Thailand Tourist Visa

Where to Apply for a Tourist Visa?  Visa Fees, Application Process, Requirements
Tourist Visa Long-Stayers: Where to Go for a Visa Run?
Visa News: Stricter Requirements, Crackdown On Back-To-Back Tourist Visa Applications

A tourist visa obtained from a Royal Thai embassy or consulate, preferably in a Western country or your home country, is your best option if you wish to stay in Thailand for an "extended" period of time, but do not qualify for a Non-immigrant visa of either type.
Tourist visa are available as single-, double-, triple- and multiple-entry visas.
As the visa sticker clearly points out, employment is strictly prohibited with this type of visa, and work permits cannot be applied for.
Tourist visa holders initially get a 60-day permission of stay (per entry) starting from the date of arrival in Thailand, which period can be extended for 30 days - and longer - at a local Thai immigration office (extension fee 1,900 Baht).
Documents required for visa extension include a fully-filled extension form (TM. 7), a copy of your passport and a passport picture 4x6cm.
If you're holding a double- or multiple-entry tourist visa and leave Thailand after the expiry of your first 60-day stay, a re-entry into the Kingdom will give you another 60-day permission of stay, i.e. as long as your visa remains valid and has not been fully used.
If you wish to engage in business activities, a change of the visa type is possible - provided you qualify for a business visa.

Where to Apply for a Tourist Visa?

Nationals of most countries can apply for a tourist visa at any Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate worldwide. They are usually available as single-, double-, triple- and multiple-entry visas. Multiple- entry tourist visas, however, may be only available in certain contries, e.g. Australia or the United Kingdom, not worldwide.
However, as Thai Embassies and Consulates in nearby Southeast Asian countries have become all-too popular with "visa runners," most of them issue only single-entry visas now, and some may give you a hard time before (if at all) approving your tourist visa application.
Therefore, it's generally advisable to obtain a tourist visa at a Thai embassy in your home country or country of residence, where double, triple and multiple-entry visas are easily available, too.

If you prefer to do a "visa run" to a South-East Asian country, please note that the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Phen (Cambodia) has a rather bad reputation, at least for tourist visas, and the consulate on Penang (Malaysia) reportedly only issues single-entry tourist visas - restricted to a maximum of three consecutive visas, after which they'll place a red stamp in your passport, virtually banning you from future applications. The Thai embassy in Manila on the Philippines is reportedly a total waste of time and is to be avoided. (Read more below.)
Despite a crackdown on back-to-back tourist visa applications (enforced since September 2009) the Thai embassy in Vientiane, Laos, still seems to be "the place to go" at least for tourist visas. They also issue double-entry tourist visas on request (2,000 Baht) unless your passport shows "too many" consecutive tourist visa stickers, or until their policies change again. Please also note that since August 2011, stricter requirements are being applied to tourist visa applicants.
Visa Run to Vientiane & Tourist Visa Application

Visa Fees, Application Process, Requirements

The "free tourist visa scheme," which allowed visitors to Thailand to obtain the 60-day tourist visa free of charge, has expired in March 2011, and has not been extended by the cabinet. So, from April 2011, regular tourist visa fees apply again.
Tourist visa fees vary slightly from country to country. The standard fee is 1,000 Baht per entry (2,000 Baht for a double-entry visa) or whatever the equivalent amount may be in your currency, e.g. US$40, €30, £25 etc. Please note that the visa fee, as well as visa requirements, may change without prior notice!
In most Western countries, visas should be issued on the day of application. In Southeast Asian countries, the application process may take up to two working days.
Documents required for tourist visa application generally include your passport, a visa application form completely filled out, and a recent photograph.
Further official requirements include an air ticket (return), confirmed hotel reservations, and proof of sufficient financial means to cover your expenses in Thailand. For more details, please contact your local Royal Thai Embassy in advance.
UPDATE - In September 2009, Royal Thai embassies and consulates have announced they were going to get tough on back-to-back 60-day tourist visa applications.
Tourist visa applicants would now face stricter "screening measures" to make sure that they are genuine "tourists" and use their visa not as a way to work illegally in Thailand. Applicants with "too many" back-to-back tourist visa stickers or stamps may have a red warning stamp put in their passport and/or have a new visa application refused. Thailand Visa News
In August 2011, Thai embassies and consulates abroad have also been instructed to be "stricter with requirements when applicants are applying for 60-day tourist visas for Thailand."
From now on, Thai embassies would reportedly also require a "confirmed airline ticket with flight numbers and date of entry/exit," when applying for a 60-day tourist visa, "plus confirmed hotel reservations"; otherwise an explanation letter must be provided. These new official requirements are reportedly in effect since August 2011; however, it seems, the nearby consulates (e.g. Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia) do not require an outbound flight ticket or hotel reservations. ThaiVisa.com

Tourist Visa Long-Stayers! Where to Go for a Visa Run?

When your tourist visa has been fully used or has expired, you'll either have to leave Thailand and obtain a new visa (read below) or go on a "border run" to a neighbouring country (without applying for a new visa).
Note: When you use the "visa exemption" scheme (30-day permission of stay without visa) to re- enter the Kingdom via an international airport checkpoint, you'll still obtain a 30-days entry stamp upon arrival. Since the changes to visa regulations in November 2008, however, most foreigners will be granted only a 15-day permission of stay when arriving via a land border.
For more details on the "new visa rules" please go to our main Thai Visa Information page.

Another obstacle specially designed for Thailand long-stayers who don't legally qualify for a Non- Immigrant visa of either type, is the new crackdown on back-to-back tourist visa applications:
In September 2009, ThaiVisa reported that in a new crackdown on back-to-back tourist visa applications, several Thai embassies and consulates in neighboring Southeast Asian countries were going to get tough on issuing back-to-back 60-day tourist visas. Applicants would now face "stricter screening measures" to make sure they are actually "tourists" and use the tourist visa not as a way to work in Thailand illegally. Applicants with too many back-to back tourist visa stamps or stickers in their passports may have a new tourist visa application refused.
The original announcement by Thailand's Immigration Bureau stated that tourist visa applications by foreigners who have "misused tourist visas" to illegally "work" in Thailand, were now "subject to rejection" as their applications weren't "based on tourism but on continuing their illegal employment."
To make things even worse, it seems as if this latest "crackdown" is also being strictly enforced by most Thai embassies and consulates at least in the Southeast Asian region, including the formerly popular consulate in Vientiane:
Since the end of September 2009, visa applicants have reported that Thai consulates around Southeast Asia have started placing red stamps in applicant's passports. There have been numerous reports that tourist visas were still being issued to applicants with numerous back-to- back tourist visa stamps in their passports BUT they were given red warning stamps.
The remark on the red stamp reads as follows: "The holder has traveled to Thailand with Tourist Visa _ times. The Embassy may not accept the application next time." Other applications are being simply rejected. More details on the "tourist visa crackdown" can be found on our Thailand Visa News page.
In August 2011, Thai embassies and consulates abroad have also been instructed to be "stricter with requirements when applicants are applying for 60-day tourist visas for Thailand."
From now on, Thai embassies would also require a "confirmed airline ticket with flight numbers and date of entry/exit," when applying for a 60-day tourist visa, "plus confirmed hotel reservations with name and dates of checking in/out"; otherwise an explanation letter must be provided. The new requirements were reportedly in effect immediately, i.e. since the end of August 2011 (see this thread at ThaiVisa.com); however, it seems, the nearby consulates (e.g. in Laos, Cambodia or Malaysia) do not require an outbound flight ticket or hotel reservations.

When traveling with a double-, triple- or multiple-entry tourist visa, a one-day "border run" to the Cambodian border - or any other border checkpoints - is fully sufficient to renew your permission of stay (provided your visa is still valid). Upon re-arrival on the Thai side of the border, you will get a new 60-day entry stamp. You will not have to apply for a new visa, i.e. as long as your existing visa remains valid.
Please note that all entries must be made within the timeframe determined by your visa (visa validity). This timeframe starts from the date of issuance of your visa - not your first entry into Thailand. All re-entries must be made use of before your visa expires. Don't mix up the validity of your visa and the permitted duration of stay (per entry) which is only 60 days. Even when you're traveling with a double-, triple- or multiple-entry tourist visa, you'll still have to leave the country after the first 60 days (or 90 days if extended) in order to renew your permission of stay.
Single-entry tourist visas are valid for three months; double-entry visas are valid for six months; multiple-entry tourist visas are valid for one year, starting from the date of issuance. Always make sure you make your last entry before the visa has expired!

While tourist visa application has always been the easiest in Western countries, it's unclear how many consecutive tourist visas may be issued by Thai embassies or consulates in neighbouring South-East Asian countries.
So far, there is no official rule which restricts the maximum number of back-to-back visits to the Kingdom when traveling on "simple" tourist visas. However, since Thai embassies have declared a crackdown on back-to-back tourist visa applications in late 2009, the number of expats who actually live in Thailand as permanent "tourists" may be expected to decline sharply.
In 2013, it is still unclear, however, how many back-to-back tourist visas are "okay" and after how many consecutive tourist visa applications, new applications will be rejected.
Foreigners have been advised to apply for a Non-Immigrant visa of either kind, instead of "living" (and possibly working) in Thailand as "professional tourists." Another option is the so-called ED visa (education visa or "student visa") which is being granted to foreign students who enroll, for example, in a Thai language course at a local school certified by the Ministry of Education.
At the moment, the least problems with obtaining back-to-back tourist visas have been reported at the Thai embassy in Vientiane, where double-entry tourist visas are usually also available on request.
However, since the crackdown on back-to-back tourist visa applications is also being enforced in Laos, applicants with "too many" consecutive tourist visa stickers in their passports may have red warning stamps put on their visas, indicating that future applications may not be accepted, or simply have their applications rejected.
Visa Run to Vientiane/Laos
The formerly busy Thai consulate on Penang has reportedly restricted tourist visa applicants to three consecutive single-entry visas only. If the consulate decides to restrict your visits, they will then place a red stamp on your last visa stating that future applications will get refused.
Also, according to a thread on ThaiVisa, as of February 2008, the Royal Thai consulate in Georgetown will only issue tourist visas to applicants who can produce a fully paid onward air ticket, departing again from Thailand to an international destination, not within Southeast Asia.
Due to their bad reputation, the embassies in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Manila (Philippines) should be avoided. While chances in Phnom Penh may be 50/50, Manila is reportedly a total waste of time.
To sum it up: If you're not keen on a trip back home, your best option for a successful tourist visa application in the South-East Asian region is a trip to either Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Vientiane/Laos.

To read more on alternative visa categories available for Thailand and find out which type suits you best, please check the following links in the visa section on our website:
Tourist Visa
Business - Non-Immigrant Visa "B"
Retirement - Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Longstay)
Education - Non-Immigrant Visa "ED"
Marriage - Non-Immigrant Visa "O"

Thai Visa Expat Forum  Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Directory of Thai Embassies and Consulates (official website)

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