Updated
December 2008.
Introduction
Thailand’s visa and immigration laws are like so many things in the Kingdom, rather complicated, inconsistently enforced and just downright confusing!
I’ve put together this guide on visas and Immigration rules in Thailand to try and simplify things, and to help anyone who wishes to find a way to stay in Thailand. This guide is written primarily with Westerners in mind.
This is far from a comprehensive guide to all of the visa laws and regulations but rather a guide that should answer 95% of the questions
that Westerners have about staying in Thailand long-term, all written in plain,
easy to understand English. I get really annoyed when I see information online about
the visa process in Thailand that is just a rehash or worse still, a translation, of the official requirements. I have written this in such a way that I personally find
to be useful useful, with analysis and information of how things actually are
on the ground – not just the regulations listed!
Should you find any mis-information here, or information that is contrary to your personal experiences, please do let me know so that the pages can be updated and / or the misinformation amended!
Stick
