Not quite a tourist: Securing a Thai transit visa

Image source: thaiembassy.com

For many foreign travelers, entering a country would typically require a visa, or an endorsement on the passport indicating that the holder can enter and stay for a given period. An example of this is the tourist visa, which is required for those who will travel for pleasure or short medical procedures.

Another type of visa that is given to foreigners who wish to enter a country is the transit visa.

Although there are similarities between tourist and transit visas, their main difference is that a tourist visa gives more time to the traveler to explore the country, whereas the transit visa just gives an individual enough time to pass through the country before heading to their final destination.

Application procedures for a transit visa are the same with the tourist visa. For example, if you are securing a Thai transit visa, you need to have a passport or a travel document with validity not less than six months. A correctly filled visa application form, a photocopy of confirmed returned ticket, and a proof of hotel accommodation need to be presented as well, among other requirements.

Image source: bangkok-visa.com

Holders of transit visa will be allowed to stay in Thailand for 30 days. Their stay may be extended for another 30 days if warranted. Long-term extensions, similar to tourist visas, can be obtained, too, but the holder of transit visa cannot apply for a work permit. Transit visas can be changed to non-immigrant visas if needed.

Apart from travelers who will be passing through Thailand before proceeding to their final destination, individuals who can apply for transit visa include participants of sports activities and crew of a conveyance coming to a port or station in the kingdom.

Cox & Kings Global Services’s Thailand Visa Application and Processing Centers in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, and Indore handle transit visa applications. For more information, click here.