Refugee Travel To Thailand: Understanding Entry Requirements

Thailand does not have an asylum system in place for refugees, and anyone without a valid visa is at risk of detention. The Royal Thai Government launched the National Screening Mechanism (NSM) in 2023, a legal process to identify individuals who may qualify as Protected Persons and be permitted to stay in the country temporarily. However, this process does not grant the right to work or any travel documents.

Regarding travel to Thailand with a refugee document, it depends on the country that issued the document. For example, those issued by South Korea do not provide visa-free entry to Thailand, whereas documents issued by the UK may allow visa-free entry. It is important to note that Thailand's entry requirements can change, so checking with the Thai embassy or consulate before travelling is recommended.

Visa requirements for refugees travelling to Thailand

Thailand does not have an asylum system for refugees, and anyone without a valid visa is at risk of detention. Therefore, it is important to have a valid visa with the Government of Thailand for the duration of your stay.

• A valid visa is required for entry into Thailand. The visa must be appropriate for the purpose of your travel, whether it is for tourism, business, work, or study.
• Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Thailand. It should also be in good condition, without any damage or missing pages.
• If you are arriving by air or land, you can enter Thailand without a visa for tourism, business, or urgent work purposes for up to 60 days. This period can be extended for an additional 30 days by paying a fee to the Thai Immigration Bureau.
• For longer stays, you will need to obtain a visa before travelling to Thailand. Contact the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in your country to apply for the appropriate visa.
• If you are a U.S. citizen, starting from July 15, 2024, you are entitled to receive a 60-day visa upon entry to Thailand for tourism, business, or urgent work. This visa can also be extended for up to 30 days.
• Additionally, a new Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is available for foreign remote workers, digital nomads, and freelancers. This visa allows a stay of up to 180 days per visit, with a total validity of five years.
• If you are a refugee travelling with a Refugee Travel Document, visa requirements may vary depending on the country that issued the document. It is recommended to check with the Thai Embassy or Consulate in your country for specific visa requirements.
• Thailand has specific visa requirements for certain nationalities, such as Russian, Chinese, Kazakhstani, Indian, and Taiwanese citizens. These requirements include visa exemptions and visa-on-arrival options for tourism purposes.

Thailand's asylum system

Thailand does not have an asylum system in place for refugees. The Royal Thai Government does not offer protection to refugees, and anyone without a valid visa is at risk of detention.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is the only organisation responsible for receiving and processing asylum applications in Thailand. The process is lengthy, complicated, and often traumatic. Asylum seekers must register with the UNHCR and go through a Refugee Status Determination (RSD) process, which includes an interview to determine if they meet the criteria to be recognised as a refugee.

In late 2019, the Royal Thai Government launched the National Screening Mechanism (NSM), a legal process to identify individuals who may qualify as "Protected Persons" in Thailand. This process became operational in September 2023. "Protected Persons" are those who were forced to flee their country and cannot return due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.

While the NSM is a step towards recognising refugees, it is not a conventional asylum law and does not grant legal status to asylum seekers. The current NSM framework also does not provide Protected Persons with the right to stay permanently in Thailand or the right to work.

Refugee status determination in Thailand

The Royal Thai Government does not have an asylum system in place for refugees. The country is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and presently has no laws in place to provide refugees with legal status. This means that refugees in Thailand are undocumented and at constant risk of arrest, detention, and deportation by the Thai authorities.

Despite this, Thailand has been offering humanitarian assistance to refugees for centuries and has been making efforts to improve the situation for refugees in the country. In 2023, the Thai government fully implemented its own asylum process, granting legal status to asylum seekers for the first time. The government has also passed a law that includes the principle of non-refoulement, which states that asylum seekers cannot be forcibly returned to their country of origin if they would face torture.

In Thailand, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is the only organisation responsible for receiving and processing asylum applications. The process for Refugee Status Determination (RSD) in Thailand is as follows:

• Register with UNHCR: Contact the UNHCR and request registration. Staff will then explain the registration process and gather information from you.
• Go through the RSD process: After registration, you will be issued a UNHCR card and will receive an appointment for an RSD interview. During the interview, UNHCR staff will determine if you meet the criteria to be recognised as a refugee.
• Wait for the decision: After the interview, you will receive more information about the next steps.

It is important to note that asylum-seeker and refugee status documents are not visas. Therefore, it is recommended to have a valid visa with the Government of Thailand during your stay in the country to avoid the risk of detention.

Travelling to Thailand with a Refugee Travel Document

Thailand requires visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention. This means that if you hold a refugee travel document, you will need to obtain a visa to enter Thailand. The specific requirements for the visa may vary depending on your country of origin or citizenship.

Visa-free countries for refugees

If you are a holder of a Refugee Travel Document issued by a country that is a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, you can travel visa-free to a lot of countries. However, this does not include Thailand.

1951 Convention Travel Document

The 1951 Convention Travel Document, also known as a Geneva passport, is issued to refugees by the state in which they normally reside. It allows them to travel outside that state and to return. Refugees often cannot obtain passports from their state of nationality, so they need travel documents to engage in international travel.

The 145 states that are parties to the 1951 Convention are obliged to issue travel documents to refugees lawfully residing in their territory.

Visa-free travel

Bearers of the 1951 Convention Travel Document enjoy certain visa-free travel privileges extended by signatories to the convention. However, as it is not a regular national passport, some problems may be encountered due to airline staff unfamiliarity with such documents.

Visa-free countries

• Netherlands (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• Tunisia (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• Germany
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Slovenia
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Cyprus
• Monaco (To be confirmed after Brexit)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Jamaica (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• Norway (1951 Convention travel documents issued by Malta, Ireland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland have visa-free access)
• Thailand (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• Turkey (unless for an official visit)

Please note that this list is subject to change. Always check the visa requirements with the embassy of your country of destination before making travel arrangements.

Thailand's visa exemption scheme

To be eligible for the visa exemption scheme, visitors must:

• Hold citizenship from an approved country.
• Hold a passport with at least six months of validity remaining.
• Pledge to enter Thailand strictly for tourism purposes.
• Provide proof of accommodation in Thailand, such as a hotel or apartment address.
• Provide proof of funds to support their stay (a minimum of 10,000 THB for single travellers and 20,000 THB per family).
• Provide proof of a return ticket for exiting Thailand (open tickets do not qualify, and the ticket's destination cannot be a neighbouring country of Thailand).

It is important to note that visitors may be asked to show their travel ticket upon entering Thailand. If they do not possess a ticket proving their exit from Thailand within the permitted period, they will likely be refused entry.

The visa exemption scheme does not apply to all nationalities equally. While there is no set entry limit for visitors arriving by air, visitors entering Thailand by land or sea border with normal (non-diplomatic) passports will only be granted visa-free travel twice per calendar year. An exception is made for Malaysian citizens, who can enter Thailand via a land border an unlimited number of times.

Frequently asked questions