All persons,
other than those in transit and citizens of certain countries,
are required to obtain a visa in order to enter Thailand.
Foreign nationals who intend to remain in Thailand to work
or conduct business must comply with visa requirements in
addition to obtaining a work permit.
Visa Categories
The Immigration Act of 1979 as amended in 1980 establishes the following visa
categories:
- Tourist
- Visitor transit
- Immigrant
- Non-quota immigrant
- Non-immigrant
Non-immigrant Visa
Aliens seeking a prolonged stay, or those coming to work in Thailand, should
obtain non-immigrant visas for all family members prior to entering the Kingdom.
There are several categories of Non-Immigrant visas which include, among others,
business visa category (B); dependent visa category (O); investment subject
to the provision of the laws on investment promotion (BOI IB); diplomatic and
consular visa category (D); performance of duties with the mass media (M);
performance of skilled or expert work (EX); investment (with concurrence of
ministries and departments concerned)-(capital investment IM); study or observation
(ED).
Advantages of a Non-Immigrant visa include:
- Entitlement of the holder to apply for a multiple re-entry
visa to Thailand from the Immigration Division in Bangkok
- Subject to the regulations of the Immigration Authorities,
entitlement of the holder to apply for permanent residence
in Thailand
- Eligibility for issuance of a Work Permit to the holder
- Eligibility for temporary visa renewal while processing
issuance of a long- term annual visa.
Aliens are
advised to strictly adhere to the rules governing each
visa category. They should report any changes of address
or status to local police within 24 hours.
In addition,
foreigners residing in Thailand for more than 90 consecutive
days are required to register their address with the Immigration
Bureau every 90 days. This requirement applies to all foreigners,
including holders of work permits and long-term visas. Failure
to do so can result in substantial penalties.
Transit, Visitor
Transit, Tourist and Non-Immigrant Visas are issued only
for the following purposes and duration:
- Diplomats or consular
missions (duration as necessary)
- Official missions (duration
as necessary)
- Tourism (90 days)
- Sports (30 days)
- Business purposes (one
year)
- An investment which
has received authorization from the appropriate government
authorities (two years)
- Investment or other
business in connection with investment under the Investment
Promotion Act (as determined by the Board of Investment)
- Transit (30 days)
- The controller or crew
of a conveyance entering a port or other locality in
the Kingdom (30 days)
- Work as a skilled laborer
or specialist (one year).
