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Formalities and other regulations |
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Passports |
Visas |
Health Regulations |
Customs Regulations |
Currency and Exchange Services |
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NOTE: The regulations might change without
prior notice. Please contact your nearest Thai Consulate for
confirmation. |
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Passports |
All visitors entering Thailand
must possess valid passports.
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Visas |
>>Immigration Information
According to the Interior
Ministerial Announcements dated 1 October B.E. 2545 (2002), 20
December B.E. 2545 (2002), 18 October B.E. 2547 (2004) and 6 May B.E.
2548 (2005), passport holders from 40 countries and 1 special
administrative region – Hong Kong SAR – are not required to obtain a
visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be
permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of not exceeding 30
days on each visit. Foreigners who enter the Kingdom under the
Tourist Visa Exemption category may re-enter and stay in Thailand
for a cumulative duration of stay of not exceeding 90 days within
any 6-month period from the date of first entry.
- Please note that Tourist Visa Exemption does not apply to
foreigners holding Travel Document for Aliens issued by these 40
countries.
- Foreigners entering Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption
category must possess adequate finances for the duration of stay in
Thailand (i.e., cash 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per
family).
Temporary visitors to Thailand for the purpose of pleasure who
are exempted from applying for entry visas must be of the nationality of and holding valid passports or travelling
documents issued by:
1. Australia : Commonwealth
of Australia
2. Austria : Republic of Austria
3. Belgium : Kingdom of Belgium
4. Brazil : Federative Republic of Brazil
5. Bahrain : State of Bahrain
6. Brunei : Negara Brunei Darussalam
7. Canada
8. Denmark : Kingdom of Denmark
9. Finland : Republic of Finland
10. France : French Republic
11. Germany : Federal Republic of Germany
12. Greece : Hellenic Republic
13. Hong Kong : Hong Kong SAR
14. Iceland : Republic of Iceland
15. Indonesia : Republic of Indonesia
16. Ireland : Republic of Ireland
17. Israel : State of Israel
18. Italy : Republic of Italy
19. Japan
20. Korea : Republic of Korea
21. Kuwait : State of Kuwait |
22. Luxembourg :
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
23. Malaysia
24. Netherlands : Kingdom of the Netherlands
25. New Zealand
26. Norway : Kingdom of Norway
27. Oman : Sultanate of Oman
28. Peru : Republic of Peru
29. Philippines : Republic of the Philippines
30. Portugal : Republic of Portugal
31. Qatar : State of Qatar
32. Singapore : Republic of Singapore
33. Spain : Kingdom of Spain
34. South Africa : Republic of South Africa
35. Sweden : Kingdom of Sweden
36. Switzerland : Swiss Confederation
37. Turkey : Republic of Turkey
38. United Arab Emirates
39. United Kingdom : United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
40. United States of America
41. Vietnam : Socialist Republic of Vietnam |
They must enter the kingdom by passenger transports such as aircraft or sea-going vessels of 500 registered tons and
up; or through channels of immigration check-points or border check-points on the Malaysian boundary; or enter by
means of passenger aircraft, sea-going vessel, rail, bus, taxi, touring coach or hired motor-cycle and having:
- Fully paid ticket or other document belonging to the vehicle owner or to the operator of
the vehicle which is to be used for leaving the kingdom within the period specified, or
- Documentary evidence of the owner or operator of the vehicle showing fully paid
reservation for the departure from the kingdom within the period specified.
Exempted are Malaysian nationals entering the kingdom by means of bus, hired car, touring coach or hired motor-cycle
through immigration check-points or border check-points bordering on Malaysian territory, who need not have
travelling ticket or documents mentioned under Items I and 2. Persons mentioned in the above conditions are exempted
from visas and are permitted to remain in the kingdom for a period not exceeding fifteen days from the day of entry.
They are not allowed to extend their stay for more than fifteen days, unless under unforeseen circumstances such as
illness or delay of aircraft departure. Visitors wishing to stay in the kingdom for more than fifteen days are
advised to apply to missions in their countries. In the event there are no Thai diplomatic missions, they may apply
to missions in neighbouring countries, or forward their request and supporting evidence to the Immigration Division,
Soi Suan Phlu, Sathon Tai Rd., Bangkok 10120, Thailand. Tel: 2873101-10 Visitors to Thailand may Obtain Visas on
Arrival at
- The Bangkok International Airport
- The Chiang Mai International Airport
- The Phuket International Airport
- The Hat Yai International Airport
They must also have a fully paid ticket which enables them to travel out of the kingdom
within the stipulated time. The application for a visa must be accompanied by a photograph as well as the necessary
fee. Visitors from some countries may now visit Thailand for up to
30 days without requiring visas: Please contact your nearest Thai
consulate for the list of countries.
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>>Validity
of Visas
Every kind of visa is valid for a so-day
period from the date of issue
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>>Length
of Stay
- Transit Visa 30 days
- Tourist Visa 60 days
- non-immigrant Visa 90 days
Note: Please check the period of stay stamped in your passport by the Immigration
officer. Visitors who overstay their visa will, at the time of their departure, be fined
200 Baht for each excess day.
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>>Visa
Extensions
Apply for extensions
of stay at the Immigration office. Fee 1,900 Baht.>>Mobile
Visa Extension Service
A good news for tourists who would like to extend
their period of staying in
Thailand.
Immigration Bangkok provides visa extension service at the
Emerald Hotel Rachadapisek Road
, Bangkok
Working
hour 09.00 – 12.00 every Wednesday effective April 23, 2003
One Stop Service for the tourists hold visa and duration for
extension as below :
- Transit Visa 30 days
- Tourist Visa 30 days
- Visa on arrival 10 days
- Without Visa 10 days
Applicant must
bring your passport (with copies of the first page and recent visa
page)
1 photo (4x6 cm.) Application fee is 1,900 Baht.
For more information please call 0-2287-3101-10 Ext. 2263 , 2265
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>>Re-Entry
Application fee for re-entry permit is
1,900 Baht.
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>>Exit
Visa
Not required.
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Health Regulations |
No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless you are
coming from or passing through contaminated areas, Yellow fever certificates are required for those who are coming
from 14 following countries; Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Angola, Barkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritania,
Mali, Nigeria, Sudan and Zaire. Note: Please check the latest regulations with your local Health Office.
(Please re-check with your nearest Thai consulate.)
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Customs Regulations |
>>Prohibited Items
All kinds of
narcotics (hemp, opium, cocaine, morphine, heroin), obscene literature, pictures or articles. Fire Arms: Importation
of firearms and ammunition can be done only after a permit has been obtained from The Police Department or local
Registration Office Personal Effects: A reasonable amount of clothing for personal use, toilet articles, and
professional instruments may be brought in free of duty. Cameras: One still-camera or one movie camera can be brought
in without duty. Five rolls of still-camera film or three rolls of 8 or 16 m.m. movie-camera film may be brought in
free of duty. Tobacco, Alcoholic Beverages: Cigarettes, cigars, or smoking tobacco each or in total must not exceed
250 grams in weight but cigarettes not exceeding 200 in quantity. One litre each of wine or spirits may be brought in
free of duty. Household Effects: A reasonable amount of used household effects, accompanied by the owner on change of
domicile are also free of duty. Plants and Animals: Certain species of fruits, vegetables and plants are prohibited.
Please contact the Agricultural Regulatory Division, Bangkhen, Bangkok, Tel: 5791581, 5793576 for details. A
permission of Entry for animals coming in by air can be obtained at the airport. If by sea, application must be made
at the Department of Livestock Development, Bangkok, Tel: 2515136, 2526944. Vaccination certificates are required.
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>>Export
of Antiques
Objets D'Art from The
Kingdom of Thailand
- Buddha images, Bodhisattva images or fragments thereof are forbidden to be taken out of
Thailand. (With the exceptions only for worshipping by Buddhists; or cultural exchanges; or studying purposes. A
license must be obtained from the Department of Fine. Arts).
- A license must be obtained from the Department of Fine Arts in order that such objects of
antiquity or objects of art, irrespective of whether they are original, or reproductions, may be taken out of the
country.
- Procedure for license application:
- Photograph the front view of objects and make two postcard-size prints (not more than 5
pieces in one photograph)
- The passport of the applicant must be photocopied
- Objects together with photographs and applicant's passport with photocopy must be taken to:
- The National Museums Division, Bangkok
- The Chiang Mai National Museum, Chiang Mai
- The Songkhla National Museum,
Songkhla at least four to seven days before the date of shipment or departure of the applicant in order to process
the application and for inspection. For further information, telephone the Bangkok. National Museum at 2261661
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Currency and Exchange Services |
>>Thai Currency
The Thai unit of currency is the Baht which is worth a little
less than 4 US cents. One US dollar = approximately 40 baht. The baht is divided into loo satang. "Copper" coins are
valued at 25 and 50 satang. "Silver" coins are in denominations of 1' 2 and 5 baht. A 10 baht coin is composed of both
"silver" and "copper". Banknotes are valued at 10 baht (brown), 20 baht (green), 50 baht (blue), 100 baht (red), 500
baht (purple) and 1,000 baht (khaki).
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>>Traveller's
Cheques/ Cheques/Credit Cards
US dollar traveller cheques can be conveniently cashed at all
provincial banks and authorised money changers. Traveller cheques in other currencies are best changed in Bangkok
where better rates prevail. Generally, hotel exchange rates are lower then those offered by banks and authorised money
changers. Major international credit cards, such as American Express, Diners, Carte Blanche, Master Card and VISA are
accepted by major banks, restaurants, hotels and shops. Thai and foreign banks provide standard services nation-wide,
Monday through Friday, except public and bank holidays, between 8.30 AM and 3.30 PM. Major banks such as Bangkok Bank,
Thai Danu Bank, Thai Farmers Bank and Siam Commercial Bank operate currency exchange centres in most tourist areas
from 7.00 AM to 9.00 PM, seven days a week, including holidays. Many first-class hotels provide 24'-hour money
exchange services, but only for major currencies such as American dollars, British pounds, German marks and Swiss
francs. Travellers cheques are generally accepted only from bona fide hotel guests.
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>>Exchange
Control
- Foreign tourists may freely bring in foreign banknotes or other types of foreign exchange.
Upon leaving Thailand, a foreign tourist may freely take out foreign means of payments which he brought in with him,
with the exception that foreign notes or coins are limited to a maximum equivalent of US$ 10,000 or the amount
declared in writing to Customs upon arrival. Failure to do so may lead to arrest, confiscation of the excess amount
involved and/or prosecution.
- For travellers leaving Thailand, the maxi- mum amount permitted to take out without prior
authorisation is 50,000 Baht per person
- Foreign visitors may bring in personal effects and other goods which are not prohibited by
current customs regulation. Other than personal effects, departing visitors are also allowed to take out merchandise
bought from duty free shops, precious stones, gold and platinum ornaments.
- Foreign visitors are welcome to open a foreign currency account with any commercial bank
in Thailand. As a special gesture to non-residents, no restrictions are imposed on the maintenance of and withdrawal
from the account, as long as the funds originate from abroad.
For additional information concerning foreign exchange regulations, please contact any
authorised banks.
NOTE: The regulations might change without prior
notice. Please contact your nearest Thai Consulate for confirmation. |
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