• Nationals of Belgian and Luxembourgish are eligible to travel to Thailand, for tourism purposes, with the exemption of a visa, and are permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 60 days. Therefore, you do not need a visa.
• However, please make sure that you are in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months, a round-trip air ticket, and adequate finances equivalent to at least 20,000 Baht (500 Euros) per person or 40,000 Baht (1 000 Euros) per family. Otherwise, you may be inconvenienced upon entry into the country.
• Furthermore, foreigners who enter Thailand under this Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme may re-enter and stay in Thailand for a cumulative duration of stay of not exceeding 90 days within any 6-month period from the date of first entry.

The list of countries eligible for Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand’s website (www.consular.go.th) 

2. As a Belgian and Luxembourgish businessman, I have to go to Thailand very frequently on business. Is there any facility for frequent business travellers like me?

• You can apply for a 1-year or 3-year multiple-entry business visa which would allow  you to travel to Thailand as frequently as you want while the visa remains valid, and you would be permitted to stay for a period of not exceeding 90 days on each visit.    

• In order to work in Thailand, there are 2 important elements:

         (1) Non-Immigrant “B” Visa and

         (2) Work Permit

• First of all, you need to have a prospective employer in Thailand. Then you may apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa category “B” (business) at the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels using the basic required documents and recommendation letter from your employer along with your company’s business certifications as suggested in the website (www.consular.go.th).
• Once you have obtained such visa, you can enter Thailand and therefore apply for a Work Permit from the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour. In order to expedite visa issuance, your employer may, on your behalf, apply for the Work Permit in advance (with the form called Tor Thor 3). The Department of Employment will then issue a pre-approved certificate to be used in your visa application. In such case, please make sure to obtain the Work Permit (Tor Thor 2) once you arrive in Thailand.

• You may apply for an extension of stay at any Immigration Office in Thailand (www.immigration.go.th) where you may be permitted to stay for another 30-day period. You must do so before your stay permits expires, otherwise you will be fined 500 Baht for each day you overstay in Thailand.    

• You need to apply for a change of visa status, and apply for a Work Permit.
• You are therefore recommended to consult with the Immigration Office (www.immigration.go.th) and the Department of Employment (www.doe.go.th) accordingly.

• Although you will work as a volunteer, you do need a Non-Immigrant visa as well as the Work Permit. The NGO must be legally registered with the Thai authority, and that you need a recommendation letter from the NGO for your visa application and the Work Permit. 

• Yes, there is special visa called Non-immigrant “O-A” (Long Stay). Foreigners who are 50 years of age or older who wish to stay in Thailand for a long period and do not have any intention to work in Thailand may, in case of British national, apply for such visa at the Royal Thai Embassy in London ONLY. The holder of “O-A” visa is allowed to stay in Thailand for 1 year from the date of first entry, and is also able to apply for an extension of stay afterwards.