Thailand visa guide for foreign nationals
Choosing a Thai visa comes down to two questions: what your passport allows on arrival, and what you will actually do in Thailand. This guide lists all 29 visa types and stay permissions we handle, grouped the way immigration officers think about them. Each link opens our detailed page (in Thai) with requirements, documents, steps and official sources.
Last reviewed 2026-10-07. Preliminary guidance only — not an official ruling.
Short-stay entry
For tourism, short business meetings and transit. Which option applies depends first on your passport.
Non-Immigrant visas
For a specific purpose such as work, study, retirement or living with Thai family. The letter code must match what you actually do in Thailand.
- Non-Immigrant B (Business / Employment) · English guideNon-B
- Non-Immigrant B-A (Business Approved) · English guideNon-B-A
- Non-Immigrant IB (BOI Investment) · English guideNon-IB
- Non-Immigrant ED (Education) · English guideNon-ED
- Non-Immigrant O (Family / Volunteer / Other) · English guideNon-O
- Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay Retirement) · English guideNon-O-A
- Non-Immigrant O-X (Long Stay 10 Years) · English guideNon-O-X
- Non-Immigrant M (Media / Film) · English guideNon-M
- Non-Immigrant F (Official Duties) · English guideNon-F
- Non-Immigrant R (Religious) · English guideNon-R
- Non-Immigrant RS (Research / Training) · English guideNon-RS
- Non-Immigrant EX (Experts / Specialists) · English guideNon-EX
- Non-Immigrant IM (Investment) · English guideNon-IM
Special long-stay programmes
Multi-year options for remote workers, high-income residents, investors and specialists, most assessed by BOI or a programme operator.
- Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) · English guideDTV
- Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR) · English guideLTR
- SMART Visa · English guideSMART
- Thailand Privilege (formerly Thailand Elite) Entry Visa · English guidePrivilege Entry
- Diplomatic & Official Visa · English guideD / O (Official)
- Thai Permanent Residence · English guidePR
After you arrive
Legal duties and permissions once you are in Thailand. Most problems foreigners face happen here, not at the visa stage.
Practical help for foreigners living in Thailand
- Marrying a Thai national in Thailand
- Freedom-to-marry affirmation and certification
- BOI work permit support
- Overstay advice and next steps
- Thai driving licence for foreigners
- Opening a Thai bank account as a foreigner
- Certificate of residence for foreigners
- Birth registration for children with a foreign parent
- Retirement visa preparation (O-A and O)
- Alternatives to visa runs
- Relocating to Thailand with family: document sequence for the first 90 days
- Thai citizenship by naturalisation
Frequently asked questions
Which Thai visa lets me work?
Working in Thailand requires a visa matching that purpose — usually Non-Immigrant B, or a BOI, LTR or SMART route — plus a work permit. Visa exemption, tourist visas and the DTV do not allow work for a Thai employer.
Can I change my visa type while in Thailand?
Sometimes. Immigration offices accept some changes of status if you qualify and have enough days left, but many categories must be applied for at a Thai embassy or through Thailand e-Visa abroad. Check your case before your permitted stay runs low.
What happens if I leave Thailand without a re-entry permit?
Your extension of stay ends when you leave. On return you get whatever entry your passport qualifies for that day, usually a short visa exemption, and must start again.
Do you publish fees?
No. Official fees change by announcement. We link to official sources and give a written quote for our service before you start. No one can guarantee a visa result; the decision belongs to the authorities.