Thailand - Apply for a Courtesy Visa

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Procedure

A Courtesy Visa is issued upon official request, Thai Embassies and Consulates-General may grant courtesy visas to diplomatic/official/ordinary passport-holders who wish to enter the Kingdom on official duty and/or other purposes.

1. Before you apply for a visa, check first if you will need one or if you are eligible to obtain one. To help you figure out if you will need a Visa to enter Thailand, you may check a list from Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affair's Website.Summary of Countries and Territories entitled for Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival to Thailand
2. The next thing you will need to check is where should you apply to obtain a visa. Nationals of certain countries are required to apply for a visa only at the Thai Embassy or Consulate-General in their home/residence country or at the designated Thai Embassy. Therefore, travelers are advised to contact the nearest Thai Embassy or Consulate-General to find out where they may apply for a visa to Thailand before departure.
3. Gather all the documents you will need to present or submit in order to obtain a visa.
4. Complete an application form and submit it along with all other required documents.

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Required Documents

Supporting documents are documents issued by the governmental agency, foreign government or international organization, certifying the identity of the person concerned and his/her purposes while visiting the Kingdom.

Office Locations & Contacts

Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
443 Sri Ayudhya Rd., Bangkok 10400
Tel.: 0-2203-5000
TeleFax : 0-2643-5320
Directory of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand and Abroad
Diplomatic Corps in Thailand
Website

Eligibility

Courtesy Visas are issued to diplomatic/official/ordinary passport-holders who wish to enter the Kingdom on official duty and/or other purposes.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Visa holders must note that the period of visa validity is different from period of stay.

• Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand. In general, the validity of a visa is 3 months, but in some cases, visas may be issued to be valid for 6 months, 1 year or 3 years. The validity of a visa is granted with discretion by the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General and is displayed on the visa sticker.
• Period of stay is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry and in accordance with the type of visa. For example, the period of stay for a transit visa is not exceeding 30 days, for a tourist visa is not exceeding 60 days and for a non-immigrant visa is not exceeding 90 days from the arrival date. The period of stay granted by the immigration officer is displayed on the arrival stamp.

Foreigners entering Thailand are not permitted to work, regardless of their types of visa, unless they are granted a work permit. Those who intend to work in Thailand must hold the correct type of visa to be eligible to apply for a work permit.

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Related Videos

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Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
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sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
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e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

Visa on Arrival

Nationals of certain countries may apply for visa upon their arrival in Thailand. Travelers with this type of visa are permitted to enter and stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 15 days.

According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements, passport holders from the following countries and territories may apply for visas at the immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days.

List of countries and territories:

1. Bhutan : Kingdom of Bhutan
2. China : Peoples Republic of China
3. Cyprus : Republic of Cyprus
4. Czech : Czech Republic
5. Estonia : Republic of Estonia
6. Hungary : Republic of Hungary
7. India : Republic of India
8. Kazakhstan : Republic of Kazakhstan
9. Latvia : Republic of Latvia
10. Liechtenstein : Principality of Liechtenstein
11. Lithuania : Republic of Lithuania
12. Maldives : Republic of Maldives
13. Mauritius : Republic of Mauritius
14. Oman : Sultanate of Oman
15. Poland : Republic of Poland
16. Russian Federation
17. Saudi Arabia : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
18. Slovakia : Slovak Republic
19. Slovenia : Republic of Slovenia
20. Uzbekistan
21. Ukraine
22. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
23. Taiwan
24. Bulgaria
25. Andorra
26. Malta
27. Romania
28. San Marino

Thailands Immigration Checkpoints which provide facilities for issuance of visa upon arrival :

1. Suvarnabhumi Airport
2. Don Muang International Airport , Bangkok
3. Chiangmai International Airport , Chiangmai
4. Phuket International Airport , Phuket
5. Hatyai International Airport , Songkhla
6. U Tapao Airport , Rayong
7. Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
8. Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
9. Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
10. Betong Immigration Checkpoint , Yala
11. Sadoa Immigration Checkpoint , Songkhla
12. Samui Airport , Surat Thani
13. Sukhothai International Airport, Tak Immigration Checkpoint
14. Bangkok Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Bangkok
15. Sri Racha Immigration Checkpoint , Chonburi
16. Mabtaput Immigration Checkpoint , Rayong
17. Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai
18. Samui Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani
19. Phuket Immigration Checkpoint , Phuket
20. Satun Immigration Checkpoint , Satun
21. Krabi Immigration Checkpoint , Krabi
22. Songkhla Harbour Immigraion Checkpoint , Songkhla
23. Chiangrai Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Chiangrai
24. Surat Thani Airport Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani

Requirements:

• Applicants must possess means of living expenses at the amount of 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly.
• The applicant must possess a passport with at least six-month validity and must present a fully paid ticket which is usable within 15 days from the date of entry.

Visa on Arrival - Application

1. You may apply for a visa at a designated international checkpoints.
2. You must submit a duly filled out application form, do not forget to attach your recent photograph (4 x 6 cm).
3. Pay the application fee of 1,000 Baht.
4. You will be issued a type of visa in accordance to your purpose of visit.

Extension

Foreigners who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness, which prevents them from travelling, etc.

To extend their stay in Thailand, they can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau , Immigration Division 1, Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210. Tel 0-2141-9889 or they may visit the Immigration Bureau's website.

Yellow Fever Infected Areas

Travellers travellling from/through countries which have been declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas must acquire an International Health Certificate that proves that they have received Yellow Fever vaccination.

List of Countries which are Declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas

Applying for a Visa at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate

Nationals of certain countries are required to apply for a visa only at the Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate-General in the applicants country of residence, or at the Royal Thai Embassy which has jurisdiction over his or her country of residence. Travellers are advised to enquire about authorised office for visa issuance at any Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General before departure.

Normally, applicants are required to apply for a visa in person. However, Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General in some countries and in some cases may also accept applications sent through representatives, authorised travel agencies or by post. Please enquire at the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General where you intend to submit your application of acceptable ways of application.

Required Information

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e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

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e.g. Birth Certificate - why do we need to have a birth certificate? 

Information which might help

Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General have the authority to issue visas to foreigners for travel to Thailand. The authority to permit entry and stay in Thailand, however, is with the immigration officers. In some cases, the immigration officer may not permit foreigner holding a valid visa entry into Thailand should the immigration officer find reason to believe that he or she falls into the category of aliens prohibited from entering Thailand under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

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Others

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