Hello,

Last year, we stayed for 3 months in Thailand, north of Khao Lak, and were able to benefit from the 2-month visa exemption, renewable for one month by going to Takua Pa to validate a 1-month extension (1,900 baht). This year, it’s a disaster for us—not only were we planning a 4-month stay, adding a visa run in between (which some say is quite risky), but the law is apparently changing in the coming months with the return of the 1-month exemption (plus the usual 1-month option). So, we looked into applying for a 6-month multiple-entry visa, allowing a maximum of 60 consecutive days in Thailand. However, I can’t find anywhere the minimum time required outside Thailand between two stays—do any of you have an idea? Thanks for the info! If you’d like tips on Khao Lak and the surrounding areas, we’ve got some experience, though things change fast! Cheers, Bruno.

Hi everyone!

Quick message for the visa experts!

I was planning to enter Thailand with an OA visa applied for from France. This one requires mandatory insurance, in short, it’s a bit "restrictive."

I was wondering if you see any issues with this "setup": 1- Enter with a Non-Immigrant O visa (valid for 90 days) applied for from France (relatively easy to obtain) 2- Apply for an extension with multiple entries for one year before the 90 days expire (Extension of Stay Based on Retirement) That way, I don’t have to provide "visa-compliant" health insurance (I’ll get one separately, don’t worry! :)) 3- Renew the extension year after year.

Constraints: - File a presence declaration every 90 days - Don’t forget to request the "multiple re-entry permit" for 3,800 THB - Open a Thai bank account upon arrival + transfer the 800,000 THB

Side question: Can you open a Thai bank account with an O visa, specifically to make the required funds deposit for the extension?

Thanks in advance for your feedback! Olivier

Hi, I’d like to know if a flight reservation for Bangkok is enough for the visa or if I need to wait until I have the actual ticket. Thanks

Hello,

My partner and I are planning a trip to Thailand, Laos, and Japan. To do this, we’re thinking of booking a flight ticket from Paris to Bangkok, departing in January 2025 and returning in April 2025. During this period, we’d travel overland to Laos and fly to Japan from Thailand, then return to Thailand. What type of visa should we apply for at the Thai embassy? Thanks in advance. Best regards,

Hi there,

This will be my first trip to Thailand, which will be the first stop on my Asian journey. This time, I’d like to leave with a one-way ticket so I can return to France from the last country I visit.

First and foremost, I’d like to confirm whether it’s possible to get a VOA (Visa on Arrival) when I land in Thailand without any prior steps? Is proof of onward travel (like a return ticket) required to get this visa?

If so, does it have to be a round-trip ticket from the country I’m arriving from, or can I use a flight or train ticket from Thailand to a neighboring country as proof of exit?

For Cambodia and Vietnam, is it also possible to get a VOA on the spot?

I’d also love any tips or important info you think might be useful about Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam—my planned destinations—especially regarding accommodation, transportation, points of interest, and, of course, any personal advice or experiences you’d like to share!

Thanks so much to everyone, and I wish you all an amazing 2025 filled with health, travel, and discoveries! !

Je partage mon expérience réussie de demande du e-Visa, car j'avoue avoir galéré sur le site et pour réunir les documents demandés. https://www.thaiembassy.fr/fr/visa-rdv/les-types-de-visa-et-les-documents-necessaires/visa-touristique/ Je recommande de préparer à l'avance tous les documents demandés selon les consignes ci-dessous, et d'essayer de remplir en une seule fois la demande d'e-Visa touristique TR 60j. Il est possible d'enregistrer et de reprendre la demande, mais je n'ai pas trouvé le site très intuitif (on perd beaucoup de temps à comprendre son fonctionnement, etc). Pour un e-Visa touristique TR 60j, j'ai mis environ 2 à 3 heures pour préparer tous les documents requis et remplir complètement le formulaire en ligne. (Cependant, la prochaine fois, cela me prendra beaucoup moins de temps, connaissant mieux son fonctionnement, etc). J'ai reçu mes e-Visas 15 jours plus tard, mais selon l'ambassade, le délai peut être beaucoup plus long (l'ambassade recommande en 4.3 « Nous vous conseillons de soumettre votre demande de visa entre 2 et 3 mois avant votre départ prévu. » ) https://www.thaiembassy.fr/fr/visa-rdv/infos-generales/ ⚠️ RECOMMANDATION : 4 mois avant la demande (et donc 6 mois avant le voyage si on fait la demande 2 mois avant), pensez à avoir sur les relevés bancaires un minimum de 700 € de solde créditeur pour chacun des 3 mois précédant la demande.

DOCUMENTS À FOURNIR POUR L'E-VISA TR 60j (SIMPLE ENTRÉE) EN THAÏLANDE

Une copie numérique du passeport : Copie couleur de la double page où se trouve votre photo. Elle doit faire apparaître la bande de lecture optique au complet (les 2 lignes de caractères en bas) ainsi que les 4 coins de la page. Le passeport doit être valable au moins 6 mois après la date de votre départ. (Format : JPEG ou PDF) Une photo d’identité en couleur : Photo d'identité officielle, sur fond uni et blanc, d'une taille maximale de 3 Mo et datant de moins de 6 mois. Si vous utilisez la même photo que celle imprimée sur votre passeport (si celui-ci a été émis il y a 2 ans, par exemple), le système détectera l'anachronisme et bloquera le dossier. Le fond doit être strictement blanc, sans ombres, sans lunettes, et le visage doit être parfaitement dégagé. Une preuve de ressources financières : Les relevés de compte bancaire officiels (courants et/ou d'épargne) des 3 derniers mois. Ils doivent afficher clairement votre nom et comporter un solde créditeur minimum de 700 € pour chaque mois (1 000 € est préférable), par personne (même pour un couple). Format et date des relevés bancaires : Les captures d'écran de l'application mobile (sans votre nom ou sans le logo de la banque) sont systématiquement rejetées. Vous devez fournir le relevé officiel complet au format PDF, téléchargé depuis votre espace bancaire. De plus, le dernier relevé doit dater de moins de 30 jours au moment du dépôt. N'oubliez pas de fusionner les 3 relevés en un seul PDF, car un seul document peut être envoyé par catégorie. Billets d'entrée et de sortie : Une réservation ou une confirmation de billets d’avion indiquant l'entrée et la sortie de Thaïlande. Le document doit faire apparaître les données PNR (Passenger Name Record : code de réservation à 6 caractères servant de référence d'enregistrement auprès de la compagnie aérienne) et/ou le numéro de billet électronique.

Règle des 90 jours : La date de votre vol de sortie ne doit pas dépasser 90 jours après votre arrivée sur le sol thaïlandais. En cas de billets séparés : Si vous avez 2 billets différents pour l'entrée et la sortie, fusionnez-les en un seul document ne comprenant que l'entrée et la sortie de Thaïlande dans les 90 jours (excluez les autres vols). Si, par exemple, vous avez un aller-retour Paris-Bangkok espacé de 6 mois, mais que vous prévoyez un séjour en Indonésie au bout de 60 ou 90 jours, puis... n'envoyez que l'aller en Thaïlande de votre premier billet (vous devez exclure le billet retour qui est 6 mois plus tard), et la seule sortie de Thaïlande vers l'Indonésie (sans le vol de sortie d'Indonésie, qui est probablement avec). Fusionner les deux PDF en un seul PDF.

Un justificatif de domicile en France de moins de 3 mois : Facture de téléphonie mobile, de téléphonie fixe, d’internet ou d’électricité à votre nom. Ce document doit prouver que vous résidez actuellement dans le pays depuis lequel vous faites la demande. (Format : PDF ou JPEG)

Réservation d'hôtel Nominative : Couvrant les premières nuitées avec votre nom, ou lettre d'invitation officielle signée par votre hôte avec la copie de sa pièce d'identité. (Format : PDF ou JPEG)

⚠️ Pour les COUPLES: La confirmation officielle de réservation de votre premier logement en Thaïlande (hôtel, Airbnb) doit afficher clairement le nom des DEUX membres du couple, car elle devra être jointe à chaque demande individuelle d'e-Visa. Le deuxième nom est indispensable car chaque demandeur de visa doit fournir une preuve d'hébergement nominative. Si le nom de votre conjoint(e) n'apparaît nulle part sur le document de l'hôtel, sa demande de visa risque d'être bloquée ou rejetée, même si vous joignez un acte de mariage. Préparer les adresses des 2 premiers hôtels pour le formulaire en linge ; Recopiez précisément (sur papier pour vous) l'adresse du premier hôtel et du suivant, car le formulaire demande également l'adresse du 2e hôtel (sans preuve de réservation). Recherchez sur Internet le nom du sous-district (Sub-district), du district et de la province de ces établissements. Lors de la demande d'e-Visa en ligne, vous devrez saisir l'adresse exacte et sélectionner la province, le district... dans des menus déroulants. Comment faire apparaître le nom de votre conjoint(e) sur la réservation d’hôtel ?

Connectez-vous à votre compte (Agoda, Booking, etc.), allez dans vos réservations et cherchez l'option pour modifier les détails des voyageurs. On peut souvent ajouter le nom de la deuxième personne ou encore, dans le champ du nom du voyageur principal, inscrire les deux noms séparés par un slash ou une virgule. Si la modification en ligne est impossible, demandez à l'hôtel une lettre officielle de confirmation de réservation (« Confirmation Letter ») mentionnant explicitement : « Room booked for and ». Les hôtels thaïlandais ont l'habitude de cette démarche pour les visas et vous l'enverront rapidement par e-mail au format PDF.

Comment fusionner des fichiers PDF ? Pour assembler vos multiples relevés bancaires ou vos billets d'avion dans le bon ordre en un seul fichier PDF, vous pouvez utiliser un outil en ligne gratuit et intuitif comme iLovePDF ou Smallpdf. Il n'y a pas de logiciel à télécharger, tout se fait en ligne.

PS : j'ai donné précédemment les consignes que j’ai suivies pour obtenir mon e-Visa. Je les ai établies en confrontant les recommandations de plusieurs IA, et avec le site officiel du e-Visa. Photo d’identité : j’ai fait réaliser 6 photos d’identité dans une cabine automatique (qu'on trouve dans les galeries commerciales). J’en ai découpé une, que j’ai scannée en couleur avec un scanner ordinaire. Relevés bancaires : j’ai téléchargé en PDF les 3 derniers relevés mensuels officiels de ma banque, puis je les ai fusionnés en un seul PDF. Cependant, il y a 3ans un ami m’a indiqué qu’il n’envoyait pas ses relevés, mais un document de sa banque (demandé à son banquier, avec tampons, logo de la banque et signature du banquier) attestant clairement qu’il disposait des fonds requis. Je ne sais pas si cette option est toujours possible, mais je la signale. Noms des fichiers : pour tous les fichiers (PDF, JPEG) joints à ma demande de e-Visa, j’ai utilisé mon nom suivi d’un descriptif du document (par exemple : « Nom photo »).

Good evening, I booked a one-month stay in an Airbnb in Thailand. Is the booking confirmation enough for the 3-month single-entry tourist visa?

Hi,

Due to unforeseen circumstances—a earthquake in Bangkok—I couldn’t get my visa for Indonesia in time, and my Thailand visa exemption expires on April 13. I’d like to extend my stay in Thailand by 30 days so I have time to apply for an Indonesian visa, as the procedures are on hold until April 8 due to the end of Ramadan celebrations and Nyepi (Bali).

I’m currently in Prachuap Khiri Khan and would like to know which is the nearest immigration office that can extend my visa exemption?

Just to note, I’ve heard conflicting info: it seems there’s an office in Dan Singkhon and another in Hua Hin. The first one is much closer—could someone confirm if it’s still operational for this kind of procedure, or do I have to go all the way to Hua Hin?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to go to Thailand for 90 days (departure on 20/06).

- I thought I’d read that the processing time for the E-Visa had been reduced to just a few days since June 2025 (so very recent). Can you confirm? However, on the embassy’s website and when I try calling them, they’re still quoting 3-4 weeks. Hasn’t this been updated yet? Because I’m starting to sweat here…🤪

- I was a bit hasty in declaring the funds to prove my solvency. Should I wait for their response rather than submitting a second visa application, which might conflict with the first one?

Thanks for your feedback! Have a great day

Hi, I’m planning a trip to Laos from France with a transit through Thailand involving 2 entries. I might spend up to 7 days max in Thailand (round trip). The flight I’ve spotted: arrival at BKK and return to France 31 days later.

With the new regulations/visa: "Starting September 15, 2026, French nationals holding an ordinary passport will be able to stay in Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism purposes only, down from the previous 60 days."

How do you think the counting is done? - Number of days spent in Thai territory? - Entry and exit dates: number of days between the two?

I’m leaning toward the first option, but to avoid any administrative hassles with Thailand (fines, etc.) and before booking my ticket, your input would really help.

Thanks, have a great weekend!

I have two questions about applying for a Non-Immigrant O Visa at the Thai embassy in France for someone over 50: - - Do I need to provide the address(es) of stay in Thailand (hotels, staying with a Thai friend)? - - Financial proof: Is a retirement statement showing over 2,000 € per month sufficient, or are bank statements also required?

I know there’s already a lot of information about the visa requirements on the embassy’s website, but from my experience—having dealt with embassies in other countries in previous years—I know that the information is sometimes (!) incomplete or inconsistent. So, I’d rather hear from people who’ve recently gone through this process to avoid any surprises after submitting my application, which could cause unpleasant delays.

Hi there,

I’m heading to Laos next spring, but I have a question about the Thai arrival/departure form. I’ll be flying PAR-BKK, then taking the train to Laos (so exiting Thailand), and later re-entering Thailand by train to catch my return flight. Do I need to fill out two forms in this case?

Thanks for your help! !

Hello,

We’re leaving in November 2025 for a stay of more than 60 days in Khao Lak and need to apply for a 30-day extension on-site to be allowed to stay nearly 90 days. Should we declare the flight ticket dates (November 13, 2025, to February 9, 2026) directly on the electronic form (if it’s applied from May 1st) before leaving, at the risk of being denied entry (over 60 days), or declare 60 days and quickly apply for a 30-day extension once there? Are flight tickets checked upon arrival (Phuket) or earlier on the electronic entry request? I remember that the arrival check is quite "serious" and after 18 hours of travel, you’re pretty impressionable! Thanks for your help, Best, Bruno.

Hello,

We’re French nationals planning a tourist trip to Asia with the following itinerary:

First entry into Thailand from Paris: 3 days in Bangkok (visa exemption).

Departure to Cambodia (we have a Cambodia e-visa) then to Laos (we have a Laos e-visa) for 5 days in each country, totaling 10 days outside Thailand.

Second entry into Thailand from Laos: 8 days in Chiang Mai (visa exemption) before returning to Paris.

This means two entries into Thailand in less than a month, with a total stay of 11 days in the country.

**Can you confirm if we can do this trip under the visa exemption policy, or do we need to apply for a double-entry tourist visa?**

Thanks for your help!

Hi, we’re heading to Laos for 3 weeks from December 12 to January 1, 2025. We land in Bangkok. We’d like to know if we need a visa for a very short stay in Thailand since we’ll just be passing through. I read that since July 2024, a visa isn’t required for stays under 30 days. Is that correct?

Thanks for your help! Elise

hi everyone

We’ll be applying for a retiree OA visa by September. For our part, we’ll head back to France for a bit and return a month BEFORE our current OA visa expires to renew it at immigration. We’ve emailed several immigration offices but haven’t gotten any responses. We’ve searched online for info but haven’t found anything. What we’re really interested in is knowing which documents they’ll ask for at the immigration office in Phang Nga, for example, for our renewal. We’ve seen all the paperwork needed for the initial OA visa on the official online visa application site... but for the renewal, do we need to provide ALL the same documents? Thanks in advance

Hi everyone,

When applying for an OA visa from France, is it okay to provide the address where I’ll just be staying for the first few days while I look for a permanent residence?

Thanks! Olivier

Hi, what’s the amount to pay for the proof-of-income certificate for a visa extension, to make the payment?

Thanks

Hi, does anyone know the status of the ETA that’s supposed to go into effect in December 2024 (and needs to be requested on the e-visa portal www.thaievisa.go.th)? Is it officially starting on December 1st? I’ve got my flight on the 7th of December and I’m on a Non-O Retirement visa with a re-entry. From what I understand, it’ll only apply to visa-free entries and should allow a 60-day stay in the kingdom with the option to extend for 30 more days. So I’m wondering if I need to apply for this since I already have a valid visa. Thanks in advance for your answers! 😊

Hi everyone,

I’m applying for an O-A Visa from France, and they’re asking for a criminal record extract. In the site’s FAQ, there’s a question that interests me: "I want to present my criminal record extract to the administration of another European Union state. What do I need to provide?" But when I click for the answer, I get a "404 error"... of course 🤪.

My questions are simple: - Is it really the "extrait n°3" that’s required for the O-A Visa application? - Do I need to have it translated into English?

Thanks in advance! Olivier

Has it gone back to 30 days for visa exemption? Valid from when? And is a flight ticket mandatory for leaving the country? Thanks!

Hi,

Starting September 15, the visa exemption for Thailand will be reduced from 60 to 30 days.

Anyone entering before this date will still get 60 days.

A return or onward ticket (flight, bus, train) is mandatory.

20,000 baht or the equivalent in cash may be requested by immigration (random checks).

Land entries with a 30-day visa exemption will be limited to 2 per calendar year.

Hi there,

I’m filling out a visa application for Thailand on the official thaievisa site, and I’m unsure about my second first name on my passport, which I need to enter in the online form: Jean-François. The site doesn’t accept hyphens or "ç"

I assume the site will accept "Jean Francois" as my "middle name," but I’d like to be sure this won’t lead to my visa being rejected...

Thanks for your feedback! :) Olivier

Hey everyone, hope you're doing well! :) I’m planning to go back to Thailand at the start of next year—once just wasn’t enough 😅 I’ve seen that nothing’s official yet, but they’re considering reducing the visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days. If I book for 58 days like last time and they change the rules last minute, what happens? It takes forever to get a visa—I saw you have to prove you have enough funds to cover your stay. How much money do you need in your account? Thanks!

Can I enter Thailand with a one-way ticket?

Hi there, Just a quick question about filling out the TM6 (TDAC) for Thailand. I'm going for 2 months and 3 weeks (I bought a round-trip ticket) and I'll arrive under the 60-day visa exemption since I didn't get a visa. However, I bought an exit ticket to a neighboring country before the 60 days are up to avoid any hassle at Paris airport. For the TM6, they ask for the return date—what should I put? My actual return date? The website doesn’t give me the option to upload my exit ticket from Thailand. Thanks!

Hi everyone, in a few months I need to bring my Thai partner to France. I’m going to prepare the "attestation d’accueil" for 3 months. On the form, they ask me to act as a financial guarantor for her stay—no problem for me. But on the visa application, France asks her to prove she has sufficient income to get the visa. Is it still necessary for her to prove that, given that I’m acting as her financial guarantor? Thanks

Hello to all the Thailand regulars.

I’ve been to Thailand several times, but it was about 20 years ago…

There’s a new system in place now, it seems.

TDAC – Thailand Digital Arrival Card.

Before arriving, I apply for a TDAC, okay. If during my stay I cross the border to spend a few days in Malaysia and then re-enter Thailand, do I need to submit a new TDAC application? Do I use the same TDAC as when I first entered the country?

Or do I initially have to pay for a Thai multi-entry visa?

Thanks in advance for your insights—I can’t find the answer online.

Pierre

Hi there,

1) I’d love to get some recent info on crossing this border. We’ll be entering Cambodia through Siem Reap Airport with an e-visa (electronic visa), and I’d like to know if we’ll be able to leave Cambodia through this border crossing without any issues using this type of visa.

2) I’m also looking for info (company names and schedules) on public transport options to Battambang/Pailin and then to Ben Pakkad/Chantaburi. Or, since there’ll be six of us (5 adults and 1 young child), would it be better to go for a taxi instead? If so, I’d appreciate recommendations for reliable taxi companies. Price isn’t a deal-breaker for the taxi option.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, is there anyone sure about this topic? I’ve heard two different things. I’m leaving for Thailand on March 2nd and returning to France on March 30th, and my passport expires on September 25th. When I look at the rule that says the passport must be valid for more than 6 months upon entry, I’m good until March 25th, but on the way out, I’ll be 2 days short of the full 6 months (5 days early, to be precise).

Most people tell me it’s okay because it’s the entry date that counts, and even ChatGPT confirmed that for me. But some say no, it’s the return date that matters. So I called Qatar Airways, and even there, I got two different answers—one person said no, it’s the return date, and another said it’s fine for them. I’m not sure they fully understood what I was asking, and since I’m not in Paris, I can’t go in person either...

Just to be safe, I applied for a passport renewal at the town hall. They told me it would take 4 to 6 weeks, and I applied on January 14th, leaving on March 2nd, which is 6 and a half weeks. On the ANTS tracking, it’s been marked as "in production" since January 17th...

So, are there any experts on this topic out there? Either about whether boarding is allowed with the old passport or about the usual timeline for receiving a new passport... Am I wrong to worry in either case?

Thanks to those who reply!