Thailand Implements Financial Requirements for Tourist Visas in 2025

[thesetat]

3 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

 

Would I be a target if I have $50k or $100k spare cash in my bank account?

 

mate, only the financially illiterate would have that amount in their bank account

they wont be asking for your bank account records when you enter anyway. They also will not be directing you to the nearest ATM machine. You must carry cash with you. I am sure the Chinese will be having a lot more fun going through peoples luggage in-flight on the way to Thailand. 

This makes absolutely no sense to require these things. 20k will not last as long as a 2 month visa. So the riff-raff will enter and the criminals will come still. So why make these changes. 

9 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Visa-Free Entry Still Available, But Changes May Be Coming

Currently, passport holders from 93 countries can enter Thailand visa-free for a stay of up to 60 days. However, this generous policy is under review.

 

Don't you just love this that Thailand offers their GENEROUS policy. Hmph. They want you to come and need tourists to come. Nothing generous about it. 

[Equatorial]

41 minutes ago, thesetat said:

This makes absolutely no sense to require these things. 20k will not last as long as a 2 month visa. So the riff-raff will enter and the criminals will come still. So why make these changes. 

 

For every problem there is at least one solution that is both simple and wrong. 

 

This is definitely one of those... 

[baansgr]

After almost 25 years living here I am actively looking at alternatives. The days of jai yen yen have sadly been replaced with drug infused entitled dopeheads causing untold mayhem on a daily basis. The tourism authority/government need to take a long hard look at the whole visa set up at what kind of "tourists are coming and the ones they want to attract. It's obvious weed shops on every corner are a huge problem with the current demographic that are coming and turning families away which are higher spenders than darshan the dope dealer from Birmingham is. I've had marriage, work, dependent visas and all were easy enough to acquire so no problems there. The DTV I thought would be a fantastic opportunity for genuine Digi nomads but as we've seen is totally abused. Thailand has become every far right dopehead Nazis dream destination, until they address that situation, I don't feel any serious tourists will be interested in visiting 

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

You must carry cash with you.

 

Where is that stated in the OP ?

[Quentin Zen]

even a few years ago I would pay 100 baht to my Thai bank to print out statements showing 20k. I thought this was still in place.  anyhow.

 

Now the "funny" thing is I talked to many people from other countries with fake bank statements.  It's impossible to check.  You can't call Russia and ask to confirm a bank statement.  lol.   I've seen this at least a few times.   

 

cash would make more sense, or something better.

 

20k baht is nothing for 60 days.  100k makes more sense.   Tourist visa makes no sense if the border stamp is also 60 days.

 

Backtracking a little bit...... if tourist visa and you are in your home country, then maybe the Thai embassy can check it a little better (can tell if the bank statements look real) or there's a more reliable way to check if they really have the money.  Anyhow, they are trying.  plane ticket, 20k....better than nothing for LOS   

[Red Phoenix]

2 minutes ago, Quentin Zen said:

Tourist visa makes no sense if the border stamp is also 60 days.

Exactly.

Why would anyone apply for a 60-day Tourist Visa (which can only be done from their home-country), when border-immigration provides you with a 60-day Permission to stay when entering Thailand without a Visa.  

By adding additional requirements for such not-needed eVisa application, It almost looks like they want to kill that 60-day Tourist Visa,

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Now, all applicants for a Thailand tourist visa, regardless of nationality, must submit financial documents confirming they can support themselves during their stay.

This will be another reason for tourists to look for a different Asian country to go visit.

Thailand has lost it's charm and way..

[StayinThailand2much]

"Acceptable documents include:
Bank statements from the last three months"

 

Meaning what; if my money is in my savings account, I will have to get a formal, paid-for, bank statement from my bank?

[GreasyFingers]

5 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

"Acceptable documents include:
Bank statements from the last three months"

 

Meaning what; if my money is in my savings account, I will have to get a formal, paid-for, bank statement from my bank?

So you do not get a statement online every month to reconcile your account to check all of the entries?

[StayinThailand2much]

29 minutes ago, Quentin Zen said:

cash would make more sense, or something better.

 

20k baht is nothing for 60 days.  

 

Exactly. 'Three-month bank statement to prove that you have more than 20,000 baht in the bank (for the past three months)', so that you can afford to spend a holiday in Thailand... Where does Thailand take the right from, to know how much money I have in the bank? I'd rather wave 20,000 baht in their face at the embassy, or at arrival...

[stupidfarang]

Better to require all tourists to have medical Travel Insurance and include in the insurance medical cover for evacuation back to home country. This would insure no cost to Thailand and safe guard tourists, a win win.

[koolkarl]

Much easier to visit other countries instead.

[StayinThailand2much]

2 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

So you do not get a statement online every month to reconcile your account to check all of the entries?

 

No, I have a bankbook for my savings account, both in Thailand, and in my home country. Neither issues extra statements.

[GreasyFingers]

Just now, StayinThailand2much said:

 

No, I have a bankbook for my savings account, both in Thailand, and in my home country. Neither issues extra statements.

Rubbish. I get them every month for 5 savings accounts.

[Patong2021]

6 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Topic is about Tourist visas, not visa exempt entries.

The Tourist visas permit a stay of 60 days + 30 day extension.

 The problem is that the  process of obtaining the  60 day tourist visa was/is a hassle. It is difficult for alot of people who have better things to do. The  visa exempt entry of 60 days that allowed for an extension was ideal for older  visitors who wanted to stay for more than 30 days and who didn't want to  be burdened with paperwork and the expense of  taking photos  and gathering supporting documentation. Make a process difficult and some people who have other options say screw that and go elsewhere.

[StayinThailand2much]

2 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

Much easier to visit other countries instead.

 

Yes, 'Vietnam' is getting more interesting by the day... Heard that they're considering to, possibly, offer 10-year visas.

[BerndD]

11 hours ago, jaywalker2 said:

What's the point? Are they going to stipulate that only people with a certain net worth are allowed into the country? And given how hard they've been pushing the "cashless society", to demand that tourists arrive with 20,000 baht of cash in their pockets doesn't make sense.

It is not required to have 20,000B in your pocket. It is sufficient to prove that you have 20,000B, that you have it in your account, etc

[StayinThailand2much]

1 minute ago, BerndD said:

It is not required to have 20,000B in your pocket. It is sufficient to prove that you have 20,000B, that you have it in your account, etc

 

'For three months', meaning you cannot even draw down the balance in that bank account below 20,000 baht, or equivalent amount, if you're planning to apply for a Thailand visa in three months from now...

[StayinThailand2much]

12 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Not a big deal to provide proof of 20k, however imo does not make lot of sense.

 

For example SETV 30 day and Multi 90 day to Vietnam (one example) has no such requirements. 

Time will tell.

 

Also all the talk regarding visa exempt entry return to 30 days is problematic. 

 

How about 'utility bills and rental agreements'? - So, I have to fly to my home country, where I haven't lived for 20 years, taking my utility bills and rental agreement from SE Asia with me, hoping that the Thailand embassy there will accept my application with bills and agreement from the other side of the world... 😆 

 

I guess, in the future, I will either go the agent route, or look for greener pastures in neighbouring countries.

[Canadian Snowbird]

My prior experience with this I found to be extremely intrusive. They required a copy of all my bank transactions for the previous 90 days, plus my name attached to the bank account, bank branch and transit codes. If that site ever got hacked, the hacker would have wide open access to my bank account. Hopefully they can put a little common sense into this requirement, but more important, that systems are secure.

[Nickcage49]

They complain about tourism being down and now they're making it harder to come here. Once again, bureaucrats who have nothing better to do than make people's lives harder.

 

And what about the lines at immigration?

 

I suggest they have separate lines for anyone not from a visa-free country. 

 

But that would make way too much sense.

[StayinThailand2much]

8 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

They complain about tourism being down and now they're making it harder to come here. Once again, bureaucrats who have nothing better to do than make people's lives harder.

 

They're obsessed with short-time tourists who only come here for one week, or so... Sure, can do; retire in Vietnam, and travel every other year for a week, or two to Thailand. 😆 

[Ralf001]

54 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

Exactly.

Why would anyone apply for a 60-day Tourist Visa (which can only be done from their home-country), when border-immigration provides you with a 60-day Permission to stay when entering Thailand without a Visa.  

By adding additional requirements for such not-needed eVisa application, It almost looks like they want to kill that 60-day Tourist Visa,

People that do not live in the 93 approved countries might find a Tourist visa handy.

 

[JJ-Thailand]

12 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Travellers must demonstrate at least 20,000 THB (~USD 550) in available funds.

Only 20,000 Baht!   What a joke.

[Kaopad999]

13 hours ago, CharlieH said:

,Aapplicants must now provide “Financial evidence: an amount of no less than 20,000 THB

Shoud be more than that in my huimble opinion - no less than 100k in savings.- might weed out the cheap charlies and beggers. No way 20,000 is enough for a 3 months holiday in Thailand for people spending actual $$$ 

[Kaopad999]

9 minutes ago, JJ-Thailand said:

Only 20,000 Baht!   What a joke.

Came here to say the same thing, Buddy. 20k is a joke - Just attracts the usual riff raff. 100k should be bare minimum for 2-3 monmths holiday

[Showtime]

• Is Thailand trying to make tourists not visit?  The hotel requirement is obscene.  Passport photo, what a pain in my ask.  The financial requirement is a joke....equal to USD 550.  Really.

[Ralf001]

58 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

'For three months', meaning you cannot even draw down the balance in that bank account below 20,000 baht, or equivalent amount, if you're planning to apply for a Thailand visa in three months from now...

If maintaining an account balance greater than $600 USD then you really should not be considering international holidays.

[Brock]

Its not a new requirement, a TV in Oz has always required a copy of your bank statement attached to the form.

[biggles45]

1 hour ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Sure, can do; retire in Vietnam, and travel every other year for a week, or two to Thailand.

14 years ago this was my decision, to retire in the Philippines and spend 3-4 months a year in Pattaya. Mainly on visa-free entries and never a problem with immig. Also, I have never visited an immig office in the Philippines in that time, that's how you do it!