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Can a US passport holder get a visa on arrival in Thailand or do they need to apply for a visa?

Jan 20, 2025
a month ago
Doug ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Please put my mind at ease. US passport holder, planning to fly to Thailand tomorrow, staying a couple weeks. Can I still do visa on arrival or do I need to do an application?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A US passport holder traveling to Thailand does not qualify for a visa on arrival, as this option is limited to citizens of specific countries. Instead, they can receive a visa exempt stamp upon arrival, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa. Ensure you have your passport, and be prepared to show proof of sufficient funds (around ฿20,000), as well as your accommodation details, although many travelers note that these are rarely asked for upon entry.
Harry *******
Where did you read you need a visa?
James *******
You have to do application 6 months before your trip
Doug ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James ******
Apparently not
James *******
@Doug *****
You have to its mandatory
Doug ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James ******
I’m sure they will round me up at any moment then. ;)
James *******
@Doug *****
✊🏿😅
Doug ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Update on this I had the 20k and a printed return travel listing but wasn’t asked anything. At the Bangkok airport waiting for my connecting flight to Phuket. Everyone has been lovely and helpful in Thailand so far. Thanks to the people who gave helpful answers to my question on this FB group.
Dmb *******
There is no visa on arrival, a visa is applied for before your trip or once in Thailand, as a thick uneducated yank you will get a 60 visa excempt stamp on arrival, but I'd highly recommend your mom accompanies you to bkk other wise I fell with the iq of a ping pong ball you may end up in Afghanistan instead of Thailand
Terry ********
So well informed! Must be a Trump supporter...😆
Robert **********
I entered at BKK last October, 60 day visa exempt. The lady customs officer didn't ask me anything. No boarding pass, no proof of funding, no address where I was going to stay, no return ticket. Nothing. Just my passport, facial recognition and digital fingerprints. And stamped me in.

58 days later I left in the bio check line (face and prints). No actual person. So I just walked out of the country.

I didn't file for the TM30 (Proof of address: I stayed with my girlfriend. It is mandatory, but is only a problem if you want to extend 30 days, which obviously I did not do, because I had no TM30. I regreted it. If you stay at a hotel or homestay, they file for the TM30).

Mind you, I had already been in January/Februari for 33 days (applied for visa already in the Netherlands months before that) and in March 12 days (Australia in between).

No questions were asked about that either in October.
Kevin ********
@Robert *********
that was same as me lady at immigration never asked for anything just stamped me in , as I was staying with my girlfriend

Left before my 60 days went through e visa passport scan that was it
Robert **********
@Kevin *******
now they have our mugs in the system, it will only get easier... 😂
Kevin ********
@Robert *********
exactly 😂
Paul **********
Remember to take your boarding pass off the plane with you. It's an immigration requirement to have it available for inspection but I've yet been asked to show it
Steven *******
@Paul *********
I was asked for my boarding pass once.
David **********
They don’t ask for anything. I just flew from America. All you need is your passport.
Steven *******
@David *********
In October, arriving from the US, I was asked for an onward ticket at Phuket Airport. Fortunately, I had one in case the airline asked in San Francisco. They didn’t.
David **********
@Steven ******
they didn’t ask in Bangkok but I hear they give you time if you wanna buy one tea quick. Maybe to be safe just by a cheap flight out of Bangkok to a neighboring country
Steven *******
@David *********
Of course the airline clerk shouldn’t have a problem with you stepping aside and buying an onward ticket online. But, I wouldn’t want to rely on Immigration being that accommodating.
David **********
@Steven ******
ya safer just to buy something cheap.
Ken ********
Show up with your passport and you’re good for 60 days.
Phil ******
@Doug *****
nope can't do but you can be stamped in with 60-days Visa Exempt. Make sure you have

Passport

฿20k or equivalent

Where your staying

Travel out of Thailand within 60 days
Brenda *********
@Ken *******
I heard they can ask you of those 3 things but chances are they won’t.
Brandon ************
@Ken *******
those are all legal requirements to enter Thailand as a tourist. Just because you didn't get asked doesn't mean everyone doesn't get asked. If you're one of the lucky ones to be asked and don't have it, they can deny you entry and you'll be back on your way home very quickly.
Thomas *********
@Ken *******
how do you get bored enough to fuck around with Facebook when you're in God damn Thailand
Ken ********
@Thomas ********
I usually watch red zone where football action is non stop. Playoffs are early in the morning and watching just one game at a time can be tedious. I also have the Stars on, but they are blowing out a pathetic red wing team.

Did that help you at all? Bless your heart.
Phil ******
@Ken *******
no not FoS tourist. Those are the entry rules. Google it. Whether immigration ask you is another question
Duane **********
@Phil *****
just arrived on us passport, passport and ticket stub for flight and I’m good for 60 days they can ask you for the other stuff just dress appropriately and you’ll be fine
Phil ******
@Duane *********
yep and I've come and lived here for 13 years never been asked
Doug ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
And that will all be done at the airport or paperwork I fill out on the plane? How do they verify I have the 20k?
Dmb *******
@Doug *****
fuck me, they strip search you and look up your anus for 20k,, how the fuck do you think you prove you have enough funds to support your trip????

Ps stay at home better for you, your family and your wallet
Ken ********
@Doug *****
Phil is full of shit. All you need is your passport and exit ticket.
Phil ******
@Doug *****
those are the requirements at immigration on entry.

฿20k or equivalent is a requirement of entry. They may or may not ask you to show this cash.
Doug ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
So I should probably have that cash on-hand just in case? I’m in Australia so maybe get about $1,000 AUD (roughly equivalent) out of an ATM here?
Phil ******
@Doug *****
they are the rules. Whether your asked is another question. In 13 years never been asked although as your flying without a visa the airline might ask for proof of exit with 60 days. I have ben asked twice to provide this even though had a visa

Don't forget to register your tm30 within 24 hours too although most hotels do this.
RobD****
@Doug *****
just turn up and present your passport, don't say anything unless asked. They may ask about if you have ticket to leave Thailand that's about it. Do not ask if you need a visa as you don't, asking may just only lighten your wallet for no reason.
Doug ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@RobD****
That sounds pretty standard then
RobD****
@Doug *****
yip. But in all honesty something you should of researched before buying tickets, and not asking the day before you fly out.
Doug ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@RobD****
Perhaps, but I fly standby so it’s a bit more spur of the moment than it is for most people. And honestly their website is confusing enough I’d have probably had to use outside resources regardless.
RobD****
@Doug *****
I've always wondered how much cheaper it is to fly on standby. Is there much difference in price?
Doug ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@RobD****
Yea significantly, but you normally have ti be an airline employee or the spouse, parent, or child of one.

Facebook comments often devolve into aggression. But it sounds like the long story short is I can just fill a form on arrival and maybe have the 20k cash on the off chance they ask me. Beyond that is there anything else I should know?
Brandon ************
@Doug *****
there is no form to fill out
Jeremy ******
Visa exempt stamp for 60 days.
Brandon ************
You can't do visa on arrival because Americans don't qualify for visa on arrival. Visa on Arrival is only available to a few countries who have to apply for and pay for a visa at the airport, and it only grants 15 days to stay in Thailand.

With a US passport you can get visa exempt, which means you are exempt from needing a visa and it isn't any visa at all. Without a visa you'll get a 60 day permission to stay stamp with visa exempt.
Thomas *********
@Brandon ***********
how does one renew that option after your 60 days has expired
Brandon ************
@Thomas ********
you cannot "renew" anything. You can go to immigration and apply for the one 30-day extension you can get.
Thomas *********
@Brandon ***********
maybe go to Cambodia and come back
Brandon ************
@Thomas ********
that has nothing to do with this Facebook post. Make your own post if you have unrelated questions.
Thomas *********
@Brandon ***********
didn't realize you were an Aggie
Thomas *********
@Brandon ***********
poof I'm gone
Thomas *********
@Brandon ***********
you cannot do a border run over there
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