Thailand Tourist Visa: How to Apply and How to Extend Your Stay

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Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Take your next vacation in Thailand, and you’ll have an unforgettable experience—from the delicious food, to the gorgeous weather, to the bustling cities and lush jungles, and the wonderful people you’ll meet along the way.

If you’re heading to Thailand for a vacation, you may not need a visa at all. Let’s have a look at visa exempt entry, as well as tourist visas, for US travelers.

Thailand Tourist Visa Exempt Entry

US nationals and those of some other countries are not required to obtain a tourist visa before you arrive in Thailand, depending on how long you’re staying. If you’re a US Citizen, then you can travel in Thailand for up to 30 days without a pre-approved tourist visa. You’ll also need your passport (valid at least six months after arrival in-country) and an airline ticket showing that you will be leaving the country before your 30 days are up.

Extending Your Stay While In Thailand

When you enter Thailand, you’re allowed an initial stay of 30 days. If you are already in Thailand on your 30-day stay but you’d like to remain in the country a bit longer, you can extend for an extra 30 days for 1,900 Baht at the Thai Immigration Bureau Office.

Thailand Tourist Visa

If you know you’d like to stay in Thailand for longer than 30 days before you arrive in-country, you can apply for a tourist visa, which allows an initial stay of up to 60 days. If you wish to extend your stay for more than that, you have to convert your tourist status to non-immigrant status. You can apply for this visa at the Thai Embassy or at a Thai Consulate in the United States before traveling.

Once you’re in Thailand, you may have the opportunity to extend your stay for an additional 30 days, for a fee of 1,900 Baht. As with the visa-exempt entry option, you’ll need a valid passport that won’t expire for at least six months after in-country arrival, and an airline ticket showing return or onward travel.

Thailand Special Tourist Visa

The Thai Special Tourist Visa was offered to help stimulate the country’s tourism industry during COVID. This was a long-stay visa, and as of September 2022, is no longer offered as COVID travel restrictions to Thailand have been lifted.

Thailand COVID Travel Requirements

As of October 1, 2022, Thailand has lifted its COVID travel restrictions. You don’t need to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter, and you don’t have to stay in the sandbox. Of course we recommend exercising reasonable caution during travel to any destination and being respectful of your fellow humans.

Other Thailand Visa Options

Featured image via Unsplash.

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