Visa Formalities / Entry Without Visa
Nationals of the following countries can travel to Thailand for up to 15 days without a visa:
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Burma, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, USA, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia
Foreign tourists from these countries must enter the kingdom by passenger planes or registered sea-going vessels of 500 or more tons or overland from Malaysia. According to the books, tourists must hold tickets for onward travel; this is however rarely checked if a tourist comes from an industrialized country. Those who enter Thailand with a privately owned or rented car must bring all relevant registration papers for the vehicle.
The 15 day permit cannot be extended except for unforeseen circumstances such as illness or a delay of aircraft departure.
Special and most favorable regulations apply for nationals from New Zealand, South Korea and Malaysia.
New Zealand and South Korea citizens holding valid passports may enter Thailand as temporary visitors for three months without obtaining a visa.
Malaysian nationals entering the kingdom overland from Malaysia by bus, rented car or motorcycle need not have return or onward tickets. The Malaysians even don’t need a passport but can get a border pass. The border pass, valid for 6 months, allows a Malaysian national to travel up to 50km (31mi) into Southern Thailand for a maximum period of 15 days. Similar regulations are in effect for Burmese, Laotians and Cambodians who can cross the borders into Thailand with border passes but are restricted to one day stays within a limited area along the borders.
Citizens of Hong Kong and Taiwan are exempt from the requirement of a valid passport. Taiwanese just need to get an entry permit from a Thai Airways?office in Taipei or a Thai embassy in a third country. Hong Kong Chinese can travel to Thailand with their Certificates of Identity.
Holders of diplomatic or official passports from Holland, Belgium, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Philippines, Malaysia, Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Germany can stay longer than 15 days without a visa.
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