Visa Services: Most Frequently Asked Questions
Find out everything you need to know about visa services in Thailand and get the answers to the most frequently asked questions!
Is there a special visa for foreigners who want to retire and live in Thailand?
Yes. Non-immigrant visa “O-A.” (Long Stay) are available for foreigners aged 50 and up who wish to remain in Thailand for an extended period of time but do not plan to work in the Kingdom. You may apply for a visa at the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their home country. The holder of an “O-A” visa is permitted to remain in Thailand for a period of 1 year from the date of first entry, with the option to extend their stay.
Key Points
- Foreigners may apply for a Retirement visa if they wish to stay in Thailand for an extended period of time
- Non-immigrant visa B and work permit process can be applied if you wish to work in Thailand
- You can apply for a re-entry permit if you want to leave the country and return back.
Do I need a visa for a 2 weeks vacation in Thailand?
There are 42 nations, including the United States of America, that are qualified to travel to Thailand for tourism purposes with visa exemptions and allowed to stay in Thailand for a maximum period of 30 days. As a result, you won’t need to apply for a visa.
A passport that is valid for at least 6 months, a round-trip airline ticket, and sufficient funds of at least 10,000 Baht per person or 20,000 Baht per family are required upon entering the country or else, you may encounter some difficulties. Moreover, foreigners who enter Thailand under this Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme are allowed to re-enter and remain in Thailand for a total of 90 days within any 6-month period following their initial entry.
What qualifications should I have in order to work in Thailand?
To work in Thailand, you must first complete the legal process; here is a list of the qualifications and requirements you must meet in order to apply for a work permit.
1. First and foremost, you must have a possible employer in Thailand.
2. Then, using the basic necessary documentation and a referral letter from your employer, along with your company’s business certifications, you can apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa category “B” at the Royal Thai Embassy in K.L.
3. If you have obtained a visa, you can enter the Kingdom and apply for a Work Permit from the Ministry of Labor’s Department of Employment.
4. Make sure to receive a Work Permit as soon as possible after arriving in Thailand. Your employer can apply for the Work Permit on your behalf in order to speed up visa issuance. After, the Department of Employment will give you a pre-approved certificate that you can use with your visa application.
Make sure you know the type of visa you need so that you will have a smooth application process.
How to apply for a tourist visa in Thailand if there is no Thai embassy in the home country?
If you are planning to visit Thailand but there is no Thai embassy in your home country, you have 3 options:
1. You are qualified to apply for Visa on Arrival for example as a Lithuanian national at all international airports. You must have a passport valid for 6 months, round-trip ticket, and sufficient funds of at least 10,000 baht per person then you will be permitted to stay for a maximum period of 15 days.
2. You may apply for a Thai tourist visa at the Royal Thai Honorary Consulate-General located in the capital, and you will be granted a 30 days stay in Thailand.
3. You may also apply for a Thai tourist visa at the Royal Thai Embassy nearest to you, which will allow you to stay for up to 60 days.
You can also apply for a Thai tourist visa at a Thai embassy in a neighbouring country.
Do you need to apply for a new visa if you leave the country for several days?
You may apply for a re-entry permit from the Immigration Office before leaving Thailand for Singapore. You can do the same thing at every international airport.
You will be able to re-enter the Kingdom before the end of the month with the re-entry permit. If you obtain an extension of stay from the Immigration Office, the permit will allow you to stay until the end of next month.
Are there any convenient facilities for a businessman who frequently travels to Thailand?
You can file for a 1-year or 3-year multiple-entry business visa that will allow you to visit Thailand as much as you want while the visa is valid, and you will be allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days per visit.
Furthermore, Thailand and Australia are both members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and participate in the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) scheme, you may be able to apply for an ABTC, which acts as a multiple-entry business visa that allows you to travel to 17 other APEC economies with only one card.