Thailand Property Online

To work in or visit Thailand, immigration requirements must be met. Immigration into the Kingdom is overned by the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (A.D. 1979) and is administered by the Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police Department, Ministry of Interior.

The major immigration requirements are that:

- Any alien wishing to enter Thailand, unless otherwise exempted, must obtain a proper visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate prior to arrival in Thailand.
- Aliens in transit and tourists from countries who have agreements with Thailand to visit for not more than 30 days are not required to obtain visas before entering the Kingdom. However, these individuals must obtain an entry stamp at the airport, seaport, or land border checkpoint of entry.

Nationals of Countries Not Needing Visas to Visit Thailand for up to 30 Days

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen.

While a visa is not necessary for the above nationals if staying not more than 30 days, all must obtain an entry stamp at the immigration checkpoint of entry.

For a stay longer than 30 days, all aliens must have a valid visa which can be obtained from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate prior to entry into Thailand. The exceptions are nationals of the Republic of Korea, Brazil, and Peru who are currently allowed to stay up to 90 days after obtaining an entry stamp at the Immigration checkpoint of entry.

Nationals of Countries Who May Apply for a 15-Day Visa upon Arrival at Don Muang (Bangkok) International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, and Hat Yai International Airport:

Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China (including Taiwan), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, C?te D’Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Nauru, Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Solomon Islands, Somalia, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

These lists of countries change periodically. The Immigration Bureau adds and removes countries as circumstances dictate. Aliens from all other countries who do not have agreements with Thailand must obtain visas before coming to Thailand.

In an intriguing development due to the revision of some immigration laws, Thailand has emerged as a prime spot for retirees from Japan. The immigration laws and other obstacles to foreign retirees moving to and living in Thailand have been removed. While subject to yearly extension, foreigners over age 50 who wish to retire to the Kingdom are now free to do so. The Thai retirement services industry is growing, thanks to these developments. Hospitals, healthcare, and resorts for the elderly in Thailand have been targeted by Japanese investors. The prolonged recession in Japan has prompted investors to move into the region, many eyeing small and middle-sized hotels in scenic locations.

Source: www.thaigov.go.th