Travel advice

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The information on this page is dedicated to the travel advice of the Embassy of Luxembourg for travelling safely in and around Thailand. If you would like to have more information on the other countries covered by this Embassy (Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam), we suggest that you visit the respective websites of the German and French Ministries of Foreign Affairs that contain regular updates of their travel advice for each of these countries.  

News

Updated measures on traveling to Thailand from 15 July 2024

The new visa policy extends the stay period from the previous 30 days without visa to 60 days for visitors from Luxembourg and many other countries.

Travel insurance is still highly recommended when you travel to Thailand. You should buy a travel insurance for your protection to cover your entire trip to Thailand.

Those who are traveling for business purposes, including aircrews and students, may provide an attestation from the host or another form of insurance which clearly covers such treatments.

IMPORTANT: Thai VISA may be required for entry based on the purpose of your visit to Thailand and the duration of your stay in Thailand.

International transit/transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi/Don-Mueang Airports

International transit/transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi and Don-Mueang International Airports need to check for the latest travel requirements with the airline and the country of their further destination.

During the Stay

While in Thailand, travellers who are experiencing COVID-like symptoms should get tested. If testing positive, they must get the appropriate medical treatment.

Restrictions in the country

Anyform of criticism - especially if expressed on social media and especially about the monarchy - is likely to lead to legal action. 

Keep up to date with the latest health advice provided by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and updates from the Thai government on the situation, including daily video briefings in English provided by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hygiene rules

Travelers present on Thai territory are invited to respect the health rules in force in the country.

As these measures are evolving and subject to change without notice, it is advisable to consult the sites

High fines can be imposed for violations of hygiene rules.

Entry requirements

Visa

Luxembourg nationals can visit Thailand for tourism without the need for a visa if the planned stay is limited to 60 days, provided that they are in possession of a return ticket and a passport still valid for 6 months from the date of entry into Thai territory. Each entry allows a 60-day stay, meaning you can come and go as many times as you want during the 6-month validity, but each stay can’t exceed 60 days.  

In addition, the immigration authorities may be required to present the equivalent of THB 20,000 per person in cash.

A visa waiver extension (up to 30 days) can be requested only for tourist reasons from a Thai immigration office before the period of the end of validity of the maximum authorized date, marked on the entry stamp, as well as the number of entries mentioned.

Luxembourg tourists can enter Thailand by land with a visa waiver twice a year. For more frequent travel by land, the appropriate visa must be obtained before travelling. This rule does not apply to travel by air.

When applying for a tourist visa with a valid passport, there are certain documents needed, and a fee may be required on application. The documents and fee can change anytime and without prior notice, so contact your local embassy before organizing your application before your arrival in Thailand. Some countries allow for the Thai E-Visa and you can apply for the E visa online. The Thailand E visa is a very fast method for obtaining your tourist visa online.

The validity of a tourist visa ranges from 3 months to 6 months, depending on the number of entries you make across a land border or airport. If you arrive in Thailand through an international airport, you will be stamped with 60-day permission to stay for a normal Tourist Visa.

The validity of the visa as stated on your visa sticker is the time you have to use the visa or enter Thailand. The permit to stay is the number of days you may legally stay in Thailand. The permit to stay is the stamp you receive when you arrive at the airport or border.

A reentry stamp (single or multiple entries) on your passport is required before your depart Thailand if you hold a valid Thai visa and you plan on returning back to the kingdom before the period of the end of validity of your visa.

For more information on the different types of individual visas, contact the Thai Immigration Authority or visit the Visa Service of the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels.

Exceeding the authorized stay (“overstay”)

Violations of residency regulations are not taken lightly in Thailand. Travelers who exceed the authorized length of stay risk being arrested and held in detention, subjected to heavy fines, deportation at their own expense and banned from re-entering Thailand. If you stay up to 40 days beyond the period of your visa, you will be fined THB 500 baht per day up to a maximum of THB 20,000. The enforcement of penalties for overstaying is strict and conditions in detention centres can be harsh.

Lëtzebuerger am Ausland

For your own safety, the Embassy invites you to register your stay in Thailand on the website "Lëtzebuerger am Ausland". Declaring your temporary stay or permanent residence abroad will allow you to receive practical information regarding, for instance, the addresses of the Luxembourg diplomatic and consular missions or information about elections in Luxembourg. In the event of an emergency or crisis situation, the Embassy will be able to contact you as well as your contact person to provide assistance or advice.

Domestic situation

The political situation in Thailand can be volatile. Demonstrations and rallies can take place in all regions of the country. Violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces cannot be ruled out. You should avoid any protests, political gatherings, demonstrations or marches.

Clashes and attacks can occur in the provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani as well as in parts of Songkhla, in the south of Thailand, on the border with Malaysia.  A special emergency law is applied in these regions. You are strongly advised not to travel to these provinces.

Freedom of expression is restricted in Thailand. Criticisms of the government and the realities of the country can become criminally relevant, especially if they are expressed on the Internet or via social media platforms.

Be aware, in particular, of the very strict and broad application of the lèse-majesté crime law in Thailand (see "Legal specifics" below for details).

There are a high number of road traffic accidents in Thailand especially involving motorcycles. The World Health Organisation (WHO) rates Thailand as the world’s deadliest country for fatalities on motorcycles, citing an average of 5,500 motorcyclist deaths annually.

Legal specifics

  • Lèse-majesté (criticism of the monarchy in any form): The Thai royal family enjoys the highest respect. Derogatory or critical remarks can be punished as crimes of lèse-majesté with a prison term of up to 15 years per offense. Special care should be given to comments or remarks made on the Internet or on social media. The law is interpreted broadly and may include, for instance, retweets or sharing of messages or articles that could be seen as portraying Thailand negatively or making accusations about the Royal Family.
  • Drugs: The acquisition, possession, distribution, import and export of all kinds of drugs (such as marijuana, ecstasy and other amphetamines) carry long prison sentences – even the possession of small amounts of drugs. Some offenses are punishable under Thai criminal law with the death penalty, which was first applied again in June 2018 after a 9-year suspension. Taking or transporting objects for third parties without knowledge of their contents can have disastrous consequences.
  • Thefts: Theft of items, even of low value, can lead to prison sentences.
  • No smoking / electronic cigarettes: Since 2017, smoking is prohibited on certain beaches in Pattaya, Bangsaen, Cha-am, Hua Hin, Phuket, Samui, Phang Nga and Songkhla. Violations of the smoking ban can result in a prison sentence of up to one year and / or a fine of up to THB 100,000. The import of electronic cigarettes is also prohibited, which can be punished with a heavy fine or imprisonment for up to five years.

For more information, please visit the following websites: