Dive news, Koh Tao IDC Group, PADI IDC on Koh Tao, Thailand: VISA's Thailand

VISA's Thailand

By the 1 of October the rules are changing regarding "border runs". Starting on the 1 of October you are going to be able to enter Thailand without a VISA and get 30 days on arrival (this is valid for most european countries) and then cross the border and come straight back to get another 30 days (this you can do for a total of 90 days). So if you want to stay longer... Don't panick we have been supporting VISA applications for our diving students for many years already. If you take the 'Change of Lifestyle' program for example (duration around 8 months) we will help you with the paperwork that will support your VISA application. In most cases you will get a Student or Tourist VISA granted by the Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate in your home country.

The Tourist VISA is normally a double or triple entry visa. Which means that you get 60 days on arrival and then you can extend the visa for 30 days in Koh Samui. By passing the border in Burma (24 hours return from Koh Tao) you will get another 60 days (plus 30 days extension in Koh Samui). Double entry means that you can do this for all together 6 months and for triple entry VISA all together 9 months. If you want to stay longer after that you have to go down to Penang Malaysia or another Thai Embassy and apply for a new VISA... and then you get another 6-9 mobths all together.

The student VISA is even better (but harder to get accepted). Here you can get up to a 1 year VISA which means that you get 90 days on arrival, cross the border and get another 90 days up to 1 year.

So don't panick, not much changed, send as an email when you plan to arrive and what courses you are going to take and we will help you with the details.

Take care and have a nice day, Jonas, Sofie, Claes, Angie, Assar and the rest of Instructor Development Team

for more information please see www.thaivisa.com

Jonas ::