If you plan to take a trip to Thailand, you should bear in mind that citizens of some countries require a visa. In this article we explain what documentation is necessary to visit the country, as well as inform you about the health advice that is recommended to follow.
Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.
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Necessary documents
There is a list of countries that are in the category of Tourist Visa Exemption, so its inhabitants do not need to apply for a visa. However, they must have a passport valid for 6 months at the time of departure, a return ticket and sufficient financial resources (10.000 Baht per person and 20.000 per family).
The States whose citizens can enjoy this right are the following:
- A: Germany, Australia, Austria
- B: Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei
- C: Canada, South Korea
- D: Denmark
- E: United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United States
- F: Philippines, Finland, France
- G: Greece
- H: Hong Kong, Hungary
- I: Indonesia, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy
- J: Japan
- K: Kuwaiti
- L: Liechtenstein, Luxembourg
- M: Malaysia, Monaco
- N: Norway, New Zealand
- O: Oman
- P: Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal
- Q: Qatari
- R: UK, Czech Republic
- S: Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland
- T: Turkey
- V: Viet Nam
People from these territories may stay a maximum of 30 days if they have arrived by air and 15 if they have arrived by land or sea. However, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan, Malaysia and the UK have 30 days regardless of the chosen medium. Plus, everyone can come in and out multiple times, and are capped at 90 days in six months.
On the other hand, some countries have bilateral agreements with Thailand. Thanks to these, its citizens can travel to Thailand without applying for a visa. These are the beneficiary states and the time their inhabitants can spend in Thailand:
- 14 days: Cambodia and Myanmar if entering through an international airport
- 30 days: Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam
- 90 days: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Korea and Peru
Visas
People from other countries must apply for a visa to travel to Thailand. However, there are several types:
Visa on Arrival
La Visa on Arrival o Visa on Arrival It is a type of permit that can be applied for online if you travel to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, in Bangkok, or when you arrive at one of the immigration posts in Thailand. To see the available immigration centers, click this link.
Countries that can request a Visa on Arrival are the following:
- A: Andorra, Saudi Arabia
- B: Bhutan, Bulgaria
- C: China, Cyprus
- E: Ethiopia
- I: India, Maldives Islands, Mauritius Islands
- K: Kazakhstan
- L: Latvia, Lithuania
- M: Malta
- R: Romania
- SSan Marino
- U: Ukraine, Uzbekistan
When applying for the visa, the round trip ticket, the application form and a recent 4 × 4 cm passport photo must be presented, as well as paying 2.000 Baht.
Tourist visa
The rest of the countries that have not been mentioned above, among which are Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico and Ecuador, do need to apply for a visa at the embassy if they want to make a tourist visit to Thailand.
There are two types de tourist visa: one entry, which allows you to stay 60 days in the country, and the Multiple Entry Visa (METV), with which you can enter multiple times and stay for up to 60 days each time over six months. The first has a price of 35 US dollars and the second of 170.
This document can be requested both personally and by courier. The papers that must be presented when applying for this permit are the following:
- Application form printed and signed in the same way as the passport.
- Recent 2,5 × 4,5 cm color photograph.
- Original passport with a minimum validity of six months and a copy of the first page.
- Proof of round trip ticket.
- Proof of hotel or accommodation reservation.
- Proof of income (employment letter and / or bank account statement). If the receipt is not in the name of the traveler, a letter must be attached confirming that the expenses of the traveler are covered.
- Proof of address.
- Original proof of payment, which must be made to the embassy's bank account. In Mexico, it must be carried out through Scotiabank deposit cards and in Guatemala, by transfer from Banco Industrial.
- If you are applying for a multiple entry visa, you will need to present a bank account statement showing income for the last six months. In the case of Mexico, you must have a minimum ending balance of MXN 120.00 for an individual or MXN 235.000 for a family.
Other permissions
La Non-Immigrant Visa It is processed to attend business meetings, study, travel for religious purposes, etc. Within this type, category B is for people who want to live and work in Thailand. These, in addition to obtaining the visa, must apply for a work permit.
Furthermore, the Transit Visa It is for people who must go through Thailand to reach their final destination. To make a layover of less than eight hours, it is not necessary.
Vaccines and health requirements
People from a country at risk of yellow fever should be vaccinated against this disease. Besides this, there is no other mandatory vaccination to visit Thailand. However, the recommended ones to travel to any destination are the following:
- Hepatitis A
- Tetanus-diphtheria
- MMR (measles, rubella and mumps)
Likewise, if you are going to stay for a long time in risk areas such as rice fields, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended, as well as the rabies vaccine if you are going to be in contact with animals.
If you plan to travel to more countries in Asia, here you can find the mandatory and recommended vaccination in each area: Requirements for traveling in Asia: vaccinations, advice and documentation.
In rural areas in the south and forests in the north, there is a greater danger of contracting malaria, for which there is a drug. Likewise, it is advisable to use mosquito repellent to avoid other diseases such as dengue.
On the other hand, narcotics are prohibited. Therefore, if you need a medication that includes one, you must bring a medical report that justifies the use of it.
Recommendations for Spaniards
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation provides some useful advice for people who are going to travel to Thailand. In relation to health, hospitals are of quality, but their rates are high and they only serve under guarantee of payment. Therefore, it is important to take out health insurance.
In the country there are some cases of Zika virus, which is spread by Mosquitoes (Although it can also occur through sexual transmission). It must be taken into account that it is dangerous for pregnant women, as it can cause serious damage to the fetus.
Dengue occurs mainly in the rainy season (between May and November), in the center and north of the country. It is essential to use a mosquito repellent, but if you notice some symptoms such as fever, you should see a doctor.
Also, don't forget to drink bottled water and eat vegetables and fruits that have been washed with a disinfectant. On the other hand, it must be remembered that there is a remarkable rate of people with AIDS, a sexually transmitted disease.
Regarding safety, the Ministry advises that driving in the country is quite reckless, so care must be taken when traveling. Also, you must be careful when renting a vehicle, check that it is in good condition and never give the passport as a guarantee.
In the rainy season, avoid the uncontrolled beaches of the Andaman Sea, as there are strong currents. If you want to know the rest of the guidelines that this organization grants, you can know them by clicking this link.
Questions from users
Do I need a passport to travel to Thailand?
Yes, whatever the country you are from and even if you do not need to apply for a visa, having a passport with a minimum validity of six months is a mandatory requirement.
Does a Spaniard need a visa?
No, as we have indicated, if the visit lasts up to 30 days and for tourist purposes, it is not necessary to apply for a visa.
How long does it take for a visa to go to Thailand?
Requests are typically processed within two business days, whether made in person or by mail. It is recommended that they be arranged at least 15 days before the trip.
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