What are the best options for getting a Thai tourist visa and what should I be aware of?

To further expand on what James recommended.

The thai consulate in Savannakhet is walk up service, they require a bank statement showing you have 20K baht in the bank on the date you apply ONLY, you turn in your passport one morning and pick it up the next business day after 2.

There is NO issue getting across the bridge at Savannakhet Mukdahan AT ALL (no matter what your passport looks like).

I went to the consulate in Saigon (HCMC) in April this year with about 10 pages in my passport that contained also Covid related stamps (not only). They have a long list of requirements (ie. bank statements for several month, booking/housing confirmation, flights, etc.) and want you to book an appointement in advance online, which needs to be booked about 10 days in advance to "gurantee" a slot.

As I met all hard requirements, they did issue my visa without anymore hassle than the mentioned. In consequence it is a good optiion in my oppinion if you are well prepared.

Be advised that I got pulled out of line upon returning to Bangkok anyways. With the help of my thai girlfriend they let me in, but made clear it will be the last time on a simple tourist visa (even I went back to Europe for 3-4 months in summer beetween my stays in Thailand.)

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Suggest that you consider going North to Laos or East to Cambodia .. much easier to get the Thai tourist visa.

Penang with planning is possible.

Use of a Visa Run service improves your success in getting the Thai Visa sought. They will prescreen your eligibility for a Thai Visa. And only take you if they feel you will get the Thai Visa Issued.

Listen to the wise advice from

@Tod ********

.

I would suggest you forget about KL or Bali...if you are in South Thailand..go to Penang

Where ever you decide to go to get the tourist visa KNOW that if you got a passport full of covid extensions, you're gonna get grief applying and/or be turned away outright.

KL is not known as a user friendly thai consulate and you make an appointment to apply AND to pick up your passport too.

Singapore you apply online, but they are hard on people with covid extensions

Last report was the thai consulate in Bali was still closed and you apply in Jakarta

Right now Penang Malaysia, HCMC or Hanoi Vietnam, Phnom Penh Cambodia, Vientiane or Savannakhet Lao are all open.

You need to read the requirements very carefully, and meet them or they'll deny you the visa.

The places that require an appointment are; KL Malaysia, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam & Vientiane Lao (and sort of Singapore as you apply online and then they tell you when you can come to turn in the paperwork)

NONE of the consulates are "soft touch" like they were pre-covid 😕

They all have differing financial requirements; Ssome need 3 months of bank statements, some need just the money in the bank on the day you apply. Some need confirmed lodging for your whole stay, some just a few days

READ the requirements carefully on the website of the consulate you're going to..