Thailand has always been one of the most popular travel destinations for tourists from all across the world. Due to this reason, Thailand ranks 9th in the list of countries most frequently visited by foreigners. In 2019, it recorded a foreign tourist visit strength of 40 million. Tourists from many countries, including the United Kingdom, can avail Thailand Visa Exemption benefits.
UK citizens do not need to apply for a visa to visit Thailand. However, depending on the purpose of the trip and the length of stay, a visa may be necessary. The following are the visa alternatives for visiting Thailand.
Visa Exemption for British Passport Holders
If the plan of stay is less than 30 days, British nationals with a full UK passport may not obtain a visa.
This is true whether you arrive in Thailand by plane or sea. If you want to extend your stay after you arrive, you can do so just once. It should be for a period of up to 30 days after your initial visa expires.
Moreover, if you’re choosing the visa exemption option keep this in mind. You can enter three times by air in six months and two times via overland crossing in a year.
Your total stay cannot exceed 90 days from the date of the first admission in six months (for air travellers).
You can be a regular traveller who needs to enter and exit Thailand several times. In that case, you should apply for a multiple entry visa before making your travel arrangements.
Documents for Visa Exemption
If you want to gain entry to Thailand with a Visa exemption, please make sure to have the following documents with you:
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Thailand for the period. This must be in cash or with a traveller’s cheque for 20,000 Baht per individual and 40,000 Baht per family.
- Proof of onward travel (confirmed plane, rail, bus, or boat tickets) indicating that you intend to leave Thailand within 30 days after your arrival date. You must apply for a tourist visa before travelling if you do not have a return ticket to show immigration. Please see our tourist visa section for further information.
Overstay in Thailand with Visa Exemption
If you enter Thailand under the visa exemption provision, you cannot stay more than 30 days. You will be fined 500 baht every day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht, if you do so. You could potentially be imprisoned or deported, with the possibility of being barred from returning to Thailand.
If you plan to visit Thailand for tourism for more than 30 days, you must first get a tourist visa before entering the country.
You must get a category-specific visa, such as a non-immigrant visa if you are entering the nation for reasons other than tourism.
Visa Exemption for Dual Nationality
You cannot visit Thailand on a visa exemption if you hold a British passport or travel documents but are a national of one of the nations listed below.
Applicant must submit the Thai visa application in person at the Royal Thai Embassy in London.
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen are among the countries.
You can have a resident permit in the United Kingdom or Ireland. Additionally, if you have a passport from one of those countries, the Royal Thai Embassy in London will give you a visa.
Thailand Visa Exemption Rule
Tourists from 64 countries can enter Thailand without a visa under the Visa Exemption Rule. They can enter Thailand by an international airport or a land border checkpoint from a neighbouring country. In this case, they are allowed to stay for a maximum of 30 days.
Passport holders from 55 countries are eligible to enter Thailand. It is under the new rules of the Visa Exemption Rule and Bilateral Agreement. It took effect on December 31, 2016, and matches the following criteria:
- The visit is solely for the purpose of tourism.
- They must have a return ticket confirming that they will leave Thailand within 30 days of the entrance, if applicable. Open tickets are not eligible. Overland travel from Thailand to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (including en route to Singapore), Myanmar, and other countries may not be proof of departure. When entering Thailand, you may have to show your flight ticket. You can certainly face denial in entrance if you do not have a flight ticket. The flight ticket must show that you will be leaving Thailand within 30 days of entering.
- During your stay in Thailand, you will also need to show that you have at least 10,000 THB in cash per person.
Your Take!
Persons entering Thailand under the Visa Exemption rule may be charged a fee. More effectively, if entering through a land border in Southern Thailand.
Normal passport holders can avail of visa-free entry to Thailand for up to 30 days. When entering by land or sea, the exemption is only for twice each calendar year, however, there is no limit when entering by air. There are no restrictions on providing the 30-day visa exemption stamp to Malaysians crossing the border via land.
Now you know the Visa Exemption regulations from the perspective of both the UK and Thailand governments. For assistance in the visa exemption process or issuance of a visa if you are not eligible for exemption, write us at [email protected]
