Tourist Has to Be Able to show 20K Baht on Arrival Suvarnabhumi

[Pompey Lad 1938]

Does the 20K THB have to be in Thai Baht?

[DrJack54]

Any equivalent currency.

 BTW think it changed to 10k for single and 20k family. 

 

 

 

 

 

[KannikaP]

Must be in CASH, no cards or bank book.

And there are NO ATMs before Immigration.

Edited November 21, 2022 by KannikaP

[ubonjoe]

For a visa exempt entry this is is what a embassy states.

"• Travelers entering Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme must possess adequate cash of or equivalent to 20,000 Baht per person or 40,000 Baht per family."

Source: https://thaiembdc.org/visaexemption/

For a tourist visa it is the same.

[Olav Seglem]

Have been travelling 3 times annually to thailand last 15 years.

Never been asked ????

 

[EVENKEEL]

8 minutes ago, Olav Seglem said:

Have been travelling 3 times annually to thailand last 15 years.

Never been asked ????

 

Same here, but I always have the cash.

[PJ71]

Another retarded rule seldom applied.

 

 

[ozfarang]

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

Another retarded rule seldom applied.

 

 

You are right.

 

Travelled to Thailand multiple times per year for over 35 years, never been asked if I have cash with me and never carried the minimum cash required. In fact only a few hundred Baht at times

[Sparktrader]

Nobody asks. 1 they are too busy 2 they dont care.

[Boyn]

How much do you have to have if you are the new breed of millionaire hi so tourist who are flocking to Thailand as we speak ?????

[billd766]

How much, if anything is required if you are an expat returning to Thailand?

 

It has been a long time since I left Thailand.

[DrJack54]

54 minutes ago, billd766 said:

How much, if anything is required if you are an expat returning to Thailand?

 

It has been a long time since I left Thailand.

Presumably if you left you would have a reentry permit.

Zero chance of being asked to show funds.

The posts in this thread along lines of " never asked " in 95 years of coming to Thailand are irrelevant.

 

That requirement would only come into play when the io is considering refused entry due to eg numerous back to back visa exempt entries and looking for additional reason to reject. 

Edited November 21, 2022 by DrJack54

[billd766]

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Presumably if you left you would have a reentry permit.

Zero chance of being asked to show funds.

The posts in this thread along lines of " never asked " in 95 years of coming to Thailand are irrelevant.

 

That requirement would only come into play when the io is considering refused entry due to eg numerous back to back visa exempt entries and looking for additional reason to reject. 

Thank you for that info.

 

I last left and returned to Thailand in 2009 and have no plans to leave again, however my crystal ball may be in need of a service and recharge.

[gomangosteen]

I've flown in well over 40x and never been asked re funds; however - for Tourist Visa in 2022 - appears it may differ by country of origin.

We currently have a guest staying from New Zealand; they were required to provide a bank letter for their Tourist Visa application confirming they had over NZ$2000 (equates to 44,000 baht at today's rates), as per below from the cover sheet to accompany the application, bank provided while they waited (no cost):

 

9. A copy of the most recent bank statement providing evidence of sufficient funds for staying in Thailand (credit card and home loan accounts not accepted).

Name, bank account balance, account transactions must be clearly indicated.

The statement MUST be signed, stamped and dated by the bank.

o Tourist Visa (single entry) - at least NZ$ 2,000 per person;

o Tourist Visa (multiple entries) - at least NZ$ 9,000 per person, showing the transactions for the past 6 months;

[DrJack54]

28 minutes ago, gomangosteen said:

I've flown in well over 40x and never been asked re funds; however - for Tourist Visa in 2022 - appears it may differ by country of origin.

We currently have a guest staying from New Zealand; they were required to provide a bank letter for their Tourist Visa application confirming they had over NZ$2000 (equates to 44,000 baht at today's rates), as per below from the cover sheet to accompany the application, bank provided while they waited (no cost):

 

9. A copy of the most recent bank statement providing evidence of sufficient funds for staying in Thailand (credit card and home loan accounts not accepted).

Name, bank account balance, account transactions must be clearly indicated.

The statement MUST be signed, stamped and dated by the bank.

o Tourist Visa (single entry) - at least NZ$ 2,000 per person;

o Tourist Visa (multiple entries) - at least NZ$ 9,000 per person, showing the transactions for the past 6 months;

Did you read the OP.

"Show 20k in cash on arrival "

At a guess he is planning to enter visa exempt. 

[themongoose]

I never been asked when I have flown into BKK, but when I flew into Don Mueang from Shanghai a couple of years ago, I was asked.

I just showed them a wad of Renminbi notes I had brought with me and they waved me through without counting.

[gomangosteen]

15 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Did you read the OP.

"Show 20k in cash on arrival "

At a guess he is planning to enter visa exempt. 

I stated my own experience.

And was responding to an earlier statement "For a tourist visa it is the same." 

but thanks all the same

????

Edited November 21, 2022 by gomangosteen

[problemfarang]

i would ignore the posts

 

first of all you must respect the country and its rules. rule says you have to have 20K thai baht. thats it. they check or not, they care or not... it says. respect that.

and you did, thank you for that. you need that money in thai baht or same amount where you are coming from or the money you are using. just be careful about your currency there are some currencies thai banks dont exchange

[cheapcanuck]

Is this new? At one time you just had to show you have access to the baht/dollars. So a current bank statement showing you have enough to cover your stay in Thailand would do. 

Edited November 22, 2022 by cheapcanuck

[Freddy42OZ]

18 hours ago, Olav Seglem said:

Have been travelling 3 times annually to thailand last 15 years.

Never been asked ????

 

I've never been asked at either airport.  

[Burma Bill]

19 hours ago, PJ71 said:

Another retarded rule seldom applied.

Appears to be the case. I recently flew as a tourist into Thailand on an international flight from Cambodia with Air Asia. At the Immigration desk in Bangkok DMK, the lady made no mention of cash. All I presented was my passport and boarding card. After the biometrics, I was allowed entry to Thailand. 

[Regyai]

The old "its never happened to me ergo its OK" mantra (probably what's used to enlists evermore drug mule recruits)

 

It's unlikely to be asked for sure, but most reported instances have been to my recollection when interviewing folks that they for some reason have a 'hard on' about and it's the surprise nail in the coffin used to refuse them.

[bangkok19]

I've never been asked.

Been coming and going for 39 years on a regular basis.

I usually carry around 20K Bt cash leftover from previous trip PLUS my OZ $100 notes to change and stick in the Bank.

I'm sure if they randomly (or if you looked suspicious) pulled you aside, they'd ask the question.

[cme]

I think it may be related to if you're already in the system and have history here. Maybe it only is enforced on first timers or others with a background problem?

[richard_smith237]

On 11/21/2022 at 1:36 PM, ozfarang said:

You are right.

 

Travelled to Thailand multiple times per year for over 35 years, never been asked if I have cash with me and never carried the minimum cash required. In fact only a few hundred Baht at times

Ah.. the ‘I never needed a seatbelt’ response.....    very useful !!!... 

 

 

Facts: Visa Exempt arrivals must be carrying B20,000 in cash (or currency equivalent)

(20,000 Baht single traveler / 40,000 baht family travellers).

 

Reality: Unlikely to be asked. 

 

I’m in and out very regularly and have never been asked, because I have a visa.

But I still carry cash just in case - useful for emergency wherever I may be (cards may not always work).

 

Upon visa exempt entry into Thailand this cash-check is very rarely made - but there are reports of immigration being difficult and rejecting arrivals on this technicality.

Previous info suggests it is those who are suspected of working here who are asked this (i.e. visa runners (too many b2b visa exempt entries) those from Korea suspected of working as tour guides etc and those from neighbouring poorer countries that have been profiled). 

 

 

For a westerner arriving in Thailand for the fist time, or after a few months spell out of the country the probability of being asked to show funds is pretty much zero.

This technicality seems only to be invoked when immigration are looking for a reason to reject and return. 

 

That said: There’s no harm in carrying the cash just in case - in this case its harmless and takes no effort air on the side of caution. 

 

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

On 11/21/2022 at 5:39 PM, Sparktrader said:

Nobody asks. 1 they are too busy 2 they dont care.

Unless their suspicions are raised.

[OJAS]

On 11/21/2022 at 5:32 PM, PJ71 said:

Another retarded rule seldom applied.

 

 

Whereas in the case of Western countries which require similar proof of finances for foreigners who wish to set foot on their hallowed turf, it is, on the other hand, an ultra-progressive rule which, in your eyes, should be applied with zeal and gusto by local immigration officers in each and every case without exception, right?

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by OJAS

[PJ71]

34 minutes ago, OJAS said:

Whereas in the case of Western countries which require similar proof of finances for foreigners who wish to set foot on their hallowed turf, it is, on the other hand, an ultra-progressive rule which, in your eyes, should be applied with zeal and gusto by local immigration officers in each and every case without exception, right?

 

Western countries i believe that the financial requirements are required during the visa process, not asked for at arrival airport where's there's no access to ATMs before immigration.

 

Are you suggesting the rule to have 20K cash makes sense?

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by PJ71

[Harveyboy]

On 11/21/2022 at 5:21 PM, Olav Seglem said:

Have been travelling 3 times annually to thailand last 15 years.

Never been asked ????

 

me neither 

[jumbo]

On 11/21/2022 at 5:17 PM, KannikaP said:

Must be in CASH, no cards or bank book.

And there are NO ATMs before Immigration.

But I read on the forum that Thailand was going cashless?????????