Thailand Special Tourist Visa

Thailand is once again opening its doors to foreign visitors with a new Special Tourist Visa designed for the age of COVID-19. The STV program allows visitors to enter the country by September 30, 2021, and stay up to nine months. It also introduces new COVID-19 screening and mandatory 10-day quarantine provisions.

Thailand has grown into a popular travel destination, adding contemporary facilities and tourist amenities to the cultural treasures that draw visitors from both hemispheres. The industry exploded over the past decade, reaching 35.4 million visitors in 2017 and 39.8 million in 2019. Before Thailand’s borders closed in early 2020, tourism contributed more than $55.5 million in annual revenues to the nation’s economy and almost 20 percent of its GDP.

The exotic Southeast Asian kingdom offers a year-round tropical climate with all the modern comforts of the West – and at substantially lower prices than many exotic ports of call. Visitors are drawn to Thailand’s sandy beaches, lush jungles, vibrant marketplaces, ancient ruins, colorful Buddhist temples, and spicy, aromatic cuisine.

Cosmopolitan Bangkok, the nation’s capital and a center of nightlife and culture, is a popular destination for travelers and retirees alike. Chiang Mai, the largest city in Northern Thailand, is a favorite among visitors who prefer its “small town” atmosphere, temples, and cultural attractions. Other popular draws include the beachside cities of Hua Hin, Phuket, and Rayong; Krabi Town on the Krabi River; mountainous Chiang Mai; and Chiang Rai, one of the least expensive cities in Thailand.

The new STV program has been tweaked several times since the Kingdom of Thailand introduced the visa in late 2020 to revive tourism. The original program was only available to citizens of low-risk countries with lower rates of COVID-19 infections. Visitors had to prove they had at least THB 50,000 (U.S. $16,000) in a bank account. They could stay up to 60 days, and renew the STV two more consecutive times. However, only 825 people from 29 countries and six luxury yachts took advantage of the program over its first two months. In December, the government opened the special visa program to all countries, relaxed the financial requirements, and allowed stays of up to 90 days (also renewable twice).  Additional changes could still follow; the details below were effective in late January.

Eligibility for Special Tourist Visa

Many of the documentation and eligibility requirements for the STV are similar to those for the normal Thai tourist visa application, with a few variations. U.S. applicants must:

  • Reside in the country where their application will be submitted.
  • Hold a valid U.S. passport that does not expire for at least 12 months beyond the date they would enter Thailand.
  • Have no criminal record in Thailand or the United States.
  • Carry no prohibited diseases (leprosy, tuberculosis, elephantiasis, third stage syphilis, or drug addiction).
  • Obtain travel medical insurance.
  • Not be prohibited from entering Thailand for other reasons under current laws.

Before applying for the Special Tourist Visa, you must first submit an initial application. You can contact the Thai Embassy or Consulate; a Tourism Authority of Thailand office; or an accredited travel agency. Thailand has four consulates and embassies in the United States: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. More information is available from the Thai U.S. Embassy at https://thaiembdc.org/2020/12/28/special-tourist-visa-stv.

You can also e-mail Thailand Longstay Company (marketing@thailongstay.co.th) to submit your intention to apply for the Special Tourist Visa (STV). Thailand Longstay is government-approved visa services partner that charges an additional fee for its services.  Of course, you can also contact our company -- Visa Supply.  We are based in Atlanta and ready to help travelers in the United States with visas for Thailand and other countries around the world.

Regardless of who you contact, you will need to provide a copy of your passport; your home address; and the location of the nearest Thai embassy. Your initial application is then submitted to the Thai Bureau of Immigration for verification and a background check.

Once you are approved, a visa application will be provided for completion and submission. Applicants must also submit:

  • A valid U.S. passport which does not expire for at least 12 months and contains at least two empty visa pages.
  • Two passport-sized photos (2x2) taken within the last six months against a light background and providing a full-face view of the applicant.
  • Proof of residency in the United States.
  • Verification letter from the FBI or state law enforcement firm that the applicant has no criminal record.
  • Medical certification that the applicant does not have a prohibited disease (listed above).
  • Proof of health insurance for the entire period you will visit Thailand. The policy must include at least $100,000 in coverage for COVID-19medical expenses and a minimum coverage of 400,000 THB for other medical and accident expenses. A list of Thai health insurers can be found https://longstay.tgia.org/home/companiesstv.
  • Proof of accommodations for your entire trip -- including the 10-day quarantine period after you arrive (or 7-day quarantine if you have been vaccinated). You must stay at a hotel that the government has designated an Alternate State Quarantine (ASQ) facility or at an approved hospital during your first two weeks in Thailand. You must also obtain a fully-paid hotel reservation, rental agreement, or similar proof of accommodations for your entire stay.

The government processing fee for each STV visa is $80. Fees must be paid using a money order payable to “Royal Thai Embassy”.

Additional COVID-19 Protocols

Before your trip, you will receive your STV visa and a Certificate of Entry from the Thai embassy or consulate. You will also need to obtain a negative COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours of your flight departure.

Upon arrival in Thailand, you will first undergo a health screening by the Ministry of Public Health. Those who pass the screening process will receive a visa allowing them to stay up to 90 days. (The STV can be extended two more times, for a total of 270 days, by applying for a new visa and paying the fee again.) Then you will immediately leave the airport to begin your 10-day quarantine at your ASQ hotel or hospital. Once you test negative for COVID-19 after the quarantine, you will be free to travel around the country. Visitors will also be given a mobile application that tracks their movements.

During your stay in Thailand, you must continue to meet basic eligibility requirements for tourists. Visas will be revoked for foreigners who do not follow quarantine guidelines; fail to maintain their health insurance; work without prior permission; or, as the embassy states online, “pose a threat to the peace and security of Thailand.” 

Alternate Assistance

If you prefer not to deal directly with the government representatives, you can use a courier service such as Visa Supply to help you navigate the STV requirements and obtain your visa more quickly. We work directly with the Thai consulate in the United States, and typically turn around applications within a few days.

The Thai consulate will reject applications with if there are errors or omissions, delaying your submission. Processing time is also slower when you mail the application. Our experienced team will make sure your application is complete before submission. We can also take your visa photo and prepare supporting documents that comply with government specifications. As a private vendor, we charge a $250 fee to help with the STV visa, plus $50 for overnight FedEx shipping (round-trip) and $80 for the Thai embassy fee.  Email us at admin@visasupply.com with questions or call the Visa Supply office at 404-682-5445.