Planning a holiday in Thailand? Depending on your passport, length of stay and travel history, you may need a Thai Tourist Visa before departure. Applications handled by the Royal Thai Embassy in London are made through Thailand’s official e-Visa website.
This guide explains how to prepare and submit a tourist visa application from the UK or Ireland. If you live elsewhere, check the instructions of the Thai embassy or consulate responsible for your location, as document requirements may differ.
Do you need a Thai Tourist Visa?
A tourist visa and visa exemption are different ways to enter Thailand. From 15 September 2026, eligible British and Irish passport holders may enter for tourism under the visa exemption scheme for up to 30 days, subject to its conditions. If you plan a longer visit, expect to enter frequently or do not qualify for exemption, check whether a tourist visa is appropriate before travelling.
A single-entry Tourist Visa generally permits a stay of up to 60 days from arrival. Check the permission actually granted by Thai Immigration when you enter. A multiple-entry Tourist Visa may suit some travellers making several visits, but it has different eligibility and evidence requirements.
How to apply for a Thai Tourist Visa online
1. Check the current requirements
Visit the Royal Thai Embassy in London’s visa guidance. Confirm the correct visa category, where you are permitted to apply and the documents required for your circumstances. Applicants using the London service must remain in the UK, Ireland or relevant UK territories during the application process.
2. Prepare your documents
Have your passport, a recent photograph, evidence of your current location and the travel and financial documents requested for your visa category ready. The embassy may require an official flight confirmation and can request further evidence. Make sure names, passport numbers and travel dates match throughout the application.
3. Create an e-Visa account
Apply through the official Thailand e-Visa website. Create an account, choose the correct embassy and visa category, and complete the online form using your passport details exactly as printed.
4. Upload, review and pay
Upload clear, complete documents in the formats accepted by the system. Review every answer and attachment before submitting: an incorrect passport detail or missing document can delay the application, and the embassy’s visa fee is generally non-refundable.
5. Wait for the decision
Monitor your account and email for updates or requests for further documents. Do not assume that submitting an application guarantees a visa or that it will be decided by a particular travel date. The London embassy recommends applying well ahead of departure and publishes its current processing guidance on its website.
Before travelling to Thailand
Check your e-Visa details, passport and travel plans. Foreign travellers are also required to submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within the three days before arrival. The TDAC is free at the official Thai Immigration website; it is an arrival form, not a visa.
On arrival, check the permitted-stay date recorded by Thai Immigration. If you later want to stay longer, read our Thailand visa extension guide and enquire before your permission expires. Extensions are subject to Immigration’s decision.
Need help with your application?
Thai Visa Express can help you assess the suitable route, prepare your supporting documents and review an application. Tell us your nationality, where you are applying from, intended travel dates and how long you want to stay.
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