Different Visa types to Thailand

Thailand has everything from beautiful beaches and offshore islands, ancient ruins, temples, jungles, and unique cultures. With everything it has to offer, there’s no wonder it has seen an increase in tourists and Retiree's in recent years. However, one of the things standing in your way of enjoying life in Thailand is a visa.

The visa process can be challenging and complicated. Not only that, there are several visa options that allow you to stay in the country for varying amounts of time. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive Thailand visa guide of the more commonly used visas to make sure you understand the visa process and can experience the best of Thailand.

Entry Requirements Update

From 1, November 2022 - All travellers entering Thailand are no longer required to show Proof of Vaccination or COVID-19 test results. The $10,000 USD health insurance has also been removed. All travelers can freely travel to Thailand without any COVID restriction. Travelers are not required to obtain Thailand Pass or Certificate of Entry (COE). 

The Visa Exemption Scheme

Starting October 1, 2022 until March 31, 2023, travelers will be allowed to stay for 30 days or 45 days without prior approval of a Thai visa.

The Visa Exemption Scheme >

Thai Elite Visa 

Thailand Elite Visa is a long-term visa categorized under Privilege Entry Visa allowing residency in Thailand along with benefits for a period between 5 and 20 years depending of the chosen package in exchange of a membership fee. The Elite Visa is 5-year renewable multiple entry visa with extendable 1-year length of stay per each entry. 

This visa is appropriate for anyone who lives or regularly comes to Thailand but doesn’t want to deal with Thailand’s bureaucratic visa system. This includes digital nomads that don’t want to do visa runs, retirees who don’t want to be stressed with the new complicated regulations that have been regularly introduced, or investors or business people who need to fly in and out of Thailand several times a year.

How to Apply for:
Thai Elite Visa >

Tourist Visa

This is a 60-day Tourist Visa to Thailand that can either be a multiple or single entry and can be extended for up to another 30 days by means of a visa run. Well if you want to extend longer than 30 days, you can convert the visa to a Non-Immigrant Visa which will require you to go to the nearby city or country such us Penang and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

How to apply for:
Tourist Visa > 

Special Tourist Visa

The Thailand Special Tourist Visa (STV) is a special visa introduced by the Tourism Authority of Thailand for long-stay tourists who would like to travel to Thailand.

How to apply for:
Special Tourist Visa >

Non-Immigrant Visa 

This is normally a single entry visa to Thailand valid for 90 days. Like the tourist visa, you can extend your stay by doing visa run going to the border or nearby city/country. Obtaining a work permit and opening a bank account is possible.

How to Apply for:
Non Immigrant Visa >

One Year Non-Immigrant Visa 

This visa is often a Multiple Entry Visa to Thailand valid for use for a period of 1 year. You are allowed to stay 90 days per entry which means, every 90 days, you will have to go to border and have your visa stamped at the immigration (visa run). 

How to Apply for:
One Year Non-Immigrant Visa >

Long Term Visas to Thailand

Thailand offers numerous types of long term visas for foreigners who wish to stay in Thailand for a long term period.

How to Apply for:
Long Term Visas to Thailand >

Marriage and Retirement Visa 

There is no direct application for these 2 visa types. But don’t worry its not going to be a complicated process, as long as you will meet the special financial requirements for the application. How to obtain a Marriage Visa in Thailand? You must simply be married to a Thai National. Otherwise, if you want a Retirement Visa in Thailand, you need to be 50 years old or above. The process is as easy as 1 2 3. First step, you obtain a non-immigrant visa. Next, convert the non-immigrant visa to either Marriage Visa or Retirement Visa. These are the visa types that will allow you to stay in Thailand for the whole 1 year (renewable) without going to the border or not leaving the kingdom anymore at all.

How to Apply for: 
Marriage Visa >

How to Apply for:
Retirement Visa >

Non-Immigrant O-X Visa

Thailand 5-year retirement visa is the popular term for "Non-Immigrant O-X Long Stay Visa".

The visa can be valid either for a single entry or multiple entries. 

This is a long term Thai visa that entitles the holder a stay of 5 years in Thailand and is renewable every 5 years. The renewal process can be done inside Thailand.

How to Apply for:
Non-Immigrant O-X Visa >

Business Visa 

This visa is specially designed for people who want to do business legally in Thailand. It is also known as Non-Immigrant Business Visa. You can get a work permit, open a bank account however you still need to do a visa run every 90 days.

How to Apply for:
Business Visa > 

Thai Work Permit

If you want to work in Thailand, you need a work permit. However, before you can apply or be issued a work permit you must have a non-immigrant visa. This is required to apply for a work permit. Ideally, it should be acquired prior to your arrival in Thailand. 

How to apply for:
Thai Work Permit >

The Thai TM30 Notification

The TM30 notification and its underlying laws are about the obligation of a landlord (housemaster, possessor, or manager) to report the stay of a foreigner (non-Thai national) in his/her property.

How to apply for:
The TM30 Notification >

Thai Immigation Forms

Whether you are a visitor or a long time resident of Thailand; whether you are just entering the country or filing for an extension, you must have encountered filling out one of the many Thai immigration forms.

Read more about:
Thai Immigration forms >

Visa Overstay

People can find themselves overstaying in Thailand for a number of different reasons. Some foreign nationals do so by mistake, by miscalculating their given visa days against the length of their stay, or by simply forgetting their visa expiration date.

Read more about:
Visa Overstay >

The Smart Visa

Thailand has been making a series of efforts in driving the economy through innovation. The Thai government has taken another step to attract talents and technologies with a view to further developing its targeted industries or the so called S-Curve industries. The SMART Visa program has then been designed to enhance Thailand’s attractiveness in drawing science and technology experts, senior executives, investors and startups.

How to Apply for:
Thailand Smart Visa >