Getting a Thai visa in Colombo, Sri Lanka is more expensive than getting a Thai visa in Savannakhet, but if you plan on turning a visa run into a trip as well, Colombo is a great option.
I just got back to Thailand after a very enjoyable trip to Sri Lanka and a hassle-less visa application process at the Thai Embassy.
How to Get a Thai Visa in Colombo, Sri Lanka
This is what you’ll need to bring:
- Passport
- Filled out visa application form (available at the Thai Embassy in Colombo).
- 1 passport photo
- 2 photocopies of passport
- The price is 4,600 Sri Lankan Rupees ($41.75) per 2 months. A double entry visa costs 9,200 LKR ($83.48).
Unlike getting a Thai visa in Yangon, you have the option of getting a 2 month double entry in Colombo. Very convenient!
Information and Procedure
It takes 3 normal business days (4 days altogether) to get a Thai visa in Colombo.
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- Day 1: Drop off your documents and money in the morning between 9 am – 11:30 am. I arrived right at 9 am and there were only a few other people at the embassy. It took me less than 20 minutes to finish everything.
- Day 4: Pick-up Thai visa in the afternoon from 2 pm – 3:30 pm. All you have to do is hand them your slip and they will return your passport, shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
NOTE: The visa takes 4 full business days. Example: I applied for my visa on Monday morning and picked it up on Thursday afternoon.
Photocopies
There is a small place across the street that will print and photocopy, but they are very expensive. I paid something like 50 LKR ($0.45) per page. I’d recommend getting getting photocopies and a passport photo before you get to the Thai embassy.
Directions to the Thai Embassy in Colombo
The Thai embassy is located at the Green Lanka Building in Colombo, in the small central business district of the city.
If you are staying right in central Colombo, you might be able to walk to the embassy. If not, you can easily jump in a rickshaw or take a local Colombo bus to get there.
Address: 46/46 Nawam Mawatha 9th Floor, Green Lanka Towers, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Website: http://www.thaiembassy.org/colombo/bic/ (not very informative)
Phone Number: (9411) 230-2500-3
Here’s a map to make it easier:
View Thai Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka in a larger map
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Seyed Hanifdeen
5 years ago
Hi,
I am from sri lanka
I wish Visit thailand bankok. How can I apply to get a visit visa from thailand
nisham
5 years ago
They should mention in the information that a person applying or visa must have $800 balance in their bank account. this is such waste of time with very unaccommodating staff at the counter!
Maheshi
6 years ago
I need to apply Bangkok Thai visa for my brother who lives in far from Colombo but I have all his documents as per check list he bought a hotel reseravation & air ticket online from Sri Lankan Air line so there is no agent to do the visa please clarify how do I do this
Ratikarn Hongsa
7 years ago
I’m a Thai. Work in Maldives. My passport going to be expired soon. How possibilities I can make new Thai passport in Thai Embassy in Colombo?
Best regards,
INGIE BINGIE
7 years ago
YOU CANNOT WALK INTO THE THAI EMBASSY AND GET A VISA!!!!! YOU MUST BOOK A APPOINTMENT ONLINE NO IFS, ANDS OR BUTS AS OF FEB 2017. I READ THIS OUTDATED FORUM AND I WENT DOWN THERE AND THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO ENTER WITHOUT A BOOKING.. I RAN BACK TO MY HOSTEL AND THE SYSTEM DID NOT WORK.. I RAN BACK TO THE THAI EMBASSY AND ASKED PEOPLE TO HELP ME BOOK ON LINE AND THEY COULDNT GET APPOINTMENTS.. MY PLANE LEAVES IN 7 DAYS AND THERE IS NO BOOKING..AVAILABLE.. A COMPLETELY USELESS SYSTEM OF UNHELPFUL, COMPLETELY COULD CARE LESS INDIVIDUALS WORKING THE DOOR AT THE THAI EMBASSY IN SRI LANKA..UNABLE TO FIND A WAY TO HELP THE TOURISTS . TRY BIG LETTERS ON YOUR WEBSITE ONLY BOOKING NO WALK IN.. ABOUT 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE.
Meenu
8 years ago
Hi
Me and my friend were planed to go thailand on aug. I was seen some comment here that the embassy need bank statement last six months which is maintain over 85,000/- balance too. I have a clarification on this. Its shoud be maintain over 85,000/- from 1st month to 6th of month? Pls if any one reply me. Thank you
ALDA
8 years ago
Nope, Final balance of 85k is enough.
Iynkaran
7 years ago
If I want visit Cambodia when I’ll be in Thailand, Is it necessary to get Double Entry Tourist Visa?
ALDA
8 years ago
Hi, Since this post is little less 4 years old you might need to consider updating with these.
First the Staff now is Super Rude, even the short Thai dude (especially if you don’t have all the necessary documents)
Second the place gets really crowded,
New Address is Royal Thai Embassy Colombo, Sri lanka
No. 29A Wijerama Mawatha,
Colombo 07, Sri Lanka
MAP: https://goo.gl/iveQkh
For Sri Lankans,
You need the following
Company Letter stating you’re an employee and has obtained the leave for the period.(Some times they don’t ask for this, but it all depends on the mood of the person who’s handling your application)
(Not applicable if self-employed or unemployed, but they might request a letter- So take some blank A4’s and Pen)
Bank Statement (Savings/FD/Current/NRFI or even EPF/ETF Statement) (If not photocopies of the bank passbook and the original) – Very Strict, you need this even if you’ve been in Thailand within one year (Some times they might proceed if your visit is very recent but I wouldn’t want to take that chance) -Final Balance above Rs.85000
Passport and a photocopy
Two Photos
Ticket (e-ticket or the confirmed booking confirmation) ( if e-ticket or online booking just take a print out else need a photo copy)
And if you have any unused Thailand Visa in your passport, you need to provide a letter explaining why you couldn’t visit during the visa period.
Passport Drop off time – 9.00 A.M to 11.00 A.M
Like I said before, this place get super crowded quickly so try to go as early as possible.
(I went right at 11.00 on a Monday and there was big queue and had to wait for nearly 1.5 hours)
If you’re applying for your children or spouse (***and they don’t have their own Bank Statements) you need to take Birth/Wedding Certificates (and Photo copies)
Visa processing takes 3 Days ( Same as above) but please check local embassy website for holidays, they don’t work on both Sri Lankan and Thailand public holidays.
For foreigners I believe
Ticket, Photos and the passport is enough 😀 (as long as your not a PR holder or Citizen of Sri Lanka)
sesi
7 years ago
can we apply for visa on monday if we are planning to fly on saturday
will the 5 working days tally with it
william lam
8 years ago
Sorry! 02 passport photos not 01.
william lam
8 years ago
Could you tell me how long you have not update ?
I am right now in Colombo, grasps all your information feel confidence. When I get there. Big surprise!! They move out year ago?!! A driver asking peoples around, finally I get there but to late to do those work! one day is gone!
Please changes those news information!
In the application form they request 02 photographs not 01.
Royal Thai Embassy Colombo, Sri lanka
No. 29A Wijerama Mawatha,
Colombo 07, Sri Lanka
Tel. 00 94 11 7529 500 -3
Fax. 00 94 11 7529 504
E-mail : [email protected]
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/RTEColombo
mms
8 years ago
how many days will it go to get a visa
Deeptha
10 years ago
Hi 🙂 I’m a official passport holder from Sri Lanka.Is it possible to get an on-arrival visa from Thailand? I’m coming for a conference
Roshan
10 years ago
what is the price of visit visa of USA in LKR?
Abeysinghe
10 years ago
Kindly inform me the process of getting double entry tourist visas to Thailand.
Best regards
jack
10 years ago
Cheers for the great info (as always!)
1. Do they request in and out confirmed flight bookings ?
2. Do they offer double entry tourist visas ? these days ?
Cheers,
Jack
Indika
10 years ago
even though you keep calling hours to Thai embassy in Sri Lanka,
they don’t answer the phone,
but generally,
Thai people are very freindly.. ha ha
Mike
10 years ago
How soon after you receive the visa do you have to enter Thailand?
amila
10 years ago
im a sri lankan citizen
amila
10 years ago
may i know how much should we have in the bank statement, if requires.. thanks!!
Al J
10 years ago
I wasn’t asked for any banking info…
They’ll be a sign at the counter stating that you have to be a resident or citizen of Sri Lanka, but just ignore that.
Regards
Al J
10 years ago
Fyi – you MUST have 2 passport photos, not 1 … I just handed in my passport For the 60 day multiple entry visa 1 hour ago in Colombo.
I Rowel
11 years ago
Hi
I’m looking for a place to stay for two weeks in Thailand. Please send me information.
Warana
11 years ago
Hello.,
I have visited Thailand once. And I want to know is it mandatory to provide bank statements to obtain visa??
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Hey Warana, are you from Sri Lanka? I’m really not sure. I’m American, and for myself I don’t need to provide any bank statements.
Sarah
11 years ago
Does anyone know the requirements and the time it takes for getting a non-immigrant business visa for Thailand in Colombo?
I Rowel
11 years ago
Hi Wiens
I’m looking for a place to stay for two weeks in Thailand. Please send me information. Additionally if you are in Thailand , then, may I have your contact details.
Chinthaka
10 years ago
If you have visited once, you can get VISA without bank statement when you apply within one year from the date of last entry to Thailand. .
For the first timer or if you revisit after 1 year you have to show a bank statement / Fixed Deposit Certificate / current account statement and you should have over Rs. 80,000/- in the accounts. This is for Sri lankans.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Great, thank you so much for sharing Chinthaka!
Cham
11 years ago
Hi,
Is it mandatory to provide bank statements and company letter to obtain a visa?
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Hey Cham,
I’m not an expert, but I can tell you that I didn’t need a bank statement. It could depend on your passport, so be sure check your own requirements on the official site.
Good luck with everything,
Mark
INDUNIL
11 years ago
how can get a visa for sri lankans to travell to cambodia is it posible to apply from thailand embassy in sri lanka.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Hey Indunil, I think you’ll have to go to the Cambodian embassy.
chaminda
11 years ago
Thanks very much !
highly appreciate for this information
only one information can we pay by LKR ?
thanks lot in this info !
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Hi Chaminda, yes, I paid with LKR for my visa. All the best!
bunz
12 years ago
thanks a bunch!!!! so helpful. i with the consulate was as informative as you.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Glad it helped Bunz!
Dewi
12 years ago
Hi… I’ve been trying to contact the Embassy but no one pick up the phone. My boss is going to Bangkok next month and lives in Maldives. Apparently the consulate in Male can not help issuing the visa for Egyptian. Do you know if the documents can be sent via courier? or email maybe.
If can…it is much easier. or do you have other contact numbers?
Thanks for the info.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Hey Dewi, the phone number I listed on this article is the only one I have.. not sure why they don’t respond. Are you in Colombo? Have you tried just going into the office in person to ask about the visa? Here’s an e-mail you can try: [email protected]
Other than that I can’t find any other numbers. Try e-mailing them and hopefully that will work.
Good luck with everything!
Kumu
11 years ago
I’m also facing the same problem. Keep on calling there , but no one to answer the phone. Once the auto-reply was played requesting to await in the line until an employee pick the line. But no one did.
Charles
12 years ago
Very helpful info and thanks for posting. the number of days out takes is very helpful.curious about the fee. Is it the same no matter what country you are from? I will be applying in Feb 2012, and hoping that Thailand will be providing free tourist visas then to stir up tourism after floods. however, each embassy sets their own rates regardless?
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Great that this is helpful Charles! It would be nice if Thailand reduced the fees for tourist visas again! Anyway, in Sri Lanka the price was higher than most places I’ve gotten a Thai tourist visa – but still worth it. I think that some of the Thai embassies have a few different policies so the prices vary.
Joe
9 years ago
THANKS MARK!
You sure are a seasoned traveller and seem to have details about Thai visas and related stuff . . . GREAT!
Do they have any visa restrictions in Colombo for any particular countries?
I have a US passport, while my wife holds a Pakistani passport, hence my question.
Thanks Mark.
Joe
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Joe, I’m really not sure about a Pakistani passport, but for a US passport I had no problems. All the best.
Shyamali Sumanasekara
9 years ago
we will go to Malaysia. we hope to go to Thailand. do we need visa to enter Thailand? very helpful if you answer me.
many thanks.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hello Shyamali, are you from Sri Lanka? You’ll have to search for your specific passport. Hope you have a wonderful trip to Thailand.
zroob
12 years ago
we just did the same proccess!
another tip: they asked us to bring copies of ingoing and outgoing flight tickets, but we have no out-flying ticket, since we are going to Laos by land. So we had to write them a letter with our tour-plan and hand it with the passport.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
That’s an awesome tip, thanks so much for sharing!
khairul
10 years ago
Hi,
Myself khairul iam bangladeshi passport holder currently live in maldives planing to
visit thailand for a week.
Please let me know what r thai tourist visa requirement for bangladeshi passport,
Holder it well very helpful if you answer me,
.
Many Thanks,
khairul,