Answered4 years ago
What are the current requirements for US citizens entering Thailand and how do they differ from the Visa on Arrival process?
Online info on Thai visas is generally out of date and not synchronized with actual requirements of Immigration at the Bangkok airports. In Taipei I scurried about to prepare documents for Visa on Arrival, following online instructions, and then after arriving I was told that those rules were no longer valid. All I needed was my passport (USA in my case) and boarding pass for 45-day visa exemption. So to celebrate I went straight to my favorite little restaurant on the first floor of Tharathip Mansion near Ari and Saphan Khwai stations. The best spring rolls in Bangkok! Delicious Chinese noodles-and-ham dish too...
101/16 Sutthisan Winitchai Rd, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok
101/16 Sutthisan Winitchai Rd, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok
Answer summary
The post discusses the confusion surrounding Thai visa requirements for US citizens, highlighting the change from visa on arrival to visa exemption. The author shares their experience preparing for travel based on outdated online information, which led to unnecessary complications upon arrival. Comments from other users indicate a broader issue with inconsistent airline information, lack of communication from consulates, and the ongoing changes in immigration policies, particularly in light of the pandemic.
44 repliesnewest first
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Robert ******
OPAnother example: at the Taipei airport they were insistinh that I have an onward ticket in order to board the plane to BKK. Then, upon arrival in BKK, I was told I needed nothing more than my passport. Consulate-airlines communication seems to be faulty again and again, exacerbated by the frequent difficulty of reaching the consulates by either phone or email. (Much like U.S. govt agencies...)
Keef ********
VOA isn't for USA citizens. if you want up to date info then why are you relying on random websites? You have the choice of the VE which is 45 days or TR60 which is in advance at your consulate. And the VE will change again likely March.
Mark ********
It all seems to change the second you try it. Same happens with me too. It seems like everything is always changing these days. We have too many morons running free and ruining simplicity for the rest of us.
David **********
Yes 90% of online information is out of date as it changes by the week, and that includes even thai embassies. One has have online research skills or know exactly which sources have up to date information.
Contacting airlines directly is good and the Australian government website "smarttraveller" is always up to date.
Contacting airlines directly is good and the Australian government website "smarttraveller" is always up to date.
Robert ******
OP@David *********
Previously I saw passengers left behind because of the confusion. The airlines were being very strict about defunct rules. Not really their fault maybe. MyQatar Airways flight into Bkk was cancelled, and they couldnt reach the embassy to change date of arrival on Certificate of Entry. And refused to let me on any flight! I lost tickets toralling $1300, spent two useless nights in JFK and then flew back to Florida.Terry ********
@Robert *****
I hope you demanded a refund.Robert ******
OP@Terry *******
yes, I asked for a voucher, but Qatar Air refused after leading me on for over a year.Terry ********
@David *********
the airlines don’t know anything. After all restrictions were dropped, I was flying back to Thailand from visiting the states on JAL. They demanded to see my vaccination certificate and said I wouldn’t be able to board without it. Luckily I still had it.David **********
@Terry *******
airlines put their own vaccine mandates in place. Air Asia only dropped theirs in October.David **********
@Terry *******
not surprising. Things change so much no one can keep up to date.Robert ******
OP@Terry *******
Yes, sounds familiar. Serious liaison problems.Terry ********
@David *********
no, the airline claimed that it was a requirement of the Thai government. Again, this was after it was well known that all requirements had been dropped. I had the same type of thing happen on the way back from Singapore. They were handing out arrival cards that were no longer required or wanted. They all ended up in the waste bin at immigration.
James *********
U sure u just not shillin' for the restaurant???
Marc ********
Well you can apply for indian citizenship. Maybe they grant it and you can enter Thailand with visa on arrival with your indian passport.
Now 30 days and next year probably 15 days again.
I hope then you will be happy
Now 30 days and next year probably 15 days again.
I hope then you will be happy
Bob *******
Just remember to do the TM30.
Robert ******
OPBrandon and Pui, the online rules at multie websites for visa on arrival say that you will get 30 days. The immigration officer told me that is now only 15 days. Common sense would dictate that getting permission to stay upon arrival, not in advance, is a form of "visa on arrival". Yes, I was mistaken, but my point is that there is chaos in the system. Lack of clarity and coordination. The same chaos existed with the app requirement for COVID monitoring. Airlines were refusing to allow passengers to fly without that app, but then upon arrival I was told it was no longer required because it wasn't working. Chop wood and chips fly!
Nick ************
@Robert *****
you are quite correct. It is, indeed, chaos.
John **********
@Robert *****
that's the trouble with looking at random websites. The only web sites that count are those of the Thai embassy where you will apply for a visa or Thai immigration if coming without a visa. The rest are noise.Terry ********
@John *********
most Thai embassy websites are inaccurate.John **********
@Terry *******
that is true. They're not very concerned with national policiesTerry ********
@John *********
no. There are national policies like the end of covid restrictions but some embassies still show the requirements. They are just not good about updating their websites.John **********
@Terry *******
they are certainly all different but I think that's down to them all having different requirements. Embassies can each have their own policies, just as many immigration offices inside Thailand do.Robert ******
OP@John *********
John, I was groping around among consulate websites not just travel companies. The page you just posted is the first accurate one I've seen. It was posted by a government PR department. Much of the problem is one of clarity and explicitness. "Visa on arrival" implies things that the government does not intend to imply. Of course, if you happen to know the ropes, you're safe. But most travelers do not.Robert ******
OP@Brandon ***********
Out of date. I was given 45 days, not 30.Brandon ************
@Robert *****
that's why I posted the second image. There's a temporary increase until March 31st.Brandon ************
@Robert *****
sounds like the airline problem not a Thailand problem. Thailand dropped all requirements months ago.Robert ******
OP@Brandon ***********
synchRobert ******
OP@Brandon ***********
"Sounds like"??? The airlines back then were following instructions from the consulates, Brandon. It was a messaging problem from consulate to airline to local Immigration. Don't try to whitewash a serious problem that cost many travelers time, trauma and money. I'm not trying to calumniate Thailand. U.S. Immigration has its share of problems too. At any rate, you seem to have identified a better source than the consular websites I was consulting. Yet, even your source seems to be out of sink with local Immigration at BKK.
Mma *******
@Robert *****
Both sides, at times, are useless. That's why we have forums like this. 'We' figure it out not those dumbasses.Brandon ************
@Robert *****
it's not out of sync. That's an official government document that they're not going to edit for a temporary change.
Pui *****
The online info wasn't incorrect. You simply didn't understand that Americans don't enter Thailand via visa on arrival. They arrive via visa exempt entry. The two entry schemes have completely different rules and stay lengths allowed. You scrambled because you were following visa on arrival rules which have never applied to USA passport holders.
Dimitri ********
@Pui ****
So the online info was not clear, incomplete and difficult to understand for native English speakers ? 😜Robert ******
OP@Dimitri *******
4-5 years ago was there a "visa exempt" status for EU and USA as well as a "visa upon arrival"? At that time I was only aware of "visa upon arrival".
Ruth *******
@Dimitri *******
is the visa situation for Thailand confusing? Yes. Can the same be said for every country? Also yes.Dimitri ********
@Ruth ******
Not for every country. Countries i have been to in the past had websites with clear and correct info. Only since I am in Thailand I see a government who makes a mess of it. The result you can see here every day on Facebook.Dimitri ********
I did not say that I am an American you are confused too 😉
Pui *****
@Dimitri *******
no, you must have assumed your entry method is Visa on Arrival, which is incorrect. Less than 20 nationalities enter Thailand on Visa On Arrival, primarily Chinese and Indians. Americans and most other nationalities enter Thailand via Visa Exempt entry which has totally different entry requirements and rulesPui *****
@Dimitri *******
If you are American: here's a screenshot from the Thai consulate in Washington DC showing quite clearly that Americans enter via Visa Exempt entry. Note that the 30 day visa exempt entry has currently been extended temporarily to 45 days for entries through end of March to encourage tourism. I just realised you aren't the OP. The OP wrote he was scrambling in Taipei. If that is where he lives, the Thai consulate there (Thailand Representative Office, to be technical to skirt around the Chinese sovereignty issue) also clearly shows that USA passport holders qualify for visa exempt entry, not visa on arrival, as shown on this page that is linked on their official website by clicking the Visa section, then the submenu option "Countries Entitled for Visa Exemption and Visa On Arrival". Did you check that link?: *****************************************
เอกสาร/VOA.pdfDimitri ********
@Pui ****
come on, the simple fact that there is a Facebook group for people who are confused about the visa rules proves that the websites are not that clear. I live in Thailand already for some years. But when i try to understand the rules by reading Thai government websites I only get confused.Pui *****
@Dimitri *******
what website were you on? Plenty of very clear websites for the Thai Consulates in English speaking countries.Dimitri ********
@Pui ****
Must have assumed because the website was difficult to understand for a native English speaker?Brandon ************
That's because you looked up the wrong thing.
US citizens do not qualify for visa on arrival, they qualify for visa exempt. They are very different things.
US citizens do not qualify for visa on arrival, they qualify for visa exempt. They are very different things.
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