My Chinese friend wants to visit me for about a week when I'm in Thailand. What I see seems conflicting. Chinese passport holders are allowed to stay visa free for 15 days. Chinese passport holders also qualify for a 15 day visa on entry. So my question is, does she need to pay for a visa upon entry or not?

http://en.wikipedia....icy_of_Thailand

Edited November 2, 201114 yr by leosmith

It appears a Chinese national can get a Visa on Arrival, this means one gets a visa at the airport.

After landing one has to follow the signs that say Visa on Arrival and fill in the necesarry form. The fee for a VOA is 1,000 baht.

More info here: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2491

It appears a Chinese national can get a Visa on Arrival, this means one gets a visa at the airport.

After landing one has to follow the signs that say Visa on Arrival and fill in the necesarry form. The fee for a VOA is 1,000 baht.

More info here: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2491

Whilst the above is correct in THEORY, in practice it appears that Chinese Immigration will not allow anyone to leave China without a visa in their passport. This subject has been discussed for months here in China and is quite a burning issue.

A visa is required and as said she will likely not be allowed out of China without it (even foreigners have had issues) so if travel starts there she needs to apply at nearest Thai Consulate. If coming from another country a visa on arrival for 15 day stay would be available at airport (at same cost).

Visa Issuance:

- Those traveling as a tourist can obtain a visa on arrival,

for a max. stay of 15 days provided holding:

- passport valid for at least 6 months and with at least one

1 unused visa page for visa stamp; and

- 2 recent passport photos (size 4 x 6 cm, taken not less

than 6 months ago) (SEE NOTE 45339).

NOTE 45339: Furthermore, passengers must hold confirmed

tickets for onward/return journey within 15 days from

arrival date, at least THB 10,000.- per person and must

clear Customs and Immigration Quarantine (CIQ) immediately

at the point where the visa is obtained. Passengers in

transit should allow a minimum of 3 hours between flights.

Fee: THB 1,000.-.

- Nationals of Andorra, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Ethiopia,

Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius,

San Marino, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.

- Holders of normal passports issued to nationals of Bhutan,

China (People's Rep.), India, Romania and Ukraine.

- Holders of Chinese Taipei passports.

- Applicable only at Bangkok (BKK and DMK), Chiang Mai (CNX),

Chiang Rai (CEI), Hat Yai (HDY), Krabi (KBV), Phuket (HKT),

Samui Int'l (USM), Sukhothai Int'l (THS), Surat Thani (URT)

and Utapao (UTP) airports.

- Nationals of Ethiopia are, in addition, required to hold a

Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate.

- Passport photo facilities are only available at Bangkok

Int'l Airport (BKK).

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INFORMATION

Thanks!

Def must apply before leaving.