If you plan to make a trip to Thailand, you should keep in mind that citizens of some countries are required to have a visa. In this article we explain what documentation is necessary to visit the country, in addition to informing 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.
Contents
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:
- TO: Germany, Australia, Austria
- B: Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei
- C: Canada, South Korea
- D: Denmark
- AND: 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: Kuwait
- L: Liechtenstein, Luxembourg
- M: Malaysia, Monaco
- N: Norway, New Zealand
- OR: Oman
- P: Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal
- Q: Qatar
- R: United Kingdom, Czech Republic
- S: Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland
- T: Turkey
- V: Vietnam
People from these territories may stay a maximum of 30 days if they have arrived by air and 15 if they have done so by land or sea. However, Germany, Canada, Italy, Japan, Malaysia and the United Kingdom have 30 days regardless of the chosen medium. In addition, everyone can come and go several times, and they have a cap of 90 days in six months.
On the other hand, some countries have bilateral agreements with Thailand. Thanks to them, their citizens can travel to Thailand without applying for a visa. These are the beneficiary states and the time that their inhabitants can spend in Thailand:
- 14 days: Cambodia and Myanmar if entering through an international airport
- 30 days: Hong Kong, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam
- 90 days: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Korea and Peru
Visas
People from other countries do have to apply for a visa to travel to Thailand. However, there are several types:
Visa on Arrival
The Visa on Arrival or Visa upon arrival It is a type of permit that can be requested online if you travel to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, in Bangkok, or when you arrive at one of Thailand's immigration stations. To know the immigration centers available, click in this link.
Countries that can request a Visa upon arrival They are as follows:
- TO: Andorra, Saudi Arabia
- B: Bhutan, Bulgaria
- C: China, Cyprus
- AND: Ethiopia
- I: India, Maldives, Mauritius
- K: Kazakhstan
- L: Latvia, Lithuania
- M: Malt
- R: Romania
- S: San Marino
- OR: Ukraine, Uzbekistan
When applying for a visa, you must present the round trip ticket, the application form and a recent 4 × 4 cm ID card, as well as pay 2,000 Baht.
Tourist visa
The rest of the countries that have not been mentioned before, among which are Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico and Ecuador, do need to apply for a visa at the embassy if they wish to make a tourist visit to Thailand.
There are two types from tourist visa: that of an entry, which allows you to stay 60 days in the country, and the Multiple Entry Visa (METV), with which you can enter several times and stay up to 60 days on each occasion for 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 requesting this permit are the following:
- Application form printed and signed in the same way as the passport.
- Recent color photography of 2.5 × 4.5 cm.
- Original passport with a minimum validity of six months and a copy of the first page.
- Proof of round trip ticket.
- Proof of reservation of the hotel or accommodation.
- Proof of income (employment letter and / or bank account status). If the voucher is not in the name of the traveler, a letter must be attached confirming that the latter's expenses are covered.
- Proof of address.
- Original proof of payment, which must be made to the bank account of the embassy. In Mexico, it must be carried out through Scotiabank deposit cards and in Guatemala, by transfer from the Industrial Bank.
- If you apply for a multiple entry visa, you must present the bank account statement that shows the income of the last six months. In the case of Mexico, you must have a minimum final balance of 120.00 MXN for one person or 235,000 for a family.
Other permissions
The Nonimmigrant Visa 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 to work in Thailand. In addition to obtaining a visa, they must apply for a work permit.
On the other hand, the Transit Visa It is for people who must pass through Thailand to reach their final destination. To make a scale 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. In addition to this, there is no other mandatory vaccine to visit Thailand. However, the recommended ones to travel to any destination are the following:
- Hepatitis A
- Tetanus-Diphtheria
- Triple viral (measles, rubella and mumps)
Also, if you are going to stay in risky areas such as rice fields for a long time, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended, as well as rabies 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: vaccines, advice and documentation.
In rural areas of the south and northern forests, there is a greater danger of contracting malaria, for which there is a drug. It is also 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 keep a medical report that justifies its use.
Recommendations for Spaniards
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain provides some useful advice for people traveling to Thailand. In relation to health, hospitals are of high quality, but their rates are high and only attend under payment guarantee. Therefore, it is important to take out medical insurance.
In the country there are some cases of Zika virus, which is spread by mosquitoes (although it can also occur through sexual transmission). Keep in mind that it is dangerous for pregnant women, as it can cause serious harm to the fetus.
Dengue occurs mostly 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 go to the doctor.
Nor should we forget to drink bottled water and eat vegetables and fruits that have been washed with a disinfectant. On the other hand, it should be remembered that there is a remarkable index of people with AIDS, a sexually transmitted disease.
Regarding security, the Ministry warns that driving in the country is quite reckless, so care must be taken when traveling. Also, caution must be taken when renting a vehicle, checking that it is in good condition and never giving 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 granted by this organization, you can know them by clicking in this link.
User Questions
Do I need a passport to travel to Thailand?
Yes, you are from the country that you are 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 Spanish need a visa?
No, as we have indicated, if the visit is 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?
Applications are usually processed in two business days, whether made in person or by mail. It is recommended that they be managed at least 15 days before the trip.
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