🇹🇭 Thailand visa requirements

Thai immigration is surprisingly straightforward for most Westerners, but that tourist stamp won't cut it for long-term work.

Who Gets In Visa-Free (And For How Long)?

Okay, let's cut to the chase. If you're from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, or most of EU (think Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands), you get 30 days on arrival, no visa needed. That's the standard tourist stamp. Some other countries get this too, like Singapore and South Korea.

Then there's the "Visa on Arrival" (VOA) crew. Countries like China, India, and Saudi Arabia get 15 days (sometimes 30, check the latest) and pay a fee, usually around 1,000-2,200 THB depending on nationality and current policy. This isn't a visa you get before you leave; it's processed at the airport.

Everyone else? You'll need to apply for a visa before you travel. This usually means a 30-day or 60-day tourist visa from a Thai embassy or consulate in your home country or a neighbouring one. Don't try to wing it if you're not in one of the visa-exempt groups.

The 30-Day Trap and Overstay Fines

That 30-day tourist stamp is the first thing people run into. It sounds like enough, but if you're planning on staying longer, you need to plan ahead. You can usually extend this by another 30 days once, inside Thailand, at any immigration office. The fee for this extension is typically 1,900 THB.

Here's where it gets tricky. If you overstay your welcome, it’s not just a slap on the wrist. For the first few days, it's 500 THB per day. This sounds manageable, right? But overstaying can lead to detention, fines, and deportation. A serious overstay can get you banned from re-entering Thailand for a significant period, sometimes up to 10 years. Seriously, don't overstay. If you're leaving by air, they stamp your passport with an exit date, which is your official record.

What's New: The eVisa Rollout

Thailand has been slowly rolling out an eVisa system, aiming to simplify applications for certain visa types. This started with specific nationalities and visa types, and it’s expanded. For example, the TR eVisa (Tourist eVisa) for 60 days became available for more countries. They've also been tweaking fees and processing times.

More recently, there was a push to simplify the 10-year long-term resident (LTR) visa, though that's aimed at high-earners and investors, not your average digital nomad. Keep an eye on the official Thai Immigration Bureau website or the Thai embassy in your country for the most current eVisa portal and eligibility. Fees can vary, but generally, the eVisa aims to streamline the process, though it hasn't completely replaced in-person applications for all visa types yet.