Basic Overview of Thai Visa Types

There are many different types of Thailand visas for foreigners who wish to enter Thailand and stay for an approximate period of time. Here are some common Thai visas:

1) Tourist Visa (60 Days - Single Entry Fee = 1100 THB)

For foreigners who wish to visit Thailand for tourism purposes.

2) Non-Immigrant Visa (90 Days - Single Entry Fee = 2,200 THB, 1 Year Visa - Multiple Entry = 5,500 THB)

Non-Immigrant 'O-A' Visa

For foreigners who would like to retire in Thailand. Must be at least 50 years of age and should have a deposit of 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account, or show proof of receiving at least 65,000 Baht/month.

Non-Immigrant ‘B’ Visa

For foreigners who are employed by both Thai and Non-Thai companies to conduct a business in Thailand.

Non-Immigrant ‘ED’ Visa

For people who come to study in Thailand, attend training courses, attend seminars, attend conferences, or study Buddhism.

Non-Immigrant ‘M’ Visa

For journalists, reporters or movie crews who are coming to Thailand.

Non-Immigrant ‘O’ Visa

For people who are visiting family in Thailand, such as a Thai spouse or Thai immediate family member.

This article was provided by Siam Legal, an international law firm with offices in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Phuket, and Samui. Siam Legal publishes guides to obtaining a Thailand visa on its website.

Siam Legal International
Interchange 21 Building, 23rd Floor, 399 Sukhumvit Road
North Klongtoey, Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel: 662 259-8100

Siam Legal wrote:There are many different types of Thailand visas for foreigners who wish to enter Thailand and stay for an approximate period of time. Here are some common Thai visas:

[list]Non-Immigrant 'O-A' Visa

For foreigners who would like to retire in Thailand. Must be at least 50 years of age and should have a deposit of 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account, or show proof of receiving at least 65,000 Baht/month.

Unless the law has changed recently, the above is incorrect.

For an O-A visa, there is no requirement to have money in a Thai bank account - it may be in an account in your "home" country.

Jackspratt is 100% correct. The money can be in a bank account, investment account, or whatever (as long as it's liquid) in your home country, or in a savings account in Thailand.

It behooves a legal firm to give correct advice, no?

Just saying.

There are always conflicting reports and misunderstanding regarding the Non O and OA Visa.
jackspratt & Sateev are correct.
One of the main advantages of the O-A Visa is that you are not required to show the funds in a Thai account for almost 2 years until just before (2 months) you apply for your first extension.

You make it sound easy. I believe you also need a Medical clearance to make sure you don;t have contageous Diseases, and a Police clearance to prove you have never been involved in Terrorism ??

Medical report is one page; your doctor can sign it in a minute; never heard of a doctor in the US charging for it, no special tests are required. The police report varies by jurisdiction (has nothing to do with terrorism specifically, but criminal activity in general). In my case, the county sheriff's website had a report selection for people applying for a visa, US$50, including notarization.

In my case, those were simple. The 'bank guarantee' was the biggest hassle, mainly because the Consulate website was typically outdated, and typically Thai-translated. The 'bank guarantee' turned out to be nothing more than a statement that I was indeed their customer, that my balance exceeded my currency equivalent of 800,000 baht, and a printout of my online statement. A phone call to their visa department clarified it in about five minutes.

In return, you get nearly 2 years of permission to stay (pre-approved), and multiple-entry (during the validity of the original visa, 1 year), and no need to put a big chunk of change in a Thai, non-interest-bearing savings account. All you need to do is report every 90 days (if you don't use the multiple-entry feature first). If you leave after the visa validity, you need a re-entry permit. By leaving just before the visa expiration date, you get another entire year entry, totaling nearly two years.

Whether or not it is easy depends on which you prefer: putting together a package of paperwork consisting of about four documents, or going to see an immigration officer, and subjecting yourself to their whims and predilections.

I chose the former.

Sateev I wish I had your doctor in the US. The medical "report" was the most difficult part for me. My regular doctor had moved on and I had only seen this new guy once. I took the form to him and he refused to sign it, saying he was not qualified to test for elephantiasis or leprosy, that I would have to go to a tropical disease specialist.
Now starting to worry, I looked in the phone book and there was only one tropical disease specialist in Las Vegas so I called the office and the receptionist told me that they only treat the diseases, they don't test for them.

So I called the State Health department and explained my plight. The guy almost fell off his chair laughing. He asked if that was a real doctor I talked to, as there is no test for elephantiasis. He said if you have it you will know it.

Finally I contacted a Thai friend who lived in Vegas and she gave me the name of her doctor, a Thai expat. I went to see him and he too almost fell over laughing. He said he could tell by looking at me that I was in good health and signed the form, even put his address in Thai script, saying "that will impress them at the embassy". He also said that since the form is in Thai and English, some American doctors might be uncomfortable signing a form that they couldn't read, even though every word in Thai has the English word next to it. He then wished me luck and didn't charge me a dime.

The rest was easy, the folks at the consulate were very easy to deal with. I considered reporting the doctor to the local Medical Board but was in the throes of relocating myself halfway across the earth and was too busy.

jimboLV wrote:Sateev I wish I had your doctor in the US. The medical "report" was the most difficult part for me. My regular doctor had moved on and I had only seen this new guy once...

Your situation is probably not typical. Usually, your family doctor will just sign it in a heartbeat, and wish you well.

Funny story, though, about the guy not knowing about elephantiasis...

And I wish I still had my doctor from the US. She was 30-something, a tri-athlete, and very sweet...not to mention cute. Really took good care of me while I was back there.

Hi,
I had a "O-A" visa from Hull in U.K. Had this for 4 years and never had to get a doctors Cert. Also have never deposited money in a Thai Bank. All i had to get for a extention, was a letter from the British Embassy stating my pensions.This did me O.K. untill the B hit a low exchange rate for sterling. 46B for 1 GBP.. Went to imm. and explained this to them. They said, last Nov., put 40KB in a Thai bank and come back tomorrow and we will give you P. to S. stamp in your P.P.. I said no and would like a Permission to Stay due to being married to a Thai citizen. For this you need a income of 40,000B a month or 480,000B per. annum. Plus jump through a couple of more hoops. My money earns good interest were i have got it, so will not go into a Thai bank account.
The only extra form i had to fill in for a "O-A", was a "Self-Certifcation Guarantee Form" This states i have sufficient funds to meet all reasonable expenses during my stay in Thailand including, if necessary the cost of repattriation to the country of which i am a citizen.
I am going to Imm. tomorrow morning to renew my P. to S. stamp for a further 12 months. I will ask them how thing stand. As the B is up to 49 to the GBP. now i might try to go for P.to S due to retirement. As my pensions are now just over 800,000B. Will let you know the outcome.
Cheers Doug.

Thanks Doug, will wait for your report

douglas wrote:Hi,
I had a "O-A" visa from Hull in U.K. Had this for 4 years and never had to get a doctors Cert. Also have never deposited money in a Thai Bank. All i had to get for a extention, was a letter from the British Embassy stating my pensions.This did me O.K. untill the B hit a low exchange rate for sterling. 46B for 1 GBP.. Went to imm. and explained this to them. They said, last Nov., put 40KB in a Thai bank and come back tomorrow and we will give you P. to S. stamp in your P.P.. I said no and would like a Permission to Stay due to being married to a Thai citizen. For this you need a income of 40,000B a month or 480,000B per. annum. Plus jump through a couple of more hoops. My money earns good interest were i have got it, so will not go into a Thai bank account.
The only extra form i had to fill in for a "O-A", was a "Self-Certifcation Guarantee Form" This states i have sufficient funds to meet all reasonable expenses during my stay in Thailand including, if necessary the cost of repattriation to the country of which i am a citizen.
I am going to Imm. tomorrow morning to renew my P. to S. stamp for a further 12 months. I will ask them how thing stand. As the B is up to 49 to the GBP. now i might try to go for P.to S due to retirement. As my pensions are now just over 800,000B. Will let you know the outcome.
Cheers Doug.

Doug - think you got confused again. Several months ago you wrote:

douglas wrote:Hi,
Sorry if i got the terms wrong.
I got a multi entry "O" visa from Hull, valid for 12 months, after that nearly expired, went to Imm. and was told i needed to get a 12 months extention, being a 12 month extention, i mistakenly took it as a 'O-A". I know better now.

Cheers,
Sateev

It can be quite confusing to discuss what visas are available from a home country.

This is because that not only do embassies & consulates in different countries appear to have different interpretations of what is available & for what reason & what evidence is required before supplying a visa but consulates in the same country can also differ.

For this reason I have always found the web sites of the various consulates most accurate in their requirements - well for the UK anyway.

For example...
I have just obtained a multiple entry non immigrant O visa from the Hull consulate in the UK.
I obtained this on the basis

5) Visiting Thailand as Retired Person aged 50 years and over
Evidence required:
a) Copy of Bank Statement showing income of minimum £900 per month.

I could have also obtained one under this rule..

4) Visiting Thailand as Pensioner
Evidence required:
a) Copy of Bank Statement showing receipt of State and/or Private Pension.

At both the Cardiff & the Birmingham Consulate this would not have been an option as they now only issue a multiple entry non immigrant O visa for visitors married to a Thai national & a copy of the marriage certificate is required.

Bob, how does the London Embassy view issue multiple 'O' visa, is it like Hull do you know? Would the rules be as strict for the ordinary 'O' visa, without multiple entries? I have the pension money, the lump sum, the clean police record, no dodgy medical conditions, but as yet, no Thai wife! I may be trying for this visa within the week, it is a bit worrying that i get everything set up here for Thai retirement, then, can't.

PhilR wrote:Bob, how does the London Embassy view issue multiple 'O' visa, is it like Hull do you know? Would the rules be as strict for the ordinary 'O' visa, without multiple entries? I have the pension money, the lump sum, the clean police record, no dodgy medical conditions, but as yet, no Thai wife! I may be trying for this visa within the week, it is a bit worrying that i get everything set up here for Thai retirement, then, can't.

You can apply for the Non O by post, Hull has a rapid turn around, just supply the evidence required.
You only need the Police & medical Reports if applying for the Non OA and that has to be applied for in person.

Aardvark wrote:You make it sound easy. I believe you also need a Medical clearance to make sure you don;t have contageous Diseases, and a Police clearance to prove you have never been involved in Terrorism ??

It is easy once you get your head around it, as i said the main advantage over the Non O is that with the OA you can get almost 2yrs out of the multi entry visa before having to show funds and of course no border runs as you are stamped in for 12mths at a time.

The Medical Cert.~ download from the Royal Thai Embassy Site & the Police Report is just a form from your local police station which they forward to Scotland Yard who will return it to you direct.