Crackdown on back-to-back Tourist visa applications
Thai news recently reported a new crackdown on back-to-back Tourist visa applications under the form of an extended screening of visa applicants.
The information is available here and a detailed explanation of what could happen here.
If this is confirmed this will make life much harder for all foreigners living (and working) in Thailand without a work permit. A situation that the Thai authorities have so far accepted if not encouraged.
To be continued…
New Visa Rules – 2009
VISA – New Rules 2009 (source LePetitJournal and Law Solutions)
Transit Visa (or visa exemption): renewable indefinitely
The exemption of Visa (which allows people from 41 countries to stay in Thailand without any visa for a limited period of time) is now renewable indefinitely. The 90day rule, established in October 2006 (no more than 90 days in the Kingdom and then 90 days abroad) has been cancelled. However, people entering the country by land will be granted 30 days the first time but then only 15 days each time (see New Visa Run rules).
Non-B Visa (Work): now possible even if the company is losing money on the fiscal year
Since 2006, a company requesting a Non-Immigrant B Visa had to prove that it was making money, ie: profit. This was on top of the usual requirements of 2 million baht capital and 4 Thai employees for 1 foreign employee. Now, even a company losing money may obtain a non-B Visa for a foreigner. This is now decided on a case by case basis.
Investment Visa: restarted
The Investment Visa (IB or IM), granted to foreigners investing a certain amount in the country, had been canceled in October 2006. It is now back on the “menu”, except that the minimum amount used to be THB 3 millions and it is now THB 10 millions!
Retirement Visa: easier conditions
The Retirement Visa (O) is available for all foreigners aged 50+ and who can prove a yearly income of THB 800,000 (or a monthly income of THB 65,000). The problem was the money deposit that had to be made a very long time in advance. The money deposit used to be requested 3 months before the Visa application. This has been reduced to 60 days.
Wedding Visa: restarted
The Wedding Visa is granted to a foreigner married with a Thai national. The rule to obtain this Visa has been changed back to how it was before 2006: One need to register the wedding in Thailand and put a minimum deposit of THB 400,000 on a bank account in Thailand OR prove a minimum monthly income of THB 40,000.
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More information about Visas on the Visa and Immigration page.
Non immigrant “O” and “OA” visa: for retirement, marriage, etc.
From what I understand, non immigrant “o” and “oa” visa are for applicants who are not eligible for “b” (business) visa, but are eligible to stay in Thailand because they are married with a Thai or because they benefit from the retirement program that Thailand offers to foreigners.
The requirement are a bit different for each visa, one requires that you show a marriage certificate, the other one that you be 50 year old or older. And then of course there are also financial conditions (ie: how much money you got on your bank account and/or how much you make from your retirement).
Both visa are valid for 1 year with multiple entry. You are not allowed to work with those visa.
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More information about Visa on the Thai Visa Page.
Non immigrant B visa for 3 years in Thailand: for Business only
Along the Non Immigrant B 1 year visa is also available the Non Immigrant B 3 year visa, but this one is for Business only, not for Work.
This means that this Visa is for people visiting Thailand for Business purposes but not actually working (being employed) in Thailand.
This Visa is Multiple Entry and Valid 3 years, but like the Non Immigrant B 1 year visa, it allows its owner to stay a maximum of 90 days per visit.
Application is to be submitted at the Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate-General in the applicant’s country of residence, or at the Royal Thai Embassy which has jurisdiction over his or her country of residence.
Documents required for the Non Immigrant B (Business) Visa application:
1. An application form completed in full and signed by applicant.
2. A passport valid for travelling to Thailand with sufficient remaining validity.
3. Two passport-sized photographs (4×6cm) taken within the previous 6 months.
4. National Identity Card, Residence documentation or valid proof of identity.
5. A letter from the employer giving details of the applicant’s position, length of employment, salary and purpose of the visit(s) to Thailand. If the applicant is self-employed, he or she must provide documentation of his or her business undertaking such as business registration and details of business operation.
6. Copies of correspondence with business partners in Thailand.
7. A letter of invitation from trading or associated partners/companies in Thailand.
8. Corporate documents of associated partners/companies in Thailand such as:
- business registration and business license
- list of shareholders
- company profile
- details of business operation
- map indicating location of the company
- balance sheet, statement of Income Tax and Business Tax (Por Ngor
Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30) of the latest year
- value-added tax registration (Por Por 20)
9. A letter of recommendation from previous employer or business associations of which the applicant is member.
The fee, as of today, is 10,000 Baht.
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More information about Visa on the Thai Visa Page.
Non immigrant B visa for Thailand
The Non Immigrant B (Business) Visa is the Visa needed to work or run a company in Thailand. This Visa can be obtained at an embassy or a consulate of Thailand abroad.
You will find here below a list of documents to provide, but of course the best is to use the services of a lawyer.
There are 2 different kinds of Non Immigrant B (Business) Visa:
- The Non Immigrant B (Business) Visa – Single Entry – 3 months: is valid for one entry in Thailand maximum and for a maximum duration of 3 months.
- The Non Immigrant B (Business) Visa – Multiple Entry – 1 year: is valid for one year and allows you to enter and exit Thailand as many times as you want.
Depending on the embassy you may get one or the other. The embassy of Thailand in Paris, France, for instance, only delivers the 3month-single entry. The embassy of Thailand in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, delivers the 1year-multiple entry without any problem. The embassy of Thailand in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, delivers both, but one needs to get all the exact documents needed for the 1year-multiple entry to get sure to actually get it. Several people asking for the 1year-multiple entry in Malaysia (KL or Penang) end up with the 3month-single entry only because of non sufficient documents.
Based on your personal situation, find out with your lawyer the best place to go.
Note: even with a 1 year visa, you will get a 3month stamp on your passport each time you enter Thailand and you will have to renew this stamp every 3 months, either by going to the immigration office or by doing a Visa Run (depending on your company/employer situation).
Tip: your 1year visa can stay for 15 months: You are allowed to enter in Thailand until the last day of the visa. If you do so, you can stay for up to another 3 months after your visa has expired, before renewing it.
Documents required for the Non Immigrant B (Business) Visa application:
- Passport or travel document with validity of not less than 6 months.
- Completed visa application form.
- Recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) of the applicant taken within the past 6 months.
- Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family).
- Letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour. To obtain this letter, the applicant’s prospective employer in Thailand is required to submit Form WP3 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour Tel. 02-2452745, or at the Provincial Employment Office in his or her respective province. More information is available at www.doe.go.th/workpermit/index.html
- Copy of Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and alien income tax or Por Ngor Dor 91 (only in the case where applicant has previously worked in Thailand).
- Corporate documents of hiring company in Thailand such as:
1) business registration and business license
2) list of shareholders
3) company profile
4) details of business operation
5) list of foreign workers stating names, nationalities and positions
6) map indicating location of the company
7) balance sheet, statement of Income Tax and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30 of the latest year)
8 ) value-added tax registration (Por Por 20)
- Document indicating the number of foreign tourists (for tourism business only), or document indicating export transactions issued by banks (for export business only).
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More information about Visa on the Thai Visa Page.
Non Immigrant Visa for Thailand
There are several different types of Non Immigrant Visa based on the purpose of your stay in Thailand:
- to perform official duties (Category “F”);
- to conduct business / to work (Category “B”);
- to invest with the concurrence of the Thai Ministries and Government Departments concerned (Category “IM”);
- to invest or perform other activities relating to investment, subject to the provision of the established laws on investment promotion (Category “IB”);
- to study, to come on a work study tour or observation tour , to participate in projects or seminars , to attend a conference or training course , to study as a foreign Buddhist monk (Category “ED”);
- to work as a film-producer, journalist or reporter (Category “M”);
- to perform missionary work or other religious activities with the concurrence of the Thai Ministries or Government Departments concerned (Category “R”);
- to conduct scientific research or training or teaching in a research institute (Category “RS”);
- to undertake skilled work or to work as an expert or specialist (Category “EX”);
- other activities (Category “O”) as follows:
to stay with the family, to perfrom duties for the state enterprise or social welfare organizations, to stay after retirement for the elderly, to receive medical treatment, to be a sport coach as required by Thai Government, to be a contestant or witness for the judicial process.
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More information about Visa on the Thai Visa Page.
Visa on Arrival
People often mix the Visa on Arrival with the 30 days stay authorization (Visa Exemption). The Visa on Arrival is actually for foreigners from 20 countries that do not benefit from the Visa Exemption. Unlike the Visa Exemption, the Visa on Arrival can’t be had directly at the custom, but need to be asked for at a particular office at the Airport or at the check point.
The Visa on Arrival allows the foreign visitor to stay in Thailand for tourism purposes for 15 days maximum. This Visa can’t be extend, therefore, if you plan to stay longer, it is better to get a tourist Visa.
Here is the list of the 20 countries which benefit from the Visa on Arrival:
1. Bhutan : Kingdom of Bhutan
2. China : People’s Republic of China (including Chinese Taipei)
3. Cyprus : Republic of Cyprus
4. Czech : Czech Republic
5. Estonia : Republic of Estonia
6. Hungary : Republic of Hungary
7. India : Republic of India
8. Kazakhstan : Republic of Kazakhstan
9. Latvia : Republic of Latvia
10. Liechtenstein : Principality of Liechtenstein
11. Lithuania : Republic of Lithuania
12. Maldives : Republic of Maldives
13. Mauritius : Republic of Mauritius
14. Oman : Sultanate of Oman
15. Poland : Republic of Poland
16. Russian Federation
17. Saudi Arabia : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
18. Slovakia : Slovak Republic
19. Slovenia : Republic of Slovenia
20. Ukraine
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More information about Visa on the Thai Visa Page.
Tourist Visa
A Tourist Visa is not a requirement for visiting Thailand, however it will allow you to stay in Thailand longer than the usual 30 days. The length and the renewal capability depend on the country and the embassy, but nowadays, it seems that the longer you can get is 2 months renewable once. 2 x 2 months.
When the first 2 months are over, you need to go out of the country and come back again (Visa Run). Then you got another 2 months. However you can also go to the immigration bureau and get a visa extension for 1 month before using the second 2month period. As of today this will cost you 1900 baht.
This means that with a 2 x 2 month Tourist Visa, one can stay in Thailand 2 months + 1 month + 2 months + 1 month = 6 months. And there is no limitation with Tourist Visas like there is the 90 day limitation when you don’t have a visa.
Basically, if you get a Tourist Visa every 6 months, you can stay in Thailand… for ever! This is what a lot of foreigners do. Especially now that the Visa Run option is reconsidered.
You need to get your Tourist Visa (single entry or double entry) outside of Thailand and prior to visiting the country.
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More information about Visas on the Visa and Immigration page.
What is a Visa Run?
Foreign visitors entering Thailand for tourism purposes and without a visa are permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of time not exceeding 30 days. If they want to extend their stay in Thailand, they will have to exit and re-enter the country.
Other foreigners with a Visa (Non-immigrant, Transit, etc.) usually also have to exit and re-enter the country after a period of time (3 months, one year, etc.).
Doing a Visa run is the action of leaving the country, getting a stamp from another country (enter and exit) and coming back to Thailand. This can be done in one day or in several days.
Some Thai companies (travel agents) are specialized in organizing Visa runs. From Bangkok, the most famous destination is Cambodia, to either Poipet or Ban Laem border. A one day travel by bus or minivan is available. The travel agent takes care of your travel (round trip) and sometimes also takes care of the whole process of getting your passport stamped while you are having a lunch at the border.
One may also organize a Visa run by itself by taking care of the whole trip.
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More information about Visas on the Visa and Immigration page.
