Visa Thailand – what do you need?
Are you going to Thailand op holiday? Then you are required to have a visa. If you stay in Thailand for less than 30 days, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance. You will receive a so-called visa-free entrance for a maximum of 30 days at the airport.
Passport and travel documents
For a travel to Thailand a valid Dutch passport is required. This passport must be valid for at least 6 months after returning from Thailand. The name on your flight ticket must match the name on your passport.
Thailand tourist visa for 30 days: free
A visum is an official permission to stay in Thailand for a certain period of time. For a tourist stay in Thailand of less than 30 days, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance. During your flight to Bangkok you will receive a white card that you must fill out. Upon arrival at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, you will receive free visa-free entry for up to 30 days. Part of the white card will be stapled in your passport. A picture of your face is also taken with a webcam. When you leave Thailand, the card will be removed from your passport by an immigration officer. Leave the card (visa) in your passport during your holiday. Make sure you don't lose it. NB; without a passport, a visa is also not valid.
Visa for stays longer than 30 days
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, for example because you are going to spend the winter, you will need a visa. If you are going to Thailand for 30 days or more, or if you plan to enter Thailand several times in a short period of time, you must apply for a visa in advance. This can be done through a commercial visa office, at the Thai embassy in The Hague or the Thai consulate in Amsterdam.
You must apply for a visa at least two weeks before departure. The visa is valid for a maximum stay of 60 days in Thailand. To extend the visa, you can contact the Thai Immigration Department. They have offices in almost all tourist cities.
Documents for a visa application
At least the following documents and documents are required to apply for a visa for Thailand:
- Fully completed visa application form.
- Two equal official recent passport photos (black and white or colour).
- Copy of flight details (flight ticket or reservation).
- Copy passport.
Types of visas for Thailand
You can apply for different visas for Thailand. Which one is most suitable for you depends on the purpose of your trip, your age and the length of stay. We mention a number of possibilities:
- Tourist Visa 1 entry – maximum stay of 60 days, costs: € 30 (can be extended in Thailand by 30 days).
- Tourist Visa 2 entries – maximum stay of 2 x 60 days, costs € 60 (note: you have to leave the country after 60 days).
- Non – Immigrant One Entry – maximum stay of 1 x 90 days, costs: €55
- Non – Immigrant Multiple Entries – maximum stay of 4 x 90 days, costs: €130
There are several types of Non-Immigrant visas. For example, there is type “O” (eg if you are over 50 years old), type “ED” (Education) for internships and students and type “B” (Business) for business people.
Multiple entry to Thailand: double entry visa
Some travelers such as backpackers travel through Southeast Asia for three months or more. These travelers then want to visit Thailand a few times. When you come by land you can only stay in Thailand for 14 days. It is best to purchase a double entry visa or multiple entry visa. With the double entry visa you have a maximum access to Thailand of 60 days for both times. Shorter stays are always allowed. In principle, no longer. NB; you may only have been in Thailand for a maximum of 180 days in 90 days. You cannot apply for a double entry visa in Thailand. This must be arranged if you are from another country and well before your departure.
Airlines check your visa
Also remember that airlines are obliged to check your visa. If in doubt or if you do not have the correct visa, they will not take you. Are you planning to travel through Southeast Asia for more than 30 days and will you fly to Bangkok first? Then you must be able to demonstrate that you are leaving Thailand within 30 days when you check in at the airport of departure, for example Schiphol or Brussels. The free tourist visa you get in Bangkok is only valid for 30 days. If you have already applied for a Thai visa in the Netherlands for a longer stay than 30 days in Thailand, this is of course not necessary.
Visa overrun risks
If your visa expires during your stay in Thailand, this is a criminal offense under Thai law. Any visa-required visitor who does not have a valid Thai visa may be arrested by the Thai immigration authorities for illegal stay. Usually you get off with a settlement in the form of a hefty fine. You then pay for each day that your visa has expired (500 baht per day). If you cannot pay the fine, you will be arrested. In that case, an alternative prison sentence will be imposed. You have to sit this out and then you will be taken to the Immigration Detention Center (IDC) in Bangkok. The living conditions there are appalling. As long as you cannot pay the fine and cannot show a ticket to the Netherlands, you will remain stuck.
Visa is not a guarantee
Possession of a visa is no guarantee that Thailand will actually admit you. Your data will still be checked at the airport or border post. It is therefore wise to bring all documents that show that you will be staying in Thailand. Consider, for example, a hotel reservation, sufficient money or a business invitation.
Overwintering and visa
Are you planning to stay in Thailand for three months or longer, for example to spend the winter, then there are several options. If you are 50 years or older, you can apply for a Non-Immigrant visa type “O”. This allows you to stay in Thailand for 90 consecutive days.
If you are under 50 years old, you can apply for a tourist visa for 60 days. You can extend this by 30 days at an Immigration Department in Thailand for a fee.
Another option is to leave Thailand after 60 days and fly back to Thailand by plane from a neighboring country. You will receive a visa for 30 days upon arrival. This is rather cumbersome and more expensive than a 30-day visa extension.
Learn more about visas
Always contact the competent authorities to apply for the correct visa.
- Thai Consulate Amsterdam: www.thaiconsulate-amsterdam.org/
- Immigration Department of Thailand: www.immigration.go.th/
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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