How to apply for a non-immigrant visa

Created 2023-01-15

Updated 2023-07-10

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A Visa is an official document that allows the applicant, who is not a national, to legally enter a foreign country, and it is normally issued by the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or Immigration Bureau. Some countries do not require a visa, while other countries require foreigners to get a visa before visiting. Thailand also requires foreigners to apply for a visa.

In Thailand there are many types of visas available for foreigners, one of them is a “non-immigrant visa” issued to foreigners who wish to enter Thailand for any of the following purposes:

For official government duties (F);
For working or conducting business (B);
For investment permitted from the relevant ministries (IM);
For investment under the law on investment promotion (IB);
For education, study trip, or training (ED);
For performing media duties (M);
For dissemination of religions approved by the Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Education (R);
For conducting scientific research or training or teaching in a research institute (RS);
For undertaking skilled work or working as an expert or specialist (EX);
For other activities (O):

1. To stay with one’s family during retirement;

2. To be a contestant or witness in a judicial process;

3. To perform duties or missions in the family of a foreigner who enters the Kingdom temporarily to perform diplomatic duties, consular duties, or other duties; the applicant should be a father, mother, spouse, or child who is under patronage or support of such person and is a part of the household of such person;

4. To perform duties as a personal servant coming from abroad to work on a regular basis at the residence of a person in a diplomatic mission or a person with equal privileges to a person holding a diplomatic position, according to the agreement made between the Thai government and a foreign government or international organization or international agencies;

5. To provide support to or being a dependant of a person having residence in Thailand, being a father, mother, spouse, or child who is under patronage or support and is a part of the household of such person;

6. To perform duties for a state enterprise or social welfare organization;

7. Entry into the Kingdom of a person who used to have Thai nationality to visit relatives, or who is making a request to return to live in the Kingdom;

8. Entry into the Kingdom for receiving medical treatment;

9. Entry into the Kingdom for being a sports coach, as requested by the Thai government.

A non-immigrant visa is valid for 3 months for single entry and valid for 1 year for multiple entries. The period of stay in the Kingdom may not exceed 90 days each time.