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As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Thai Tourist Visas. We are specifically discussing this in the context of the recently now presumably repealed requirement that those seeking a Thai Tourist Visa, show a bank balance of 500,000 Baht either in a Thai bank account or in currency equivalent in a bank account abroad.

That requirement appears to have been appealed but I have had some people contact me and ask me do I really believe that this is at an end in the sense that do I truly think that this is no longer being required or are they just not overtly saying that is the requirement. This theory, for lack of a better term, seems to be based on especially the requirements noted on the Royal Thai Embassy website in London, specifically subsection 4 under the Tourism Visa Section, Single Entry Tourist Visas. Under subsection 4 it specifically states: ”UK / Irish bank statements with sufficient fund to cover your trip to Thailand.” It doesn't actually stipulate an amount. I have had people contact me and say "well, do you think they are just not saying it is 500,000 Baht but in reality it is what they want to see”. It is difficult to say with respect to the Thai Embassy in London. That is not the impression I get from this. I think that they are trying to retain some adjudicatory discretion by not specifically stipulating an amount. Meanwhile which I think is further evidence which is dispositive on this issue comes from the Royal Thai Embassy website in the US in Washington D.C. Under 2.9, under the section: Visa and Certificate of Entry procedures for non-Thai nationals wishing to enter Thailand for Tourism purposes, under Section 2.9 it specifically stipulates the following: copy of recent bank statement $700 per person and $1,500 per family. The name of the applicant must be indicated clearly. In case of submitting a family bank statement, proof of relationship i.e. birth certificate, marriage certificate must be provided."  So they clearly stipulate how much needs to be shown with respect to amounts of financial evidence for purposes of a Thai Tourist visa at the Thai Embassy in the USA. 

Meanwhile, it looks to me like they are not stipulating a specific amount in the UK. Again they may be wanting to retain some adjudicatory discretion on that. They may just not have thought of it. They may just said “okay we are repealing the 500,000 Baht requirement. We will just put up sufficient funds,” and that is what they went ahead and put up.

I don't think that this should be inferred to mean that 500,000 Baht is still the shadow requirement that they are not overtly stating and they still want to see that. I don't particularly think that is necessarily the case. That stated, anyone who is able to show 500,000 Baht either in a Thai bank account or in foreign currency equivalent abroad, it is probably not a terrible idea to go ahead and just throw that in your application because that was clearly a requirement before that that clearly demonstrates the threshold at least someone was looking at who was in a policy making position. So it is not a terrible idea from the standpoint of evidence. But no I do not think that there is sort of this secret requirement that it be 500,000 Baht even though they are not overtly saying so.