How soon can I apply for a Thai visa before my trip from Canada?

Aug 5, 2023
a year ago
Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
In Canada, applying before visiting, how soon before my planned departure can I apply?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When applying for a Thai visa from Canada, it is advisable to submit your application 30-90 days before your planned departure. Tourist visas, typically valid for 90 days from issuance, should ideally be requested 3 months in advance, but applying 30-45 days prior may offer better flexibility for adjusting travel plans. For shorter stays of less than 30 days, a visa may not be necessary for travelers from certain countries due to visa exemption policies. The processing time can vary, with some applicants experiencing delays, so it's prudent to allow sufficient lead time.
Lisa ****
We’ve been waiting for almost two weeks with no movement on the file in Ottawa yet. Would suggest you give yourself at least the full 20 business days that they say it might take.
Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lisa ***
I’ve never submitted in Ottawa so I have no experience there. The longest I’ve waited in Vancouver was about 5 days and that was in the Thai Pass days. I’m not surprised. Literally nothing in Ottawa is faster or more efficient
Lera *******************
I applied for my 60 days tourist visa on July 24th it was issued on August 1st and it must be used by October 29th. USA citizen.
Michael *******
What if I’m a U.S. citizen but will be somewhere in Europe before I want to apply. Does it matter if I’m not physically in the US since it’s just a web site and not a physical visit to an embassy?
London *****
Mine in UK was done online. Hardly took 48 hrs.
Brad *******
If your a tourist staying less than 45 days obtain the free no hassle tourist visa upon arrival. No need or reason to apply for a tourist visa.

90 days as mentioned above I do not believe is currently in place and phased out after Covid. Good luck and welcome.
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Brandon ************
@Brad ******
there's no such thing as a tourist visa on arrival.

There is visa on arrival which you apply for and pay for at the airport and gives you 15 days in Thailand, only available to a few countries like China and India.

There's also visa exempt which means NO VISA at all, and gives you permission to stay for 30 days. You can apply for a 30 day extension to visa exempt but visa on arrival is not eligible for any extension.

If you want to stay over 30 days it's always better to apply for tourist visa before traveling. It's cheaper than applying for an extension at immigration and you do not have to waste a day of your trip at immigration.
Brad *******
@Brandon ***********
I stand corrected by the US and Canadian Embassy sites updated 22 November 2022 forward. It’s 30 days upon arrival, plus can buy an extra 30 days at immigration for 1900 baht. These same requirements are on the Ottawa Thai Embassy site. Links below for both

** Thai Visas for Americans

Home | U.S. Citizen Services | Thai Visas for Americans

From November 1, 2022 onwards, Thailand will make the e-Visa system available at 38 diplomatic and consular posts worldwide.

For more information on how to apply for e-Visas, please consult the e-Visa website at
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Visa Exempt Entry

U.S. citizens carrying a tourist passport and in possession of an onward or return airline ticket do not require a visa to enter Thailand. The passport must have at least six months validity remaining to be allowed entry. Upon entry, Thai immigration officials will place an immigration stamp in the passport permitting a 30-day stay in Thailand if arriving by air or land. This time limit may subsequently be extended for an additional 30 days by paying a 1,900 baht fee to the Thai Immigration Bureau office. The headquarters of the Thai Immigration Bureau is located at Government Center Chaengwattana Building B, No. 120, Moo 3, Chaengwattana Road, Tungsonghong Sub-District, Laksi District, Bangkok
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, 02-141-9889. For more information or additional Thai Immigration Bureau locations, please consult the Thai Immigration Bureau website.

NOTE: The Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens carrying a diplomatic or official passport obtain a visa prior to arriving in Thailand. It is sometimes possible for diplomatic or official passport holders to enter without a visa, but it is up to the discretion of the airline and/or immigration personnel and you may be denied entry.

Tourist Visas

If an individual wishes to remain in Thailand for more than 30 days, he/she may wish to obtain a tourist visa at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in the United States, prior to arriving in Thailand. The tourist visa must generally be used within 90 days from the date of issue and allows an initial stay of 60 days. After arrival in Thailand, a tourist visa may be extended at the discretion of an immigration officer once for an additional 30 days with the total period of stay no longer than 90 days. There is a 1,900 Baht fee for the extension. Interested Americans should contact the Thai Immigration Bureau located at Government Center Chaengwattana Building B, No. 120, Moo 3, Chaengwattana Road, Tungsonghong Sub-District, Laksi District, Bangkok
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, 02-141-9889. For more information or additional Thai Immigration Bureau locations, please consult the Thai Immigration Bureau website.

American citizens who wish to remain in Thailand for longer than 90 days during any six-month period will be required to obtain a valid Thai visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate that is authorized to issue visas. The U.S. Embassy advises all American citizens who wish to obtain a Thai visa to contact the Thai Immigration Bureau for exact visa requirements and regulations. Persons who do not comply with visa regulations risk being denied entry to Thailand at the border.

For more information, please consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. websites.

Visa Overstays

If an individual does not depart Thailand prior to expiration of his/her airport permit or visa, the individual is in the country illegally. In order to depart Thailand, it will be necessary to pay an overstay fine. The fine for overstaying a visa is 500 Baht per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 Baht. The fine is payable to the Immigration Bureau, the Suvarnabhumi Airport Immigration office, or other departure point.

Those who overstay their visas for more than 200 days may be required to serve time in the Immigration Detention Center before they are deported. It is highly advisable to avoid visa overstays.

Expired short-term visas can be extended after paying a fine, but the number of days elapsed since expiration is subtracted from the extension period. Application for extension must be made by the next working day after visa expiration to avoid a fine.

Please note: applications for extension cannot be made on Saturdays, Sundays, and Thai holidays.

Thailand’s entry/exit information is subject to change without notice. For further information on Thailand’s entry/exit requirements, contact the Royal Thai Embassy, 1024 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.,
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, telephone 202-944-3600, or contact the Thai consulates in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York City. Visit the Royal Thai Embassy website for the most current visa information.

**Source:
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Brad *******
@Brandon ***********
Visiting Thailand as Tourist

Visiting Thailand is easy. Many nationalities can visit the Land of Smiles without a visa under the Visa on Arrivalrule or Visa Exemption scheme. These options allow visitors to stay for up to 30 or 45 days.

Tourists are travelers who visit the country for leisure. It is important to note that a tourist cannot work or conduct business while in the country. If a visitor is traveling for a purpose other than leisure, they will need to look at other visa options.

For holiday makers who know 30 days is never long enough, they can apply for a Tourist Visa at a local Thai Embassy or Consulate in their country.What is a Thailand Tourist Visa?A Thailand Tourist Visa is a stamp or document placed in your passport. It is needed to enter Thailand for tourism. It is issued by a Thai embassy or Consulate in your country and stamped on your passport upon arrival at the airport in Thailand. A tourist visa can be extended while in Thailand if you want to stay longer. The tourist visa should not be confused with the Visa Exemption stamp issued at the airport.Requirements for a Tourist Visa to Thailand

When applying for a tourist visa, there are certain documents needed, and a fee is paid on application. The documents and fee can change anytime and without prior notice, so contact your local embassy before organizing your applicationDocuments Required

Passport or travel document with an expiry date of no less than 6 months

Visa application form (filled out)

One(1) recent 4 x 6cm. photograph of the applicant

Round-trip air ticket or e-ticket (paid in full)

Proof of financial means (10,000 baht per person/20,000 baht per family)

Proof of Hotel or private accommodation booking

Consular Officers reserve the right to request additional documents if deemed necessary. It is advisable to allow enough time before traveling to lodge your application as there is an influx of travelers applying now that Covid is less of a priority.

Visa Fee

US $30.00 (or equivalent) per entry. The Tourist Visa fee is subject to change, so it is recommended to contact the nearest Thai Embassy or consulate in your area before lodging your paperwork.

Source:
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Brandon ************
@Brad ******
I'm not sure why you keep mentioning 45 days because that ended months ago. Do some actual research rather than copying and pasting from an agency website that hasn't been updated.
Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Brandon Thurkettle he’s right
Dolce *************
You apply 3 months before flight if possible, my visa took over a month , with additional papers required for METV
Tyler *******
Should apply at latest a month before your flight, to account for wait times.
Brandon ************
What visa are you applying for?

If you're talking about a tourist visa, they are valid to enter Thailand for 90 days from the day they are issued. So you can apply 3 months ahead. But probably better to wait until 30-45 days before your trip to give you more time to be flexible if you need to push your trip back for some reason.
Henrik ****
@Brandon ***********
, doesn't the eVisa system ask for your planned date of arrival in Thailand? If so, it is up to the Embassy how long before they will accept the visa application.
Brandon ************
@Henrik ***
they will accept any application within the validity of the visa. So you can apply 90 days before you travel up until you travel. But if you apply when you have 90 days until travel and have to move your flight to a later time, your visa will have expires already. Better to apply around 30-45 days beforehand so if you move your flight you have some leeway.
Henrik ****
@Brandon ***********
, ok. Before the eVisa system at least the Embassy in my home country always gave visas validity from the date you stated on your application as the date of entry.
Brandon ************
@Henrik ***
ALL Thai visas are valid from the day they are issued.
Henrik ****
@Brandon ***********
, correct, and I didn't express myself clearly. They wouldn't issue it until shortly before your entry date. I had a problem with it one time. If they just issue it under the eVisa system, then you have to be careful about submitting your Visa application not too early..
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