Bangkok Visa on Arrival can be issued at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), which is the main travel hub of Thailand. In case your journey starts at the main airport of Bangkok, you can apply for Visa on Arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport as it is one of Immigration Checkpoints providing facilities for Thai Visa on Arrival.
Other international airports, harbours and land border crossings, where you can apply for Thai Visa on Arrival to enter the country, are listed here – Immigration Checkpoints issuing Visa on Arrival.
If your nationality lets you enter Thailand on visa exemption or you’ve got a Single Entry Tourist Visa / Multiple Entry Tourist Visa or any other type of Thailand visa in advance from Thai embassy or consulate, you can proceed directly to the immigration, present your travel documents to the immigration officer, get your passport stamped and you will be allowed to enter the country. Thailand Immigration control procedure at the airport is briefly described here: Thailand Immigration Control Procedure for Foreigners.
However, if you’re a citizen of one of the countries eligible to obtain Thai Visa on Arrival and decided to use this type of Thailand Visa for entering the country, you need to proceed to Bangkok Visa on Arrival department first and apply for your Visa on Arrival before passing Immigration control.
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Visa on Arrival
As the queues at Suvarnabhumi Airport Visa on Arrival section might be long, preparing all your documents in advance can be a really good idea as it will help you save some time at the airport.
If your mobile phone is eSIM compatible, you can get eSIM Thailand by instant email delivery and stay connected right after landing in Bangkok.
Where to apply for Bangkok Visa on Arrival
Once you arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, follow the signs leading to "Immigration" or simply "Arrivals". There are also the signs clearly displaying directions "Visa on Arrival" and "E-Visa on Arrival", which is the place where you need to apply for Visa on Arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Bangkok Airport Visa on Arrival area is located about 100 meters after the main Immigration area.
On the way to Immigration additional signs of “VISA on Arrival” on the poles and the distance on them will show up. They are big and clear so you will definitely not miss them.
On the way to Visa on Arrival section, you will also notice a counter of eVisa on your left. In case you've applied for E-Visa on Arrival before arrival (more about this option below), you might wish to contact the staff at this counter in case you have some questions or concerns. If not, you can just proceed further to the main Visa on Arrival area, which is located nearby.
You will also pass currency exchange booth of the bank on your way. If you don’t have enough Thai baht for paying Thai Visa on Arrival fees, you can exchange your currency at this booth or at one of the booths located just near the entrance to Bangkok Visa on Arrival section. Expect all these money changers to be offering the equally bad currency exchange rates so there's not much point in shopping around. Simply exchange money here only if you must to and only the amount that is necessary.
If you haven't prepared your Bangkok Visa on Arrival application form in advance, you can do it at one of the stands named "Immigration Form", where additional information about Visa on Arrival application requirements is provided.
Documents required for Bangkok Visa on Arrival
When applying for Thai Visa on Arrival at Bangkok Airport you will need:
- Visa on Arrival application form
- Passport
- Return ticket
- Hotel booking
- Photo
- Visa on Arrival fee
- A proof of appropriate means of living
Thailand Arrival Card(no longer needed, when applying at the airport)
Main required documents are clearly displayed at the information stands in several different languages.
Thai Visa on Arrival application form
Thai Visa on Arrival application form should be duly filled-in. You can get the application form at Bangkok Visa on Arrival document check desk or download and fill the PDF form in advance and just bring a printed copy with you. Completing Bangkok Visa on Arrival application form in advance is easy and will save your time at the airport.
Travelers from China, India, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan can even find detailed explanation of how Thai Visa on Arrival application form should be filled in with the data from their respective passports.
Passport requirements
Passport must be valid for at least 30 days and issued by one of the eligible Thailand Visa on Arrival countries.
The list of eligible countries is also provided at the information stand. While there are countries such as Russia and Saudi Arabia included, citizens of these countries can enter Thailand on visa exemption so application for Bangkok Visa on Arrival makes no sense for them, even if officially they are eligible to do that.
Return ticket
When applying for Thai Visa on Arrival, return or onward journey air ticket for flying out of Thailand within the next 15 days must be presented.
Other proofs of your intention to leave Thailand in 15 days, such as your trip plan and international bus or train ticket, can be accepted too.
Hotel booking
You need to have a hotel or apartment address in Thailand that can be verified. Recently they started to ask for the proof of accommodation as well, so a printed hotel booking voucher is needed when applying for Bangkok Visa on Arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
If you haven’t booked your accommodation yet, just book any hotel on Booking.com or Agoda as hotel bookings from these online travel agents are usually accepted with no trouble.
Photo
You need to attach one passport size (4 x 6 cm) photo to your Visa on Arrival application form. The photo shouldn’t be older than 1 month but if you still look like the person in the photo, everything should be fine. There are also additional Visa on Arrival photo requirements that are provided at the information stand as seen below.
Bangkok Visa on Arrival Fee
Bangkok Visa on Arrival fee is 2,000 THB. The fee must be paid in cash and Thai currency only. You can exchange your cash at one of currency exchange booths in the hall just before Visa on Arrival counters.
We recommend exchanging only the amount needed for paying the Visa on Arrival fee (about 60 EUR or 70 USD per person) here, as you can get much better currency exchange rates at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
A proof of appropriate means of living
A proof that you have funds of at least 10,000 THB per person and 20,000 THB per family during your stay in Thailand might be needed. Showing enough cash in any currency should be enough. However, at Suvarnabhumi Airport they hardly ask for it but it’s better to be prepared as this is an official requirement and they have the right to demand it at any time.
Thailand Arrival Card
Thailand Arrival Card is no longer required when entering Thailand by air so you don't need to submit it when applying for Bangkok Visa on Arrival as well.
How to apply for Bangkok Visa on Arrival
There’s a Visa on Arrival document check desk near the entrance. Here you can get Thai Visa on Arrival application form, which needs to be duly filled. Once you’ve filled your application form, just show it with all other leading documents to the person at the desk. The desk is located just in front of the entrance to Suvarnabhumi Airport Visa on Arrival section.
Don’t worry if there will be no one at the desk, in such a case just proceed to Visa on Arrival counters.
The system of Visa on Arrival counters at Bangkok Airport has been changed several times. Now there are two separate lines. One is for the ordinary Visa on Arrival applications, when you submit all the required documents at the place. Another line is dedicated to E-Visa on Arrival service users.
While E-Visa on Arrival is supposed to work as a "fast track" as your application is pre-checked before arrival, depending on the number of people waiting in the lines, it might not necessary be like that.
The situation at the counters is not constant as the length of the queue here depends on the number of open counters, the time of your arrival and the number of flights arriving from other countries eligible for Visa on Arrival. During our latest visit to Suvarnabhumi Airport, all Visa on Arrival area was basically empty so E-Visa on Arrival was just a waste of money on that day as it costs more than the ordinary Visa on Arrival.
When your turn will come, proceed to the counter, present your passport and other listed documents to the officer. You will get a small laminated paper with a number on it.
Go to the waiting area, which is just after the counters. Sit there and wait until the officer brings passports and starts announcing numbers. When your number will be announced, just go to the officer, give the laminated paper back and take your passport - your Thai Visa on Arrival is already in it!
Proceed to the immigration, present your travel documents to the officer, get your passport stamped and you will be allowed to enter the country.
E-Visa on Arrival Thailand
There is Thailand E-Visa on Arrival online application system that is supposed to simplify and speedup the process of application for Bangkok Visa on Arrival. This way of application is available at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and three other international airports. More info about the online application system can be found here: Thailand eVisa on Arrival (eVOA) by VFS Global.
Tips
To stay connected right after your arrival, make sure to book discounted SIM Card for Thailand and pick it up at Bangkok Airport. By pre-booking your SIM card you can save a lot if compared to the standard prices of Thai SIM card for tourists. Otherwise, if your mobile phone is eSIM compatible, you can get eSIM Thailand by instant email delivery and use it right after landing in Bangkok.
If you haven't decided on where to stay in Bangkok during your trip, make sure to explore this guide to Bangkok Best Areas as it will help you choose the neighborhood that suites your plans the best.
Detailed information about other facilities at the airport can be found here: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
You should also check:
[Sale] Private Suvarnabhumi Airport Transfers (BKK)
Train from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok
Shuttle bus between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya Transfer
Hotels near Suvarnabhumi Airport
Any Questions?
Check our Frequently Asked Questions about Thailand Visa on Arrival and ask your own question if it's not answered there yet.
