Getting Thai Tourist Visa/return Ticket Question For Non-Western Citizens

[ThamNamThalu]

Hi!

So, here's my worry. I read on Chinese embassy site that they want a work certificate and fully paid and confirmed ROUND ticket including its copy, and on South African embassy site - some sort of ticket out, and a proof of either working or studying in home country. We will need to apply for visa in either Kenya or, if we first fly to China, in China, and my spouse is African national. So I wonder if anyone has experience with getting visas as non-western citizen in either Africa or China - can it be more complicated, how much time could it take as most? How about those round trip or return tickets? How much would those be scrutinized?

Myself I have never had a problem, but i have only gone from Europe, and I am a little worried if we might lose the air tickets because of delays with visa, or face other complications.. I also dont want to buy ticket out of Thailand, as from Thailand later on we will travel to Sweden and I dont know when yet..

[Maestro]

When you say Chinese embassy, do you mean the Thai embassy in China? When you say South African embassy, do you mean the Thai embassy in South Africa?

What is the nationality of these non-Western tourists. When it comes to visas and international travel it is the nationality that counts, not the continent. Normally, a tourist obtains his visa in his country of residence. What stops your tourists from doing this?

[ThamNamThalu]

Yes, Thai embassies, both in China and South Africa. Kenyan embassy didn't have any visa info online.

The nationality is Rwandan. There is no Thai embassy in Rwanda, the closest one is in Kenya. If it would be less complicated to get a Thai visa in China or even Hong Kong, we could fly there first, as I probably will need to make a trip there anyway at some point for business purposes.

I'm asking a very generalising question since I don't think there will be many people who have faced the exact situation we are facing, here. I'm making a guess that Thai embassies might have a similar way of dealing with African/non-western tourists.

[beano2274]

Most Africans have to go back to their own countries to get visas as far as I remember.

[ThamNamThalu]

Oh, that's quite alarming if that is really the practice. We are planning to be sharing our time mostly between Europe and Asia, so going to Africa to get the visa would pose first and foremost a significant loss of money; not to mention that I personally dont really enjoy going to Africa too often.

Anybody else have any info related to this?

[ubonjoe]

You might contact the embassy in Kenya about doing the application by courier (DHL or equal).

Or possibly one to the honorary consulates in Africa listed here. http://www.guidetothailand.com/thailand-travel-information/honcon-mideast.php

Not sure about rules for Rwanda but it would be best to contact the embassy or consulate where you plan on applying for the visa as to what their requirements are.

List of world wide Thai embassies and official consulates can is here http://www.thaiembassy.org/main/

[ThamNamThalu]

A DHL could actually be an idea, as long as it would be safe to send the passport (immigration checks while in China etc).

I am also thinking - if we register a company in Cambodia, would it make it possible to apply for Thai visa from Phnom Penh (if its true that Africans must apply from citizenship country) or would it be of no importance?

[ThamNamThalu]

More alarming info. After some period of digging i found on one thai immigration webpage, that not only "nationals of certain countries are required to apply for visa only at thai embassy in their residence/home country or at the DESIGNATED thai embassy" (somehow i could imagine Rwanda might be one of them),

but also "Nationals of countries on tourist visa exemption list or countries which have bilateral agreements on visa exemption (Rwanda is neither) will be permitted to stay for period up to 60 days, nationals of other countries who hold tourist visa - up to 30 days."

Now, is this old info, or can it still be the case? Because if we will need to do a visa run (and even if only one of us goes) to Africa every two months, boy we are screwed!!

[Maestro]

Your first post gave the impression that you needed at tourist visa for Thailand for travel as a genuine tourist, ie fly from somewhere in Europe to China, from there to Thailand, then back to Europe. Your latest post now seems to indicate that you mean to live in Thailand on consecutive tourist visas for a long time. Which is it?

[ubonjoe]

A DHL could actually be an idea, as long as it would be safe to send the passport (immigration checks while in China etc).

I am also thinking - if we register a company in Cambodia, would it make it possible to apply for Thai visa from Phnom Penh (if its true that Africans must apply from citizenship country) or would it be of no importance?

I mentioned the DHL for while you are still in Africa not while in China. Probably not a good idea to try it while you are in China.

If you could get a 3 entry visa before traveling that would be the best option.

[ThamNamThalu]

We want to spend most time in Thailand and to begin living there on tourist visa while generating income abroads. We have import export business that requires travel often, but not that often to Africa. Thats why all the headache.

I am actually thinking even about DHL in China - but the passportless person of course would have to stay in house or keep low profile while passport is travelling.. Going to Africa is really expensive.

[lopburi3]

living there on tourist visa while generating income abroads.

Not sure what that means but you are aware that Thai law requires anyone working while physically in Thailand to have a work permit and that is not available on a tourist visa or without full company paperwork to support it?

[ThamNamThalu]

Yes, am aware. But my work wouldn't show or reflect in Thailand so that I would need a WP, as the only thing I would do on the ground in Thailand is buying merchandize to send abroad (and the merchants are interested to sell their stuff instead of creating problems for their client), and the forwarder clears the customs; have done that before.

And - good news! I went on website of Thai embassy in Singapore and also spoke to their visa department today; there are only a few countries whose nationals have to apply for visa from their home/residence country: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and North Korea. Rwandans can get a visa, for example, in Singapore, even if they are not residents in Singapore (info from the embassy), but they do have to go to embassy personally.