Nov 24, 2022
14 min read
Applying for a visa might seem like a daunting task—and sometimes it is! However, applying for the Thailand Visa for US citizens does NOT have to be difficult.
I've crafted this guide that will walk you through the most important points of the Thailand visa. After this guide, you'll be able to apply with confidence and ease.
Let's not waste any more time...
No. US citizens and holders of a US passport don't have to apply for visa to enter Thailand. All you need to enter Thailand is your passport (that is valid for at least 6 more months) and a return flight ticket (this proves that you'll leave the country once your trip is finished).
This is known as the visa-free regime. Be mindful that you're only allowed to visit Thailand for a maximum of 30 days under this "visa-fee regime." If you plan to stay for more than 30 days, you need a Thailand visa for US citizens.
No. Because US citizens enjoy visa-free travel to Thailand, they cannot and don't need to apply for the Thailand e Visa. This is because the e Visa only allows you to stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days. If your trip is more than 30 days, you need a Thailand Visit Visa (TR).
Nope. US Citizens enjoy visa-free travel for up to 30 days. Only if your trip exceeds do you need to apply for a Thailand tourist visa. US citizens cannot apply for a visa on arrival.
If you're still reading this post, it means you need a Tourist Visa for Thailand (TR). Before I jump into the required documents and how you can get one. I'll briefly discuss a few key points you need to consider.
Feel free to skip to the required documents or the application process.
Let's start with the basics. As you probably guessed, the Thailand Visit Visa (TR) will allow you to visit Thailand for tourism purposes.
You can visit Thailand with a TR if your purpose includes:
The Tourist Visa for Thailand allows you to visit the country for 60 days. It would be wise not to overstay the 60-day limit. If you overstay your visa, you'll be liable to pay a fine.
You need to start your Thailand Tourist Visa application online. Here, you can check the exact visa you need to apply for.
Here's how you do it:
First, click on the link above. You'll be redirected to the official Thailand e-Visa page. Scroll down to the frequently asked questions and find "Do I need a tourist visa?"
If your trip exceeds 30 days, you'll need to apply for a Tourist Visa. You'll receive a prompt highlighting that you need to visit a Thai embassy to apply for a visa. The Embassies are as follow:
There are two types of Thailand Tourist Visas. The single entry visa and the multiple entry visa (MEV). You can select the visa type you wish to apply for during the application process.
Generally, you'll apply for a single entry Tourist Visa. As the name suggests, it allows you to enter Thailand once. On the other hand, the multiple entry visa will allow you to enter Thailand more than once.
Be mindful that you must provide sufficient proof of regular travel to Thailand when applying for a multiple entry visa.
The amount payable may vary depending on your nationality. However, US citizens need to pay the following:
Once you submit a complete Thailand Tourist Visa application, the processing time for your visa is around 15 business days.
It's possible for the processing time to be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances such as an incomplete application, a sudden demand in visa applications, and so on.
For the purpose of this post, I'll guide you through the document Thailand Visa requirements for US citizens.
If you're not a US citizen, don't worry. The Thailand Visa documents you need are similar to those found below. However, you might need to prepare extra documents depending on your nationality.
You can find all the required documents at the end of the online application.
Remember to scan and save the required documents on your computer/phone. Then, you'll need to upload the necessary Thailand Visa documents online.
Here are the documents you need to submit when applying for your Thailand Tourist Visa:
To enter Thailand, you must prove that you have enough money to support yourself during your trip. This is known as the financial Thailand Visa requirements and forms part of the Thailand Visa documents. It's a standard requirement for most countries around the globe.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that you need to prove that you have a minimum of 20,000 Baht or around $700 per person. If you plan to travel with your family, you need a minimum of 40,000 Baht or $1,500.
You can provide recent bank statements, proof of earnings, or a sponsorship letter.
The Tourist Visa for Thailand application process differs slightly from other visa applications. Everything can be done online. You don't need to travel to the Embassy to apply for your Thailand Visit visa.
For this reason, I'll walk you through the entire process from start to finish on how to apply for the Thailand Visa (with screenshots). In summary, you'll complete your application form, upload your required documents, and wait for your visa to be approved.
Here's what to expect:
First, you need to head over to the official website (which provides excellent online visa services). You'll be prompted to sign in to an existing account. If you don't have an account, you'll need to scroll down and select "create an account ".
When you create a new account, you'll be redirected to a new page where you must fill in your basic information, such as your name, surname, date of birth, etc.
After you've created your account, you'll receive an email asking you to verify your account.
Click the link and verify your email.
The email you use is essential. You'll receive all notifications about your visa application via email. So be sure to create an account with the personal email you use regularly.
After logging in to your new account, you should see the "visa dashboard." You'll find a "Apply for new visa " button on the top left corner. Click the button to continue with your application.
The visa application system will check if you're eligible to apply for a Thailand Visa. You must fill in your passport type, current location, and consulate to process your visa application.
In the same section, you'll need to indicate the purpose of your trip.
Take note of the final field - "Number of Entries"
Typically, you need to select a single entry visa. However, you may choose a multiple entry visa (MEV) if you travel to Thailand frequently. Remember, you need sufficient proof that you travel to Thailand frequently when applying for the MEV.
Next, you must upload a copy of your passport and a recent photo of yourself.
The application system is ingenious. Once you upload your US passport to Thailand, it will check that the information is readable. If not, the system will inform you that the copy you uploaded is difficult to read. This is the same for your photo.
You should rescan and re-upload your document if you see the notification pop-up.
Next comes the part where you must fill in all your personal details. Again, these fields are pretty standard and self-explanatory. For example, you need to fill in the following:
Before moving on to the next sections of the Thailand Visa application form, double-check that the information you provided is correct and accurate. The last thing you want is your visa being delayed to a small mistake you made on your application form.
Where applicable, always use your passport as a reference.
In this section of the application, you need to provide information related to your trip.
The first part requires you to enter the duration of your trip, port of entry, and other related information. Keep in mind that the Thailand Tourist Visa only allows a stay of 60 days.
If you've ever visited Thailand, you'll need to add additional information to your application.
As for proof of accommodation:
You need to book accommodation at an approved hotel, depending on your vaccination status. If you're unsure what I mean by this, I recommend reading the Thailand Health Pass guide. Once you've made a suitable hotel reservation, you can enter your accommodation details.
Submitting your required documents in paper form is old news! When applying for the Thailand Tourist Visa, you can scan your documents and upload them directly to your application.
One thing that hasn't changed is that you still need to collect your required documents. So my tip to you is to gather your documents well before starting your Tourist Visa application.
The file size (of your documents) must not be larger than 3MB.
Here's what it will look like:
Remember:
The documents you require might be different from mine.
These are the documents US citizens need to submit when applying for the Thailand Tourist Visa.
After uploading all your required documents, select done.
You're not done yet. You still need to submit your visa application and pay the visa fee.
Here's how you do it:
After completing your visa application, you'll return to the visa dashboard. Locate and click on "Ready to submit ".
Quick tip: If you can't find the "Ready to submit" option, click on "View all applications " on the top right corner.
To submit your visa application, you must select your complete application by ticking the check-box.
The final step is to pay the visa application fee. You can do this by clicking the "Proceed to payment " button. Then, follow the prompts and pay the visa fee.
After making a successful payment, you should receive an email confirming that you have submitted your visa application.
Now all you can do is wait for your visa to be processed. The processing time for your Thailand Visa is around 15 business days.
"Can I check the status of my visa?"
Yes, and it's relatively easy.
You can navigate back to the application dashboard, select "View all applications ", and navigate to "Check status ". Here you'll see the current status of your visa application.
After your visa has been approved, you'll receive a confirmation email.
The Thailand Embassy recommends that you print out this confirmation email and present it to Thailand's airline staff and immigration authorities.
You can get your visa from the application dashboard. Once again, click "View all applications " and select "Available".
You'll see a small blue document on the right-hand side of your application. You can view your new Thailand Tourist Visa and print it.
Congratulations!
You have successfully applied for your Thailand Tourist Visa.
I'm glad you asked.
Another type of Thailand Visa allows a stay of up to 90 days. This visa is known as the Special Tourist Visa (STV)
Key points of the Thailand Special Tourist Visa:
Additionally, you need to provide the following documents:
These documents are additional documents you must provide alongside the standard Thailand Tourist Visa documents.
The process is the same as above. You need to start your application online and complete the online application form.
There is 1 thing you need to do differently:
Under "Purpose of visit " you need to select " (STV) Duration of stay no longer than 90 days." The rest of the application is the same as that mentioned above.
And that's my complete guide to getting a Thailand Tourist Visa that allows a stay exceeding 90 days. After this post, you'll easily be equipped with everything you need to apply for your Thailand Tourist Visa.
If you have more questions, check the frequently asked section below. If not, enjoy your next trip to the Kingdom of Thailand!
Well, that depends on the duration of your trip.
As I discovered, US passport holders fall under the visa exemption program, which means that US citizens can travel to Thailand without a visa for a maximum of 30 days. Nonetheless, if your planned trip exceeds 30 days (like mine), you must apply for a Thailand Tourist Visa (TR).
If your trip to Thailand exceeds 30 days, US Green Card Holders must apply for a Thailand Tourist Visa. Applying for your Thailand Tourist Visa is similar to the process outlined above.
That depends on your home country. If your country enjoys visa-free travel to Thailand, you don't need to apply for a Thailand e-Visa. However, if you're a US Green Card Holder from a country that does not enjoy visa-free travel to Thailand, you need to apply for a Thailand e-Visa.
Remember, the Thailand e-Visa only allows a short visit of 30 days. So if the duration of your stay exceeds 30 days, you need to apply for the Thailand Tourist Visa.
Yes. You need to apply for permission to extend your visa at the Office of the Immigration Bureau. For an extension of stay, you need to apply at the following Immigration Bureau/Immigration Office:
Office of Immigration Bureau Government Center B Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi Bangkok 10210 Tel 0-2141-9889
Alternatively, you can lodge an application at the official website. Once you click on the link, follow the instructions provided by the Immigration Bureau.
During the online visa application form, you can select the Thai Embassy with jurisdiction over your area. These Thai Consulates/Embassies include:
No. The Thai Tourist Visa may only be used for tourism purposes and does not count towards permanent residency.
No. The Royal Thai Embassy has been providing "stickerless" E-visa service since September 27, 2021. This means you don't need to mail your passport and original documents to the Royal Thai Embassy.
Yes, traveling to Thailand is considered international travel. This means you must have a valid passport to go to Thailand.