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FAQ about Thai visa

1. I would like to go to Thailand for vacation for 2 weeks. I hold a Belgian / Luxembourgish passport. Do I need a visa?

• Effective on 15 July 2024, nationals of Belgium / Luxembourg are entitled to visa exemption for the purposes of tourism and short business for up to 60 days, Therefore, you do not need a visa in such cases.
• For short business trip, foreigners are required to notify the registrar in person at any international airport or labour office in Thailand. The work shall be completed within 15 days. 16 types of necessary and urgent work or ad-hoc work are included under this visa exemption scheme, which are: (1) organising or setting up conferences; (2) conducting special academic lectures; (3) aviation superintendent; (4) occasional internet audit; (5) follow-up and resolve technical issues; (6) quality control of products; (7) inspection or improvement of production process; (8) Machinery and electric generator equipment system; (9) machinery maintenance and in stallation; (10) electric train technician; (11) aircraft or aircraft equipment system technician; (12) consulting work on machinery maintenance or machinery control system; (13) machinery demonstration and testing; (14) movie filming and slide photographing; (15) recruitment of job seeker for overseas job placement; and, (16) technical skill testing for overseas job placement.
• 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 visa exemption scheme can extend their period of stay to not exceeding 30 days at the Thai Immigration Bureau, in total not exceeding 90 days of stay.

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 / Luxembourgish businessman, I must go to Thailand very frequently on business. Is there any facility for frequent business travellers like me?

• If the purpose of your business trip falls under the 16 types of work under the visa exemption scheme and you plan to complete your business within 15 days, you may enter Thailand without a visa. However, you still have to notify the registrar of the nature of your work in Thailand at the border checkpoint or the Immigration Office after having arrived in Thailand.
• 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.    

3. I want to work in Thailand. I am a Belgian / Luxembourgish, living in the Belgium/Luxembourg. How should I go about getting necessary visa?

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

         (1) Non-Immigrant “B” Visa ; and,

         (2) Work Permit

• First, you need to have a prospective employer in Thailand. Then, you may apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa category “B” (business) through https://.thaievisa.go.th 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 apply for a work permit from the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour. 
• 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 for visa application. In such case, once you arrive in Thailand, please make sure to obtain the original copy of the work permit (Tor Thor 2).
• In the case that you are a digital nomad, remote worker, foreign talent, and freelancer and wish to travel to Thailand for workcation, the “Destination Thailand Visa” (DTV) is the type of visa for which you should apply. The DTV is valid for 5 years and allows you to stay in Thailand up to 180 days for each time. You may re-enter Thailand as many times as you wish during such 5-year period of validity of the visa.

4. I am a Belgian / Luxembourgish national currently staying in Phuket on my vacation. I entered Thailand with a tourist visa and was granted a permission to stay for 60 days until the end of this month. However, I wish to stay longer. What should I do?

• You may apply for an extension of stay at any Immigration Bureau in Thailand (www.immigration.go.th) where you may be permitted to stay for another 30-day period. Please do it before your stay permit expires; otherwise, you will be fined minimum 500.- Baht for each day you overstay in Thailand and be banned from re-entering the country from 1 to 10 years.

5. I am a Belgian / Luxembourgish and I just finished my study in Bangkok. Now I want to work with a company in Bangkok. What do I need to do ? 

• Before your graduation, you may apply for a Non-Immigrant “ED Plus” visa which is issued to international students currently studying at universities/institutions in Thailand at a bachelor’s degree level or above. During the course of study, Non-Immigrant “ED Plus” visa holders can depart and re-enter Thailand without the need for a re-entry permit. Universities/institutions can submit the visa extension application on behalf of the students.
• Non-immigrant “ED Plus” visa holders are allowed to extend the stay in Thailand for 1 year after graduating, to seek employment, travel or participate in other activities and are eligible to apply for a new type of visa in Thailand, if employed.
• When you get a job in Thailand after graduation, 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.

6. An NGO in Thailand has invited me to go there and work for them as a volunteer for 45 days during my school break. I will not earn any money in Thailand. I am a Belgian / Luxembourgish student. I understand that I do not need a visa, do I? 

• 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. 

7. I heard that Thailand is a nice place to stay after retirement. Is there any special kind of visa for retirees?

• Yes, there is special visa for retirees so-called Non-immigrant “O-A” (Long Stay). Belgian / Luxembourgish, who are 50 years of age or more who wish to stay in Thailand for a long period, and do not have any intention to work in Thailand, may apply for such visa through https://thaievisa.go.th. The holder of Non-immigrant “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.
• If you wish to stay in Thailand after one year, you must submit a request for an extension of stay at the Immigration Office in Thailand. You will need to provide evidence of a money transfer or a deposit in a Thai bank account of no less than 800,000 baht, or a certificate of income or pension of no less than 65,000 baht per month. Alternatively, a combination of these sources totaling no less than 800,000 baht per year is also acceptable. If all qualifications are met, you will be granted an extension of stay for another year.

8. Can I go to Thailand if the validity of my passport is less than 6 months?

• As a rule, passports should have at least six months of validity when travelling internationally. Most countries will not permit traveller to enter their country, and will reject visa application, unless the passport will be expired at least six months after the last day of travel. So, if the validity of your passport is less than six months, you should renew it right away.
• In the case that you are entitled to Thailand’s visa exemption scheme and you do not notice the expiry date of your passport until last minute before departure, and decide to go to Thailand anyway, this is at your own risk. It is entirely the discretion of the airlines and the immigration officer whether to allow you on board the aircraft and enter Thailand, respectively.

9. Who is eligible to apply for an e-Visa through the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels?

• Residents of Belgium or Luxembourg can apply for e-Visas through the Thai Embassy in Brussels. Proof of residency is For more details, visit [e-Visa: https://thaievisa.go.th].
• Those residing outside Belgium or Luxembourg should reach out to the Royal Thai Embassy in their current country or areas.
• Nationals of Belgium or Luxembourg who are currently in Thailand or outside Belgium or Luxembourg cannot apply for an e-Visa through the Embassy. They must return to Belgium or Luxembourg before applying.

10. What is the processing time for an e-Visa, and when should I apply?

• In general, it is expected to take 10 days after a complete application is received which means all required documents must be submitted correctly. Some applications can take longer.
• You must apply for an e-Visa at least 1 month before your intended travel date BUT no longer than 2 months because most visas have 60-90 days’ validity starting from the date of issuance.
• Applications by certain nationals can take up to 3 months to complete the process.

11. How do I pay the visa application fee?

• The application processing fee must be paid online via the e-Visa System using a debit or credit card (VISA or Master Card). Upon successful payment, your application will be processed, the application status will show “processing”, and a payment receipt will be available for download.
• If the payment is unsuccessful, there will be a notification stating that the “payment has failed or been cancelled.” Please make payment using a different card.
• The system only accepts payment by debit or credit (VISA & Master Card) cards.

12. Can I apply for a visa in person at the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels?

• All visa applications at the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels must be submitted online through the e-Visa system, except for the Privilege Entry Visa for Thailand Elite members, please contact the Thailand Privilege Card Company Ltd. at thailandprivilege.co.th

13. What types of e-Visas are available?

• The e-Visa system offers various types of visas, including Tourist, Transit, Non-Immigrant, Diplomatic, and Official visas. Both single and multiple-entry options are available, subject to specific conditions. The e-Visa system will guide you in selecting the appropriate visa type based on your purposes of visit