Tourist Visa for Travel in Thailand
Application for your Tourist Visa is a simple procedure and is valid for up to 90 days, allowing you to stay for 60 days with a 30 day extension.
Need to apply for a Tourist Visa?If finding a Thai consulate near you is not an option, perhaps you know of a specialist visa provider that could apply for your visa on your behalf. Most travel agents in your area should also be able to help you with your request for a visa. You can go to www.mfa.go.th - to download a visa application form
Application for a tourist visa is quite straight forward and applies to people of all ages. Also it does not require you to produce any financial status. Just remember though, that you may not use this visa to conduct any business or apply for work while you are in Thailand. Who wants to work while you're on vocation. When you arrive in Thailand, immigration will stamp your passport, granting you a 60 day stay. This stamp is often referred to as an "extension of stay" which will allow you to apply for an additional 30 days. To do this, simply go to any immigration office inside Thailand, pay a 1,900 baht fee and your visa will be extended. No need to do any border runs. Most consulates will allow you to apply for up to four entries except some Asian countries which issue less than four. This is especially favourable should be visiting any of the neighboring countries of Malaysia, Vietnam, Burma, Laos or Cambodia. Unused entries on your visa allows you to come back into Thailand and get another 60 day stamp without having to re-apply for a new visa. Once this period has expired, you must leave Thailand as there are hefty fines of 500 baht penalties per day for over staying. Even worse you could lose your persona non gratis status and you don't want to lose that.
Requirements for your Tourist Visa1) A valid passport or travel document with not less than 6 months before expiry date. 2) A completed visa application form. 3) Two recent passport size photograph. 4) Proof of fully paid air ticket.
A short story about a friend of mine in BangkokA good friend of mine who runs a business in Bangkok and has been living permanently in Thailand for over 10 years with his Thai wife, tells me that as of 2007, the laws changed regarding certain Thailand visas. Even though he has been living in Thailand for some time, he now has to leave the country every three months. He does this by taking a day off from his business and then drives to the nearest border. He then leaves Thailand and returns the same day after a brief visit with a further 90 days in his pocket. Apart from losing a day at the office, he hates having to do this visa run to the border. Well I suppose he could plan to take the family for a Sunday drive. He is now waiting for me to join him on these visa runs. I have come across many a tourist who had not applied for their Thailand Tourist Visa in their own country or a consulate outside of the country, then arrive in Thailand on a normal 30 day entry visa, but would like to stay a little longer. Well that can be overcome by doing what my friend does, only you have to do this towards the end of your 30 day stay. You only have to cross over for a sort time before re-entering Thailand again. Great, another 30 day entry. Sounds crazy but this is how many tourists gain entry time and again. A word of warning though, you can only do this twice, allowing you of a stay for up to 90 days. Thereafter, you must leave. You may re-enter the country after a 90 day stay-away I have done this border crossing exercise myself into Cambodia by road. I stayed a few days so that I could visit Angkor Wat at Siem Reap which is within easy reach from the border. I wanted to include a photo that I took of this border crossing as I was so fascinated by all the chaos and confusion. To be quite honest I went with the flow and really enjoyed it. All you need is a lot of imagination and a little patience. When I returned to Thailand across the same border, I received a further 30 day stay. Are you getting the idea!
Thailand border crossing into Cambodia
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