Chiang Mai Visa on Arrival – Visa at Chiang Mai Airport (CNX)

Chiang Mai is the largest city in Northern Thailand where you can find fabulous food, ancient temples and wonderful nature. Thousands visitors come to Chiang Mai to enjoy its relaxing atmosphere and a number of direct international flights is constantly increasing. If you are a citizen of India, China or one of 19 other countries eligible for Thailand Visa on Arrival and flying directly to Chiang Mai, you can get your Visa on Arrival at Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX).

Chiang Mai

You can get your Chiang Mai Visa on Arrival at the airport only if you are flying to Chiang Mai directly on an international flight without a connection in Bangkok. If you have a connecting flight and need to change flights in Bangkok, you must get your Visa on Arrival at one of the airports in Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK). In such a case check:

Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is one of Thailand’s Immigration Checkpoints with Visa on Arrival facilities and you can get your visa here easily. Other international airports, harbours and land border crossings issuing Thai Visa on Arrival can be found here – Immigration Checkpoints issuing Visa on Arrival.

Arriving at Chiang Mai Airport

If you hold a passport that lets you enter Thailand without visa (countries are listed here: Free visa-exempt stay) or you have acquired a Single Entry Tourist Visa / Multiple Entry Tourist Visa in advance at one of Thai embassies or consulates, you just need to fill Thailand Arrival Card and proceed directly to the Immigration counters of Chiang Mai Airport. You will get a stamp and you will be allowed to enter Thailand. Thailand Immigration control procedure at the airport is briefly described here: Thailand Immigration Control Procedure for Foreigners.

If you’re a citizen of one of the countries eligible to obtain Thailand Visa on Arrival and have a plan to get your Chiang Mai Visa on Arrival at the airport, you need to proceed to Visa on Arrival counters first. Don’t forget to prepare all your documents in advance!

Documents required for Chiang Mai Visa on Arrival

When applying for Thailand Visa on Arrival at Chiang Mai Airport you will need:

1. Passport – it must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of your arrival in Thailand.

2. Ticket – you need to show a ticket to prove that you will leave Thailand within 15 days from your arrival.

3. Photo – you need to attach one passport size (4 x 6 cm) photo on application form and it must be not older than 6 months.

4. Visa on Arrival application form – Chiang Mai Visa on Arrival form and tips on filling it can be found here: Visa on Arrival application form.

5. Thailand Arrival Card - you will get the Immigration Card also called arrival/departure card during your flight to Chiang Mai.

6. Money for paying Visa on Arrival fee - you need to have cash in Thai Currency for paying the Visa on Arrival fee.

7. Address of hotel in Chiang Mai or destination in Thailand – you will be asked to show the proof of your hotel booking that you can easily get on Booking.com or Agoda.

8. Proof of appropriate means of living – you might be asked to show an amount of 10,000 THB per person and 20,000 THB per family in cash (any currency).

Chiang Mai Visa on Arrival Fee

Chiang Mai Visa on Arrival fee is 2000 THB per person. Visa on Arrival fee can be paid only in cash (Thai Baht only).

Getting Visa on Arrival at Chiang Mai Airport

Once you arrive at Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), follow the signs leading to Immigration. On the way to Immigration you will notice signs leading to Visa on Arrival counters of Chiang Mai Airport.

Prepare all the required documents listed above and your application for Visa on Arrival at Chiang Mai Airport will be trouble free – just wait in the line, present all the required documents to the officer, pay Visa on Arrival fee and you will get your passport back with Thailand Visa on Arrival already stamped in it.

Once you get your Visa on Arrival, proceed further to the Immigration, present your passport and completely filled in Thailand Arrival Card to the Immigration officer and you will get an entry stamp allowing you to stay in Thailand for 15 days.

New E-Visa Thailand

There is also a new e-Visa Thailand online application system for Thailand Visa on Arrival being implemented at the moment. This way of application is also available at Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). More info about the new online application system can be found here: E-Visa Thailand (E-VoA).

Detailed information about how to how to apply for e-Visa Thailand and how to fill in e-Visa application form correctly can be found here: Thailand eVisa Application: How to Apply for Thai eVisa.

New Thailand eVisa on Arrival system was launched but it hardly improved the situation. More info: New Thailand eVisa on Arrival (eVOA) by VFS Global.

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

The best area to stay in Chiang Mai is the Old City surrounded by moat. The atmosphere of this area is special and all main attractions are nearby. Find the best place to stay in Chiang Mai Old City here: 15 Best Hotels in Chiang Mai Old City.