eVisa on Arrival (eVOA)

What Is A Thailand eVisa on Arrival?

The government of Thailand has introduced an eVisa system for foreign travellers planning to visit Thailand. The system was launched in 2015, making it much easier for travellers to obtain their travel permit, as compared to a regular visa. No more standing in long queues, visiting the embassy or fixing an appointment. Applicants can complete the whole process starting from applying to receiving the pre-registration document. Thailand provides Visa on Arrival (VOA), which means once the travellers complete all online procedures and reach Thailand, they will be provided with the final visa. Thailand has allowed citizens of 18 countries to apply online for a tourist visa.

Travelers that are not eligible for the eVisa can get a  regular Thai tourist visa.

Known by a few different names such as Thailand visa online, Thailand eVisa, and Thailand eVOA (Electronic Visa on Arrival), this electronic visa means that citizens from eligible countries can now obtain a visa to Thailand faster and easier than ever before.

To promote tourism and speed up the approval process for visas to the country, the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand recently implemented a Thailand Online Visa and Thailand eVisa on arrival. This electronic travel authorization allows travelers from eligible countries to enter the country without having to visit their local embassy or wait extended periods for finalization of their application.

The Thailand online visa simplifies the visa application process and delivers the approved eVisa directly to your email.

Meaning no long wait. In fact, the eVOA processing time is usually between 24 - 72 hours.

Instruction for Travellers Applying For an eVisa on Arrival To Thailand

The Thailand government allows only 19 countries to apply for VOA. These countries are lgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

On reaching Thailand, travellers can get their final visa from the following ports and checkpoints:

• Suvarnabhumi Airport
• Don Muang International Airport, Bangkok
• Chiangmai International Airport, Chiangmai
• Phuket International Airport, Phuket
• Hatyai International Airport, Songkhla
• U Tapao Airport, Rayong
• Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint, Chiengrai
• Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint, Chiengrai
• Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint, Chiengrai
• Betong Immigration Checkpoint, Yala
• Sadoa Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla
• Samui Airport, Surat Thani
• Sukhothai International Airport, Tak Immigration Checkpoint
• Bangkok Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Bangkok
• Sri Racha Immigration Checkpoint, Chonburi
• Mabtaput Immigration Checkpoint, Rayong
• Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai
• Samui Immigration Checkpoint, Surat Thani
• Phuket Immigration Checkpoint, Phuket
• Satun Immigration Checkpoint, Satun
• Krabi Immigration Checkpoint, Krabi
• Songkhla Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla
• Chiangrai Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Chiangrai
• Surat Thani Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Surat Thani

Who is eligible for the Thailand eVisa?

Citizens of 21 countries are currently eligible to apply for a Thailand eVisa before arriving in the country. As a national of any one of those countries, the Thai eVOA enables you to obtain a visa electronically. There are some basic requirements (discussed in full below), but with your valid passport and the ability to pay the application and associated fees, you'll receive your eVisa via email in no time at all.

The 21 countries eligible for the Thailand eVOA are:

• Andorra
• Bhutan
• Bulgaria
• China
• Cyprus
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• India
• Kazakhstan
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Papua New Guinea
• Romania
• San Marino
• Saudi Arabia
• Taiwan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

Furthermore, visa-on-arrival fees are waived until April 2020 for citizens from the above 21 countries. After that date, you may be required to pay a fee of 2,000 Baht (US $61) upon arrival.

Important Details to Note

Before you complete your online application for the Thailand eVisa, you do have to meet several requirements in order to be eligible.

• You must apply for your eVisa before arriving in Thailand.
• You must have a valid passport from one of the eligible countries listed above.
• Your passport must be valid for at least 30-days after your arrival date and have at least one blank page for stamping by immigration officials when you arrive in Thailand.
• It must be a regular, ordinary passport as travel documents like Convention of July or Diplomatic Passports are not eligible for the eVOA.
• If children are traveling with you, they will need an eVOA. This includes infants as well. However, with a minimum of 2 and maximum of 10 applicants, your eVOA application can be created for the entire family.
• You need a digital photo/copy of your passport cover page.
• You also need a digital photo/copy of your passport's bio page.
• A digital copy of your passport photo (4x6 cm).
• A copy of your arrival and departure airline tickets.
• Confirmation of your hotel or accommodation bookings.
• You will need a debit or major credit card (American Express, MasterCard, Visa) in order to pay the application and associated fees.
• You need a valid email address in order to receive your eVisa code once your application is approved.
• You must arrive by plane at one of Thailand's international airports.

As an additional note on your passport photo, submitting a photo that doesn't meet the ICAO standard of 4x6 cm can delay your visa application process as you'll have to provide a new one before the Thailand eVisa application can be processed.

How to Apply For a Thailand Tourist eVisa On Arrival?

You can apply for your Thailand visa as much as 30 days in advance of your visit, or as little as 24 hours before you arrive in the country with the Express Visa service that is available for an additional cost. The Thailand electronic visa on arrival grants you permission to visit the country for up to 15 days.

You do need to obtain your Thailand eVisa before arriving in the country as you'll be required to show a copy upon attempting to enter.

• Complete the online application for Thailand eVOA.
• Ensure that your application is accurate, truthful, and matches the information on your passport from one of the 21 eligible countries.
• The passport that you use for the application must be the same one that you will travel to Thailand with. Once your Thailand eVisa application is submitted and processed, the information cannot be changed and if the information doesn't match, your eVOA will be invalid and you won't be eligible for a refund.
• If you hold dual nationality, select the nationality of the passport that you will use for your trip to Thailand.

Upon arriving at one of Thailand's international airports, proceed to the immigration section and locate the dedicated eVOA lane in the Visa on Arrival area. Simply present your passport and approved eVOA code to the immigration officer and once approved, you'll move to the Customs portion of arrival. Once that is complete, you're free to visit Thailand as a tourist for up to 15 days.

The entire Thailand eVisa/eVOA process is 100 percent online. No standing in line and no long waits for approval. Apply for your Thailand eVisa using the information and tips above and you could be seeing the beautiful lands of Thailand in as little as 24 hours.

Get your Thailand eVisa

Applying for and receiving a tourist visa to Thailand has never been more convenient. Apply from the comfort of home, on a break at work, or even while stuck in that traffic jam after work.

Complete the application with valid information, upload the required documents, pay the nonrefundable application and associated fees, and watch your email for your pre approval code.

If you're from one of the 21 countries listed above, the beauty and wonder of Thailand could be yours to behold in as little as 24 hours.