Getting Your Visa

At Island Travel we pride ourselves on going the extra mile to make sure we are as up-to-date as possible on visa rules and embassy and consulate information. However, do be aware that Thailand Tourist Visa information is subject to change without prior notice. We do still recommend you thoroughly research your options well in advance of travelling. If you have any questions you can email us at [email protected]

There are a few different types of Thailand Tourist Visas, all of which have different criteria, rules, and regulations.

Visa Exempt

In plain English, this simply means that you do not need to apply for a Thailand tourist visa in advance. You enter the kingdom without a visa and get a stamp in your passport when you arrive. The stamp specifies your permitted duration of stay and the deadline by which you need to leave the country. This method of entering Thailand is free of charge. You should have all of the following prepared in advance before arriving at the border:

1. 20,000THB in cash to prove to the immigration officer that you can financially support your stay.
2. A flight ticket home (any onward flight reservation should be ok, but home is better).
3. An accommodation booking for your arrival in Thailand.

UPDATE JANUARY 2024 – Currently you don’t need the above three things to go on the border bounce trips to Speedboat Victoria Point or Victoria Point.

Passport holders from the following countries can receive visa-exempt stamps:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brunei (no limit), Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia (no limit), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia (no limit), Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore (no limit), South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, U.A.E, United Kingdom & U.S.A

You can prolong any visa-exempt stamp for 30 days by paying 1900THB at the immigration office on Koh Tao. From Koh Tao, the easiest way to get your next 30-day visa-exemption stamp is by going on the Grand Andaman Hotel border bounce trip or the Victoria Point Border Bounce. 

The maximum number of entries and/or extensions you can obtain by using the Visa Exempt method overland is two per twelve months. Each entry will get you a 30-day stay. Your first entry should be by air, then you are permitted two subsequent land border crossings.  

Bilateral Agreements

Citizens of certain countries enjoy complimentary stays of varying durations in Thailand without the requirement of a visa. This is due to bilateral agreements between Thailand and their respective home countries. Residents of some countries are covered for free stays of various lengths without needing a visa:

14 days: Myanmar (arrival by air only, you must have a visa to arrive by land) and Cambodia (no limit of land and air entries, but stamps cannot be extended at the immigration office)

30 days: Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Russia & Vietnam. Immigration offices normally only permit a 7-day extension to any of these.  

90 days: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru & South Korea. 90 day visa exempt stamps cannot be extended at an immigration office.

15 day Visa on Arrival – 2000THB

Passport holders from the following countries can get a 15 day visa on arrival for a fee of 2000THB without needing to apply for a Thailand tourist visa in advance. This visa on arrival is only available at airports, and will not be granted at any land borders. 

Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.

Anyone from the countries listed above can border bounce using the Grand Andaman Hotel Border Bounce service, but this only applies if they are on a Non-Immigrant Visa or Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (METV). The 15 day visa on arrival itself cannot be extended by crossing a land border. 

60 day Single Entry Tourist Visa – 1300THB

To get a 60 day Thailand Tourist Visa, you must apply at a Thai consulate/embassy before arrival to Thailand. You can arrive by air or land crossing. Once granted, the visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. You must enter Thailand within this time and you can only enter once.  On arrival, you will get a 60-day stamp in your passport.

Any 60-day single entry Thailand Tourist Visa can be extended for a further 30 days at Koh Tao immigration office for 1900THB.

Required Documentation for Single Entry Thailand Tourist Visas

1. Visa Application Form with 2 passport photos attached (photos should have a white background and be 3.5cm x 4.5cm in dimension).
2. Passport (valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry).
3. A copy of your passport.
4. Flight tickets out of Thailand.
5. A bank statement showing at least 20,000THB or equivalent in another currency.
6. An accommodation booking for arrival at your first destination in Thailand. 

**Please note that embassy and consular requirements can differ from country to country, so sometimes more documentation may be required.

Please check this page for up-to-date information on how to get a 60-day tourist visa in Penang.

6 Month Multiple Entry Tourist Visa – 6500THB

To get a multiple-entry Thailand Tourist Visa, you must apply at a Thai consulate or embassy before arriving at the border. You can arrive by air or land crossing. Once granted, the visa is valid for 6 months from the date of issue, so you must enter Thailand within this time. You will get a 60-day stamp on arrival, which you can extend for a further 30 days at Koh Tao immigration office for 1900THB.

You may leave Thailand at any time and re-enter as long as you are still within the original “enter before” stamp in your passport. This means you may enter once for 60 days and apply for the 30-day extension, then cross a border, return and repeat this process, allowing you to stay for up to a maximum of 6 months in total. 

Required Documentation for Multiple Entry Thailand Tourist Visas

1. Visa Application Form with 2 passport photos attached (photos should have a white background and be 3.5cm x 4.5cm in dimension).
2. Passport (valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry).
3. A copy of your passport.
4. Flight tickets out of Thailand.
5. A bank statement showing at least 20,000THB or equivalent in another currency.
6. An accommodation booking for arrival at your first destination in Thailand. 
7. A letter from your employer, or self-assessment form and company registration documents if you are self-employed. 

**Please note that embassy and consular requirements can differ from country to country, so sometimes more documentation may be required.