Answered4 years ago
How should I provide proof of accommodation for a TR60 visa application in Penang?
Hi, I'm applying for a TR60 tomorrow here in Penang and I am a bit concerned about the officer taking this line too literally. How risky would you say it is to provide an AirBNB sheet/proof of accommodation for one month? AirBNB now has a "for VISA purposes" option.
Also, I only have the first month booked, so basically, only half the period and no tax payer number.
Thank you!
Also, I only have the first month booked, so basically, only half the period and no tax payer number.
Thank you!
Answer summary
The post discusses concerns about providing proof of accommodation for a TR60 visa application in Penang. The author queries the safety of using an AirBNB receipt as proof for one month, considering that they only have the first month booked and no taxpayer ID. Several comments offer advice, including suggestions to book flexible accommodations through platforms like Booking.com or Agoda to comply with visa requirements. Several participants express frustration regarding the strictness of the visa process and discuss their own experiences and alternate strategies for providing proof of stay.
69 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Sab *****
@Miguel ************
sorry to bring your post up again. What did you do in the end? Paid Hotel booking with booking .com? Did they accept?
Ty *****
They just want to see something. They don't care.
Latasha ********
@Miguel ************
I'm doing the same prcess can you tell me how it went as I plan to use booking. com but don't k ow how to get the ID tax number ...? love to hear how it went thanksn
Miguel *************
OP@Ty ****
I got it approved like 15 minutes ago.Ahmed ********
I faced the same when applying in KL. Just book one in Agoda that's free to cancel and doesn't require a card. Get the confirmation email and then you can cancel immediately. They don't really care they just need to attach this paper to your application as per the requirements.
Reiner ***********
@Ahmed *******
thanks for the info.Ahmed ********
@Reiner **********
Yes it's required and it needs to match the last date in your accommodation document for the whole period. You don't have to get a real one tho. You can get a fake onward flight for $10Reiner ***********
@Ahmed *******
I am planning to apply for 60 day TR visa next week at KL. Did they ask for return flight within 60 days ? I hope to extend the visa so am reluctant to book flight within 60 days if it can be avoided.Miguel *************
OP@Ahmed *******
I did that. The problem I had was actually the bank statement, my bank doesn’t issue those and they need a page with my name and balance. I just printed the app’s page and another with a transaction.I heard they aren’t strict about the visa application, but there is also some guy who posted here yesterday that their visa got rejected because of a small name divergence. Honestly, I should have just entered with a visa exemption and skipped the hassle, it’s only a 15 days difference.
Pinaki *****
Just book with any website ... not a big deal..
Nick ****************
There were a lot of hotels just issuing receipts to get around covid regulations I think. The tax number is so they can check if the hotel owner paid the tax and if not why not.
Steve **********
They hold you up to insure your hotel owner has paid taxes on your accommodations.
Miguel *************
OP@Steve *********
“I don’t have to provide an argument because I’ve been here for 21 years, so I know better.” Got it.Steve **********
@Miguel ************
.. Been here 21 years, had GH for 14 of them.No Westerner understands Thai economy, it changes so often, and more often than not is a Provincial issue.
TAT has 77 policies
Miguel *************
OP@Steve *********
then you should know better than that. You can basically live there off cash that never gets accounted for in the economy. That’s how much of an effort there is to hold merchants to pay taxes on their activity. Also, making card payments more expensive than cash only promotes this state of affairs.Steve **********
@Miguel ************
live here, and have for 19 years. Know exactly what it, and they mean....made up as go along. Slip him 200 bahtMiguel *************
OP@Steve *********
that would be the logic in a western country. You’d have to have no understanding of how the economy is run in Thailand to consider that’s the reason.
Kevin ****************
I am hoping to come for 3 months but I don't want to spend the whole time in Pattaya and I don't want to book up for anywhere else until I have decided where else to go so what does that mean for me?
Vic *********
It is sad that someone with a practical sense of what this means in the real world doesn't review these rules before they make them up.
Tyler *******
I think the requirements change depending on the embassy where you apply. Let us know how to solve it.
Miguel *************
OP@Tyler ******
I have no idea.Tyler *******
@Miguel ************
How about Vientiene?Miguel *************
OP@Tyler ******
I heard that the results can be different depending on the officer and Penang has been tough. I’d follow it as closely as possible, to be safe.
Danny *************
They took it seriously in Pattaya when I did covid extensions, but they didn't give a crap in Phuket.
Miguel *************
OP@Danny ************
they’d better not give a crap about the “hotel proof of payment” requirement because I paid the hotel and they can’t give me a receipt before I check in.
Stormie ********
Are these the same requirements for online submission. EVisa?
Maria ********
Hi! Do they require also a bank statement as a proof of funds enough for the travel?
Maria ********
@Miguel ************
thank youMiguel *************
OP@Maria *******
yes, but it seems a lot of people here have been approved without following the rules too literally.
Christopher **************
We booked fully flexible hotels via the Hilton website for the entire trip. They do not require payment and can ce easily cancelled.
Jack **********
Put no fixed address
Miguel *************
OP@Jack *********
the photo is from a list of requirements for visa approval.
Frank-Steven ***********
What the hell? This used to be a requirement of the STV visa - and was nonsense back then. Since when do they now even want proof of fully prepaid bookings for a regular TR visa? Are they for real? Not the way people travel to Thailand. Not that they would ever really understand the way of their guests. But I am guessing some little uniform just screwed up that list. Doubt that full proof of stay is really an actual requirement now.
Brandon ************
@Frank-Steven **********
as long as you can convince them you're where you're applying from, should be do-able.Frank-Steven ***********
@Brandon ***********
I see. Not sure this is in line with their governments desire to attract more foreign money to their country - but hey, what’s new? 😄 I think if I were to need to do a border run for a new TR tourist visa, I would apply for a new eVisa with the consulate in Europe / the US and then use that one for a border bounce to a neighbor country instead of dealing with having to go to a Thai consulate in person in that respective neighbor country.Brandon ************
@Frank-Steven **********
I think the consulates around Thailand are just tightening everything up in general to stop visa runs. Most of them now require appointments to submit your application, and one even requires you to make a second appointment to pickup your passport and visa.Miguel *************
OP@Frank-Steven **********
yeah… Like I said above, it’s probably an overzealous thing someone came up with because it looks good and professional in their job description. You would think they would welcome any capital with open arms after the covid ravages, they even extended the visa exemption time last month!But like the admin said, they seem to be pretty strict lately.
Myron **********
This is a crazy requirement I don't know why Thailand does this
I guess after your 60 days when you go to renew for additional 30 days you would have to show a hotel booking paid for for an additional 30 days that's crazy
I guess after your 60 days when you go to renew for additional 30 days you would have to show a hotel booking paid for for an additional 30 days that's crazy
Alessandro **********
@Myron *********
you don't need when you extend. TM30 is what they wantBrandon ************
@Myron *********
no. Immigration handles extensions. Embassies handle visas and work under the MFA and can all make their own rules. Same as immigration in that aspect though but you don't need to show bookings to extend tourist visa.Myron **********
This was not a requirement for a tr60 last year
Dan *******
I did this for STV In 2021 in covid times and it was fine
Billy *******
Got mine from the Thai embassy in the Philippines they made me show just show 30 days I booked with booking.com
Terry ********
This may be something new but I’ve never been asked to show proof.
Miguel *************
OP@Terry *******
I wasn’t asked for anything when coming in with an exemption or to extend it. It’s probably an overzealous thing someone came up with because it looks good and professional in their job description.
Hew ************
I think should not be a problem if submit those booking.com receipt
Miguel *************
OP@Harrison ******
no, their point is the reason they also ask for a bank statement of the last three months. They want to make sure you have enough money coming in to Thailand, that you won’t have any issues paying lodging going forward.
Adrián ******************
@Harrison ******
moreover, owners with less than 150.000 thb/year income doesn’t need to have tax payer idMiguel *************
OP@Harrison ******
I just want to be covered in case they take it to the letter.
Harry ****
@Miguel ************
it’s so weird that they want the tax number. Why?? If you have the location address what’s the point? A tm30 will be filed and the tourist can be tracked. Wtf is the point of tax number?Miguel *************
OP@Hew ***********
the problem is "the receipt must state the tax payer number of the relevant hotel". The booking.com confirmation doesn't.Brandon ************
One of the ways people were able to get around this requirement for STV was to contact the absolute cheapest hostel possible and get an agreement for a receipt showing fully paid with tax ID. Sometimes $3 per night. Then they would book and pre-pay for the time required and just write it off as an expense and never go there.
Miguel *************
OP@Adrián *****************
there was no option to change the currency. Every one of these sites allow you to change the quote currency, not the currency the hotel wants to be paid in. As long as Revolut supports this currency, that’s what you receive back.Adrián ******************
@Miguel ************
today I leave Thailand because my STV expire tomorrow and now I’m in Penang too. You can pay in booking.com in Euro I use revolut too, you should choose the currency before book. I did it 9 months ago and then cancel the reservations when I arrived to Thailand because I rent another on Airbnb.
I get my full refunds without any problem and no 1% charge. You only have to choose Euro as a currency in Booking.com.
Miguel *************
OP@Brandon ***********
the cool thing is that my bank (Revolut) charges 1% for exotic currency exchanges, e.g. THB. If I book a hotel and cancel, the money is returned in THB without the 1% fee. I'll try that. They have just confirmed this.
Corey *******
You could see if you can find a hotel on agoda that has free cancelations,
Miguel *************
OP@Brandon ***********
ah, so it's to be expected. Ok, cheers.Brandon ************
@Miguel ************
to the best of my knowledge, there are no nearby countries to Thailand that sell the multi-entry tourist visa.Miguel *************
OP@Brandon ***********
yes, i don't consider the AirBNB option being called "for PDF purposes" reassuring just because it's called that. There is no tax ID number and no actual proof of payment, whatever that is. I'll try paying at Booking or Agoda for the whole period with a free cancellation.Off-topic, on my experience at Penang: I was there on Friday, a bit late, so I couldn't apply anyway. They said there was no multi-entry tourist visa option for me. It was the guy at the gate handing out forms, not exactly the officer, so maybe he wasn't fully aware of my options, though.
Brandon ************
@Miguel ************
@Corey ******
the STV had a requirement similar to this where they specifically stated pre-paid and tax ID number required. They would never accept a booking confirmation and were very strict that you needed a receipt showing you paid already and that the owner or business tax ID number had to be included. If they are going by the same guidelines here, a simple website booking won't work.Miguel *************
OP@Corey ******
the requirement is "proof of payment".Corey *******
There are some that allow you to book without the credit card, or not pay until you check-in. It's worth a look
Miguel *************
OP@Corey ******
or Booking.com. I was going to do that earlier and then realized the refund to my account would be in Thai Baht and that wasn't convenient, but I guess I'll just play safe and try something of the sort. Thanks.
Christopher ******
So much for being a freewheeling tourist, go where the wind takes you LOL - a little surprised there is not a “7. Be fitted for ankle location tracking device at fee 5,000 baht”
Miguel *************
OP@Christopher *****
there was, for the multi-entry visa. 8-)
Dorai **************
Pm sent sir
Brandon ************
Based on very few reports since people haven't been doing visa runs in a couple of years, they're taking the new guidelines very seriously.
Please report back with your experience to help others in the future.
Please report back with your experience to help others in the future.
Miguel *************
OP@Brandon ***********
it's a bit of a dilemma, I'm going to the trouble of applying and paying for a stay that is only marginally longer than a simple visa exemption, but I'm here already so I might as well. And it is a couple of extra weeks, I guess.Miguel *************
OP@Brandon ***********
I will do.Activity
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