Thailand offers a wide range of visa options for different travel purposes, whether you are visiting for a short holiday, seeking medical care, working, or planning to retire. Choosing the right visa will depend on your nationality, how long you intend to stay, and the activities you plan to pursue during your time in the country.

On this page, we have outlined the most popular short-term and long-term visa options, along with their validity and conditions.

Short-Term Options

Short-term visas are best suited for individuals visiting Thailand for tourism, family visits, or medical purposes. They are generally easier to apply for and allow stays ranging from 15 to 60 days, with limited extension opportunities.

Thailand Visa on Arrival

The Thailand Visa on Arrival grants a stay of 15 days in the country and is issued upon arrival at Thai airports and selected border checkpoints, but to apply for it, you must hold a passport from any of the following countries:

Africa: Ethiopia, Namibia, Seychelles, Tunisia
Americas: Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Venezuela
Asia: Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Taiwan, Uzbekistan,
Europe: Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Malta, Romania, Russia, Serbia
Middle East: Cyprus, Saudi Arabia
Oceania: Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu

Thailand Visa Exemption Scheme

Similar to the Thailand Visa on Arrival, the Visa Exemption Scheme is only available to citizens of certain countries. It grants a visa-free stay of up to 60 days in Thailand and can be extended for an additional 30 days at the immigration office. To be eligible for this scheme, you will need to hold a passport from any of the following countries:

Africa: Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa,
America: Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay
Asia: Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Europe: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia*,* San Marino*,* Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Middle East: Bahrain, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
Oceania: Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga

Thailand Tourist Visa

If you do not qualify for the Thailand Visa on Arrival or the Visa Exemption Scheme, you will need to apply for the Thailand Tourist Visa. This grants a stay of 60 days in the country and can be extended for an additional 30 days at the immigration office. It also comes in two types:

Single-Entry: This allows one entry into Thailand for a stay of 60 days, with the option to extend for another 30 days. If you plan to leave the country and return on the same visa, you must apply for a re-entry permit to avoid cancelling the visa.
Multiple-Entry: This allows multiple entries into Thailand over the span of 6 months. However, each entry grants a stay of 60 days, with the option to extend for another 30 days.

Long-Term Options

Long-term visas are for individuals planning to remain in Thailand for professional, educational, retirement, or residency purposes. These visas require more documentation, renewal processes, and, in some cases, proof of income or assets.

Thailand Marriage Visa

The Thailand Marriage Visa is for foreign nationals who are legally married to a Thai national and want to settle down with them in Thailand. It allows a 1-year stay with indefinite renewals, along with the option to apply for a Thai work permit and gain employment in the country.

Thailand Retirement Visa

The Thailand Retirement Visa is for foreign nationals aged 50 or older who want to spend their golden years in Thailand. There are two types available for long-term retirement:

Thailand Non-Immigrant OA Visa: This allows a 1-year stay in Thailand with indefinite renewals.
Thailand Non-Immigrant OX Visa: This allows a 5-year stay in Thailand, with the option to renew once for a total stay period of 10 years, and is available to only selected nationalities.

Though keep in mind that, as it is a retirement visa, employment of any kind is strictly prohibited.

Thailand Education Visa

The Thailand Education Visa, also known as the ED Visa, is for foreign nationals pursuing studies in Thailand, including university enrollment, vocational training, internships through approved institutions, or other formal education programs. It initially grants a 90-day stay in the country, but can be extended to 1 year.

If you are studying at the bachelor’s degree level or above, you may apply for the ED Plus, which allows you to seek employment, travel, or participate in other activities in Thailand after graduation through a 1-year extension. However, the application for this extension must be submitted by the university or institution on your behalf.

Thailand Business Visa

The Thailand Business Visa is for foreign nationals planning to work, establish a business, or invest in Thailand. It also allows you to apply for a Thai work permit and gain employment in the country. While it initially grants a 90-day stay, it can be extended to 1 year after obtaining a work permit.

Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

The Destination Thailand Visa, also known as the DTV, is a type of tourist visa for digital professionals, remote workers, and individuals taking part in Thai cultural activities and programs. Valid for 5 years, it is a multiple-entry visa that grants a stay of 180 days per entry into the country, with the option to extend for an additional 180 days at the immigration office.

You can also bring your immediate family members with you by having them apply under the Dependent category of the DTV. But as the DTV is classified as a tourist visa, employment of any kind is strictly prohibited. That said, you are still allowed to work for foreign employers or clients abroad while living in the country.

Thailand SMART Visa

The Thailand SMART Visa, also known as the SMART-S Visa, is for foreign entrepreneurs who have already established a certified startup in one of Thailand’s targeted industries. It is a multiple-entry visa that grants a renewable 2-year stay in the country, along with benefits such as expedited immigration processing at designated Thai international airports and annual reporting to immigration instead of the standard 90 days.

This visa also allows you to bring your immediate family members with you by having them apply for the Thailand SMART-O Visa.

Thailand Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR Visa)

The Thailand Long-Term Resident Visa, also known as the LTR Visa, comes in four categories that cater to retirees, investors, digital nomads, and professionals working in Thailand. It is a 10-year valid visa that comes with a renewable 5-year multiple-entry permit. Some of the main benefits of the LTR Visa include expedited immigration processing at Thai international airports and annual reporting to immigration. Depending on your chosen category, you will receive reduced income tax rates and easier to obtain Thai work permits.

You can also bring your immediate family members with you by having them apply as dependents.

Thailand Elite Visa

The Thailand Elite Visa is a type of multiple-entry tourist visa available through a membership program that offers packages lasting 5 to 20 years. Immediate family members can also be added to your chosen membership package at a reduced fee.

It comes with a long and diverse list of VIP privileges that make living in Thailand not only more convenient but also more rewarding. These perks and benefits include, but are not limited to, free **spa treatments, rounds of golf, annual medical checkups, exclusive deals and discounts at leading retailers, and expedited immigration processing at Thai international airports.

The Different Types of Thai Visas