Is it mandatory to bring 20,000 THB in cash when entering Thailand?

@Garrett **********

showing online banking available balance always worked for me, didn't have to have a massive wad of cash

@Tom **********

not if they ask

@Tom **********

from what people have said it used to be a way for immigration to ensure you had enough cash to support your way for visa exempt, visa on arrival or short term visas, but is rarely asked for anymore. I was in Thailand 5 years ago and was never asked for it. And when I arrived in dec I was also not asked for it.

Plus nowadays immigration officers all over the world can ask to verify funds for your stay if they suspect something dodgy or that you may not have the funds to support your trip.

@Tom **********

no

Well if you land in any country you better have access to more than $600.00 dollars so I assume have enough cash to get a taxi and make sure your ATM card is working. Nobody carries too much cash anymore.most single tourists will spend at least $4000.00 no sense in carrying that kind of cash these days.

there are many situations where people have to show sufficient funds for the duration and purpose of entry to Thailand. Often it seemed to be at the IO's discretion before, but now I think everyone entering has to do so.

@Albert *******

no

@Lisandro ******

that 180 days is a myth. It seems to be more about how many times you enter as a tourist, with the total days being irrelevant. Living in Taiwan previously, I had always been able to do visa runs every 90 days, never get an actual visa, never a problem there unless you overstay. After moving to Thailand I ended up doing visa runs to KL instead of extending because it was marginally cheaper, and I got deported on arrival on the 4th arrival in 1 calendar year, even though I had only spent 3 months in the country as a tourist that year.

So you're saying you were forced to hand over cash? I was just forced to burn loads of cash to book another last minute flight (and detained for 10 hours while waiting for that flight).

(minus the extortion)

@Lisandro ******

so what happened

Which post ?, So why don't you comment me from your post ? And delete it there. This is post from jorge jo and you still writing on his post. Open your eyes and look at my picture. How silly you are.

Are you craizy ? I don't expect you to read it ! And i don't post in your post. Man.. shame on you..

@Michael *******

lol i wish....no this was at the water park on top of shoping plaza out in bang na

@Av *********

was that a koh phangan pancake

One time i saw a sign....have problem contact your pancake

@Michael *******

okay just saved it thank u hun!!!!!

@Michael *******

omg i would love that sign! Im an undercover hippie. I will go through immigration looking like a middle aged white woman..when i leave thailand i leave looking like i ate magic mushrooms for breakfast lol

@Av *********

they used to have a sign at immigration no hippies allowed and a description of a hippy it was funny as f#$k.

David Broadfoot - Most of those denials were for other reasons - as just mentioned - the lack of cash reason was a convenient lie...

@JD *******

lol yeah my hubby looks like a wanker...he ia a tattoo artist so he is coveres head to toe...they always ask him...lol....

@Av *********

- For me it must be the bottle of Scotch I hand over at the Immigration booth 😁😎

@JD *******

yah if u look the part they will aske

.....im never asked as I speak thai fluently and most of the time they think im mixed......

@Av *********

I guess hippy backpackers live a hard life... I've never been asked.

Been living in thailand over 25 years this been happrn3ing past 5 to 7 yrs

@JD *******

that's been implented for years. If u look like a hippie they can ask u to see 20k. That is apart of requirements to be able to provide proof IF asked

@Craig ******

yes!!! Ive seen it been done!

@Craig ******

, it a rule still enforceable, just what an immigration officer needs if he decides, whether you have a visa or not. 20,000 Thai bht or it’s equivalent in any currency is no big deal to carry. No ATM air side prior to immigration...

@Sam *********

because it's usually not being enforced. That doesn't mean that you will never run into an alpha that would stop you for questioning. It may happen

@Simon *********

they only ask if you re enter on land border

It happened in airports as well. I mean back in ancient times where travelling was an actual thing.

@Larry *******

it’s been a requirement for years, though I’ve only heard of it being asked for at land borders.

@Ryan *********

have been able to for months now!

@Ryan *********

read the question.

People were denied entry before based on this rule/requirement. It's not commonly asked for but the OPs question is legit.

No. He is not.

The 20,000 baht was based on people arriving on 30 day tourist visas, VOAs and exemptions and was to ensure you had enough to support yourself for 30 days (yeah, right, like 20,000 would cover that!) However, now the STV and TV are 90 and 45 days respectively so the 20,000 would need to be either 60,000 or 30,000 so no doubt to complicated a task for IOs to count that high. Also, how many people use cash only these days? With access to ATMs easy most will use credit/debit card payment or for cash withdrawal. Also, if you can afford to pay the 30,000 -240,000 for an ASQ I think they have decided it can be assumed that the 20,000 won't be a problem. Even before Covid I was travelling back and forth between Thailand and neighbouring countries by road and air and never got asked to prove I had it, even when I got pulled by immigration at the airport on arrival from Vietnam they were more interested in me proving I was ex forces than whether or not I had 20,000 in my wallet.