Types and classes of visa in Thailand. Warning: visa rules and conditions change regularly and the information in this page may not be up to date (last update november 2007).

There are several different types of visas, and you must ensure you obtain the correct visa before you travel to Thailand.

Tourist Visa
To obtain a tourist visa a application form for this category need to be completely filled out and submitted to a Thai Consulate outside of Thailand. Upon entry a stay of 60 days will be granted. For nationals of most countries, this visa can be extended for another 30 days by an immigration office.

Visa on Arrival
Currently, nationals from the countries below may enter Thailand without a visa (for a stay of up to 30 days) by presenting a valid passport at the immigration checkpoint. Persons entering Thailand without a visa may apply at any immigration office in Thailand to delay their departure for a short period, normally up to seven days.

News: Visa-on-arrival regulations will be tightened for nationals of 41 countries to prevent abuse of the privilege and curb the rising number of illegal entries, according to the Immigration Police Bureau. The new rules should have a limited effect on most holiday-makers but could disturb the routines of retired people, long-stay backpackers and those who work or study in the country but who are registered as tourists. Many foriegners stay as a tourist and leave the country periodically on 'visa runs' to Cambodia and Malaysia when a tourist visa needed renewal - a practice that the new immigration rules seek to curtail. Foreigner will be permitted to remain in Thailand for no longer than 90 days in total after three Visa-on-arrival stamps. Tourists who stayed for 90 days must leave the kingdom for at least 90 days before being permitted to re-enter Thailand.

Category Non-Immigrant visa
The Non-Immigrant visas are issued to persons in the following categories who wish to enter Thailand; official visitors, business persons, Those arriving for investment-related activities that have been approved by the relevant government agency, Those arriving for investment-related activities under the auspices of the Board of Investment, those visiting the country for study or observation, media personnel, missionaries belonging to missions that have been approved by the relevant government agency, scientific researchers or lecturers at research institutes in Thailand, experts in arts and crafts. Others included under the Ministry rules :

- Family members of persons in the above categories
- Those working for state enterprises or for a public charity
- Elderly persons
- Those who formerly held Thai nationality
- Those needing to obtain medical care in Thailand
- Athletic coaches arriving to train Thai athletes
- Those arriving to participate in legal activities involving court cases

Thai Elite Card
The Immigration Bureaus in Thailand issues holders of the Thai Elite Card a multiple-entry permit that allows them to stay in Thailand for five consecutive years. Although holders of the Thai Elite Card do not need to leave the country on visa runs, they must report to an immigration office every 90 days to register that they will stay for another 90-day period, which costs 1,900 baht for each 90-day period. For more e information, visit www.thailandelites.com

Non-Immigrant B (business) visa
The foreigner must apply in person at a Thai embassy or consulate outside Thailand and supply documentary evidence of employment by a Thai company, or, alternatively, evidence of the recent incorporation of a Thai company. Each Thai embassy/ consulate may have different requirements and rules for issuing visas. In general the embassies and consulates around Thailand require more documents than for example consulates in Europe or Australia or the consulate/ embassy in your home country.

Standard required documents for a 1-year multiple entry Non-Immigrant B visa are:

1. Copy of a company affidavit/ company documents
2. Copy shareholders' list
3. A work permit or letter from an employer showing that the applicant will work at his/her company (Letter of Employment). If the applicant is a director of a newly established company, he/ she will not be able to issue a Letter of Employment for his/ herself, but a sponsorship letter from an accounting or law firm (example) applying for the foreigner's work permit is normally sufficient.
4. Copy of the company's balance sheet (if the company is older than 1 year)
5. 2 colour passport size photo.
(All company documents have to be signed and sealed)

More info and full list and requirements click here
Info on a three-year Non-Immigrant business visa click here

Renewal application in Malaysia
The easiest embassy and consulates to reach by road or air from Samui for a new visa application are the embassy and consulates in Malaysia (and you do not need to apply for an additional visa to enter Malasya). If you apply for a non-immigrant B visa in Malaysia you are required to show a work permit or at least a receipt from the Labor Department in Suratthani that a work permit application has been lodged (WP2 form) before they issue a non-B visa.

Note: a work permit can also be issued by the Labor Department if the applicant has a valid non-immigrant 'O' visa

Embassy Kuala Lumpur
The embassy in Kuala Lumpur has not stopped issuing multiple entry non-immigrant visas, but you need to show a work permit in addition to the above mentioned documents. If (yes or no) a multiple entry one year non-B will be issued depends on if the company the applicant is working for appears to be trustworthy. In addition to this, for a one year multi entry visa to be given, the work permit must show (on page 5 of the work permit*) a work period of at least one year. If not the visa officer will only grant a 90 day single entry visa. Note that this is at the the discretion of the visa officer processing your application. Another factor he will consider is how respectable the job and company the applicant is working for is (for example teaching and dive instructor jobs are suspicious and they will generally get only the single entry 90 days).

*if the foreigner has worked for more than 6 months the Labor Department can update a work permit on page 5 to show one year. If the foreigner has been working for more than one year but the work permit shows a work period of only one year the application could be rejected as the foreigner should first update the work permit at the Labor Department.

Penang
Also the consulate in Penag has not fully stopped issuing one-year multiple entry visas, however, generally the consulate will only issue single entry visas.

Kota Bharu
The consulate in Kota Bharu only issues single entry visas. The most they offer is a double entry non-immigrant visa allowing the applicant to stay two 90-days in Thailand.

The above is information from March 2007. Should you apply at other embassies or consulates anywhere in the world it would be wise to contact them and ask them for the exact documents they require for a one year multiple entry visa.

A one year multiple entry
It should be noted that the stated time limit (1-year - multiple entry) means the period within which the person may present the visa for entry, and not the duration of stay in the country. When entering Thailand within the given time frame, the immigration officer will grant a 90-day stay (non extendable). This is the initial period of stay for this type of visa. On re-entry again 90 days will granted.
Temporary Stay
Regulations and conditions for a 'temporary stay' following a non- immigrant visa (for permission to stay up to one year without the every 90-day visa-runs) can be found here. A single entry non-immigrant O (which allows you to normally stay only 90 days in the country) can be used for the application for permit for a temporary stay which allow the foreigner to stay for up to 12 months in Thailand.

For any over-stay a fine of 500 baht for each day will be imposed (but no more than 20,000 baht).

Based on a the Ministerial rules spouses and children of Non-Immigrant B applicants or others in the obove mentioned categories will be issued with a Non-Immigrant O visa. Proof of marriage could be requested especially by the consulates around Thailand.

Applying for Non-immigrant Visa for a Teacher the required documents are (click here).

The Non-Immigrant O (Other)
Approval of a Non-Immigrant O (1-year multiple entry) based on the categorie 'those visiting the country for study or observation' is often discretionary (the decision rest solely at the discretion of each diplomatic mission), but at some consulates in Europe and Australia easy to obtain (more difficult around Thailand). It will be granted to foreigners who have for example a sabbatical year and would like to spend a longer period in Thailand 'for study or observation' (think of something). It could be helpful if the reasons given are supported by some documents and if you could show sufficient funds.

Non-O followed by an investment visa
Before the type O visa expires the foreigner must attend the Immigration Department to convert the Type 'O' visa into a long term investment visa (update) . In order to apply for an investment visa the following criteria must be met:
1. Foreign investment of between 3 million and 10 million THB must be made in one of the following:
• Thai Stocks
• Government Bonds
• Condominium in Bangkok NOT LAND
• Fixed deposit account in Thai Government Bank
2. The investment must be made using foreign currency and must be remitted from abroad into a Thai Baht Bank account within Thailand.

* Note: No new investment visas will be issued after October 1 2006. However, existing visas in this category may be extended if the holder still has funds of 3 million baht and is still doing business in Thailand.

Non-O follwed by a long term marriage visa
• 4 by 6 cm photos
• Marriage certificate ( Original and copies )
• ID card and House registration of Thai spouse (Original and copies)
• The foreigner should have a saving account in Thailand with at least 400,000 baht (bank statement together with a certificate letter form the bank). Bank account book. (Original and copies). Checks will be made in future to ensure that the cash is not simply put in a bank and then removed.
• Photos wedding ceremony. Local immigration officers will also visit your home to verify that you really do live together as man and wife.
Foreigner and his/ her spouse have to apply in person.

Non Immigrant Retirement Visa
There is no longer the requirement that the the applicant must apply for a type O-A Visa from a Thai Consulate outside of Thailand. Foreigners entering on a 30-day visa exemption on arrival (visa on arrival) will be able to request a non-immigrant O visa for retirement inside Thailand if they satisfy the visa retirement visa requirements (see checklist NOT updated yet). This will give an initial three month period of stay in which the visa can be extended at the Immigration Department inside Thailand to apply for a long term stay retirement visa. Conditions and Regulations update Temporary Stay for a Retirement visa.

Application Temporary stay in Thailand
With the issued Non-Immigrant O retirement visa, the applicant may request a one-year stay (not more than one year) through Thai Immigration at at any Immigration Department inside Thailand. However, every 90 days that applicant resides in Thailand they must report to their local Thai Immigration office. If there is not a Thai Immigration office in their immediate locale, they may report to the local Thai Police Department where they live. They may also report by mail but they will need to complete form TM 47 and submit the form with a copy of the picture page of their passport as well as a copy of the page containing the Thai Immigration stamp from their most recent entry into Thailand. For each succeeding application, include a copy of the most recent stamp issued by Thai Immigration the last time they reported. When applying by mail, the applicant must include a return envelope with enough postage for Certified mail. Send required documentation to the Thai Immigration office in Bangkok .

If the applicant must report to the Thai Immigration office and must show a bank book /statement showing at least 800,000 Baht in the account or a pension certificate certifying pension income not less than 800,000 Baht per year. In case of 800,000 Thai baht in a Thai bank accont the immigration officer will need to see proof that the 800,000 baht has been there for three months prior to the visa being issued. This is to stop the practice of moving money into a bank account, and promptly out again, once the visa is granted. (for current exchange rate information see http://www.bot.or.th)

Be aware that if you are issued this type of Non-Immigrant "O-A" Visa, the applicant is not permitted to work in Thailand.

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