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Non-Immigrant R — missionary or religious activity

ThailandCulture, faith and volunteering

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Thailand Read the five questions ↓

What exact activity, role or purpose qualifies?

This is the Thai Non-Immigrant Visa category "R". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues it to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom to perform missionary work or other religious activities, with the concurrence of the Thai Ministries or Government Departments concerned. The page does not describe particular faiths, denominations or types of religious work beyond that wording.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not define which religious activities count beyond 'missionary work or other religious activities', and does not name the Ministries or Government Departments that must concur.

What organisation, institution, religious body, charity, teacher or host must support the activity?

The religious activity must have the concurrence of the Thai Ministries or Government Departments concerned. In the document list the Ministry requires, for category "R" among others, an Official Note certifying the purpose of travel issued by government agencies, embassies and consulates, international organisations or state enterprises in Thailand. The page does not name a church, mission or charity as host and does not set out any separate registration of the host religious organisation.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not say which body issues the concurrence, how it is obtained, or whether the host religious organisation itself must be registered in Thailand.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 1. REQUIREMENT
    - to perform missionary work or other religious activities with the concurrence of the Thai Ministries or Government Departments concerned (Category "R")
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
    - Official Note certifying the purpose of travel from the Government Agencies /Embassies and Consulates / International Organizations / State Enterprises inThailand. ("F" / "B" / "ED" / "M" / "R") - Letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour (To obtain this letter, the prospective employer in Thailand is required to submit Form WP3 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour Tel 02-2452745, 02-2453209 or at a Provincial Employment Office in the respective province. Further information is available at www.doe.go.th/workpermit/index.html) ("B")

What proves the placement, role, affiliation, experience or cultural/religious/voluntary activity?

For category "R" the Ministry lists an Official Note certifying the purpose of travel from government agencies, embassies and consulates, international organisations or state enterprises in Thailand. Every Non-Immigrant applicant also files a completed visa application form, a passport or travel document valid for not less than 6 months (18 months for a one-year visa), a 4 x 6 cm photograph taken within the past six months and evidence of adequate finance of 20,000 Baht per person or 40,000 Baht per family. Foreign-language documents must be translated into Thai, or notarised if translated into English, and consular officers may request further documents.

See recorded sources
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 2.1
    2.1 The applicants must submit the following relevant documents depending on the purpose of their visit.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
    - Visa application form completely filled out
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
    - Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months. The validity of 18 months is required for one year visa application.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
    - (4 x 6 cm) protograph of the applicant, taken within the past six months
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
    - Evidence of adequate finance ( 20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family )
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
    - Official Note certifying the purpose of travel from the Government Agencies /Embassies and Consulates / International Organizations / State Enterprises inThailand. ("F" / "B" / "ED" / "M" / "R") - Letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour (To obtain this letter, the prospective employer in Thailand is required to submit Form WP3 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour Tel 02-2452745, 02-2453209 or at a Provincial Employment Office in the respective province. Further information is available at www.doe.go.th/workpermit/index.html) ("B")
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 2.7
    2.7 Documents in foreign languages must be translated into Thai. If translated into English, it should be notarized by notary organs or the applicant’s diplomatic/ consular mission.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 2.3
    2.3 Consular officers reserve the rights to request additional documents as deemed necessary.

Can the person receive salary, pocket money, accommodation, meals or reimbursement? Can they undertake other work?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm whether a category "R" holder may receive pay, allowances, accommodation or reimbursement, or undertake other work.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page states nothing about salary, allowances or reimbursement for category R, and nothing about whether a separate Thai work permit is needed for religious work.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 1. REQUIREMENT
    - to perform missionary work or other religious activities with the concurrence of the Thai Ministries or Government Departments concerned (Category "R")
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 1. REQUIREMENT
    - to conduct business / to work (Category "B")
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
    - Official Note certifying the purpose of travel from the Government Agencies /Embassies and Consulates / International Organizations / State Enterprises inThailand. ("F" / "B" / "ED" / "M" / "R") - Letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour (To obtain this letter, the prospective employer in Thailand is required to submit Form WP3 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour Tel 02-2452745, 02-2453209 or at a Provincial Employment Office in the respective province. Further information is available at www.doe.go.th/workpermit/index.html) ("B")

How long can they stay, can they change host/activity, can family accompany, and can the status be extended?

Single-entry and multiple-entry Non-Immigrant visas are valid for three months, and multiple-entry visas could also be valid for one year. On entry the holder is initially granted a stay not exceeding 90 days unless the Office of Immigration Bureau instructs otherwise; qualified persons can then obtain an additional one year stay permit counting from the date of entry under the Immigration Bureau's regulations, at the discretion of the Immigration officer. Anyone wanting more than 90 days must file at a Thai consular mission abroad or at the Office of Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, with referral to the Bureau for approval. The official source does not state whether the host or activity can be changed or whether family can accompany an "R" holder.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not state whether the holder may change host organisation or activity, and does not state any family accompaniment rule for category R.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 4. VALIDITY OF A VISA
    Single-entry and multiple-entry visas are valid for three months. Multiple-entry visas could also be valid for one year.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 5. PERIOD OF STAY
    The holders of this type of visa are initially granted a period of stay in the Kingdom not exceeding 90 days unless otherwise instructed by the Office of Immigration Bureau.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 6. EXTENSION OF STAY
    Those qualified persons can obtain an additional one year stay permit counting from the date of entry in the Kingdom pertaining to the Office of the Immigration Bureau's regulations on extension of stay. The extension of stay is at the discretion of the Immigration officer.
  • 3. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, 6. EXTENSION OF STAY (N.B.)
    N.B. Applicants wishing to stay in the Kingdom longer than 90 days have to file their application either at the Thai consular mission aboard or at the Office of Immigration Bureau in Bangkok located on Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Tel 0-2141-9889 (or website at (http://www.immgration.go.th ) . The consular officer must refer the case to the Office of Immigration Bureau for approval. Upon receiving approval, the consular officer may issue the visa as instructed by the Bureau

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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