What should I do if I can't show the required 20,000 THB in cash upon entering Thailand?

Visa Exemption Travel to Thailand Proof of Funds Entry Requirements Cash Requirements Immigration Rules Expat Advice

Jan 21, 2025

20 hours ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

My partner and I are thinking of thailand in April, we're from NZ so we get visa exemption. For proof of funds it say cash 20k baht or equivalent, who even carries that much cash. Do they normally check this? If they do would i be able to show my bank statements or something

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TLDR : Answer Summary

When traveling to Thailand with a visa exemption, you are technically required to show proof of funds, specifically 20,000 THB in cash. However, many travelers, including those with significant experience, report that they have rarely been asked for this proof upon entry. While it is advisable to carry cash to avoid ATM fees during your stay, alternatives like bank statements or credit cards are typically not accepted if asked. If you are concerned about being questioned, it is suggested to bring the required cash, as there are no ATMs available post-customs. Most experienced travelers recommend having this cash on hand to comply with regulations, despite the law being perceived as outdated by many.

Andrew ********

I've been coming and going in and out of Thailand for over 20 years on a regular work rotation and never been asked to show cash however if it worries you just bring $ and relax.

There are no ATM's on the arrival side.

9 hours ago

Wayne ********

I can tell you who doesn’t carry that much cash, it’s the snowflake generation which you are apparently a part of.. who would even think of going on vacation without having at least $900 in their pocket.

10 hours ago

Lisa *******************

That’s not a lot of cash to have on hand for a vacation. Especially in a country where cash is still king. I would actually feel incredibly uncomfortable carrying that little. (Considering my kids and I will drop 10K baht at 7-11 alone on our trips. 🤣)

11 hours ago

Bart **************

Can you imagine what happens if one person is refused for having money in the bank? It wouldn't go down well.

Not so long ago the Thai authorities investigated a supposed case where someone was refused entry for the said reason, as they too understand it is a little strange to ask for that. The outcome of the investigation was that it had not happened; the influencer posting it had just made it all up.

15 hours ago

Brandon ************

@Bart *************

what? That's literally the first question they ask when they're looking to deny entry. And they are denying entry to dozens of people per day. It absolutely happens daily. Cash or you're denied. In fact this is usually the stamp they use for denied entry regardless of the reason. At land borders they use this stamp without even asking to see the money, especially at Poipet.

14 hours ago

Bart **************

@Brandon ***********

in no circumstance is not having the cash a reason to deny entry. As I said; can you imagine the headlines if it would happen, even just once?

If they're looking for a reason to deny entry, then they'll find one. They don't need one. If they can use an outdated cash requirement that nobody ever complies with because it's ridiculous as a stick to slap with, then they might. But don't tell people that having your money in the bank is not acceptable for entering Thailand. Of course it is.

13 hours ago

Brandon ************

@Bart *************

I tell people to follow the law

13 hours ago

Bart **************

@Brandon ***********

this law is heavily outdated and stupid, and carrying that much cash is neither common nor safe. I think this law requires a little grain of salt. Nobody will ever be refused entry to Thailand for keeping money in the bank.

12 hours ago

Brandon ************

@Bart *************

you're flat out wrong and people are denied entry for this every day. What you feel or believe is not relevant.

12 hours ago

Bart **************

@Brandon ***********

you even said they use this stamp regardless of the reason and without even asking for the cash. And then you say I'm flat out wrong? I think our opinions on this have more in common than differences.

12 hours ago

Reply to

Bart **************

Leonard ******

Double that amount to 40K plus debit/credit cards and you'd be about right. I never rely on ATMs to draw cash on my travels in case they get gobbled up, prebook hotels however and self insure with a healthy credit balance in case the worse happens eg hospital

16 hours ago

Thaimer ******

Like that’s lot of cash. You’ll need more than that cash in Thailand.

Anyway no one will ask you for any money

18 hours ago

Bart **************

@Thaimer *****

you may need cash every now and then (whether this amount is needed is up for discussion) but you don't need to carry all of it at once right. It's not that cash is the safest thing to carry a lot of in your pockets.

15 hours ago

Thaimer ******

@Bart *************

it’s not the safest definitely, but that’s 3x 200€ bills in your wallet to carry

Not some enormous amount of money

14 hours ago

Bart **************

@Thaimer *****

it's not millions but it's still a little too much to carry. Not many do that.

13 hours ago

Thaimer ******

@Bart *************

Pretty much everyone who i know bring mire than that in cash upon arrival in Thailand. They exchange it to baht and spend during their vacation.

What’s one supposed to do? Withdraw 3000k each 1-2 day and pay 220 baht each time? As none tourist have QR and bunch of places doesn’t accept cards

13 hours ago

Bart **************

@Thaimer *****

pretty much everyone you know carries that much cash around? Sorry, but no. Just no.

Yes, to keep your cash safe you store it in a bank account. And then withdraw piecemeal. Of course 3000 is too little with the steep withdrawal fee, but you're not gonna carry your entire holiday budget in your pockets, come on.

13 hours ago

Thaimer ******

@Bart *************

yes, anyone I know who’s visiting Thailand carry way more cash with them than aprox 565 euro or 20k baht.

So what’s difference in taking 600 euro in cash with you upon arrival in Thailand or withdrawing 20k baht on ATM?

Personally I always go to Krungsri and withdraw 30k

13 hours ago

Bart **************

@Thaimer *****

I've once lost all my cash. Stolen by a fellow traveler. I still regret having withdrawn too much, though it wasn't as much as 20k. I remember realizing that it wasn't really safe but I wanted to save a few pennies on withdrawal costs, like you suggest. If only I had not bothered about the pennies.

But well, you do you. It's of course not wise, and no, others don't do it, and yes, you may also encounter an unlucky moment one day. If not, luck is with the stupid, they say. But I'll be happy for you.

13 hours ago

Thaimer ******

@Bart *************

I guess there’s miscommunication here. I don’t walk around Thailand with 30k in my wallet.

I withdraw it and leave it room. I take few thousand with me.

Same upon arrival I exchange 1000€ more less in superrich.

I don’t stay in hostels so I guess no one to stole it from me lol

Although hotel worker could do it, but again me as hotel worker too I have some faith in colleagues 🤣

12 hours ago

Reply to

Thaimer ******

Rob **********

Very rarely asked for, but if they do it must be in cash, and there are no ATM’s in that part of the terminal.

18 hours ago

Lynnette *******

20k baht is not much. I'd say if you don't have that much money to show for a holiday then you're going to struggle financially.

18 hours ago

Bart **************

@Lynnette ******

all true, but the point is that (officially) it is required to be in cash. Hence the question.

But obviously the requirement is unrealistic. It may not have been in 1979 but it is very unrealistic today. And everyone knows that, immigrations officers as well.

15 hours ago

Lynnette *******

@Bart *************

in 1979 I'd have struggled to have 20k baht in my wallet as I started my holiday. 2024 it's not a lot at all.

15 hours ago

Bart **************

@Lynnette ******

in 1979 it was realistic to require a certain amount in cash as you needed to pay your entire holiday from the amount. In 2024 people do not carry 20k in their wallet. It is way too much to require. If you think it is normal to carry this amount, maybe redo the math?

15 hours ago

Lynnette *******

@Bart *************

no need to redo maths. 20k doesn't last long. They aren't asking for evidence you can fund the whole trip. It's not much different to arriving in USA and being asked to show money, as I was asked to do few months ago.

14 hours ago

Bart **************

@Lynnette ******

20k is too much, you cannot expect travelers to carry that. If you think it's little then you have strange perceptions about the value of money. The US is not requiring that sort of money. Neither is Thailand; they've just forgotten to sanitize their laws.

13 hours ago

Lynnette *******

@Bart *************

well I don't know many cash strapped folk who pay thousands for holidays but can't find 20k cash to bring with them. Just because I don't agree that the equivalent of about £475 isn't a lot of money for starting a holiday does not mean I don't understand the value of money. What a dopey thing to say.

13 hours ago

Reply to

Lynnette *******

@Bart *************

why is it unrealistic? That's not much to carry for the start of a holiday.

15 hours ago

Reply to

Lynnette *******

Ian *********

I’ve never been asked for it in 30 years

19 hours ago

Brandon ************

@Ian ********

you've been entering Thailand visa exempt for 30 years?

18 hours ago

Ian *********

@Brandon ***********

no sometimes with tourist visa sometimes o visa sometimes exempt. I done a lot of monthly bounces at one point.

18 hours ago

Brandon ************

@Ian ********

the 3 proofs are only for visa exempt generally

18 hours ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

James *******

Yes and no you won't be able

19 hours ago

John *****

Other than Internet people I've never heard an actual person being asked for this.

19 hours ago

Did *****

You will need cash anyway.

Getting several times cash from ATM is expensive (220thb each time and your bank might have a bad exchange rate and charge you even more fees on top)

20 hours ago

Robert *********

You should never have less than that .

Hurricanes ,political coups ,tsunami ,ATMs out of money ,military uprising ,bank strike ,all have happened to me .

Far better to lose it ,than not go have it when you really need it .

It's not that much money

20 hours ago

Benjamin *********

@Robert ********

💯

19 hours ago

Reply to

Benjamin *********

Mark ***********

Australian passport here, in 35 plus trips to Thailand, I’ve never been asked. But if I was, it’s less than AUD$1000 & easy to withdraw from an ATM at the airport

20 hours ago

Brandon ************

@Mark **********

There is no ATM at the airport between your plane and passport control. They will not allow you to go to an ATM to withdraw the money. If they ask and you don't have it, you're on a flight out of Thailand with a denied entry stamp in your passport.

19 hours ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

Michael *******

If you have a credit/bank card not an issue, this 20k thing is (sadly) for folk from the ASEAN region who may have limited means and are chancing it……so long as you have somewhere to stay or a plan they won’t bother you……..

20 hours ago

Tony *********

@Michael ******

What a load of crap ?????. I've been asked once just after covid and I come from Australia. So has nothing to do with being from an Asean region.

19 hours ago

Stuart *********

@Michael ******

Completely wrong. Any immigration officer can ask you to show 20k in cash ( baht or equivalent) it has nothing to do with being ASEAN.

Very rarely will they do so but if they do it needs to be cash. A credit card or bank statement won’t suffice.

20 hours ago

Reply to

Stuart *********

Wayne *********

20,000baht not even 1000aud it's not a lot to carry when you travel. Cash saves you being slugged ATM fees

20 hours ago

Luit *****************

@Wayne ********

and at Superrich also gives you best exchange rate.

18 hours ago

Reply to

Luit *****************

Paul *******

Immigration can ask for three proofs. Proof of a ticket out of Thailand within the 60 days of your entry. Proof of your accommodation in Thailand. Proof of funds (20,000 thb or equivalent in major currencies) which must be in cash. But Immigration rarely ask for these proofs unless you are a frequent traveller using the visa exempt entry or are scruffy or otherwise suspicious to Immigration. First time travellers to Thailand are almost never questioned but it could happen. But Immigration often asks travellers where they intend to stay.

20 hours ago

Steve *******

To be fair it's not a large amount of cash to be carrying. Around £475. Especially when travelling abroad.

20 hours ago

Brandon ************

It's not often asked for, but if it is asked for, it must be in CASH ONLY. They will not accept bank statement, credit card, banking app or anything else.

20 hours ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

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Do tourists need to carry 20,000 THB in cash when entering Thailand, or can a credit card suffice?

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