Travel to Thailand
Thailand travel is convenient for visitors as there are many ways to get to Thailand by bus, air, or rail, whether your destination is Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, or the most remote provinces.
Airlines that fly to Thailand
Flights to Thailand are provided by approximately 70 airlines that have licenses from the Thai government and abide by international standards, including Aeroflot, Air France, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa, United Airlines, Swiss Air, and many others. Thai Airways, the Thai national air carrier, provides the most comprehensive global air service to and from Thailand and is one of the most esteemed airlines in the world.
Airlines that travel to Thailand depart from all around the world, including USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Sweden, France, Italy, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Australia, and New Zealand. Flights to Thailand include both direct and transit flights.
International airports in Thailand are situated in different areas of the kingdom. Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok serves as the landing port for numerous international flights. Some chartered and regional flights may land at one of the other international airports within Thailand, including Chiang Mai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, and Hat Yai International Airp
Thailand Airports
Thailand has a number of airports that service both domestic and international air traffic, as well as many more that only serve domestic flights. Domestic carriers, such as Thai Airways, and international carriers, including AirAsia, fly numerous domestic and international routes into and out of various Thai airports. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi (BKK) is the premier Thailand airport and serves as a hub for international transit passengers as well as a gateway to various Thai destinations. Phuket (HKT), Chiang Mai (CNX), Hat Yai (HDY), and Koh Samui (USM) are the other primary airports for international air travel into and out of Thailand. For domestic flights to travel to smaller provincial capitals one must generally fly out of Bangkok or one of the other international airports listed above.
International Airports:
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) serves as the primary international airport in Thailand for numerous international airlines, most with direct flights from abroad landing in the Thai capital. However, some chartered flights and international service from nearby Asian nations may land at one of the other, smaller international airports within Thailand, such as Phuket (HKT), Chiang Mai (CNX), Hat Yai (HDY), and Koh Samui (USM) International Airports.
Nonetheless, Suvarnabhumi Airport is Thailand’s premier international air travel gateway and links all aspects of air travel and ground transport. It also supports the country’s travel and tourism development, as befits its auspicious name, “Suvarnabhumi”, (Golden Land; pronounced “sue-wanna-poom”), which was bestowed upon it by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Domestic Airports:
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) serves as the primary international airport in Thailand for numerous international airlines, most with direct flights from abroad landing in the Thai capital. However, some chartered flights and international service from nearby Asian nations may land at one of the other, smaller international airports within Thailand, such as Phuket (HKT), Chiang Mai (CNX), Hat Yai (HDY), and Koh Samui (USM) International Airports.
Nonetheless, Suvarnabhumi Airport is Thailand’s premier international air travel gateway and links all aspects of air travel and ground transport. It also supports the country’s travel and tourism development, as befits its auspicious name, “Suvarnabhumi”, (Golden Land; pronounced “sue-wanna-poom”), which was bestowed upon it by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Passport and Visa
Generally speaking, foreigners visiting Thailand for business, investment, study, medical treatment, or employment are required to apply for a Thai visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General. Foreigners must possess valid passports or similar documents and comply with the regulations contained in the Immigration Act B.E.2522 (1979) and its related provisions. Be aware that Thai visa requirements change from time to time and a Thai embassy can provide you with the most up to date Thailand visa information.
If you are planning a short holiday in Thailand you may not require a Thailand visa if you are citizen of one of the approximately 40 nations that qualify for a Thai visa waiver or Thai visa exemption. With evidence of onward/return travel, citizens of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the USA, and most European nations may enter Thailand for up to 30 days without a Thai visa. These Thailand visa waivers are issued upon arrival in Thailand. Those entering Thailand by land may not receive a 30 day exemption however; the Thai visa waiver was reduced to 15 days for those entering by land after January 1, 2009.
If your citizenship does not qualify you for a Thailand visa waiver or if you are planning to stay in Thailand for longer than 15/30 days, you must apply for a Thai visa at an embassy or consulate outside of the Kingdom. Thai tourist visas are valid for 30 or 60 days, though visitors who plan to travel from Thailand to a neighboring country and then back to Thailand can apply for several consecutive 30 or 60 day Thai visas. At most, three Thai visas can be issued at one time, granting visitors either 30 or 60 days for each entry into Thailand (maximum 3×60 days, requiring visitors to leave within 60 days before beginning the next 60 day visa).
The penalty for overstaying your visa is typically 500B per day, with a 20,000B limit. Fines can be paid upon departure at the airport. If you’ve only overstayed one day, you may not have to pay any fine or you may have to pay 1,000 baht, depending on the current regulations. Children less than 14 years old who are traveling with a parent or guardian are not required to pay any fines for overstays.
You can avoid paying any overstay fines by visiting a Thai immigration office and requesting a Thai visa extension. The Bangkok immigration office near Sathorn Rd is the most popular (02-287-3101; Soi Suan Phlu, 9am-12pm/13:00-16.30 Mon-Fri, 9am-12pm Sat) and the Chiang Mai immigration office will also provide Thai visa extensions (05-320-1755-6; Th Mahidon; 8.30am-16.30pm Mon-Fri). The usual fee for a Thai visa extension is around 2000 Baht. Because the immigration offices can be very busy, getting a Thai visa extension may not be practical unless you believe you will overstay your Thai visa by more than 3 or 4 days. The length of the visa extension depends on the length of your prior Thai visa; typically 7 days extension for a 30 day visa waiver and up to 30 days extension for a 60 day visa.
Other Thai visas, such as non-immigrant, retirement, and student visas should be inquired about at your nearest embassy or consulate, or the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs at www.mfa.go.th.
Information on locations and contact numbers of Thailand Embassies and Consulate-Generals abroad may be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Consular Affairs, Visas and Travel Documents Division, 123 Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok 10210, Tel. (662) 981-7171 ext. 3201-2, 3204-5 or direct line 575-1062-4, Fax. (662) 575-1066 , E-mail : div1303@mfa.go.th
It should also be noted that foreigners who fall into any of the following categories are prohibited from entering the Kingdom:
* Those having no genuine or valid passport or document used in lieu of passport; or having a genuine and valid passport or document used in lieu of passport without obtaining a visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in a foreign country or from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, except if a visa is not required for certain types of aliens in special instances.
* Having no appropriate means of living following entrance into the Kingdom.
* Having entered into the Kingdom to take occupation as a laborer, or to take employment by using physical energy without skills or training , or to work in violation of the Alien Work Permit Law.
* Being mentally unstable or having any of the diseases as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations.
* Having not yet been vaccinated against smallpox or inoculated or undergone any other medical treatment for protection against disease and having refused to have such vaccinations administered by the Immigration Doctor.
* Having been imprisoned by the judgment of the Thai Court; or by a lawful injunction; or by the judgment of the Court of foreign country, except when the penalty is for petty offense or negligence or is provided for as an exception in the Ministerial Regulations.
* Having behavior which would indicate possible danger to the Public or likelihood of being nuisance or constituting any violence to the peace or safety of the public or to the security of the public or to the security of the nation, or being under warrant of arrest by competent officials of foreign governments.
* Reason to believe that entrance into the Kingdom was for the purpose of being involved in prostitution, the trading of women of children, drug smuggling, or other types of smuggling which are contrary to the public morality.
* Having no money or bond as prescribed by the Minister under Section 14 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 .
* Being a person prohibited by the Minister under Section 16 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522.
* Being deported by either the Government of Thailand that of or other foreign countries; or the right of stay in the Kingdom or in foreign countries having been revoked; or having been sent out of the Kingdom by competent officials at the expense of the Government of Thailand unless the Minister shall consider exemption on an individual special case basis.
The examination and diagnosis of disease of a physical or mental nature, including protective operations as against disease, shall be conducted by the Immigration Doctor.
Customs and Immigration
On arrival at Thailand Immigration and Customs
Upon arrival in Thailand, foreign citizens must hold a valid passport with at least six months validity, a valid Thai visa, and proof on onward travel. However, visitors from ASEAN or Western countries, including most European, Commonwealth, and North American citizens, are not required to have a Thai visa for visits less than 30 days in Thailand. They will be granted access through Thailand immigration with a 30 Thai visa waiver, provided upon arrival. After such time, a Thai visa extension from an immigration office or a Thailand visa from an embassy or consulate outside of Thailand is required. Immigration policies are subject to change: check with a Thai Embassy or The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.go.th) for the latest information.
Declarations and Allowances
Duty Free
Thailand customs allows visitors to enter Thailand with personal effects, the value of which does not exceed 80,000 Baht, without paying import fees as long as: 1) the items are specifically for personal or professional use; 2) the amount of goods are reasonable; and 3) the items are not subject to restriction or prohibition.
There are restrictions on the amounts of alcohol and tobacco products; only the following amounts may be transported into Thailand under duty free regulations:
* 250 grams of cigars or smoking tobacco, or 200 cigarettes
* 1 liter of wine or liquor.
Prohibited and Restricted Goods
The Thailand Customs Department is responsible for stemming the illegal transport of illicit drugs into and out of Thailand. Consequently, Thailand Customs officials do occasionally ask to search passengers’ bags. If you have nothing to declare, simply walk through the Green Channel, stopping only if asked to do so by a customs agent.
If you have goods to declare, you should hand a customs form to the Thailand Customs Department agent at the Red Channel marked “goods to declare”.
It should be noted that plants and animals, as well as products made from such, may be subject to restrictions and quarantine.
Agricultural Restrictions and Quarantine
If you wish to bring in or take out plants or plant products it is advisable to contact the Plant Quarantine Office for current restrictions and regulations.
Import of plants or plant products: 66(0)2-134-0716 to 7
Export of plants or plant products: 66(0)2-134-0501
Pets
If you wish to bring in or take out animals or animal products it is advisable to contact the Animal Quarantine Office for current restrictions and regulations.
Import of animal or animal products: 66(0)2-134-0636 to 7
Export of animal or animal products: 66(0)2-134-7031 to 2
Departure Tax
International departure taxes are now included in the cost of air tickets when they are purchased from an airline or travel agent. There are no official domestic departure taxes, although privately owned and operated airports, such as Koh Samui Airport, has levied a small domestic “departure tax” in the past and may still do so depending on their current policies.
Information for Transit Passengers
Passengers in transit at a Thailand airport have a number of options depending on the length of their time in transit. Information desks and desks specific to transit information are located at strategic points around the arrivals area of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. With only a few hours, there are a number of activities around the airport, including duty free shopping, outstanding restaurants, and internet/telephone centers.
If you’re ‘in transit’ for longer periods, perhaps as long as eight hours, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok is only about 25 kilometers from the heart of Bangkok and the provinces nearby the airport offer some interesting attractions. Particularly with the addition of the airport link train, which allows visitors to get into central Bangkok in around 15 minutes, it’s possible that visitors on long layovers can go into town for lunch, shopping, or a little sightseeing. Be aware however, that the airport is often extremely busy and it is advisable to return to the airport two hours prior to your flight’s departure time.
I love Thailand.