Since June 17, 2019, all Thai visa applications at the Paris embassy must be submitted online. This is what's known as an E-visa. What documents are required? How do you proceed? How long does it take? We answer all your questions! Discover how to successfully submit your Thai tourist visa application online...

Required documents

It depends on the type of visa you're seeking. The tourist visa grants access to 60 days from your arrival date in Thailand and can be extended by one month by processing 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 first gather 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 residency document (only for holders of travel documents and foreign nationals with legal residence in France) or proof of address for European passport holders (utility bill or phone 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 submission date) showing a minimum balance of €1,000 per applicant (or €2,000 for a joint account) or a bank certificate signed and stamped by your bank.

• Hotel reservations for your first 7 nights with your name and the complete hotel address.

Online application steps

Once you've gathered all your documents, you can proceed 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 to submit your passport.

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

Submitting your passport at the Thai Embassy

It's mandatory to appear at the Thai Embassy to submit your passport to finalize your visa application. You must 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 a 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 asking you to send the missing documents. You may also be called for an interview.

You can then track the progress of your file 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 can't visit the embassy, a third party can collect your passport on your behalf, provided they have your receipt. You won't receive a call or email notification when your status changes to "Ready to collect", so check the website regularly.

How long does it take?

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