Visa Requirements for Thai Citizens
Visa requirements for Thai citizens are specific regulations that apply when entering foreign countries.
Each country sets its own visa requirements, stating whether Thai citizens need a visa to enter the country. Thai citizens do not have the most freedom of foreign travel, with only 40 visa-free countries, 9 of which are ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members. Additionally, more than a hundred destinations still require visitors from Thailand to present a valid embassy-issued visa upon arrival. There are about 30 remaining countries that offer eVisa systems and about 40 of them offer visa on arrival. The most accessible of the four options available is the eVisa. Electronic visas have recently been used by more and more countries with the desire to speed up and simplify the visa application process. To apply for an eVisa, you do not need to go to the embassy and the entire process takes place online. Although visas at the embassy are the most difficult to get as the whole process requires many supporting documents, visits to the embassy and sometimes even a visa interview.
Traditional visas can be issued for short-term and long-term travel, including those related to work, study or accompanying family members abroad.
eVisas, VoA and visa-free travel for Thai citizens are issued for short-term travel, typically 30 to 90 days of stay. More information about each visa type for Thai citizens is available below.
Electronic visa
eVisa is an electronic alternative to the traditional embassy visa introduced to facilitate visa applications.
Dozens of countries now use the eVisa system to help tourists visit their territories for short-term stays related to leisure, business or transit.
List of countries that offer eVisas for Thai citizens
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Benin
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea
- India
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Moldova
- Myanmar
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Sao Tome and Principe
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
33 countries offer an eVisa option that Thai passport holders can use when traveling abroad. Currently, you can visit any of the destinations listed above with a visa obtained online. The eVisa is obtained after a quick and intuitive 3-step online process.
Applicants typically need a valid passport, an active email address, and any work equipment, such as a phone or laptop.
Once approved, the eVisa will arrive directly to the applicant’s email address as a PDF file.
This document must then be printed and taken with you when traveling. Approved electronic visas allow their holders to stay abroad for a short period of time, usually between 30 and 90 days. Because e-visas work just like traditional visas but are much easier to obtain, they allow travel for tourism, business and transit purposes.
This means that Thai citizens can travel using the eVisa system to:
- Go on vacation
- Go on a business trip
- Visit friends and family living abroad
- Take a layover while transiting
Visa on Arrival
A visa on arrival is a type of visa that can be issued after arriving at the selected country at the port of entry.
Visitors must fill out the VoA application form after queuing and waiting for approval.
List of Visa on Arrival countries for Thai citizens
- Armenia
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Ethiopia
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- The Maldives
- The Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saint Lucia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Zambia
40 countries offer Thai citizens the opportunity to obtain the necessary visa upon arrival, allowing them to stay abroad for short periods of time.
To obtain a visa on arrival, travelers must proceed to the nearest border checkpoint immediately upon arrival at their chosen destination.
Next, they must request a VoA application form and fill it out carefully.
The registration process may also require payment of an issuance fee or provision of additional supporting documents. Therefore, it is best to research the specific requirements in advance and check whether documents confirming the purpose of travel are required. Additionally, it should be noted that many VoA countries offer an additional eVisa option. Using the eVisa system helps travelers avoid long lines and helps them prepare for their trip by applying for their visa online a few days before their planned trip.
Embassy visa
Embassy visas or traditional visas are issued by the embassy of the country being visited.
These types of visas can be used for both short-term and long-term stays, even those related to pursuing work, studying or meeting relatives abroad.
List of countries that require an Embassy visa from Thai citizens
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Canada
- The Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Colombia
- The Republic of the Congo
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- The Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Finland
- France
- Gambia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Mali
- Malta
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Paraguay
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sudan
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- The United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Yemen
102 countries only allow Thai passport holders to cross the border when they present a valid visa from the embassy before arrival.
If the country that Thai citizens plan to visit requires a regular visa, they should begin the application process at least a few weeks before arrival. The first step in applying for an embassy visa should always be to check the current requirements and documents required.
Then, with the completed application form and collected documents in hand, the applicant should go to the embassy to submit the application. Additional steps may be required; however, the specific registration process depends on the chosen destination.
Because applying for a regular visa can be complicated and the processing time can even take several weeks, it is best to start applying before your expected departure date.
Visa-free countries
About 40 countries allow Thai citizens to visit their territory without a visa for short-term stays.
Traveling without a visa is one of the most convenient means of transportation.
- Argentina
- Barbados
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Chile
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Fiji
- Georgia
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Micronesia
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Oman
- Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Tajikistan
- Turkey
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
Although a visa is not required, Thai citizens still need to prepare an important document: a valid passport or ID card. Which one will be needed depends on the country selected.
Additionally, foreign countries sometimes require additional documentation upon arrival, such as a return ticket or proof of booked accommodation. By traveling without a visa, like with an online visa, Thai citizens can enjoy all recreational, business and transit-related activities. This includes going on vacation, exploring foreign destinations, trying out available travel destinations, as well as handling all business-related tasks.
Thai citizens can visit countries without a visa for business travel, negotiating future contracts and attending a conference or seminar.
Finally, transit travel is also available, so reaching another final destination is also easier.
