Thailand Visa Checklist — e-Visa or Exemption, What You Need
Thailand has two common routes for visitors: the 30-day tourist visa exemption for 60 listed nationalities, or an online e-Visa applied for only at www.thaievisa.go.th. There is no sticker and no mailing — everything is uploaded and approved by email. Verified against Royal Thai Embassy (MFA) pages, September 2026.
Stage A — Exemption or e-Visa?
- ☐ Exemption: nationals of 60 countries and territories get up to 30 days for tourism (scheme effective 15 September 2026), extendable once by 30 days at the immigration officer’s discretion.
- ☐ Under exemption you should carry about 20,000 Baht per person or 40,000 Baht per family, and your passport must be valid for at least 6 months on return.
- ☐ Everyone else needs an e-Visa: tourist (TR), transit, non-immigrant, or long-stay, depending on purpose.
Stage B — Fees and validity
- ☐ Tourist visa (TR): 40 USD single-entry, valid 3 months from issue; 200 USD multiple-entry, valid 6 months.
- ☐ Length of stay: up to 60 days from entry, extendable by 30 days — a maximum of 90 days.
- ☐ The visa fee is non-refundable. You must enter within the visa’s validity period, which is not the same as your permitted stay.
Stage C — Documents to upload
Upload each item as a large, clear JPEG or PDF under 3 MB:
- ☐ Passport biodata page (valid for at least 6 months from your travel date).
- ☐ A photograph taken within the past six months.
- ☐ Proof of current location (driver’s licence, bank statement, or proof of stay).
- ☐ Flight itinerary to and from Thailand, showing name, dates, airports and flight number.
- ☐ Proof of accommodation in Thailand (booking or an invitation letter).
- ☐ Three months of bank statements ending at at least 700 USD per person per month or 2,000 USD per family.
- ☐ Non-US citizens: green card or US visa copy, an employment letter (not a pay stub), business licence or tax returns if self-employed, or an I-20 if a student.
- ☐ Minors under 20: birth certificate, parents’ marriage certificate or custody order, parents’ passports/ID, and a notarised consent letter.
Stage D — Applying and timing
- ☐ Apply online only, then print the approval email to show airline and immigration staff — the e-Visa is stickerless.
- ☐ Apply at least 30 days before departure, but not more than 90 days ahead, or the visa may expire before you travel.
- ☐ If the embassy requests more documents, allow 3–5 business days after you upload them. Consular officers may request further documents.
- ☐ For the photo, a compliant, recent image is required: make one with the passport photo checker or read the US visa photo and photo size guides.
Compare with other Asia routes
Thailand’s fully online e-Visa sits between Japan’s eVISA (online display only) and Vietnam’s eVisa (printed PDF with a QR code). For a nearby alternative that also runs an online authorisation, see the Korea C-3 visa documents, and for the photo rules behind any of them see US visa photo requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Thailand?
Not if you hold a passport from one of the 60 countries and territories covered by the 30-day tourist visa exemption (effective 15 September 2026). Everyone else needs a visa, and all visas are applied for online.
How much does a Thai tourist visa cost?
A single-entry tourist visa (TR) is 40 USD and is valid for 3 months from issue; a multiple-entry TR is 200 USD and is valid for 6 months.
How long can I stay in Thailand?
A tourist visa allows up to 60 days from entry, extendable by a further 30 days for a maximum of 90 days. The exemption scheme allows 30 days, extendable by 30.
What documents do I upload for the e-Visa?
Passport biodata page, a photo taken within the past six months, proof of current location, flight itinerary, proof of accommodation, and three months of bank statements - all as clear JPEG or PDF files under 3 MB.
Where do I apply?
Only at the official portal, www.thaievisa.go.th. The embassy no longer accepts mail or in-person visa applications, and there is no sticker in your passport.
How much money do I need to show?
Tourist visa applicants show three months of statements ending at at least 700 USD per person per month (or 2,000 USD per family). Travellers entering under the exemption should carry around 20,000 Baht per person or 40,000 Baht per family.
Official source: Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — Visa Information, Visa Types / Fees / Validity, New Visa Exemption and VOA, Tourist Visa (TR), and the Visa FAQ pages, retrieved 2026-09-27. Confidence A (official pages, quoted verbatim).
Related: the checklist hub, Vietnam eVisa, Japan eVISA, Korea C-3, and the US visa photo requirements guide.