The first port of call after having my Australian passport renewed was the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore to organise our 60 day Tourist Visas.
For those of you who aren’t aware, Australian’s receive thirty (30) days of free tourist visa access if they fly into Thailand. If you enter by land then it is only fourteen (14) days. Personally, thirty days in Thailand is never enough. Whenever possible before visiting Thailand we head to the nearest Thai embassy to organise a longer Tourist Visa.
In Brisbane, Australia we have organised multiple entry Tourist Visas. Previously we've received a visa for two (2) entries of sixty (60) days each. All we had to do was call the Embassy, ask a few questions, send over our passports and completed application forms, request a multiple entrance visa, include a pre-stamped and addressed envelope, and a cheque for the fees.
The Thai embassy in Singapore is a little more selective with their visa granting. Usually visa conditions get more strict the closer you are to the country in question. Along with complete documentation, to get a sixty (60) day single entry tourist visa, you need to supply:
Flight / Bus / Train ticket confirmation of Thailand arrival.
Flight / Bus / Train ticket confirmation of Thailand departure which must be within fifty nine (59) days of your arrival.
A print out of your bank account details showing at least USD$1000 per person or USD$2000 per family.
One passport photo 3.5 cm x 4.5cm in size.
We originally went into the Embassy with all the above except for the flight out of Thailand. We had a flight booked from Kuala Lumpur to Penang within the dates specified. This, however, was not suitable. We had to show when we would be leaving Thailand. Technically this has always been a requirement. We've just never been called on it before.
Luckily, the Hilton Hotel on Orchard Road opposite the Thai embassy has a very lovely business center that we were able to use. First, we tried to book a train or a bus from Hat Yai in Thailand to Butterworth in Malaysia but most operators wouldn't take bookings over sixty days in advance. We eventually bought flights from Surat Thani to Kuala Lumpur. The price wasn't too bad. It wasn't too great either but we were in a bit of a rush.
Back to the Embassy and our visa applications were accepted. We paid SGD$50 each for single entry sixty (60) day visas and were told to come back after two working days to pick up our passports.
Not the easiest and least expensive experience but relatively painless it all worked out in the end.
Royal Thai Embassy Singapore website
Visa applications: 9:15am – 11:30am
Passport pickup: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Days: Monday to Friday unless it is an Embassy Public Holiday. Do some googling before you head down there.
Thailand… here we come!
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