While we will endeavour to provide you with all the visa information you will need, we stress that the best source of information should always be the official Thailand Government’s website – Tourist Visa to Thailand | ThaiEmbassy.com. This excellent website is crammed full of all the vital information you will need to plan for your trip to the PtD Global Indaba 2024!
Depending on your country of origin, to visit Thailand you will either:
- Be visa exempt (no visa necessary)
- Be eligible for a visa on arrival
- Be eligible for an eVisa
- Require an appointment at the nearest consulate or embassy
Discover which kind of visa you require by visiting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand’s Thai E-visa official website.
If you require a letter of invitation from the Global Indaba conference organisers, email info@upavon.co.za.
The PtD Global Indaba has been granted the status of official conference by The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. This support gives participants who need to apply for a visa the opportunity to apply for a Tourist (MICE) visa which negates the Business Visa application process which can be laborious. For any queries contact info@upavon.co.za.
In some cases the Thai visa application process can take upto two months: participants are encouraged to apply well in advance. Please ensure that the visa will be valid for the dates of the PtD Global Indaba; some visas are issued with limited time from the date of issue.
Are you eligible to enter Thailand without a visa?
The Thai Visa Exemption Scheme allows tourists from 64 countries to enter Thailand without applying for a visa. Travellers can visit Thailand for up to 30 days if they are entering through an international airport or land border checkpoint from a neighbouring country.
The following is the list of 64 countries that are exempt from needing a visa to enter to Thailand:
| Andorra | Japan | Russia |
| Australia | Korea | San Marino |
| Austria | Kuwait | Singapore |
| Bahrain | Latvia | Slovakia |
| Belgium | Liechtenstein | Slovenia |
| Brazil | Lithuania | South Africa |
| Brunei | Luxembourg | Spain |
| Canada | Macau | Sweden |
| Czech Republic | Malaysia | Switzerland |
| Denmark | Malta | Turkey |
| Estonia | Mauritius | Ukraine |
| Finland | Monaco | United Arab Emirates |
| France | Netherlands | United Kingdom |
| Germany | New Zealand | United States |
| Greece | Norway | Uruguay |
| Hong Kong | Oman | Uzbekistan |
| Hungary | Peru | Vanuatu |
| Iceland | Philippines | Vatican City |
| Indonesia | Poland | Vietnam |
| Ireland | Portugal | Taiwan |
| Israel | Qatar | |
| Italy | Romania |
Thailand entry requirements
Even if you hold a passport from one of the countries listed above, you will need to meet the following criteria to be allowed entry:
- Be from an approved country
- Be visiting Thailand strictly for tourism
- Hold a genuine passport with a valid expiry of over 6 months
- Can provide a valid address in Thailand on entry that can be verified. This address can be a hotel or an apartment.
- Must have a confirmed return ticket exiting Thailand within 30 days. Open tickets do not qualify. Travelling overland by train, bus, etc to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, etc is not accepted as proof of exiting Thailand.
- Provide proof of funds of at least 10,000 THB for single travellers, or 20,000 THB per family during your stay in Thailand.
Please note that you may be asked to show your flight ticket on entering Thailand. If you do not possess a flight ticket to show that you will exit Thailand within 30 days of entry, you will most likely be refused entry.
Are you eligible to enter Thailand with an eVisa on Arrival (eVOA?)
Passport holders of the following countries can apply for the Thailand eVisa on arrival:
| Bhutan | Georgia | Papua New Guinea |
| Bulgaria | India | Romania |
| China | Kazakhstan | Taiwan |
| Cyprus | Malta | Uzbekistan |
| Ethiopia | Mexico | Vanuatu |
| Fiji | Nauru |
If you hold a passport from one of the eligible countries listed above and meet the application requirements, you can get an electronic visa on arrival before traveling to Thailand. By applying in advance, you can avoid waiting in line at the border—Travellers with a Thai eVOA can join a dedicated fast lane.
With a valid Thailand eVisa you can:
- Stay for up to 15 days
- Enter Thailand once (single entry)
- Visit Thailand for tourism activities
Thai eVOA application requirements
Check you meet all the requirements to apply for the Thailand eVisa:
- Be a citizen of an eligible country
- Hold a passport valid for at least 15 days after the arrival date
- Be travelling for tourism purposes only
- Be visiting for a maximum of 15 days
You will also need to submit documentation including passport-style photographs and pay the eVisa application fee. Further supporting documents are requested on arrival.
How to apply for the Thailand online visa
Follow the below steps to apply for the electronic visa on arrival for Thailand in minutes:
- Visit the eVOA website
- Fill out the application form
- Upload the passport, photographs and other documents (if applicable)
- Pay the application fee by credit or debit card
You will then receive the approved eVOA via email at the address you provided in the application form. Most applications are processed in 1 to 5 days.
Thai eVisa document requirements
You may be asked to show the following documents in addition to your Thailand eVisa at the border:
- Printed copy of the approved eVOA
- Proof of accommodation and contact details
- Airline ticket to leave Thailand before the visa expires
- Evidence of sufficient funds for the entire trip
Thailand eVOA authorised landing International Airports
The Thailand online visa on arrival is valid for entry through these designated international airports:
- Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi International Airport – BKK
- Bangkok – Don Mueang International Airport – DMK
- Phuket – Phuket International Airport – HKT
Thailand Visa on Arrival at the airport
You can also apply for the Thai visa on arrival once you arrive at one of the Thai airports listed below.
To do so, you will need to carry all the necessary documents as well as the application fee. Travellers are advised to apply online in advance to avoid delays on arrival at the airport.
Do you require a visa to visit Thailand?
If you do not hold a passport from one of the countries listed above that are either eligible for entry without a visa or a Visa on Arrival (eVOA) you will probably need to apply for a visa in person at your nearest embassy.
Please visit the official Thai eVisa site to check the requirements for your passport:
There are several websites that can help you learn more about the visa requirements for Thailand. Here are some of the most reliable ones:
- Official website of Thailand electronic visa: This is the official website of the Thai government’s electronic visa application system. It provides information on the different types of visas available, the application process, and the requirements for each type of visa. You can also apply for a visa online through this website.
- Visa Information – VFS Global: VFS Global is a private company that provides visa application services on behalf of the Thai government. Their website provides information on the different types of visas available, the application process and the requirements for each type of visa. You can also apply for a visa online through this website.
- Royal Thai Embassy, London: If you are based in the UK you can visit the Royal Thai Embassy in London for visa and consular services. The embassy’s website provides information on the different types of visas available, the application process and the requirements for each type of visa.
- Royal Thai Embassy, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa: If you are based in Southern Africa, you can visit the Royal Thai Embassy in Pretoria for visa and consular services. The embassy’s website provides information on the different types of visas available, the application process and the requirements for each type of visa.
- Royal Thai Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya: If you are based in East Africa, you can visit the Royal Thai Embassy in Nairobi for visa and consular services. The embassy’s website provides information on the different types of visas available, the application process and the requirements for each type of visa.
- Royal Thai Embassy, Dakar, Senegal: If you are based in West Africa, you can visit the Royal Thai Embassy in Dakar for visa and consular services. The embassy’s website provides information on the different types of visas available, the application process and the requirements for each type of visa.
- Royal Thai Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria: If you are based in West Africa, you can also visit the Royal Thai Embassy in Abuja for visa and consular services. The embassy’s website provides information on the different types of visas available, the application process and the requirements for each type of visa.
Please note that these websites are not exhaustive and there may be other websites that provide similar information. It is always advisable to check the authenticity of the website before providing any personal information or making any payments.
Yellow fever vaccination
List of countries that require international health certificate for yellow fever vaccination (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand)
The Ministry of Public Health has issued regulations that applicants who have travelled from or through countries declared yellow fever infected areas must provide an international health certificate proving that they have received a yellow fever vaccination.
The international health certificate must be submitted together with the visa application form. The traveller will also have to present the certificate to the immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry in Thailand.
Nationals of the countries listed below who have not travelled from/through those countries do not require a health certificate. However, they should possess concrete evidence showing that their domicile is not in an infected area so as to prevent unnecessary inconvenience.
The countries that have been declared yellow fever infected areas:
| Angola | Benin | Bolivia |
| Brazil | Burkina Faso | Burundi |
| Cameroon | Central African Republic | Chad |
| Colombia | Congo | Congo Republic |
| Republic of the Congo | Côte d’Ivoire | Ecuador |
| Equatorial Guinea | Ethiopia | French-Guiana |
| Gabon | Gambia | Ghana |
| Guinea-Bissau | Guinea | Guyana |
| Kenya | Liberia | Mali |
| Mauritania | Niger | Nigeria |
| Panama | Peru | Rwanda |
| Sao Tome & Principe & Principe | Senegal | Sierra Leone |
| Somalia | Sudan | Suriname |
| Tanzania | Togo | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Uganda | Venezuela | Argentina |
| Paraguay |
The Indaba offers an unparalleled opportunity to speak to countries and supporting organisations about the supply chain problems they’re facing and talk through the solutions together.
– Shelby Kemper, Pharmaceutical Systems Africa