Answered2 months ago
Do you need to show physical cash of 20,000 baht upon entry to Thailand?
Re: the 20,000 baht upon entry requirement, do we literally need the physical cash or just to show that we have it in an account if asked?
Answer summary
The requirement to show 20,000 baht (or equivalent) in cash upon entry to Thailand has been discussed extensively. Many commenters suggest that while the rules state cash is necessary, in practice, it is rarely enforced. Some travelers have been asked for the cash, while others indicate that showing a bank statement or using a banking app has sufficed in their experience. The consensus leans towards carrying physical cash to avoid complications, even though past encounters show that entry can be granted without presenting the cash.
46 repliesnewest first
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Tapan ********
Cash is King!
Joe *******
Actually, I have a Bangkok Bank account (had it for 14 years, got it back in the day when you could still open one if sponsored by a Thai and the bank have allowed me to keep it). I’ve never been asked for funds on arrival, but I’d just login to the app if necessary
Marc ***********
Never been asked.
I'm here and arrived on the 29th of July.
I'm here and arrived on the 29th of July.
Mich ***********
Literal CASH 💸
Cliff *********
You should have the cash.
You can’t go to an ATM.
Maybe if you have a Thai bank account with enough money you can get away with it.
Or not….
Why risk problems anyway???
You can’t go to an ATM.
Maybe if you have a Thai bank account with enough money you can get away with it.
Or not….
Why risk problems anyway???
Peter ********
Cash is king
Dave *******
I came through last week and they never asked anything about having cash.
PakhaTh*******
Argent en espèces
Cragus *******
Has anyone ever been asked to show 20k cash on entry? I've been asked only once regarding funds which was at the check-in desk of the airline. They asked if I have sufficient funds for my stay. I said yes, they never checked anything. Never once been asked by immigration to show 20k of cash and I don't know anyone who has.
Andi ***********
@Cragus ******
It is rarely asked for, im the same never been asked and know no one who has but i just bring it, just in case.
Debojit *******
90% chance they will not ask. But I always keep 20k thb cash for that 10%. Why risk when you will anyways need that money for sure.
Michał ***********
Cash
Reed **********
I just came back from Laos and surely they would not expect you to bring $600.00 worth of the Kip currency, money that you can't do anything with outside of the country of Laos. I do usually just have a print out now with my last bank statement just in case anyone wants to see it. I'd imagine that most of the time they're gonna let you in with just that bank statement. I've only actually been asked once for the 20,000 and it was flying into DMK airport and they didn't even make me show them it.
Baz *********
Physical cash..
RedDragonf**********
Dollar Dollar bills y'all.... (Or any other currency with high value notes to save space although rates are best on crisp 50 and 100 usd)
Tham **********
RedDragonfruitIsBest Drago! Can you Venmo me a spare $1K USD too? 💰💰💰🤑
Sergio ******
I wasn't actually asked cash, they just wanted to see it in the bank app
choose*******
Officially, it can be 20k baht or equivalent ie ~$600 usd. Some IO might accept banking app but you are taking a chance here. Also, they might allow you to go to nearest ATM to withdraw to satisfy this requirement. The simplest thing is just bring a little more than $600 USD imo.
Nongnuch ********
chooserich007 You have no f...g clue what you are babbling about! . . . . . there is no ATM before the Immigration entry booths. If they start to ask for CASH, they will NOT ALLOW you to either go backwards or go forward. They will DETAIN AND ISOLATE you
Bob *********
@Nongnuch *******
they profile. If you fit the profile they ask. $600 USD, 500 EUO. No problem. Why is this a problem?Nongnuch ********
@Bob ********
In case Immigration has secretly already decided to deny entry, they will pull the cash-proof cardchoose*******
@Nongnuch *******
Thank you for confirming the ATM withdrawal isn’t an option. I must have misunderstood some previous posts where they had to withdraw the 20k baht. Also, the only babbling I see is your writing. You can be excuse if English isn’t taught in your school. Otherwise thank you for confirming you didn’t finish basic writing in kindergarten. It’s never to late to go back school!Nongnuch ********
chooserich007 You claim that there were posts that described that the person was allowed to withdraw cash at an ATM ? These posts just cannot be true, because ONE: there is no ATM before Immigration, and TWO: Immigration won't allow you to move away, they will instead isolate and deport you.
Grant ***********
I carry the cash and then have bank statement letter from employer in home country booked accomadation and return ticket printed out if your a frequent visjtor they will ask you to get long tern visa after been flagged
Tra****
@Grant **********
Flagged?Reed **********
I got taken to the side on my second entry on tourist visa and I've been back probably like 7 times since but I think every single one of those times I've had to talk to the supervisor so I'm probably flagged but somehow they let me in every single time. I've been trying to apply for the DTV visa the last three times I've left the country but every place I've gone the wait time ends up exceeding my visa I'm giving for that country so I'm going to have to either go to Vietnam or do it in the United states when I go to visit I personally think they need to overhaul their system for approval of these DTV visas
Reed **********
@Chris *****
I think what's happened and no one wants to admit it because this is typically just how Thailand operates sometimes is you had a whole bunch of visa agencies more or less guaranteeing approval for a large portion of their applicants and from talking to at least one or two people these visa agencies are bending the rules most likely through fraudulent documentation.Chris ******
OP@Reed *********
Yeah I don’t understand the logic behind issuing these visas and then harassing the people who have said visas when they enter the country. Andi ***********
@Tra****
You can be flagged if your visits are not in line with a genuine tourist and you do not have a relevant visa. You can face additional questioning and required to show cash, onward ticket etc.Andi ***********
RedBlueberry7135 No, it is more for those on VE (Visa exemption) making repeated visits over a short period. Having a DTV reduces the risk of being stopped and questioned. Any arrival can be asked to show the 20k though. With SP there is no mandatory requirement to stay enrolled on a course, but an IO can ask to see evidence of activity upon arrival but rarely do.
RedBlueb********
@Andi **********
do you mean like having a DTV for soft power and not having a current enrolment for a course?? I'm confused... some "experts" say that after your first course is finished, you don't need to bother having a new enrolment...
What do you say to that, Andi?
Grant ***********
@Tra****
yes after to many visits they will take you to one side and then after that your flaggedBob *********
@Graeme *******
Rules have been in place for decades. Look at air and land PER six months.Grant ***********
@Graeme *******
i am no expert but after 4 in the year started getting a hard time and thats me going back to my home country for minimum of 4 weeks at a time and staying in thailand for no more than 4 weeks ive got a non immigrant 0 visa and will move to retirement visa as the immigration officer says that i need long term visa .
Graeme ********
@Grant **********
what’s considered too many visits!
Gaz ********
Rules say 20,000 CASH
Tra****
They generally don't ask, but be ready to show your bank account with said balance.
RedDragonf**********
@Tra****
generally being the word here....
Robert ***********
RedDragonfruitIsBest Denied Entry is not "generally".
Gaz ********
@Tra****
the rules clearly say IN CASH
Vitaly ********
@Gaz *******
you haven't been to Thailand long enough. "The rules" and "clearly" don't have equivalents in Thai language or culture
Simon *********
The cash..
Winston ************
Cash only, in any currency equivalent to THB 20k. Keep in mind this is rarely enforced. I have never been asked for it, despite having an African country passport
John **********
You should have cash to show. If they are minded to deny entry, for whatever reason, it's often lack of cash they use as the reason
choose*******
@John *********
💯. IO is not going to deny you subjectively. They will use as many hard entry rules to deny you if they have good suspicions you might be breaking the laws.Nongnuch ********
chooserich007 if Immigrations denies entry, the form they hand out always says "lack of funds", no matter what the real reason was
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