Do I need a visa to travel to Koh Samui from the U.S. if I plan to stay for 2 months?

Jul 21, 2023
a year ago
Gaia *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
If I’m traveling from U.S to Koh Samui, do I need a visa? My partner and I plan to stay for at least 2 months. I have never traveled outside the country..

Is it every 30 days we need our passport stamped?

& if I’m not taking a direct flight to Thailand, and my connecting flights land in another country along the way, would that require a visa?

I haven’t been able to find a clear answer to these questions on the web.

I appreciate any feedback.🙏🏽
3,844
views
11
likes
93
all likes
39
replies
3
images
22
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
Traveling to Koh Samui from the U.S. typically does not require a visa for stays of 30 days or less, as U.S. passport holders are granted a visa exemption. However, since you plan to stay for 2 months, it is advisable to obtain a 60-day tourist visa before arrival, which can be extended for an additional 30 days while in Thailand. Make sure to have proof of onward travel (such as a return flight) when boarding your flight to avoid complications. If your travel involves layovers in other countries, check their transit visa requirements, especially if your layover exceeds four hours.
Tulip ********
no
Mark ***********
So glad you are escaping America for the 1st time. There is an amazing world out there to discover.
Dan **********
Very easy Google transit visa requirements for country you are passing through. Most do not require a visa if you do not leave the air side of the airport.
Michael *******
James *********
All you need to know is at the American Thai Embassy site...
**********************
Mike *****
US passport gives you 30 days (visa exempt) on arrival. You can easily get a 30 day extension and experience the simple process to do this at the local immigration office (get up early that day!). You need proof of onward travel (or a return ticket) to board your flight to Thailand or they won't let you board. If you're staying 60 days, you can have a return flight prior to the 60 day period ending. It's highly unlikely that any airline wouldn't accept that return ticket as proof of travel out of Thailand. In the one in a million chance that you should have a problem at the ticket counter then you quickly book a $59-$69USD cheap flight to Vietnam or use the onward ticket website for $20. Have fun!
Richard *********
if ur travelling on a US passport, staying for only 2 months and returning back to the states

Apply in advance for a Tourist visa online ( valid for 3 months for a 60 day stay)

NO hassles at all

enjoy
Steve *******
You'll need a visa or proof of onward travel if you're staying in Thailand for more than 30 days.
Richard *********
@Steve ******
actually u will need the above if ur staying in Thailand 1 day
Steve *******
@Richard ********
She wont need a visa for 1 day.
Richard *********
@Steve ******
Point being u need proof of onward travel EVEN for one, 2, 10, 15 etc days, UNLESS you have a visa

NOTHING to do with 30 days

OK?
Steve *******
Luc ************
If you go on visa exempt, 30 days without visa, and your return ticket is only after 60 days you may be having a problem at your check in or immigration. Take a visa for 60 days or get yourself a fake onward ticket on day 30.
********************
George *************
If with US passports you should apply for 60-day tourist visa from Thai embassy, believe it will be done online. Once in Thailand you can apply for additional 30 day extension of stay for tourism. Need more than those 90 days and you can leave and re-enter Thailand on visa exemption which will allow 30 days stay, which can be extended by additional 30 days for reason of tourism at localThai immigration for 1,900 baht. All told that's an easy 150 day stay.
Dana *******
If you are travelling on a valid US passeport, you don't need a visa. When you arrive at the airport and pass immigration, you will receive a free stamp that will allow you to stay in Thailand for 30 days (make sure you have 1. at least 600 USD in cash 2. A accomodation booking for the first days 3. An exit air-ticket for date shorter than 30 days. If you want to stay more than 30 days, you go to immigration office in Thailand and buy an extension of stay of 30 more days, for 1'900 Baths (at 60 USD). The details are on Google...
Gaia *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dana ******
thank you!
Ruth *******
@Gaia ********
You see the part about needing an exit ticket for less than 30 days, right? Since you plan to stay for 2 months, it might be easier to get a 60-day visa.
Lynnette *******
"Travelling from" is not same as being US passport holder. Information may vary depending on what the facts are.
Andy ********
@Lynnette ******
I think it is when the opening poster says they have never travelled before.
Lynnette *******
@Andy *******
but it's their passport that counts, not the country travelling from. My son lived all his life in UK but has US passport. He travelled from UK to Thailand but it's his passport that counts. You can be travelling "from" USA but have non US passport.
Andy ********
@Lynnette ******
the OP lives in the USA and has never travelled. How can they have anything but an American passport?
Lynnette *******
@Andy *******
my son lived in UK but US passport. You don't always have passport for country you live in.
Crystal ***********
It literally states on the website.
Sharon *******
@Crystal **********
Not helpful.
Gaia *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Crystal **********
Gee thanks crystal what would we do without you❤️
Rei ***********
No need. US passport doesn't require a visa here in Thailand. Lay over doesn't require a visa as well as long as you don't go out of the immigration ( depends on what country)
Grant *******
@Rei **********
beware. Many countries do require a transit visa when the transit is over 4 hours. Check with the countries immigration web site.
Sharon *******
Why are people laughing at this post? Seems like reasonable questions from a rookie traveller. Be kind. We need an admin to jump in and help with this one.
Gaia *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sharon ******
no truly lol. I’m 19 I’ve never gone anywhere. I appreciate everyone that gave me KIND helpful advice🫶🏽
Warren ******
@Gaia ********
plus if you are just changing a plane and do not leave the terminal you just walk from your arrival gate to your new departure gate. Usually you will have a duty free shopping area and some places to eat. I could be wrong but have never been anywhere a Debit/Credit card was not accepted for drinks/food. To be safe -- you can normally update your upcoming travel status on you bank's webpage. But that is becoming less and less required. Good luck -- have fun -- all us crusty bastards are just jealous you are traveling @ 19.
Rajeev ********
@Gaia ********
good age to start! Best wishes!
Christopher *******
Canada may require a transit visa depending on nationality. As I understand, your visa will be a sticker in your passport, taking up the entire page. This visa may have your dates of travel printed on it. There is no stamp as far as I know. I don't know about extensions with American tourist visas, because visas are supposed to be issued by your home country usa embassy. I was led to believe that if you wanted to extend, you had to travel back to (if you're thai) us embassy bangkok and then return to USA again.
Pete **********
Pete **********
Pete **********
you're not trying hard enough Gaia! 😉😅
Michael ********
Needs a clear question. What countries are you stopping in. Only two countries i know that need visa for transiting are India and the States

Single entry tourist visa will give you 60 days plus 30 days extension in country.

Multiple entry tourist visa can give you up to 9 months if you time it right.
Ruth *******
@Michael *******
Canada requires a transit visa as well, although not for U.S. citizens. While the OP could be transiting through there, I expect she'd know U.S. citizens don't need visas in Canada.
Michael ********
@Ruth ******
ok only ever been to canada on a ship
Ruth *******
@Michael *******
and citizens of the UK may not have an issue. I don’t know exactly which ones do. I just remember folks not being able to board when I was taking a flight from China to the US through Canada. It was a mess. I felt so badly for them.
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else