Tourist Visas

• Visitors from many Western countries are granted visa-free entry to Thailand for one month if arriving by air, and two weeks if arriving by land. Your stay can be extended by up to four two-week increments by crossing the border into Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia or Malaysia and then re-entering Thailand every two weeks. You might need a visa in advance of entry if you are from a developing nation or from certain EU nations. A tourist visa valid for 30 to 60 days can be issued within hours at any Thai embassy or consulate abroad, and these visas are subject to at least one 30-day extension within Thailand. You will have to bring your passport, a passport-sized photo and a ticket for onward travel out of Thailand. You also will have to complete a simple tourist visa application. Since July 2009, Thai single-entry tourist visas have been free.
  
  

Non-Immigrant Visas

• Non-immigrant visas are designed for those who enter Thailand for purposes of study, business, investment or employment. Although these visas are normally granted for 90 days at a time (and can be extended inside the country), visas valid for up to one year are available, depending on the details of your application. Employment visa applications must be filed by the employer, not the employee. Although a passport, a passport-sized photograph, and a completed visa application are always required, the need for additional documentation depends on the basis for the application (proof of student status, for example).
  
  

Retirement Visas

• The retirement visa is a special type of non-immigrant visa known as an "O" visa. You must be at least 50 years of age to obtain this type of visa. You also will have to prove that your monthly income is at least 65,000 Thai Baht (about $2,000) or that you have a bank account balance of at least 800,000 Thai Baht (about $25,000). You also can qualify by showing a combination of a bank account balance and a yearly income of at least 800,000 Thai Baht. This amount can be held in any foreign currency that is convertible into Thai Baht. You also have to have to provide medical and police clearances form your home country. A Thai retirement visa is valid for one year and does not permit employment in Thailand.