Proof of Funds?
 

What qualifies as proof of funds for people entering under the visa exemption (such as from the USA)? There doesn't seem to be a thread or discussion on this.

Answers I'm not looking for include "Don't worry about it" and "Well I've never been asked to show proof of funds". Unless I am misunderstanding the rule as written, in which case being told not to worry about it would be fine.

And also, while I'm at it, are there any other oddball requirements for getting into/out of/around this country that I'd never think of but am not aware of? So far I have proof of onward travel, proof of funds, and original credit card used to purchase domestic airfare...what other curveballs are out there?

You will never be asked to prove funds, but if you are, the credit card is enough. It's only 10,000 THB (~$300US). If you're nervous, carry cash.

But unless you look like a homeless person who just left the street, you won't be asked.

There's no thread or discussion because no one is ever asked to show proof of funds (oh, sorry, you didn't want to hear that.) It isn't an "oddball requirement" nor is it a "curveball". While it may technically be a rule somewhere in the written immigration minutiae, it isn't enforced.

Has the OP checked passport expiration requirements, if that could be considered an oddball rule?

BTW, for visa free entry, "proof of onward travel" means by air. Reservations for land travel don't qualify. And that will be checked, by the airline before you come to Thailand.

That's fine, and if it came down to it I'd certainly carry cash. But, I don't usually walk around with much more than $20 anyhow, and getting cash before arrival means a ripoff at Travelex as opposed to easy fee-free ATM withdrawals. So I just wanted to know if I absolutely had to do it or not.


It seems like a lot of formerly unenforced rules have been changing lately, so I just want to err on the side of caution.


Sorry you didn't like my choice of colloquialisms. But no, whether or not I'll need a wad of cash to get into the place isn't something I usually have to consider when visiting a country.

And for the record, maybe you consider this a "minutiae", but here is the link to the page on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site that very clearly states the requirement - but doesn't clearly state what satisfies it, hence my question: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/service...Exemption.html


Thanks, all set there!


Understood (thanks to the presence of several good threads on this), and I will have printouts of all itineraries with ticket #s, routings, pax names, etc.


Apologies if this thread came off as needlessly paranoid or whatnot, but as someone who has been watching the current events from the outside in and planning a trip that is now upcoming, it look to me that over the last few months the times have been a-changin' over there, and what may have once indeed been a piece of "immigration minutiae" may the next day become a hard-and-fast go/no-go. It seems that quite a few formerly lax rules have been tightened up lately, and I'd rather be safe than sorry!

The Thai MFA site says:

Foreigners entering Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption category must possess adequate finances for the duration of stay in Thailand (i.e., cash 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family).

so I assume that if/when asked you would have to show this amount, or the equivalent in some other currency?

People do get asked.

You can grind through the TV forum for experiences.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...when-entering/

Other oddball requirements? Too many to list, and they change daily. If you are Rohingya arriving by boat you may experience different oddball requirements. "Push 'em back, push 'em back, way back".

TV thread seems somewhat inconclusive, or beyond the scope of an honest 2-week holiday air traveler - most of the discussion seems to be around visa runs, land transfers, etc. But, I'll do some more digging.


Heh, thanks for the honest answer.

TV thread seems somewhat inconclusive, or beyond the scope of an honest 2-week holiday air traveler

Well, to be fair, you did say...

Answers I'm not looking for include "Don't worry about it" and "Well I've never been asked to show proof of funds".

so if you are "an honest 2-week holiday air traveler", then my advice would be to not worry about it, as you will NOT be asked to display the requisite funds.

If you want to plan for every contingency, have the cash on hand, although you will not be asked for it.

Seems simple enough?

Sure, sounds good. Up front, I was simply asking if anyone knew of an official published interpretation or more specific detail regarding the requirement (such as in statute, regulations, etc...). Seeing that this appears to be absent from official sources, then the best available information does seem to be of the anecdotal sort, so I'll assess my tolerance for risk at the time of departure and decide from there, barring any overt policy changes in the meantime.

or more specific detail regarding the requirement (such as in statute, regulations, etc...). Seeing that this appears to be absent from official sources, then the best available information does seem to be of the anecdotal sort

Well it is absolutely an 'official' Thai government (MFA) requirement, which can be enforced. I carry a local Thai Bangkok Bank savings account book with me, just in case, even though I have never had to use it. I never have 10,000 baht, or the equivalent in cash, on me.

Are you looking for published details in Thai? Or is English OK?

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/service...Exemption.html

- Foreigners entering Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption category must possess adequate finances for the duration of stay in Thailand (i.e., cash 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family).


http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-...941#ad-image-0

During the recent crackdown ( May-ish to September-ish) a colleague flying into BKK for the first time in 6 months, did meet with a few challenges including having to show cash. However, that is but one anecdotal data point, and the desperation for tourists seems to have pivoted back to the traditional laissez-faire attitude.

Glad I didn't know about that rule as until now, as I didn't carry much cash with me on my twice a year trip to BKK (average over last 10 years).

Now that they charge 500 Baht to use an ATM, I do take about $1,000, so if my math is right, I'd be OK in the unlikely event that they asked to see how much cash I have.

There's also a rule that you need to have a forward ticket, and on my first naive trip I had an open jaw IAH-BKK MNL-IAH that I closed by purchasing a ticket in Thailand, yet neither the airline nor Immigration gave it a second thought.

The ATM fee is 150 thb not 500 thb.

The ATM fee is 150 thb


Yes, for Visa-logoed cards; 180 THB for MC-logoed cards, as of today.

The fee for cashing each travelers check is 153 THB.

Yes, I'm aware of this. In fact, I already posted the same link myself. The point of this thread was to clarify what "possession" entailed - whether it was cash in hand, the attribution of said value to one's name (e.g. in a bank account), or the ability to procure the equivalent purchasing power of said funds (e.g. with a credit card). The requirement cited does not have that level of depth.


This is useful to know, that a cash requirement has been enforced on a business traveler. Yes, I too would think that they'd not want to be turning away tourists left and right as well, but stranger things have happened.

OOOPS,

yup, cofused myself by combining rough equivalent of $5 with three figures in Thai Baht and came up with 500 :eek: :(

Thanks for quick correction ^

The point of this thread was to clarify what "possession" entailed - whether it was cash in hand

For clarification, the regulation requires CASH IN HAND, as in bank notes.

Ok, sounds good, thanks!

You are correct that Travelex is an absolute ripoff operation.

You are incorrect in assuming that you must deal with Travelex.

There are currency exchange booths in Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports. There are booths before you get to Immigration, there are booths in the baggage claim areas immediately after immigration, and there are booths in the outer arrivals area after the customs gates. They ALL give the same rate, and it is SLIGHTLY worse than the official exchange rate, but NOTHING like the Travelex ripoff rates. Their rate will be within a few cents of the rate you'll find at most of the exchanges in Bangkok.

Frankly, the ATM fees your bank charges you for will hurt you far more than the few cents the airport rate takes.

I routinely change some money at one of the booths inside the secure area, before I get to Immigration, mainly to make sure I have cab fare and first day necessity shopping and suchlike.

Hmm, this is interesting. I thought I had read other posters saying that there was nothing in terms of ability to withdraw/exchange cash before passport control (which is ostensibly where the currency would be checked for if at all). If this is the case then this would not be an issue.

Are there any ATMs in that area as well? My bank reimburses all fees so that would be the obvious solution - I just wasn't considering it because I'd thought that there was nothing available.

I think there are at least two currency exchange booths in the ARRIVALS concourse (D) just to either side of the two primary ARRIVING Immigration entry-points. There are are also currency exchange booths at the intersections of Concourses ABCD and DEFG. There are probably ATMs at/near these booths but I am honestly not positive as this is not something I'd normally pay attention to. There are exchange booths in the baggage hall, and outside Customs on level 2. There are fin services scattered all about from level B (train) all the way up to level 4 (Departures), LANDSIDE.

There is at least one money exchange booth in the Departures concourse.

About a year ago, while doing a forced power walk to make an earlier flight than planned, I stopped briefly to exchange a 100 baht note for two 50s. The plan was to give them to my brother's children, part of an educational assortment of baht.

This is correct. The rate at the airport booths are all the same and not very good at all. Exchange only enough to pay for your local transportation in baht to wherever you are going. A week ago when I was departing BKK I remember the exchange rates were right around:

Buying baht: 33.22
Published rate: 32.80
Fee percentage: 1.3%

Selling Baht: 31.42
Published rate: 32.80
Fee percentage: 4.3%

The published rate I get out of the newspaper or from CNBC. The spread is greater when they buy your foreign currency vs. buying baht. I have found the best exchange rates on cash are found using pristine new type $100 USD bills at the arab money changers in the lower Sukhumvit area. Up to 1% better than the bank booths around town.


SunLover

The exception to this is in the basement level proximal to the ARL. Near the (now defunct?) express area is Value+ which is often, but not always, offering the same rate as Superich (green).

There is also a K bank (??) as you make the turn toward the ARL area which has better rates than upstairs, but not as good as Value+.

The people who were getting asked for proof of funds were visa runners on the Malaysian border which is presumably not the OP.

Seriously, the worst case scenario here is somebody walks you to the ATM to take out cash. Thai Immigration is not CBP. If you don't smell and you arrive with a first world passport with all your forms properly filled out you're already in the top 20% of travelers as far as they're concerned.

I went to BKK two months ago and had the easiest immigration experience I've ever had on my trips there. No tourists means no lines!

Who says it must be in local currency?

^^

You're right. It doesn't. And gailwynand is right. The only time any one will check is if you are doing something or acting in some what where they don't think you can afford to be in Thailand. And given how cheap it is, that's a pretty low bar.

Just carry $300 cash. Basta. There's no need to exchange it for baht until you're good and ready to. And you're very soon going to need some baht anyway.
In the unlikely event that the Immigration officer asks, that will satisfy the requirement.
Yes, it's anecdotal but in all the years and all the entries to Thailand neither I, nor anyone else I know from a western industrial country, has ever been asked.
Indian, some other Asia and Eastern European tourists who need Visa on Arrival are sometimes asked to show they have the minimum amount of travel funds.
$300 cash is not a lot of money.
There's a currency exchange booth right by baggage claim. But you'll get a better rate if you wait until you're through customs and you go down to the ARL (Airport Rail Link) level -- the lowest level -- and change your money at Super Rich.