Thailand
Thailand
Travel requirements
Thailand visa policy

Thailand visa policy

The Thailand visa policy sets visa requirements for foreign nationals to keep track of who enters the country and to stop illegal immigration.

Certain nationalities can enjoy Thailand visa exemption, while other foreigners need to apply for Thai visas.

Currently, Thailand offers several methods of getting a Thailand visa: travelers can obtain an electronic visa, a visa on arrival, and a regular visa to Thailand.

Nationality, purpose of travel, and duration of a visit are what determine which application method an applicant should use.

A Thailand eVisa was introduced as a facilitation for foreigners from certain countries. Eligible nationals can apply for a tourist visa to Thailand online within a few minutes. It is the most straightforward and quick way to get a Thai visa.

A visa on arrival does not require prearrangement: it is possible to fill out the application form and receive a Thailand visa at the entry point. Still, it is necessary to wait in long queues, and there is always a risk of a visa getting denied.

Nationals eligible neither for a Thailand online visa nor a visa on arrival must apply at the foreign mission for a regular visa. To get it, an applicant must make a personal visit to the Thailand embassy or consulate.

Upon arrival, visa-required travelers must present not only their Thai visa but also a valid passport; an onward ticket and travel insurance are recommended as well. Keep updated with all the entry requirements of Thailand to ensure a stress-free vacation.

Who can enter Thailand?

Currently, the Thai government has no entry bans on particular foreign nationalities.

Visitors from all countries can enter Thailand if they follow the travel restrictions of Thailand.

Foreign citizens must adhere to the rules stipulated by the Thailand visa policy and obtain the proper type of Thai visa if required.

Entry requirements for Thailand

Every person intending to travel to Thailand needs a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Thailand. It is also important that the passport stays in good condition: missing or damaged pages may cause refusal of admission.

Citizens of countries without visa-free access to Thailand need to obtain a Thai tourist visa.

A COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a PCR test with a negative result are not required. However, if a passenger then is going to a country requiring an RT-PCR test for entry, it is necessary to get medical insurance covering COVID-19 treatment before arrival in Thailand.

If a traveler visits Thailand only, travel insurance is recommended but not mandatory.

Persons traveling from countries with yellow fever transmission additionally need to get a vaccination against this disease.

Documents checklist for entering Thailand

Make sure to prepare the documents from this list to travel to Thailand without issues:

  • a valid passport
  • a Thailand visa (if applicable)
  • an onward/return ticket (recommended)
  • travel insurance (recommended)

Remember that Thailand entry requirements may get modified, so it is advisable to check the official sources of Thailand for the latest information.

Methods of getting a visa to Thailand

Currently, a Thai visa can be applied by three application methods: online, at the entry port, and by making a visit to the Thailand embassy.

Electronic visa

A Thailand eVisa is an electronic visa obtained online through a simple 3-step application process.

Eligible foreign nationals can apply for a Thailand online visa from any place and at any time, which makes the online application method extremely flexible.

Thai eVisa is a single-entry visa that remains valid for 3/6 months and enables its holders to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days.

Visa on arrival

For a visa on arrival, one does not have to apply in advance: it is available at the entry points in Thailand.

However, it can be difficult to find the right line, waiting in line may take hours, and a traveler may be visa-refused.

Regular visa

A regular visa must be obtained by those not eligible for other methods of application or who intend to stay in Thailand for long-term purposes.

A regular visa to Thailand requires visiting an office in person and having an interview with an embassy consular.

Countries and regions which require a visa for entry into Thailand

Check the visa policy of Thailand to know which application method you should use (if any):

 Electronic visa

  • BulgariaBulgaria
  • BhutanBhutan
  • ChinaChina
  • CyprusCyprus
  • EthiopiaEthiopia
  • FijiFiji
  • GeorgiaGeorgia
  • IndiaIndia
  • KazakhstanKazakhstan
  • MaltaMalta
  • MexicoMexico
  • NauruNauru
  • Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
  • TaiwanTaiwan
  • UzbekistanUzbekistan
  • VanuatuVanuatu
  • Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
  • RomaniaRomania

Visa on arrival

  • AndorraAndorra
  • BulgariaBulgaria
  • BhutanBhutan
  • ChinaChina
  • CyprusCyprus
  • EthiopiaEthiopia
  • FijiFiji
  • GuineaGuinea
  • IndiaIndia
  • KazakhstanKazakhstan
  • LithuaniaLithuania
  • LatviaLatvia
  • MaltaMalta
  • MauritiusMauritius
  • MaldivesMaldives
  • Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
  • San MarinoSan Marino
  • TaiwanTaiwan
  • UkraineUkraine
  • UzbekistanUzbekistan
  • Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
  • RomaniaRomania

Regular visa

  • AfghanistanAfghanistan
  • AnguillaAnguilla
  • AlbaniaAlbania
  • ArmeniaArmenia
  • AngolaAngola
  • American SamoaAmerican Samoa
  • ArubaAruba
  • Aland IslandsAland Islands
  • AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
  • Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina
  • BarbadosBarbados
  • BangladeshBangladesh
  • Burkina FasoBurkina Faso
  • BurundiBurundi
  • BeninBenin
  • BermudaBermuda
  • BoliviaBolivia
  • BahamasBahamas
  • BotswanaBotswana
  • BelarusBelarus
  • BelizeBelize
  • Cocos IslandsCocos Islands
  • CongoCongo
  • Central African RepublicCentral African Republic
  • Ivory CoastIvory Coast
  • Cook IslandsCook Islands
  • CameroonCameroon
  • ColombiaColombia
  • Costa RicaCosta Rica
  • SerbiaSerbia
  • CubaCuba
  • Christmas IslandChristmas Island
  • DjiboutiDjibouti
  • DominicaDominica
  • Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
  • AlgeriaAlgeria
  • EcuadorEcuador
  • EgyptEgypt
  • EritreaEritrea
  • Falkland IslandsFalkland Islands
  • MicronesiaMicronesia
  • Faroe IslandsFaroe Islands
  • GabonGabon
  • GrenadaGrenada
  • GeorgiaGeorgia
  • French GuianaFrench Guiana
  • GhanaGhana
  • GibraltarGibraltar
  • GreenlandGreenland
  • GambiaGambia
  • Guinea BissauGuinea Bissau
  • GuineaGuinea
  • GuadeloupeGuadeloupe
  • Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea
  • GuatemalaGuatemala
  • GuamGuam
  • GuyanaGuyana
  • HondurasHonduras
  • CroatiaCroatia
  • HaitiHaiti
  • IndiaIndia
  • IraqIraq
  • IranIran
  • JamaicaJamaica
  • JordanJordan
  • KenyaKenya
  • KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan
  • KiribatiKiribati
  • ComorosComoros
  • Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and Nevis
  • North KoreaNorth Korea
  • Cayman IslandsCayman Islands
  • LebanonLebanon
  • Saint LuciaSaint Lucia
  • Sri LankaSri Lanka
  • LiberiaLiberia
  • LesothoLesotho
  • LibyaLibya
  • MoroccoMorocco
  • MoldovaMoldova
  • MontenegroMontenegro
  • MadagascarMadagascar
  • Marshall IslandsMarshall Islands
  • MacedoniaMacedonia
  • MaliMali
  • Northern Mariana IslandsNorthern Mariana Islands
  • MartiniqueMartinique
  • MauritaniaMauritania
  • MontserratMontserrat
  • MauritiusMauritius
  • MalawiMalawi
  • MozambiqueMozambique
  • NamibiaNamibia
  • New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
  • NigerNiger
  • Norfolk IslandNorfolk Island
  • NigeriaNigeria
  • NicaraguaNicaragua
  • NepalNepal
  • NiueNiue
  • PanamaPanama
  • French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia
  • PakistanPakistan
  • Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
  • SenegalSenegal
  • SomaliaSomalia
  • SurinameSuriname
  • El SalvadorEl Salvador
  • SyriaSyria
  • SwazilandSwaziland
  • Caicos IslandsCaicos Islands
  • ChadChad
  • TogoTogo
  • TajikistanTajikistan
  • TokelauTokelau
  • Timor LesteTimor Leste
  • TurkmenistanTurkmenistan
  • TunisiaTunisia
  • TongaTonga
  • TuvaluTuvalu
  • TanzaniaTanzania
  • UgandaUganda
  • United StatesUnited States
  • UruguayUruguay
  • Vatican CityVatican City
  • Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • VenezuelaVenezuela
  • British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands
  • SamoaSamoa
  • YemenYemen
  • MayotteMayotte
  • ZambiaZambia
  • ZimbabweZimbabwe
  • SeychellesSeychelles
  • PalauPalau
  • RwandaRwanda
  • Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago
  • ParaguayParaguay
  • SudanSudan
  • South SudanSouth Sudan
  • PalestinePalestine
  • United States Virgin IslandsUnited States Virgin Islands
  • Turks and Caicos IslandsTurks and Caicos Islands
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Isle of ManIsle of Man
  • GuernseyGuernsey
  • Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands
  • Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe
  • Saint MartinSaint Martin
  • Saint HelenaSaint Helena
  • ReunionReunion
  • Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
  • JerseyJersey
  • CuracaoCuracao
  • Cape VerdeCape Verde
  • British Indian Ocean TerritoryBritish Indian Ocean Territory
  • Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda
  • Saint BarthelemySaint Barthelemy
  • Sint MaartenSint Maarten
  • BonaireBonaire

Visa-free 

  • AndorraAndorra
  • United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
  • ArgentinaArgentina
  • AustriaAustria
  • AustraliaAustralia
  • BelgiumBelgium
  • BahrainBahrain
  • BrazilBrazil
  • CanadaCanada
  • SwitzerlandSwitzerland
  • ChileChile
  • Czech RepublicCzech Republic
  • GermanyGermany
  • DenmarkDenmark
  • EstoniaEstonia
  • SpainSpain
  • FinlandFinland
  • FranceFrance
  • United KingdomUnited Kingdom
  • GreeceGreece
  • Hong KongHong Kong
  • HungaryHungary
  • IndonesiaIndonesia
  • IrelandIreland
  • IsraelIsrael
  • IcelandIceland
  • ItalyItaly
  • JapanJapan
  • CambodiaCambodia
  • South KoreaSouth Korea
  • KuwaitKuwait
  • LaosLaos
  • LiechtensteinLiechtenstein
  • LithuaniaLithuania
  • LuxembourgLuxembourg
  • LatviaLatvia
  • MonacoMonaco
  • MyanmarMyanmar
  • MongoliaMongolia
  • MacauMacau
  • MaldivesMaldives
  • MalaysiaMalaysia
  • NetherlandsNetherlands
  • NorwayNorway
  • New ZealandNew Zealand
  • OmanOman
  • PeruPeru
  • PhilippinesPhilippines
  • PolandPoland
  • San MarinoSan Marino
  • TurkeyTurkey
  • UkraineUkraine
  • United StatesUnited States
  • VietnamVietnam
  • South AfricaSouth Africa
  • QatarQatar
  • SingaporeSingapore
  • PortugalPortugal
  • SwedenSweden
  • SlovakiaSlovakia
  • SloveniaSlovenia
  • RussiaRussia
  • Brunei DarussalamBrunei Darussalam

Entry requirements for children

Thailand removed COVID-19 restrictions which had certain facilitation for underage travelers. Since then, the Thailand entry requirements for children have been the same as for adults: minors must have a valid passport and Thailand tourist visa.

If a child does not have their own passport, they do not need a separate Thailand eVisa. Parents can include their children in the Thailand eVisa application form provided they are included in their passports.

Transit information

Travelers of all nationalities except Pakistani who transit through Thailand do not need a Thailand visa if they stay within a transit zone for no longer than 12 hours and travel on eligible airlines. Contact the airline you booked the ticket with for relevant information.

If you require a Thai visa for transit, check if you are eligible for an online application: Thailand transit eVisa has a simple procedure, 3-month validity, and allows a 30-day visit for transit, sports, or transport-related purposes.

Important information

  • According to the Thailand visa policy, all foreigners can travel to Thailand if they meet the entry requirements.
  • Certain nationalities have visa-free access, while others need a Thailand visa.
  • A Thai visa has several application methods: it is available as an online visa, a visa on arrival, and a regular visa to Thailand.
  • All travelers to Thailand must have a passport valid within 6 months from arrival; it is also recommended to have an upward ticket and travel insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need a visa to travel to Thailand?

Yes, unless you hold a passport with visa-free access, you are required to present a valid Thai visa upon arrival. The application method depends on your nationality.

What are the methods of getting a visa for Thailand?

Thailand offers two methods of obtaining Thai visas: a Thailand eVisa by applying online and a regular visa by visiting a Thailand embassy. Thai eVisa is easier to get, so check if you are eligible for it.

Can I get a Thailand visa on arrival?

Citizens of some countries can get a Thailand visa upon arrival. However, nationals also eligible for a Thailand eVisa should consider applying online, as it is a more convenient method that eliminates the possibility of being visa-refused upon arrival.

What are the requirements for going to Thailand?

All international travelers need to have a valid passport. Also, visa-required citizens need a Thai visa, while those traveling from yellow fever belt countries must have yellow fever vaccination proof.

Do I need a visa to transit through Thailand?

Travelers from all countries except Pakistan can have a Thailand transit visa exemption if they travel on eligible airlines, stay in Thailand for a maximum of 12 hours, and do not leave the transit zone.

What are the requirements for children traveling to Thailand?

The Thailand entry requirements for children do not differ from those for adults: a valid passport and a Thai visa are required. If a child is included in their parent's passport, they do not need a separate Thailand eVisa but can be included in their parent's application.