Hi, Do people on non O (marriage for me) visas and extensions need to have 20,000 baht in cash when entering Thailand?  Or is that requirement for visa exempt and tourist visas?

Thanks

If you enter with a Non O you almost certainly won't be asked for proof of cash. 

However 20k baht is not huge amout of money. 

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

If you enter with a Non O you almost certainly won't be asked for proof of cash. 

However 20k baht is not huge amout of money. 

True not huge,  but I was planning a trip to another SE asian country for approx 3 months.  That would require me to keep aside and carry around over 600 usd for the entire trip.  Not ideal.  

1 minute ago, michael888 said:

True not huge,  but I was planning a trip to another SE asian country for approx 3 months.  That would require me to keep aside and carry around over 600 usd for the entire trip.  Not ideal.  

Personally have travelled with thousands of USD cash for decades without any problems whatsoever.

2 minutes ago, novacova said:

Personally have travelled with thousands of USD cash for decades without any problems whatsoever.

Sounds Ok if you stay in 3 star or above hotels with safes.  I don't travel that way however.  

4 minutes ago, michael888 said:

True not huge,  but I was planning a trip to another SE asian country for approx 3 months

Re read your OP. 

Do you actually have an annual extension with a reentry permit?. 

If yes then immigration will not ask you to show funds. 

6 minutes ago, michael888 said:

True not huge,  but I was planning a trip to another SE asian country for approx 3 months.  That would require me to keep aside and carry around over 600 usd for the entire trip.  Not ideal.  

No, you can spend it during the trip and have it again when coming into Thailand. Doesn't have to be THB can be other currency.

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Re read your OP. 

Do you actually have an annual extension with a reentry permit?. 

If yes then immigration will not ask you to show funds. 

Yes, I have extension, will get reentry when I leave.   Should have specified reentering Thailand, my bad.  so People reentering Thailand with Non O's and extensions are not required to show 20,000 in cash?

4 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

No, you can spend it during the trip and have it again when coming into Thailand. Doesn't have to be THB can be other currency.

?  "Have it again"?  Do you mean bring in another SE asian currancy equivalent to 20,000 bht?  I can't get USD (for example) where I'm going.  Will be using a local ATM.   Could get it I suppose, but would take a beating at the currency exchange.  

13 minutes ago, michael888 said:

Yes, I have extension, will get reentry when I leave.  

Yes reentry can be obtained at airport or local immigration office. 

I'm on extensions retirement and frequently travel to Saigon. 

I never enter Thailand with significant cash. 

 

Edit: you stated ... "Could get it I suppose, but would take a beating at the currency exchange."

 

As I posted earlier I visit Vietnam a LOT. I never use a bank card in Vietnam. 

exchange shops there are fantastic. 

Better than for example  SuperRich Green here in Thailand. 

I generally take wad of Baht and exchange. 

Other places eg Laos etc guessing usd to exchange a good option. 

 

 

23 minutes ago, michael888 said:

True not huge,  but I was planning a trip to another SE asian country for approx 3 months.  That would require me to keep aside and carry around over 600 usd for the entire trip.  Not ideal.  

Any currency

12 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes reentry can be obtained at airport or local immigration office. 

I'm on extensions retirement and frequently travel to Saigon. 

I never enter Thailand with significant cash. 

 

Edit: you stated ... "Could get it I suppose, but would take a beating at the currency exchange."

 

As I posted earlier I visit Vietnam a LOT. I never use a bank card in Vietnam. 

exchange shops there are fantastic. 

Better than for example  SuperRich Green here in Thailand. 

 

 

Sorry, I don't understand.  I meant changing local currency, for example VND BACK to USD (or THB) at the end of the trip before I returned back to TH.  That would be ridiculous.  Or bring back loads of VND?  

But if it is not a requirement for those reentering TH on a non 0 or extension therof, then not to worry.  I was just reading how Thai Imm is denying folks entry on that requirement.  

18 minutes ago, michael888 said:

Do you mean bring in another SE asian currancy equivalent to 20,000 bht? 

Haven't you got your answer yet? You don't need to show any cash coming in on a Non O extension / re-entry permit. 

12 minutes ago, michael888 said:

I was just reading how Thai Imm is denying folks entry on that requirement.  

As I posted in the news forum on this matter.... The "insufficient funds" card is being given as the reason to deny entry for those entering often and ongoing on visa exempt exempt entry. 

 

As mentioned above... I have returned to Thailand many many times with reentry permits and have never been asked to show funds. 

 

2 hours ago, michael888 said:

was just reading how Thai Imm is denying folks entry on that requirement.  

Correction, you and everyone else on the tiny portion of the interweb that is thai related read the same thing about that one girl (Kaya) who was denied entry and asked for proof of funds. 

Conveniently left out of that story was the fact that she had been here on several visa exempts previously and was coming in free stamp entry again.

I don't know how a tiktok by one person getting denied entry got so much traction, but it sure got people wound up, jumping to conclusions, and acting like the sky is going to fall.. 😉 

You will not be asked for proof of funds coming into the country on a valid non-immigrant type Visa, or a long-term extension with a reentry permit. 

 

I would wager of the many thousands of people that stamp into Thailand free stamp (visa exempt) per day, very few, if any are asked for proof of funds. 

Granted, it is something you can be asked for (along with proof of onward travel and proof of lodging) if you're coming in free stamp entry 

AND

it is the first thing immigrations will ask for if they are going to try to deny you entry based on your previous entry/stay history

 

safe travels, you'll be fine.

21 hours ago, michael888 said:

True not huge,  but I was planning a trip to another SE asian country for approx 3 months.  That would require me to keep aside and carry around over 600 usd for the entire trip.  Not ideal.  

I never understood why people are afraid to carry cash. I go back and forth from Thailand and the United States twice a year, upon returning from the USA I pack enough to balance 10k cash upon returning to Thailand and leave it in my residence and if traveling to other countries in the region I’ll pack 5k of that with me and returning to the states I’ll bring about 2k back with me and the rest of the unspent cash stays in my residence in Thailand and also keep a balance of around 1 million bht in my Thai bank. Why on earth would I do this!?! Well by golly there is nothing worse than having an ATM card chewed up by an ATM machine or some other mishap with a bank or whatever. Keeping cash on hand is a risk buffer. 

People are understandingly nervous about carrying substantial amounts of cash,  especially when travelling to different countries where the risks are unknown. It makes them a target for robbery if it becomes widely known that Thai immigration forces everyone to carry at least 20 k Bt. For those travelling in Laos,  there's no option to withdraw enough cash before crossing back into Thailand because the Kip is useless outside the country. 

4 hours ago, persimmon said:

People are understandingly nervous about carrying substantial amounts of cash,  especially when travelling to different countries where the risks are unknown. It makes them a target for robbery if it becomes widely known that Thai immigration forces everyone to carry at least 20 k Bt. For those travelling in Laos,  there's no option to withdraw enough cash before crossing back into Thailand because the Kip is useless outside the country. 

If it "becomes" widely known? It's been a rule for decades....

13 hours ago, persimmon said:

People are understandingly nervous about carrying substantial amounts of cash,  especially when travelling to different countries where the risks are unknown. It makes them a target for robbery if it becomes widely known that Thai immigration forces everyone to carry at least 20 k Bt. For those travelling in Laos,  there's no option to withdraw enough cash before crossing back into Thailand because the Kip is useless outside the country. 

 

I think what works very well is carrying around $1000 in pristine $100 bills wherever you go. It's not bulky, it's easily exchanged in each and every country whenever needed, and it comfortably exceeds what Thai immigration may want to see without being an outrageous amount of cash to carry around.

 

I've mostly gone cashless, but I still do that as a backup just in case. No need to overthink this or make it complicated.

On 12/11/2025 at 4:26 PM, DrJack54 said:

If you enter with a Non O you almost certainly won't be asked for proof of cash. 

However 20k baht is not huge amout of money. 

 

Except at the Ranong border, where you will be asked but might be able to talk your way out of it. It's a corrupt border down there. 

18 minutes ago, Caldera said:

 

I think what works very well is carrying around $1000 in pristine $100 bills wherever you go. It's not bulky, it's easily exchanged in each and every country whenever needed, and it comfortably exceeds what Thai immigration may want to see without being an outrageous amount of cash to carry around.

 

I've mostly gone cashless, but I still do that as a backup just in case. No need to overthink this or make it complicated.

 

$1000 equivalent in either USD, EUR, AUD or another major currency works well. Good advice. 

On 12/11/2025 at 9:43 AM, michael888 said:

?  "Have it again"?  Do you mean bring in another SE asian currancy equivalent to 20,000 bht?  I can't get USD (for example) where I'm going.  Will be using a local ATM.   Could get it I suppose, but would take a beating at the currency exchange.  

 

How much of a currency exchange "beating" would you get on 20k baht?

 

Pennies...

On 12/11/2025 at 4:43 PM, michael888 said:

?  "Have it again"?  Do you mean bring in another SE asian currancy equivalent to 20,000 bht?  I can't get USD (for example) where I'm going.  Will be using a local ATM.   Could get it I suppose, but would take a beating at the currency exchange.  

Who says you need USD? USD isn't used in Thailand. Depending on where you are coming from, bring that currency, if it is a MAJOR currency. Nearly all major currencies can be exchanged in Thailand. The only ones that are becoming a little more difficult because those countries are essentially cashless now, are Swedish, Danish and Norwegian Kronor. If you're coming from those countries, bring Euros or Swiss Francs instead. 

On 12/11/2025 at 4:45 PM, DrJack54 said:

Yes reentry can be obtained at airport or local immigration office. 

I'm on extensions retirement and frequently travel to Saigon. 

I never enter Thailand with significant cash. 

 

Edit: you stated ... "Could get it I suppose, but would take a beating at the currency exchange."

 

As I posted earlier I visit Vietnam a LOT. I never use a bank card in Vietnam. 

exchange shops there are fantastic. 

Better than for example  SuperRich Green here in Thailand. 

I generally take wad of Baht and exchange. 

Other places eg Laos etc guessing usd to exchange a good option. 

 

 

When you say exchange shops do you mean gold shops?  I don't see many money exchange shops when touring in Vietnam. 

36 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

When you say exchange shops do you mean gold shops?  I don't see many money exchange shops when touring in Vietnam. 

Yes my comments were Saigon specific. 

Some have gold shops and rear half of shop is money exchange. 

The rates are extremely good. 

I had imagined it would be other way round. 

I don't do money exchange in Thailand anymore. 

Previously found SuperRich Green to be the best. 

Simple answer to the OP is, no.

On 12/11/2025 at 4:43 PM, michael888 said:

?  "Have it again"?  Do you mean bring in another SE asian currancy equivalent to 20,000 bht?  I can't get USD (for example) where I'm going.  Will be using a local ATM.   Could get it I suppose, but would take a beating at the currency exchange.  

The rule on the amount is if you are entering visa exempt (without a visa) or on a tourist visa, you are required to carry 20,000 THBor equivalent in another major currency, or 40,000 THB for a family. 

If you are entering Visa on Arrival then you are required to be able to show 10,000 baht for an individual or 20,000 THB for a family.

You do not have to offer to show the 20,000 THB. But you are required to have that much to show if you are asked.

It does not have to be in Thai baht, it can be in any currency as long as it equals 20,000 THB or more.

There are 3 things required to enter Thailand as a tourist, and these are the same as always.

1) Proof of funds

2) Proof of onward travel

3) Proof of lodging

No!!!

 Of course, this 20,000 Baht rule doesn't apply to those who hold a non-O visa and are returning to Thailand with a re-entry visa! I'm constantly surprised by these clueless posters here on AN who think they're doing someone a favor with their incorrect advice🥳