A transit visa is a document that states a visitor has the authorization to pass through but not stay in a nation. If you have to go through Thailand on your way to another country out of necessity, you will possibly have to file for a Thailand Transit Visa.
Additional to foreign nationals transiting through Thailand, the Thai Transit Visa is also provided to athletes and crew members going for work-related purposes.
We will share details about the Thailand Transit Visa, its types, the Thailand Transit Visa application process, its requirements, and more.
Thailand Transit Visas Types
Thailand Transit Visas include the following types of visas:
- Category “TS.” Foreign nationals transiting Thailand on their route to a third destination can get the “TS” category.
- Category “S.” This category allows international athletes who enter Thailand to compete in a sporting event.
- Category “C.” Crew members of a conveyance arriving in Thailand at a port, station, or region can get this category of transit visa.
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Thailand Transit Visa
Who Needs a Transit Visa for Thailand?
Thailand Transit Visas are required if:
- On your journey to a third location, you must pass through Thailand’s borders.
- You are an athlete who is traveling to attend a sporting event.
- You’re traveling to a port, station, or area in Thailand with a conveyance.
In addition to one of those requirements above, you cannot be from a country whose citizens are exempt from obtaining a short-term Thailand visa.
Do I Need a Thailand Airport Transit Visa?
In case you are transiting through a Thai airport, you do not require a transit visa if you meet the following criteria:
- You have less than 12 hours to take your connecting flight.
- Your flight is reserved on the same ticket.
- You do not exit the transit zone of a Thai international airport
- You have all of the relevant documentation for your final destination.
As per IATA’s Timatic, Pakistanis and foreigners traveling through the following airlines are exempt from getting a Thailand transit visa:
| Lao Central Airlines | Jin Air | Okay Airways | Ural Airlines | Jet Asia Airways |
| Golden Myanmar Airlines | Siberia Airlines | Trans Aero | Angkor Air | Indigo |
| Turkmenistan Airlines | Business Air | Mandara Airlines | Sichuan Airlines | Scoot |
| Norwegian Air | T’way Airlines | Regent Air | Tianjin Airlines | Beijing Capital Airlines |
| Spice Jet | Shandong Airlines | Shenzhen Airlines | Thai Smile Airlines | Shanghai Airlines |
| Cebu Pacific | VietJet Air | Eaststar Jet | JuneYao Airlines | Jetstar |
| Jeju Air | Jetstar Pacific | Orient Thai Airlines | Southeast Asian Airlines | |
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What are the Required Documents for a Thailand Transit Visa?
In order to apply for a Thai transit visa, you need to submit the following documents:
- Validity of at least six months on your passport or travel document, plus two blank visa pages
- An application form for a Thailand Transit Visa can be obtained from the website of the Thai Embassy where you intend to apply or from the embassy when you arrive if you plan to apply in person.
- Two passport-size pictures
- 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm
- White background
- Taken in the past six months
- Taken with a neutral facial expression, staring straight
- Your face must be visible.
- Headgears are forbidden, except for religious ones.
- Glasses are forbidden, except for ones that do not cover your eyes and do not have heavy frames.
- Proof of adequate finances to support your stay for the duration of your trip. If you are going alone, you will require 10,000 Thai Baht and 20,000 Thai Baht if you travel with a family.
- Hotel reservation
- If you’re attending a sporting event, you should have:
- An invitation letter expressing your intention to participate.
- A confirmation letter from your own country’s organization.
- If you are going to Thailand as a member of a conveyance crew:
- A confirmation letter from your company or employer outlining the reason for your visit to Thailand
- Evidence of travel routes or parking authorization, if required.
- If you are passing through Thailand to a third country:
- Evidence of onward travel, including a purchased and confirmed airline ticket.
- A visa for that third country is a must.
Note: According to the embassy’s demand, you may be required to provide extra papers based on the reason for your trip.
How Can I Get a Thailand Transit Visa?
You need to file for a Thailand Transit Visa at a Thai diplomatic mission office. Find an office in your country or a neighboring nation. The specific application process varies by nation; however, it may be summarized as follows:
- Visit the Thai embassy (or go to their website) to find out whether you need to book an appointment, know their working hours, and if there are any particular criteria for the submission procedure or the form of visa fee payment.
- Gather all the necessary documentation for a Thai Transit Visa.
- File an application for a Thai Transit Visa. There are various ways to for submitting your application. These methods depend on where you apply:
- In person. You must do it on the day of your appointment.
- By mail. In this case, include a pre-paid and self-addressed envelope in order for the Embassy to deliver your passport and documentation.
- Wait for the application process to be over.
- Get back your passport and other documents:
- You must pick up the passport personally if you submit your application in person.
- If you submitted by mail, the embassy will return your documents to you.
If the embassy approves your Thai Transit Visa application, you must enter Thailand within the given timeframe specified on the visa.
How Long is a Thailand Transit Visa Application Process?
The time it takes to process and issue a Thailand Transit Visa is determined by the Thai embassy where you apply. This visa can take from 2 to 10 business days, but it could take much longer. As a result, it is best to apply for a Thai visa at least a few weeks before you want to go.
How Long is a Thailand Transit Visa?
Thailand Transit Visas are available for the timeframes below:
- Single-entry visa: up to 30 days.
- Multiple-entry visa: A sixty-day validity period and a maximum stay of up to 30 days for each entry.
What Is the Fee of a Thailand Transit Visa?
A Thai Transit Visa costs about USD 26 each time you request an entry. The payment method for the visa fee varies based on the representative office you apply to. They might ask you to pay in cash or by bank transfer. The actual charge may vary depending on the local currency.
Can I Extend a Thai Transit Visa?
Thailand Office of Immigration Bureau in Bangkok allows you to extend your Thai Transit Visa before its expiration date.
It is still possible to get a Thailand Visa On Arrival, but an extension cannot be obtained while you are transiting through Thailand. There are no extensions available for Thailand’s VOAs, which are valid for a maximum of 15 days.
Conclusion
Foreign nationals, international athletes, and travelers transiting through Thailand can get a Thailand transit visa to pass through the country or attend their businesses. A Thailand transit visa has various criteria and conditions, required documents, and duration. The fee for this visa depends on your country or the place you apply from.
On the Visa Library website, you can learn about other Thailand visas as well as Thailand insurances. If you have traveled to Thailand under a transit visa in the past, feel free to share your experience with our viewers.
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