21 Feb. 2020

Since June 17, 2019, all Thai visa applications at the Paris Embassy must be submitted online. This is what we call an E-visa. What documents are required? How do you go about it? How long does it take? We answer all your questions! Discover how to properly submit your Thai tourist visa application online...

Required Documents

It depends on the type of visa you want. The tourist visa grants 60 days from your arrival date in Thailand and can be extended by one month by filing for an extension at one of the country's immigration service offices. The tourist visa is valid for 3 months from the submission date. To obtain it, you must start by gathering the following documents:

• A passport. It must remain valid for at least 6 months from your departure date.
• An official color identity photo.
• A copy of your residence permit (only for travel document holders and foreigners residing in France) or proof of address for European passports (electricity or telecom bill).
• A copy of your flight reservations (entry and exit from Thai territory within 90 days).
• A financial document: this can be a recent bank statement (less than 30 days from the submission date) showing a minimum balance of €1,000 per applicant (or €2,000 for a joint account) or a bank attestation signed and stamped by your bank.
• Hotel reservations for your first 7 nights with your name and the hotel's complete address.

Steps to Follow Online

Once you've gathered all your documents, you can take action by visiting the Thai Embassy website https://www.thaievisa.go.th/. Create a user account to submit your application. You must upload your documents online and pay the visa processing fee to obtain an appointment for submitting your passport.

GOOD TO KNOW: when uploading documents, you cannot upload more than 500 KB per document (which is rather small). Given that the visa can be rejected if 3 or more documents are missing, we advise you to use a tool to combine and compress your PDFs. This way, you can consolidate all your hotel reservations into one PDF and reduce its file size so it's accepted for upload. You'll find various online tools such as https://combinepdf.com/fr/ and https://pdfcompressor.com/fr/ to manage all your documents. Prefer the .pdf format over .jpg and ensure all your documents are clearly legible.

Once this first step is complete, you'll be offered different dates and times for an appointment to present your passport at the embassy.

Submitting Your Passport at the Thai Embassy

It is mandatory to appear at the Thai Embassy to submit your passport to finalize your visa application. You must then present yourself with your passport valid for at least 6 months from your departure date, an identity photo, and your visa application proof, which you'll find in your account on the thaievisa website and in your email (document with your photo and barcode).

Once at the embassy, simply wait your turn to submit your file. If it's incomplete, you'll receive an email within 2-3 days following submission, asking you to send the missing documents. You may also be called in for an interview.

You can then track your application status online through your user account under the "Checking Status" menu. If the status shows "Ready to collect passport", this means your visa is ready and you can collect it at the embassy between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on business days. If you cannot go to the embassy, a third party can collect your passport on your behalf, provided they have your receipt. No calls or emails will be sent to notify you of your "Ready to collect" status, so don't hesitate to regularly check the website.

How Long Does It Take?

It depends on many factors such as the season and the quality of your application (whether it's complete or not)! Indeed, the waiting time to obtain your first appointment at the embassy and submit your passport varies by period: 2-3 business days during low season up to 2-3 weeks during high season! Also, if you miss documents, this will inevitably delay the process by several days. This is why you must absolutely plan a few weeks in advance to complete your procedures before your departure date!

Attention!

Always remember to check Thai holidays and public holidays to avoid surprises when you arrive at the embassy! You'll find all dates of exceptional embassy closures on their official website http://www.thaiembassy.fr/holidays/ and on their Facebook page "RoyalThaiEmbassyParis".

Florine Dergelet

Florine Dergelet

A web writer for over 10 years, Florine Dergelet is a traveler driven by the desire to discover the world with an open heart. Each of her articles is an invitation to slow down, to listen, to understand. Because for her, traveling is not about checking countries off a map, but about weaving connections (often invisible but always powerful) with places, peoples, and all sorts of creatures in the animal kingdom. Her credo? To advise travelers ethically, to raise awareness about animal welfare, respect for cultures, and the importance of humble and sustainable tourism. Because the most beautiful memories often arise far from the spotlight, in the shadow of a trail, at the edge of a conversation, or in the quiet breath of a world we finally take time to listen to…