Going to Thailand: Formalities and administrative steps

Covid-19 : current situation Thailand

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and travel restrictions may apply Thailand. Remember to visit the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave for the latest information

Money Thailand

Thailand's national currency is the baht, subdivided into 100 satangs (ISO code: THB). The 1,000-baht bills are beige, the 500-baht notes purple, the 100-baht notes pink, the 50-baht notes blue and the 20-baht notes pale green. Only the 100, 50 and 20 baht bills are commonly used on the street. The 1,000 or 500 B bills are usually reserved for hotel bills or transport tickets. The usual coins are 10, 5, 2 and 1 bath(s). The last coin comes in three different versions. You may also find 50 or 25 satang coins, made of yellow copper, which have become virtually obsolete.

Smart tip: never accept damaged or torn banknotes, as retailers may refuse them. The same applies to dollars and euros: it's best to travel with practically new bills.

In June 2023: €1 = B37.9. The exchange rate of the baht is indexed to that of the dollar. The euro is readily accepted at banks. Exchange bureaus, which are fairly numerous in tourist areas, are open until 7pm, and sometimes much later in larger towns. Commissions range from 2 to 9%.

Budget & Tips Thailand

This is one of Thailand's great advantages: the standard of living is considerably lower than in France, by 50% on average. You can easily eat for €1.50 in the street and between €5 and €10 in restaurants. Outside Bangkok and the major tourist cities in the south, you can sleep in guesthouses for €8-10 a night, and in a hotel for €15 or more. Activities are also cheaper: bike hire for €2 a day, 1-day trek for €25 (transport, food, guide and visits included), etc. Generally speaking, the South is more expensive than the North, and the islands and Bangkok hold the monopoly on the highest prices. In some cases, you could end up with excursions costing almost €50 a day and rustic beachside bungalows for €40.

Minimum budget for a budget traveler: B10,000 per week.

A low-end hotel room: 150 to 600 B.

A mid-range hotel room: 700 to 1,500 B.

Rent for a furnished room (for a Thai): B3,000 per month.

Minimum salary for a Thai civil servant: B6,000 per month.

A meal in a popular Thai restaurant: B40 to B100.

Street food (night market): B30 to B50.

A bottle of water: 15 B to 20 B.

A large beer at the corner store: 70 B.

A minute's phone call to Europe: 8 B.

An average motorcycle cab ride: 50 to 80 B.

An average meter cab ride in Bangkok: 50 to 100 B.

A liter of gasoline at the pump: 27 to 35 B.

A metro/BTS ticket in Bangkok: B15 to B42.

Car rental per day: 1,000 to 2,000 B.

Scooter rental per day : B200 to B400.

A locally-made shirt: 250 B.

T-shirt : B150 to B400, depending on quality.

One hour of traditional massage: B350 to B900.

Passport and visas Thailand

Passport. It must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the country, as everywhere else.

Residence permit. You don't need to pay for a visa if you're staying 30 days or less in Thailand. Beware: recently, some customs officials have been asking for proof that you will have enough money to support yourself for the duration of your stay, and require you to show around B25,000 in cash (!). A word of advice: avoid going through customs in too "casual" an outfit.

A 30-day extension of this visa exemption is possible if you go to an immigration office. Bring two photos and around B900. This extension is at the discretion of the officer, and is not guaranteed.
Agencies also offer a "visa run", which consists of extending your right to stay in the territory by 30 days by making a return trip to a neighboring border (Myanmar or Laos, for example). This procedure may be applied no more than three times per calendar year.

E-visa. An electronic visa has been available since April¹ , 2019. This service will enable French nationals to obtain authorization to stay on Thai soil for up to 60 days, while avoiding a trip to the embassy or consulate to apply. You will need to show a balance of over €1,000 on your current account, certified by your bank. More information at www.tourismethaifr.com

Retiree Visa. Approved in November 2017 by the authorities and reserved for nationals of 14 countries (Australia, Japan, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, the UK, Canada and the USA), the 10-year visa for retirees is issued subject to meeting certain conditions. It is now possible for foreigners over the age of 50 to apply for this visa.

Please note: if you overstay your visa, you will have to pay an additional B500 per day (for short overstays). Longer overstays are also punishable by a temporary ban on entry (from a few months to several years...).

Driver's license Thailand

If you plan to rent a car, you must be over 18. You must also present a valid driver's license and an international driver's license. This can be obtained from the town hall. You'll need to present a credit or debit card to collect the vehicle keys. The deposit will then be blocked on your account. Make sure you have sufficient funds in your bank account, and raise the spending limit if necessary. This only applies to stays of less than 3 months. For longer stays, you'll need a Thai driving license.

Health Thailand

First-aid kit. Common medicines can be obtained from local pharmacies (avoid medicines sold outside pharmacies, especially in markets, which are only pale copies). It's best to prepare your own personal pharmacy before you leave. The essentials are paracetamol (in these parts of the world, avoid aspirin, which can cause hemorrhagic fever in cases of dengue fever; paracetamol or Efferalgan are safe), anti-diarrheals (to stop diarrhea), antibiotics (to treat diarrhea, lung, ENT and skin infections), an anti-allergic and everything you need to protect yourself against insect bites (insecticides and repellents). Sun protection is essential. Adhesive bandages and disinfectant are always useful.

Cuts and minor wounds. Cuts caused by coral, burns from jellyfish, sea urchin stings or, more seriously, lacerations caused by stonefish are often difficult to heal (particularly true for coral). Disinfect immediately, remove jellyfish filaments (if any remain) with vinegar, and dissolve sea urchin spines with... urine. In the case of stonefish, we recommend immersing the injured foot in a bath of very hot water, until a doctor arrives. In the tropics, because of the heat and humidity, the risk of wound infection is greater than in temperate regions.

Snake bites, scorpion or spider stings. Don't worry, "attacks" by these creatures are rare: we're not in the Amazon or the Australian desert!

Theoretically, it is advisable to capture the culprit animal for identification (easy to say!) or at the very least to be able to describe it accurately, and then contact the nearest hospital, which usually has the corresponding anti-serum (produced by the Snake Farm: Sawapha Institute in Bangkok). Before setting off on your trek, be aware that serum kits are available for sale, but that they are specific to each poison (too complicated and too expensive) and require intravenous injections (too technical). In addition to applying a tourniquet (always risky), it's advisable not to do anything that accelerates the heart rate and hence the spread of venom. Don't worry, most Thai scorpions are not lethal, but check your shoes before you put them on in the morning: it doesn't hurt to be cautious.
It's worth noting that hiking boots offer better protection than the usual vacation sandals against bugs that haven't had time to flee as you approach, because, as luck would have it, the "pests" in question are afraid of humans and will flee (belly down) as you approach! It's also worth remembering that (cold-blooded) snakes love to bask in the sun on old stones... Making a bit of noise when walking through the ruins and using a stick on bad tracks through the woods are therefore not useless.

Mandatory vaccination Thailand

No vaccinations are required to enter Thailand, with the exception of yellow fever vaccine if you have recently traveled to an infected area. The vaccines listed below are strongly recommended by the French health authorities (source: Institut Pasteur).
The vaccinations listed in the vaccination calendar are given free of charge at public-sector vaccination services (e.g. the Maternal and Infant Protection Center, municipal or departmental vaccination service). For more information, contact your local town hall or departmental council.
Yellow fever vaccination cannot be carried out by your GP: you must go to one of the vaccination centers authorized to carry out yellow fever vaccination and issue international yellow fever vaccination certificates.
Contact the French representative office or the European Union representative office. They'll be happy to help and support you, and can provide you with a list of French-speaking doctors. In the event of a serious problem, they will also inform the family and decide on repatriation. For a list of emergency services and facilities meeting international standards, visit www.diplomatie.gouv.fr and www.pasteur.fr.

Dengue fever. Dengue fever made a significant breakthrough in 2019, with over 40,000 cases reported and 62 deaths in the country, almost double the number in 2018! But by the following summer, the phenomenon had subsided, with barely 700 cases recorded. Dengue fever, formerly known as tropical flu or petit palus, is a viral infection specific to tropical countries. It is rarely fatal. Symptoms are identical to those of a severe flu: high fever, headaches, aches and pains, asthenia... Do not take aspirin.

Japanese encephalitis. The main cause of viral encephalitis in Asia, Japanese encephalitis is found in Thailand. It is a viral infection transmitted by infected Culex mosquitoes. Vaccination is recommended in the following situations: stays with significant exposure to the outdoors (camping, cycling...), particularly in rural areas, notably rice paddies; expatriation to the country, and any other situation deemed at risk by your doctor. Protection against mosquito bites is recommended.

Hepatitis A. Previous immunity to hepatitis A makes vaccination unnecessary. It is common if you have a history of jaundice, a prolonged stay abroad or if you are over 45. Hepatitis A is usually benign, but it can be serious, particularly over the age of 45 and in cases of pre-existing liver disease. It can be caught through water or poorly washed food. If you have liver disease, vaccination against hepatitis A is highly recommended before any trip where hygiene is precarious. The first injection, one month before departure, is enough to protect you for a short trip. The second injection (six months to a year later) reinforces immunity for decades.

Hepatitis B. High risk in the country. Hepatitis B is more serious than hepatitis A. It is contracted through sexual intercourse or blood. The hepatitis B vaccine is given in two doses, one month apart (although accelerated one-month vaccinations are available for travellers in a hurry), followed by a booster six months later to reinforce the duration of protection.

Malaria. Malaria is also known as malaria. Consult your doctor for the most appropriate preventive treatment: it differs according to the region, the period of travel and the person concerned. Avoiding treatment is possible if your stay is less than seven days (and provided you can see a doctor if you develop a fever within a month of your return) In addition to pills, reduce the risk of contracting malaria by avoiding mosquito bites (repellent and covering clothing). The risk of being bitten is highest between sunset and sunrise, near stagnant water and shady areas.

Malaria transmission is localized year-round in border areas with Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia and Laos. There is no risk in cities (such as Bangkok, Chiangmai and Pattaya), in urban centers, on the island of Samui and in the main tourist resorts on the island of Phuket.
- Western edge of the country and southeast of the country: malaria risk only in rural areas. Protection against mosquito bites and chemoprophylaxis with Atovaquone-Proguanil or Doxycycline or Mefloquine are recommended for stays in rural areas, whatever the time of year.
- Rest of the country: no risk of malaria.

Rabies. Rabies is still present throughout the world. Avoid contact with dogs, cats, monkeys and other mammals that may carry the virus. The onset of the first symptoms (phobia of air and water) varies between 30 and 45 days after the bite. Once these symptoms have been observed, death occurs within a few days, in 100% of cases. In the event of any doubt following a bite, it is essential to consult a doctor, who will administer an anti-rabies vaccine combined with appropriate treatment. Preventive vaccination does not exempt you from curative treatment in the event of a bite.

Typhoid fever. Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection characterized by high fever, febrile diarrhea and loss of consciousness. The most severe forms can lead to digestive, neurological or cardiac complications. The incubation period varies from ten to fifteen days. Contamination occurs through stool or saliva, either directly (contact with a sick person or healthy carrier) or indirectly (ingestion of contaminated food: raw vegetables, seafood, water and ice cubes). The vaccine, which takes two to three weeks to take effect, protects you for three years. In the event of contamination and non-vaccination, treatment with fluoroquinolones is recommended.

Security Thailand

Thailand does not have the reputation of a dangerous country when it comes to aggression, and serious incidents involving tourists are rare (although beware of Koh Tao). However, there is always a risk of theft in tourist areas, the preferred haunts of "evil-doers": so don't tempt the thief! Violence itself exists in Thailand. Most crimes are settlements of mafia accounts or dramas of jealousy. The few assaults on Westerners are linked to drug trafficking and prostitution. But if you show no disrespect, the risks are almost nil. On the other hand, avoid traveling alone near "high-risk" borders, as trafficking is always a possibility. The press and the government, for obvious reasons, are particularly discreet on the subject. Avoid the south-western coast of the Gulf of Thailand. The cities of Pattani and Yala are particularly dangerous due to the conflict between Bangkok and the region's separatist Muslims.

Time difference Thailand

Compared with France, allow +5 hours in summer and +6 hours in winter (in fact, +7 hours GMT).
Night falls fairly early - around 6:30 pm - but the lively streets continue much later: the temperature is obviously more pleasant than during the day.
The sun rises very early: 5:30 or 6 am. This is the perfect time to stroll the streets and observe the morning's activity. The afternoon is ideal for visiting museums or temples, where you'll be sheltered from the sun.

Spoken languages Thailand

The country's official language is Thai (or Siamese), with around 66 million speakers. It is also known as An Thai or, more formally, Siamese. It belongs to the Tai group of the Tai-Kadai language family, a family of around 100 languages spoken on the Indochinese peninsula and in southern China by some 100 million speakers. Several "sister" languages are also spoken in the country, notably in the northeast (Isaan). Southern Thai is spoken by the majority of the Pak Tai people, some 5 million in 14 provinces in the south of the country.

Thai uses a set of signs derived from the Khmer alphabet. There is no official standard for transcribing Thai into the Latin alphabet, so don't be surprised to see the same name, city or other, spelled in different ways.

English is widely spoken by the population, in a basic but sufficiently comprehensible way, except in certain rural areas. Tourists from Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and even China and Japan speak English fluently. Even French expatriates are obliged to get by in English, failing to master Thai. With many families of Chinese descent in Thailand, the Chinese language is also widespread.

Communication Thailand

Telephone coverage is excellent in the major cities and most regions. However, in some more remote areas, notably in the mountains in the north of the country, only satellite phones work, and even then. If you take out a mobile subscription in Thailand, we recommend the DTAC operator, which has good coverage just about everywhere.
As far as wifi is concerned, finding a connection is not a problem. Airports, hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars, cultural venues, and sometimes even buses and massage parlors (!) are equipped with free wifi. On the other hand, in more remote areas, particularly on certain isolated islands, Internet access can be complicated or non-existent.

Electricity and measurements Thailand

Electricity. Standard voltage is 220 volts. The sockets have two or three pins and are in principle compatible with European plugs. Some hotels still have American-style plugs (2 flat plugs), but adapters can be found on site.

Weights and measures. In theory, the decimal system has been adopted: metre and kilogram. But to evaluate areas of land, Thais still use the measure called rai which is equivalent to 1,600 m².

Luggage Thailand

A tip: if possible travel light, there is plenty of equipment available at place ! But beware, avoid imitations of well-known brands, you risk a fine for trafficking and use of counterfeit when you return to France... not to mention legal proceedings. In case of suspicion, the exemption with the customs officers is de rigueur.

Equipment for the North: a little wool for the evenings which are sometimes cool and a meat bag for the bivouacs in the forest, normally sufficient and lighter than a sleeping bag. Good high shoes that protect your foot and ankle. Sandals to wade in the rivers or take off your shoes easily before visiting a temple. Clothes not too fragile will do the trick. A fairly waterproof windbreaker or rain cape will always be useful in case of rain. A cotton scarf can be useful in all circumstances (neck protection in case of sudden coolness or hot sun, occasional towel, makeshift bandage, improvised headgear).

Equipment for the South: prefer light clothing: shorts, shirts or cotton dresses. For the evening, a thick sweatshirt or shirt will do, not forgetting light canvas pants to protect against mosquitoes. A hat or a cap against the heat of the sun. Sandals to protect your feet from cuts on the coral. A swimsuit in anticipation of days at the beach and other dives in the water turquoise ! A T-shirt prevents sunburn on your back when snorkeling. And, of course, glasses from soleil !