For anyone who is planning a visit to Thailand this year, you’ll want to consider your Thai visa application ahead of time. While many countries are exempt from this visa, some visitors to Thailand should apply online before traveling, so they are fully prepared for their trip. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Thai visa applications.
There is a new option available for visitors that is the Thailand eVisa on Arrival. To obtain this visa, you apply online, and then you will receive the visa upon arrival. This scheme was launched back in 2015, and it makes the arrival process much simpler. For anyone arriving in Thailand, you’ll no longer have to spend your precious time standing in long lines or visiting an embassy before you travel. You’ll complete everything online in advance of your trip, and then when you reach the country, you’ll receive the final visa. Currently, citizens from 21 countries can apply for their visa online in this manner. You’ll sometimes see this visa option called by different names, including Thailand eVisa and Thailand eVOA.
A Thailand tourist visa allows tourists to the country to visit for leisure and sightseeing purposes. Upon receipt of your Thailand visa on arrival, you’ll be able to stay in the country for up to 15 days with a single entry visa. This is ideal for anyone looking to explore the beautiful beaches the country is home to or spend time in the city of Bangkok. Thailand is a popular location with visitors from around the world and is a great value for money vacation destination. If you are visiting here for business or another purpose, you won’t be eligible for this type of visa. Consult with your local embassy for recommendations on the other types of visas available for your visit to Thailand.
The online application is a new method in which Thai authorities are receiving visa applications. Before traveling, you will complete the online application form, where you’ll be required to enter your personal details, passport information and pay the application fees. You’ll receive an email with your visa confirmation. To complete this application, ensure you have a passport that is valid for a minimum of thirty days after your arrival into the country. You’ll also need to have two blank pages to be stamped upon your entry. You’ll be asked for a recent photograph, round-trip air tickets, proof of accommodation, and your passport details on the online application.
Upon your arrival in Thailand, also expect to be asked for the same information, including a confirmation of your hotel or resort stay for your trip. Ensure you are entering one of the designated airports or immigration points to take advantage of this service. The complete online application should only take you about ten minutes to fill in, and within 24 hours, you will receive confirmation of your visa application if it’s been approved. This will save you so much time and hassle when arriving in Thailand after a long flight, so you can start enjoying your vacation straight away. For anyone who doesn’t take advantage of the online visa application service, you’ll find the usual visa on arrival takes much longer as you’ll have to provide all of your documents at that time. As you can complete this visa application in the comfort of your own home on your laptop or mobile phone, it’s a much easier option.
Currently, travelers from countries including the US, Canada, UK, and Australia do not require a visa for Thailand. Visitors from the exempt list of countries can stay up to 45 days without applying for a visa. However, they will still need a Certificate of Entry and are currently required to quarantine for 14 days. Before traveling at the current time, we recommend everyone takes the time to research the restrictions which have been put in place as a result of the recent pandemic. You’ll want to factor this required quarantine time into your plans, as it will take away a couple of weeks of your vacation time. If you do require longer in the country, ensure you contact your local embassy before your trip to discuss other visa options for your stay.
As with many other countries in the world, Thailand currently has much stricter entry requirements. You’ll need a Certificate of Entry to enter the country as a foreign visa holder. You’ll require this letter from the Thai Embassy or Consulate to take a flight to Thailand, whether that’s a repatriation, chartered, or semi-commercial flight. You’ll show this letter to the airline staff before departing your home country, and then again when arriving in Thailand. Only certain individuals are currently able to enter Thailand. These include diplomats, officials, spouses, parents, and children of Thai nationals, and permanent residents. If you are unsure whether you are eligible for this option, ensure you check out the full list of permitted applicants before booking your flight to Thailand.
As well as meeting the eligibility criteria for the COE, you’ll need to secure your visa before you can apply for this document. After that, you’ll need to complete a COE application. For this, you’ll require a copy of your passport, your visa, a copy of your health insurance policy, confirmed flight booking, and the Alternative State Quarantine hotel confirmation. Your health insurance will need to cover a minimum of 100,000 USD and COVID-19 related issues. Ensure you have the full coverage required to avoid your application being rejected.
Before your next trip to Thailand, ensure you research your Thai visa application requirements. Depending on where you are in the world, the requirements vary dramatically. If you are from one of the countries that can use the Thailand eVisa on Arrival, make sure you plan ahead of time to complete your application. It’s a fantastic service that will save you time when you arrive in the country, allowing you to start enjoying your vacation immediately.