Help With Thailand Visas - To Get Or Not!

[Shinners]

Hey all! We need help! Right - myself (Irish and living in Ireland) and my fella (English living in Ireland with a British passport) are going traveling in September. We have a flight into India in September. We then are going to fly into Bangkok in early November and are going to make our way trekking up North, into Laos, then Vietnam, then down into Cambodia and back into Thailand in March or so. Our only flight out of South-East Asia is one from Singapore into Sydney, Australia in April.

Now - we have been receiving conflicting advice in terms of visas! We have been told that if we are going for less than a month - that we don't need visas. We have also been told that we automatically will get stamped a Tourist visa upon arrival in Thailand. But - we have also read on forums that we would need visas. One read that - if we are flying into Thailand from another country - that that country's airline may not let us fly if we don't have a Thailand visa - or - if we don't have a flight out of Thailand. We intend on staying probably just under a month each time in Thailand. What do we do? If we need visas - would we be better off getting a 6 month visa? Or do they start from date of issue or date of entry into Thailand (if it's the former - the visa would expire by the time we reach the country second time 'round). We are quite confused and as leaving date is approaching fast (7 weeks away) - we are a bit concerned as to what we need! Any help would be very much appreciated! Ta!

[Lite Beer]

Without a Visa you need a flight ticket out of Thailand within 30 days of arriving. The problem will not be Thai Immigration but the airline might not let you on board.

Tourist Visas are free at the moment and will give 60 days stay from date of entry.

When you return to Thailand form Cambodia you will get 30 days if arriving by air and 15 days if arriving at a land border without a Visa.

[lopburi3]

You can not obtain at visa on entry into Thailand but visa exempt stay of 30 days is available. But many airlines will not fly you here without onward transportation or a visa so it is best you obtain a tourist visa for first entry into Thailand and they are currently free of charge. Tourist visa is valid, for entry, 90 days from date of issue. Perhaps India would be a good place to obtain.

[steve187]

obtain a tourist visa as close to leaving as possible,double entry would be good as that may cover you for the second entry into Thailand, not sure where you are going in India so as Lopburi said you may be able to obtain there,if a single entry only is available, get that and use for your first entry, and then try and obtain another whilst in Lao or Cambodia for your second entry.

have a great trip