Whenever you want to visit another country, you will need to present certain documentation that will signify that your visit is legal and sanctioned by the government.
This document is called the visa, and Thailand is not an exception to that rule. There are many types of visa that one can apply for in the Kingdom, and it would depend on what your intentions are for visiting.
The most popular visa in Thailand is the tourist visa. After all, Thailand is a tourist haven.
Take note – you can stay up to 30 days in Thailand without a visa. If you’re just planning to make a holiday in the Kingdom for two weeks, you only need to fly to Thailand and present certain documents to Immigration.
There are two types of tourist visa, namely, the single entry and multiple entry visas.
Let’s take a look at each and see which one is more ideal to your needs.
Single Entry Visa
As its name suggests, the single entry visa is good for one entry trip only to Thailand. It’s usually valid for three to six months after the date of issuance.
This means that you have to travel to Thailand within those dates. If you are unable to, then the visa will expire and become unusable. You will then have to reapply for another visa.
Each trip is at least 30 to 60 days. You have the option to extend for another 30 days for a total of 90 days.
Multiple Entry Visa
The multiple entry visa allows for more than one visit to Thailand, as opposed to the single entry version.
The Multiple Entry Visa allows you to stay up to 60 days in Thailand, with an extension for another 30 days. You can also choose to exit the country for a couple of weeks if you want and return to Thailand.
This is possible, as long as the visa is valid. The validity is 6 months from the date of issuance.
Which Visa Should You Apply For
The single entry visa is good for those who are looking to stay in Thailand for more than a month or for at most three months, and have no plans to return.
On the other hand, the multiple entry visa is good for tourists who want to visit the Kingdom more than once in a span of six months.
If you want to stay for more than six months, you can choose to apply for a non-immigrant visa, which allows you to stay for at least a year on a single visa.
On the other hand, you can apply for the Thailand Elite visa.
Why Thailand Elite?
One of the most popular reasons to apply for Thailand Elite is the long term validity.
Members of the program receive a special multiple entry visa that’s valid for 5 years. You can stay for one year at a time as well with the special visa and passport that you hold as a member.
There are many other exclusive perks that come with membership to the Program as well.