Since 25 November 2008, the Immigration Bureau has implemented several modifications in its visa application and renewal rules, which has offered more flexibility but still remains meanwhile confusing for the foreign citizens in their actual rights and obligation for a legitimate residency in Thailand.

We have therefore summarized the requirements of what we emphasize as the 8 visa categories most commonly used by foreigners during their stay in Thailand:

Transit visa

Transit visa is automatically granted for a period of 30 days (exception of 90 days for citizens from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile and South Korea) to foreigners from countries that have signed a bilateral Treaty on visa exemption with Thailand (currently 39 countries) upon arrival into the Kingdom. The recent amendment has cancelled the rule of maximum stay duration of 90 days within a total period of 6 months, whereas entering into Kingdom through the border of neighboring countries will be now granted of only 15 days per visit.

Working visa

A visa can be granted for working purpose for a renewable period of 1 year provided that the foreign applicant is

1) holding a Non-immigrant B visa and a work permit;
2) employed by a company with a registered capital fully paid-up of not less than 2 million Baht;
3) employed by a company that has submitted its financial statements at the end of its last fiscal year duly certified by an auditor showing a sound financial situation;
4) employed by a company that has a minimum quota of 4 Thai employees per foreign employee (exception of 1 Thai employee per foreign employee for representative offices, regional offices and trading branches).

The applicant must also receive a consistent income, which may vary depending on its nationality (from 25,000 Baht per month for Burmese or Vietnamese to 50,000 Baht per month for Japanese or Australian).

Dependant visa

Dependant visa is granted to family members of a foreigner who has been permitted to stay in Thailand under another visa category. Permission is granted for a period of 1 year provided the dependant is
1) holding a Non-immigrant O visa;
2) having proof of its family relationship;
3) a spouse, a child of less than 20 years old living with the family or a parent of at least 50 years old.

Education visa

Students of educational institutions can be granted to a visa of 1 year upon the conditions that

1) he/she is holding a temporary visa (Non-ED visa);
2) he/she is studying in an educational institution which holds a license issued by the relevant authority (Ministry of Education); and
3) a supportive confirmation and request have been made by the concerned educational institution.

Guardian visa

Guardian visa is granted to family members of a foreigner who has been permitted to stay in Thailand for studying in an educational institution. Such permission is granted for a period of 1 year upon the conditions that

1) he/she is holding a Non-immigrant O visa;
2) he/she has proof of its family relationship; and
3) he/she has the amount deposited into a local bank account of not less than Baht 500,000 for the past 3 months.

For the first year, the same amount must be deposited for at least 30 days before the submission date of the application.

Marriage visa

Marriage visa is granted to the spouse of a Thai citizen for a renewable period of 1 year provided the applicant is
1) holding a Non-immigrant O visa;
2) having proof of its marital relationship; and
3) having an average monthly income of at least Baht 40,000 or the amount deposited into a local bank account of not less than 400,000 Baht for the past 2 months before the submission date of the application.

Investment visa

Such type of visa is granted for a renewable period of 1 year to foreigners who have invested at least 10 million Baht into the Kingdom upon the conditions that 1) the applicant is holding a Non-immigrant visa; 2) the applicant has proof of money transfer to Thailand of not less than 10 million baht for the purposes of

i) purchase of Condominium Unit(s); or

ii) lease of Condominium Unit(s) for not less than 3 years; or

iii) investment into a fixed deposit account with a Thai bank; or

iv) purchase of government or state enterprise bonds;

or combination of i) to iv).

Retirement visa

A visa is granted to foreigners who stay in the Kingdom for retirement purpose: Such permission is granted for a renewable period of 1 year provided the applicant is

1) holding a Non-immigrant O visa;
2) at least 50 years old; and
3) having proof of a pension of not less than 65,000 Baht per month or the amount deposited into a local bank account of not less than 800,000 Baht for the past 3 months before the submission date of the application.

For the first year, the same amount must be deposited for at least 60 days before the submitted date of the application.

Upon visa application, the applicant can be subject to an inspection by the immigration (especially in case of working or marriage visas). The applicant must submit its application to the relevant immigration office of its working or residential area (depending on the type of visa). The applicant is also required to pay a fee of 1,900 Baht upon each visa application or renewal, 1,000 Baht for a single re-entry permit and 3,800 Baht for a multiple re-entry permit.

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