Validity of visa and period of stay

• Please note that a visa means “a permit to enter ”NOT“ a permit to stay” and the validity of a visa is NOT the duration of stay in Thailand. Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand. In general, the validity of a visa is 3 months, but in some cases may be valid for 6 months to 1 year. 
• Period of stay is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry in accordance with the type of visa. It is displayed on the arrival stamp which shows the entry date and the last date of permission to stay. Please look at the stamp right away to avoid an overstaying problem which may result in a fine in which case, the Embassy is not accountable.

• Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General have the authority to issue visas to foreigners to travel to Thailand. The authority to permit entry and stay in Thailand, however, is with the Thai immigration officers. In some cases, the immigration officer may not permit a foreigner holding a valid visa entry into Thailand should the immigration officer find a reason to believe that he or she falls into the category of aliens prohibited from entering Thailand under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).

Important Information for visa application

• Consular Officers reserve the right to request additional documents, or an interview with the applicant, as deemed necessary, without prior notice.
• The Royal Thai Embassy reserves the right to refuse a visa to an applicant with insufficient documents, assumes the right to deny or grant any type of visa to the applicant if the reasons given are not fully supported. The visa application fee is non-refundable.
• Types of visas cannot be changed after the submission of visa applications.
• Please do not apply for a visa earlier than 3 months before your expected date of arrival in Thailand.
• Upon arrival in Thailand, please check the last date on which you are allowed to stay in the country stamped in your passport by the Thai immigration officer. If you stay beyond the specified date, you will have to pay a fine for overstaying in Thailand. The Royal Thai Embassy will not be responsible for any fine incurred as a result of your violation of the Thai immigration law.