America Country Guide

Health and Vaccinations

Tetanus: Yes
Typhoid: Yes
Diptheria: Yes
Malaria: Sometimes
Rabies: Sometimes, especially for travellers spending more than 4 weeks in the country, or who are likely to be away from medical help for more than 24 hours, or those who handle animals. Seek medical help immediately when bitten by an animal.
Hepatitis-A: Yes
Yellow Fever: Sometimes. Travellers (over 1 year of age) arriving within 10 days from infected areas are required to carry a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate.

Health Care

Medical facilities in Thailand are, generally, good in major cities. Major tourist hotels have doctors on call.

The authorities in Thailand strongly advise full travel insurance for all travellers to the country, including the cover for adventure activities.

Travel Advice

From time to time, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK issues Travel Advisories for visits to Thailand. Accordingly, most visits to Thailand are trouble-free but the global threat from international terrorism can never be ruled out. In fact, the threat from Terrorism in Thailand is quite high. The far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Songkhla are insurgency infested areas and should be avoided for non-essential travel. There have been periodic terror attacks in these areas since January 2004 and even the Thai government has declared serious state of Emergency in the provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Therefore, the travellers should take adequate precautions while visiting the places of tourists’ interest in Thailand.

Even the national capital, Bangkok, was not spared from the terror strikes with 8 bombs exploding at separate locations in the city on December 31, 2006 killing 3 and injuring 36, including 6 foreigners. Since then, the authorities are in a heightened state of alert, especially in Bangkok.

Thailand has a history of political uncertainty. Therefore, travellers are advised to avoid protests and demonstrations and similar large crowds.

Offences related to possession or use or dealing in illicit drugs are dealt with severely, including death penalty

Thailand has also witnessed outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu), including human fatalities. Though Thai authorities have managed to contain the spread, yet the visitors are well advised to avoid any place where contact with poultry or any birds is possible.

The monsoon season (September and October) could be quite harsh.

At the time of publishing, this information is correct. However, the travel advice is periodically and rapidly updated. Therefore, all the visitors are advised to contact at the following addresses for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel - 0845 850 2829
Website - www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website - www.travel.state.gov/travel

Passport and Visa Info

Passport

Passport is required for all nationals of the countries as mentioned in the chart above.

Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended length of stay in the country.

Visa

Visa is not required by nationals of the abovementioned countries for touristic stays, provided they hold valid passports, sufficient funds, and confirmed tickets to leave the country, except:
Note 1: those from Bulgaria, Malta, and Romania

The visa-free stay for the following durations is allowed:
(a) For nationals of Cyrus, Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia – 15 days, provided they obtain an entry visa on arrival;
(b) For the nationals of countries not mentioned in the chart above – 30 days.

The nationals of all countries, not mentioned in the chart above, should contact their local embassy for visa requirements.

Type of Visa and Visa Fee for UK travellers: Single Entry Tourist Visa - £25
Validity: 30 days (extendable up to 60 days by Immigration Bureau)
Working Days Required: 2