Thailand Documents And Formalities

Requirements

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US need valid passports to enter Thailand and to re-enter their home countries. Thailand doesn’t allow entrance if the holder’s passport expires in less than six months; returning home with an expired passport is illegal and may result in a fine.

New Passports

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US can apply for a passport at any passport office, selected post offices or courts of law. Citizens of these countries may also download passport applications from the official website of their country’s government or passport office. Any new passport or renewal applications must be filed well in advance of the departure date, though most passport offices offer rush services for a very steep fee. Note, however, that “rushed” passports still take up to two weeks to arrive.

Passport Maintenance

Photocopy the page of your passport with your photo and visas, traveler’s checks, serial numbers, and any other important documents. Carry one set of copies in a safe place, apart from the originals, and leave another set at home. Consulates also recommend that you carry an expired passport or an official copy of your birth certificate separate from other documents.

If you lose your passport, immediately notify the local police and your home country’s nearest embassy or consulate. To expedite its replacement, you must show ID and proof of citizenship; it also helps to know all information previously recorded in the passport. In some cases, a replacement may take weeks to process, and it may be valid only for a limited time. Visas stamped in your old passport will be lost forever. In an emergency, ask for immediate temporary traveling papers that will permit you to re-enter your home country.

Visas, Invitations, And Work Permits

Visas

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US do not need a visa for stays up of to 30 days, but they must possess a passport, and they may be asked to show an onward or return ticket. For longer stays, travelers must apply for a 60-day tourist visa (US$35 per entry) from any Thai consulate prior to arriving in Thailand. Visas must be used within three months of issue. If you wish to sojourn in nearby countries, obtain a re-entry permit at an immigration office before departure.

Double-check entrance requirements at the nearest embassy or consulate of Thailand (see Thai Embassies Abroad) for up-to-date info before departure. US citizens can consult http://travel.state.gov. US citizens can take advantage of the Center for International Business and Travel (☎+1-800-925-2428), which secures visas for travel to many countries for a service charge. Travelers remaining in Thailand beyond their visa expiration date will be charged a fine upon departure payable immediately. You will also be charged a 500฿ Passenger Service Charge when departing from any of Thailand’s international airports.

Entering Thailand for reasons besides tourism requires special visas. For more information, see Beyond Tourism . If your reason for entering Thailand is not tourism you may need to purchase a 90-day-non-immigrant (US$90 for single entry, US$175 for multiple entries) or transit visa (US$20) prior to your arrival. In addition to the visa application form, two passport-size pictures, and a valid passport, travelers applying for other visas may need to submit a letter from a Thai contact detailing the purpose of their visit. For more info on specific requirements please contact any Thai embassy or consulate or check out the visa info at www.mfa.go.th.

If you have a 60-day tourist visa and you go to Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, or Laos for a daytrip, you will lose your visa and will need to reapply. To avoid having to get a new visa when you hop across the border for a day, make photocopies of your passport (usually 5฿). Then proceed directly to Thai border control, at whichever border point you are hoping to cross, with your two photocopies of your passport. Surrender your passport to the Thai authorities, who will stamp the photocopies. Take your newly stamped photocopies and the border crossing fee to the border control authorities of the country you are entering. They will stamp your photocopies and keep one of them. All stamps are on the copies, so when you return to Thailand, you get your unmarked passport back. Foreign authorities will keep one photocopy, Thai authorities the other. Either way, when you surrender your passport photocopies, you will receive a very thin piece of paper—that piece of paper is your passport. Hold on to it if you ever want to see home again.

Invitations

If applying for a 90-day-non-immigrant visa, Thailand currently requires that visitors from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US obtain an invitation from their sponsoring individual or organization.

Work Permits

Admittance to a country as a traveler does not include the right to work, which is authorized only by a work permit. Those wishing to work in Thailand must apply for a 90-day-non-immigrant visa (single-entry US$65, multiple-entry US$175). For more information, Beyond Tourism .

Identification

When traveling, always carry at least two forms of identification on your person, including a photo ID. A passport and driver’s license or birth certificate will usually suffice. Never carry all of your IDs together; split them up in case of theft or loss and keep photocopies in your luggage and at home.

Student, Teacher, And Youth Identification

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the most widely accepted form of student ID, provides discounts on some sights, accommodations, food, and transportation; access to a 24hr. emergency help line; and insurance benefits for US cardholders (see Insurance). Applicants must be full-time secondary or post-secondary school students at least 12 years old. Because of the proliferation of fake ISIC cards, some services (particularly airlines) require additional proof of student identity.

The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) offers teachers the same insurance coverage as the ISIC and similar but limited discounts. To qualify for the card, teachers must be currently employed and have worked a minimum of 18hr. per week for at least one school year. For travelers who are under 26 years old but are not students, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC.

Each of these identity cards costs US$22. ISICs, ITICS, and IYTCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. To learn more about ISICs, ITICs, and IYTCs, try www.myisic.com. Many student travel agencies issue the cards; for a list of issuing agencies or more information, see the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) website (www.istc.org).

The International Student Exchange Card (ISE Card) is a similar identification card available to students, faculty, and children aged 12 to 26. The card provides discounts, medical benefits, access to a 24hr. emergency help line, and the ability to purchase student airfares. An ISE Card costs US$25; call ☎+1-800-255-8000 (in North America) or ☎+011-480-951-1177 (from all other continents) for more info or visit www.isecard.com.

Customs

Upon entering Thailand, you must declare certain items from abroad and pay a duty on the value of those articles if they exceed the allowance established by Thailand’s customs service. Goods and gifts purchased at duty-free shops abroad are not exempt from duty or sales tax; “duty-free” means that you won’t pay tax in the country of purchase.

Upon returning home, you must likewise declare all articles acquired abroad and pay a duty on the value of articles in excess of your home country’s allowance. In order to expedite your return, make a list of any valuables brought from home and register them with customs before traveling abroad. It’s a good idea to keep receipts for all goods acquired abroad. Travelers may bring one still camera with five rolls of film or one video camera with three tapes, 200 cigarettes, and one liter of alcohol. These restrictions, however, are flexible. They are meant to ensure the film equipment is for personal use only. It is illegal to remove certain species of fruit, vegetables, and plants from the country; contact the Thai government’s Agricultural Regulatory Division (☎66 579 8576) for more info. The total amount of currency taken out should not exceed the amount taken in (max. 10,000฿). No authentic Buddha or Bodhisattva images, or fragments thereof, may be exported without permission from the Bangkok National Museum (☎66 02 224 1333) and the Department of Fine Arts; you must prove you are a practicing Buddhist or are using them for cultural or academic purposes. Such certification often takes three to five days to process; so make sure you leave enough time. These rules do not apply to souvenirs. For art purchased in the country, keep receipts to present to customs. For more detailed information on exportation of Buddha images or antiquities out of Thailand, see www.mfa.go.th/web/808.php.

Additionally, the Thai government has harsh penalties for drug possession and trafficking. These two offenses are often considered synonymous. The importation of firearms, weapons, and pornography is prohibited. Travelers should note that though Thailand’s regulations are among the most stable in the world, customs requirements do vary.

Upon leaving Thailand, you may claim a VAT (value added tax) refund on goods purchased from stores advertising “VAT Refund for Tourist” (see Taxes). The total amount claimed for refund cannot be less than 5000฿, including VAT. Before departure, show your goods and submit a filled-out VAT form with the original tax invoice to the Customs officers for inspection. For more information, call the VAT Refund for Tourist Office of Thailand (☎+66 02 272 9387).