Tourists from some countries can obtain visas on arrival in the Kingdom if their stay does not exceed 15 days. They must have minimum living expenses of 20,000 baht each or 40,000 baht per family. In addition, the applicants must also produce a fully paid air ticket valid up to 15 days from the date of entry. A visa on arrival is provided at 13 designated international checkpoints as following:

The applicants must fill in the application form with his/her recent photograph (2.5 inches) attached. The application fee is 1,000 baht. The passport must be valid for not less than six months. Visitors who enter the Kingdom with a visa on arrival cannot apply for an extension of stay except in cases of illness that prevents them from traveling.

Visitors who enter Thailand via immigration channels on the Thai-Malaysian border by air, rail, bus, taxi, tour coach, hired motorcycle or seagoing vessels of 500 registered tons and above, must possess:

• A fully paid ticket or supporting document from the owner of the vehicle which is to be used for leaving the Kingdom within the period specified, or
• Documentary evidence from the owner or operator of the vehicle showing a fully paid reservation for departure from the Kingdom within the period specified.

Malaysian nationals entering the Kingdom by bus, hired car, tour coach or hired motorcycle through immigration checkpoints or border checkpoints in Malaysia are exempt from this regulation and do not require the travel documents mentioned above.

None of the above-mentioned cases requires an entry visa, and the visitors may remain in the Kingdom for a period of 30 to 90 days (depending on their nationality). They are not permitted to extend their stay, unless there are unforeseen circumstances such as illness or a serious flight delay. Visitors wishing to stay longer than 30 or 90 days in the Kingdom are advised to apply to Thai diplomatic missions in their home countries. In the event that there are no Thai diplomatic missions, they may apply in neighboring countries, or forward their request and supporting evidence to Office of the Immigration Bureau.

There is a special visa for Temporary Residents under the Non-Immigrant "O-A" (Long-stay) Code for retirees which may be issued to applicants aged 50 years and above to facilitate stays in Thailand for a period of at least one year. Holders of this type of visa will be permitted to stay in Thailand, but may not take employment during their stay.
Applicants must be:

• 50 years of age and above on the date of application.
• Not prohibited from entering the Kingdom.
  Without a criminal record against the security of Thailand, the country of his/her nationality, or the country of his/her residence
• Nationals or residents of the country where their application was submitted.
• Free from any disease proscribed by Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535).
• Neither working nor seeking work in Thailand

Applicants can submit their applications at the Thai Embassy or Consulate in their country of permanent residence. Documents required for application are:

• A passport valid for not less than 18 months.
  Three copies of the visa application form with visa-size photo.
• A personal data form
• A copy of a bank statement showing deposits equal to at least 800,000 baht together; or the original copy of an income certificate showing a monthly income of at least 65,000 baht; or a deposit account showing a monthly income equivalent to not less than 800,000 baht a year. In the case of the bank statement, a letter of guarantee (original copy) from the bank must also be shown.
• Verification that the applicant has no criminal record issued from the country of his/her nationality or residence. The declaration must be valid for no more than three months old.
• A medical certificate issued from the country where the application is submitted, showing no prohibited diseases indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535). The certificate should be valid for no more than three months old.
• In case that applicant wishes to have his/her spouse stay together in the Kingdom but the spouse is not qualified for the O-A visa; their marriage certificate should also be produced as evidence. The spouse will then be considered for a temporary visa under the “0” Code.

Recommendation to Aliens While Staying in the Kingdom

When completing the stay of 90 days in the Kingdom, the alien should report to the relevant authority and repeat it every 90 days with the immigration officer in the alien's residential area, or report to the police station if there is no immigration control in his/her home area. The alien can report to the competent authority by post by sending report form “Tor Mor 47” together with copies of the pages in the traveler’s passport that show the alien’s photograph, personal details and the latest visa arrival stamp as well as a self-addressed stamped envelope with postage affixed no later than seven days before the date due to the Immigration Bureau. In case of conducting any following reports, the Reply Form for the previous report shall be enclosed.

At the end of the one-year stay, the alien who wishes to extend his/her stay shall submit a request for the extended period at the Office of the Immigration Bureau with documented evidence of:

•Money transfers, or
•A deposit account in Thailand, or
•An income certificate of not less than 800,000 baht, or
•An income certificate plus a deposit account with not less than 800,000 baht a year.

Extensions for one year at a time will be granted to applicants at the discretion of the Immigration officer, provided that they meet the requirements earlier stated. If the alien’s spouse wishes to extend his/her stay as well, the marriage certificate will also be required.

Visa Extensions

Please check the period of stay stamped in the traveler’s passport by the immigration officer. Visitors who overstay their visa will, at the time of their departure, be fined 500 baht for each excess day. Application for a 15-day extension of stay for any visa can be made at the Immigration Bureau. The fee is 1,900 baht.
Application fee for a single re-entry permit is 1,900 baht. A multiple reentry permit (per visa) is 3,800 baht.

Passenger Service Charge Exemption

Foreign nationals wishing to take a quick tour of Bangkok or travel outside of Suvarnabhumi Airport and return for their onward flight within 12 hours of arrival may apply for an exemption of the 500 baht airport tax through the following procedures:

1. Fill in the Passenger Service Charge Exemption Requisition Form (before passing through the immigration
    points).
2. Present the following documentation:
    i. Passenger Service Charge Exemption Requisition Form
    ii. Passport
    iii. Valid airline ticket (departure flight must be within the 12-hour period limit)
    iv. Completed Arrival/Departure Card (Tor Mor 6 Form)
3. Obtain an official signature and stamp at service counters before passing immigration at arrival points.
4. Keep these documents during the transit stopover and present them upon departure, before passing
    immigration at the departure points.

Note: Applicable only to visa-exempt and visa-on-arrival nationals.

• No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless the visitors come from or have passed through a designated contaminated area.
• Yellow fever certificates are required for visitors who come from the following countries: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda and Venezuela.

Note: Please check current regulations with your local health office.

• The duty free allowance will be applied to accompanied personal effects up to 10,000 baht worth if i) the items are intended for the visitors’ personal or professional uses; ii) the quantity are reasonable; and iii) the items are not subject to prohibition or restriction. Personal effects do not include motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts regardless of the length of time used and owned.
• Personal Affects: A reasonable amount of clothing for personal use, toiletries and professional instrument may be brought into the Kingdom free of duty.
• Prohibited Items: All narcotics and obscene material, including pictures and written articles, are strictly prohibited. Narcotic offenders shall face severe penalties, including a possible death sentence for possession, consumption and/or the manufacture of illegal drugs.
• Firearms: Importation of firearms and ammunition can be done only after a permit has been obtained from the Police Department or Registration Office.
• Tobacco and Alcohol: Smoking tobacco, cigarettes or cigars in total should not exceed 250 grams in weight, and cigarettes should not more than 200 in quantities. One liter each of wine or spirits may be brought in free of duty.
• Plants and Animals: Certain kinds of fruit, vegetables and plants are prohibited. For details, please contact the Agricultural Regulatory Division. Permission for entry of animals arriving by air can be obtained at the airport. If entering by sea, the application must be made at the Department of Livestock Development in Bangkok. Vaccination certificates are required.

Export of Antiques and Art Objects from Thailand

• Buddha images, Bodhisattva images, or fragments thereof are forbidden to be taken from Thailand (with the exception of items being used for worship by Buddhists, for cultural exchange, or for study purposes).
• A license must be obtained from the Fine Arts Department in order for such objects of antiquity or objects of art, irrespective of whether they are original or reproductions, to be taken out of the country.
• The objects, together with all required documents, must be taken to The National Museum Division, Bangkok, or the Chiang Mai National Museum, Chiang Mai, or the Songkhla National Museum, Songkhla.

Documents for license application are:

• Two postcard-size photographs of each object in its frontal view (not more than five pieces in one photograph)
• A photocopy of the applicant's passport

This must be done at least four to seven days before the day of shipment or departure of the applicant in order to process the application and for inspection.

Currency and Exchange Service

The Thai unit of currency, the “Baht”, is not fixed to any other currency, but rather fluctuates with world market rates. The baht is divided into 100 satang. Copper-colored coins are valued at 25 and 50 satang. Silver-bronze coins are available in 2 baht. Silver-colored coins are available in 1 and 5 baht denominations. Silver and copper colored coins represent 10 baht denominations. Banknotes are valued at 20 baht, 50 baht, 100 baht, 500 baht and 1,000 baht.

Traveler's Checks/Checks/Credit Cards/Banks

Travelers’ checks and foreign currency notes of all major currencies may be exchanged at any commercial banks, most hotels and foreign exchange counters. Thai and foreign banks provide a standard service nationwide.

• US-dollar traveler’s checks can be cashed at provincial banks and authorized money-changers, but the best rates can be redeemed in Bangkok. Hotel rates are usually lower than those offered by banks and authorized money- changers.
• Major credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, JCB, Master Card and VISA) are accepted at major banks, restaurants, hotels, restaurants, department stores, and shops.
• Generally, the banks’ office hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, except on bank holidays and public holidays. Banks in some main shopping malls are now open for most business on Saturdays and Sundays as well.
• Major banks such as Bangkok Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, Kasikorn, Krungthai and Siam Commercial operate every day including holidays and have ATM machines open 24 hrs, which accept all major credit cards.
• Many first-class hotels provide 24 hrs money exchange services, but only for major currencies such as US Dollar, Euro and Pound Sterling, German marks and Swiss francs. Traveler’s checks are generally accepted at all hotels.

Exchange Control

• Foreign tourists may freely bring foreign banknotes or other types of foreign exchange into Thailand.
• Upon leaving Thailand, tourists may take the foreign currency with them unless the amount exceeds either the equivalent of 10,000 US dollars or the amount declared in writing to Customs upon arrival.
• Foreign currency brought into or taken out of Thailand that exceeds the value of 10,000 US dollars must be declared at the Customs Office. Failure to do so may lead to arrest, confiscation of the excess amount involved, and/or prosecution.
• Travelers can take a maximum of 50,000 baht per person out of the country without authorization.
• Thai currency up to 500,000 baht can be taken to the neighboring countries (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) without authorization.
• Foreign visitors may bring personal effects and other goods that are not prohibited by Customs regulations. Visitors are also allowed to take out merchandise bought from duty free shops, including precious stones, gold and platinum ornaments.
• Non-residents are allowed to open foreign currency accounts with any commercial bank in Thailand. As a special gesture to non-residents, no restrictions are imposed on the maintenance of and withdrawal from the account, as long as the funds originate from abroad.
• Foreign visitors may convert Thai baht into foreign currency for the purpose of outbound travel so long as they present evidence such as a currency exchange receipt and a valid airline ticket with their passport at any major bank.

Time and Business Hours

• The time in Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 GMT). For business hours, most private offices work 5 days a week, usually from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Banks are open Mondays to Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. except on public holidays.
• Many stores are open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Major post offices are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Thai Calendar

Thailand has adopted the Western calendar dividing the year into days, weeks and months and using Thai names for days and months. Years may be numbered according to the Buddhist era (BE) or Christian era (CE). The Buddhist era began 543 years before the Christian era, therefore 2009 (CE) is BE 2552 and 2010 is BE 2553.

National Public Holiday

Thailand has a large number of festivals and holidays. Many of them are linked to religious or agricultural traditions. They follow the lunar calendar and therefore the dates for some of the holidays change each year. For the precise dates of the lunar holidays and festival locations, please check www.tourismthailand.org. The following are national public holidays and just a few of the major festivals in Thailand: