Visas and border crossings forum

Free Thai Tourist Visas

nicolasmith-
83

newbie
Posts: 1

Posted from within Vietnam.

Does anyone know if it's still possible to get a free TOURIST visa for Thailand (i.e. one that gives you 60days, not the visas on arrival that only give 15/30 days for overland/flight entry)?

And if so, at the Embassy in Ho Chi Minh City?

I read they were available until April 2010.

If not, how much will it cost a UK passport holder to buy a Thai Tourist Visa in Saigon?

#1 Posted: 6/4/2010 - 15:47
Gorey

tourist
Posts: 58
Located in:

I was informed by people over in Thailand that the free tourist visa had been extended for another 12 months with an included liability insurance (because of the protests). But cannot find anything about this on the Royal Thai Embassay website.

The website for the embassay in Ho chi Min says the visa fee is $35 US and the need to show evidence of finance of 20,000baht.

http://www.thaiconsulatehochiminh.com:8080/list.aspx?typeid=80

Click tourist visa and it will download the info.

#2 Posted: 6/4/2010 - 19:14
bakpakk

flashpacker
Posts: 38
Located in:

The free tourist visa promotion has been extended from May 11 2010 to March 21 2011.I saw this information on the Chicago Thai Consulate's website. It's listed in the headline news section at the top of the page.

http://www.thaichicago.net/clate/index.htm

#3 Posted: 3/5/2010 - 22:06
catherine25

flashpacker
Posts: 34

How do you go about getting a free tourist visa? Im in the UK and heading out at the end of the month. However when I contacted them they quoted me a price for the visa?!

Thanks

#4 Posted: 7/6/2010 - 22:17
SBE

mahout
Posts: 1735
Located in:

Private message

They were quoting the "handling fee" which often varies according to which consulate you ask so it might be worth asking a different consulate to see if they'll give you a "free" visa any cheaper.

Even when you buy a normally-priced visa the price isn't standard. It's generally much cheaper to get visas once you're in SE Asia rather than before leaving home.

#5 Posted: 8/6/2010 - 03:17
SBE

mahout
Posts: 1735
Located in:

Private message

PS In case you didn't know, there are Thai consulates in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Hull, Glasgow, Dublin and Cardiff.

#6 Posted: 8/6/2010 - 03:24
catherine25

flashpacker
Posts: 34

Thats great, thanks! I got in touch with them and they took over a week to get back to me and didnt really answer any of my questions, since were leaving in two weeks I was just going to leave it and get one when we are out there? Either in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, can you still get the free tourist visa there and if so does anyone know how long they take?

Thanks!!

#7 Posted: 16/6/2010 - 22:27