-immigrant visa. The most popular visa is the tourist visa, because it is the easiest to apply for, but many people (including myself) find it frustrating to only stay in the country for 15 days. This is why many people decide to apply for a non-immigrant visa.
Bangkok is a city where the luxury of the West meets the hospitality of the East. Some of its popular attractions include shopping, dining, and visiting amazing Bangkok nightlife. It’s a perfect place to have fun with friends, family and even lovers when coupled with its warmth of people.
Foreigners wishing to visit Thailand may find that they have to apply for a Thailand visa beforehand.
Thailand is a Southeast Asian country known for its countless temples, ancient ruins, canals and floating water markets, sandy tropical beaches, and modern cityscapes. In 2018, it welcomed a record of 38.27 million tourists from around the world, many of which likely entered by way of a Thai Tourist Visa.
This article will detail the process for a Thailand visa application, as well as the types of Thailand visas, requirements, and other frequently asked questions.
Who Needs a Thailand Visa?
Everyone who is not exempt and who is not eligible to obtain a Visa On Arrival has to apply for a Thailand visa before they travel.
Thailand offers nationals of several countries visa-free entrance for a varying number of days (up to 14, 30, or 90 days). Additionally, certain others are eligible to receive a Visa On Arrival, with prior electronic authorization.
Who Can Get a Thai Visa on Arrival?
Nationals of the following countries are eligible to receive a Thai Visa On Arrival with a duration of up to 15 days:
- Bulgaria
- Bhutan
- People’s Republic of China
- Cyprus
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Georgia
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Malta
- Mexico
- Nauru
- Papua New Guinea
- Romania
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Taiwan
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
What Are the Types of Thai Visas?
The Thai government offers the following types of visas to foreign nationals:
- Thailand Tourist Visa, which is issued to visa-required foreigners entering Thailand for tourism or leisure activities. This is a short-term visa, which can be issued for single or multiple entries.
- Thailand Transit Visa, which is issued to foreigners who will enter the territory of the Kingdom of Thailand in order to make their way to a third country of destination.
- Thailand SMART Visa, which is aimed at highly-skilled foreigners, encouraging them to work or invest in one of Thailand’s ten targeted industries, including medicine, robotics, aviation, agriculture, biotechnology, etc.
- Thailand Non-Immigrant Visa, which is issued to foreigners entering Thailand for reasons other than tourism or leisure. The Non-Immigrant Visa for Thailand is further categorized depending on the purpose of travel:
- Thailand Work Visa, for foreigners who will take up paid employment in Thailand.
- Thailand Student Visa, for foreigners who want to pursue their academic studies in a Thai educational institution.
- Thailand Business Visa, for foreigners who are traveling to Thailand for business-related purposes, such as negotiations, attending a meeting, etc.
- Thailand Marriage Visa, for foreigners who are married to a Thai citizen.
- Thailand Retirement Visa, also known as the “Ten Year Visa” which is issued to foreigners over the age of 50 who want to retire in Thailand and have independent financial means to sustain themselves without working.
How to Apply for a Thai Visa?
Everyone who is not exempt visa requirements or eligible to get one on arrival has to apply for a Thai visa from one of the diplomatic missions of Thailand abroad, such as an embassy or consulate. The application process for a Thai visa is as follows:
- Contact the Thailand diplomatic mission in your country.
- Collect the required documents.
- Submit the Thai visa application.
- Wait for the application to be processed.
- Collect the passport and visa.
Contact the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in your country
When you start the process of applying for a Thai visa, the first step to take is to get in touch with a Thai Embassy or Consulate. Normally, you should apply to the embassy or consulate in your country. However, if there is no Thai representation in your country, you may have to apply to the Thai embassy/consulate that’s in a neighboring country or through a visa application agency.
You must contact them or visit their website in order to learn how to make an appointment (if one is required), about their opening hours, working days, and the preferred method of paying for the visa fee.
Unfortunately, there is no uniform process for Thailand visa application submissions for all nationals, since it is dependent on the specific embassy or consulate in each country.
You can find a list of Thai diplomatic representations here.
Collect the required documents for a Thailand visa
The documents you must submit when applying for a Thailand visa depend on the purpose of your travel. However, all applicants must have:
- A passport, which is valid for at least another six months and has at least two blank visa pages
- A return travel ticket, proving you intend to leave the country after your visa ends
- Completed and signed Thailand Visa Application Form
- Two recent passport-size pictures
- Proof of sufficient financial funds to cover the duration of your stay
- Paid Thailand Visa fee
See a full list of required documents for Thailand visas.
Submitting the Thai visa application
Depending on the embassy or consulate through which you’re applying, you can submit the visa application through one of the following two ways:
- In-person, on the date of your appointment
- Through the post, in which case you also have to include a prepaid and self-addressed envelope so the embassy can return your passport with the visa to you
Thailand visa processing time
Again, the processing time for a Thai visa depends on which diplomatic representative office you apply in. Some promise to have it processed within 2 working days, while others may take longer. However, you should expect to wait for about 5 -10 working days for your Thai visa to be processed, starting from the time that the embassy/consulate receives your complete application. So, make sure you apply in advance of the time you intend to travel.
Receiving your Thailand visa
Once your Thailand visa application is processed, you have to go back to the embassy/consulate and pick up your passport and documents. If you applied by mail, they will be mailed back to you.
If the application was approved, the visa will be affixed to your passport.
Can You Apply for a Thailand Visa Online?
In late 2018, the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced they would begin implementing the Thailand eVisa the following year. In February 2019, Chinese nationals became the first foreign nationals to be eligible for the Thai eVisa and were joined by British and French nationals in April. It is expected that in the following three years, citizens of all foreign countries with which Thailand has diplomatic relations will become eligible to receive a Thailand visa online.
As of now, those who are eligible to submit their Thailand visa applications online still have to go and get their passport stamped at a Thai embassy or consulate, but the Thai government to make the entire process online in the following years.
Applications for Thai eVisas can be submitted here.
How long is a Thailand Visa valid?
Thailand visas can be issued for the following durations:
- Thai Transit Visa: Up to three months for a single-entry visa; up to six months for a multiple-entry visa (you cannot stay in the country for longer than 30 days, on either visa)
- Thai Tourist Visa: Up to three months for a single-entry visa; up to six months for a multiple-entry visa (you cannot stay in the country for longer than 60 days, on either visa)
- Thai Non-Immigrant Visa: Up to three months, for single or multiple entries. Multiple-entry visas can also be issued for up to one year. If you are eligible, you can obtain a one-year stay permit.
Can You Extend a Thai Visa?
Yes, if you wish to extend or change the category of your Thai visa, you can submit an application at the Office of the Thailand Immigration Bureau in Bangkok.
Thai Visas On Arrival, which are issued for up to 15 days, cannot be extended.