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What should I do if I can't show the required 20,000 THB in cash upon entering Thailand?

Thailand Visa RulesVisa Exemption for New ZealandersProof of Funds for ThailandCash Requirements for Thailand EntryImmigration Protocol in Thailand
Jan 21, 2025
a month ago
Jordy ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My partner and I are thinking of thailand in April, we're from NZ so we get visa exemption. For proof of funds it say cash 20k baht or equivalent, who even carries that much cash. Do they normally check this? If they do would i be able to show my bank statements or something
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When entering Thailand, travelers are often required to show proof of funds amounting to 20,000 baht (or equivalent), which technically needs to be in cash. While many travelers report not being asked for this amount, it is recommended to have the cash on hand just in case, particularly for first-time visitors. Some commenters suggest that carrying cash can be more convenient than relying on ATMs, while others advocate for the safety of banking methods. Although the requirement is officially for cash only, experiences vary widely, with many travelers stating they have never been questioned about it during multiple entries.
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Armando **********
Last time I went, I took 200,000 baht 😜
a month ago
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Michael ********
I been asked once in probably hundreds of entries and to be fair i was extremely drunk and out of it at the time. But still carry the required amount with me in a different currency that doesnt fill up my wallet
a month ago
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Muchlis ********
Who even carry that much cash?

The answer is Me.

20k is just small amount of money
a month ago
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Tracey ********
That's not a large amount of money. We travel every year to Thailand with 4 or 5 thousand dollars in australian cash and exchange to baht for shopping.
a month ago
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John **********
20 K ? Not a lot of money
a month ago
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Jordy ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I didn't realise people would be rude. I just asked if it had to be cash. I've got the money and can get cash if needed. I've been travelling for 5 months now and i don't always feel comfortable having 1kNZD on me at a time, as I'm travelling for a long time i get cash as needed. Thanks for people who were actually helpful
a month ago
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Andrew ********
I've been coming and going in and out of Thailand for over 20 years on a regular work rotation and never been asked to show cash however if it worries you just bring $ and relax.

There are no ATM's on the arrival side.
a month ago
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Wayne ********
I can tell you who doesn’t carry that much cash, it’s the snowflake generation which you are apparently a part of.. who would even think of going on vacation without having at least $900 in their pocket.
a month ago
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Lisa *******************
That’s not a lot of cash to have on hand for a vacation. Especially in a country where cash is still king. I would actually feel incredibly uncomfortable carrying that little. (Considering my kids and I will drop 10K baht at 7-11 alone on our trips. 🤣)
a month ago
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Bart **************
Can you imagine what happens if one person is refused for having money in the bank? It wouldn't go down well.

Not so long ago the Thai authorities investigated a supposed case where someone was refused entry for the said reason, as they too understand it is a little strange to ask for that. The outcome of the investigation was that it had not happened; the influencer posting it had just made it all up.
a month ago
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Julane *******
@Bart *************
 It happened to a friend and she had a valid multi entry visa, 3 months ago. It CAN happen!
a month ago
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Michael *******
Yip I am inclined to agree, I brought golf tours here from South Africa for nearly 20 years and we were never asked to provide 20k , in fact the first thing we did is hit up an ATM before we left airport to get Baht……..first time I ever heard of this 20k rule was when one of our group wanted a Filipino friend to join him in Pattaya, and she asked him to front up the 20k in case she got pulled at immig….he thought it was a scam and only after checking with Thai embassy in Manila did he send her the cash - needless to say she had no issue on arrival in BKK …….. r
a month ago
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Brandon ************
@Bart *************
 what? That's literally the first question they ask when they're looking to deny entry. And they are denying entry to dozens of people per day. It absolutely happens daily. Cash or you're denied. In fact this is usually the stamp they use for denied entry regardless of the reason. At land borders they use this stamp without even asking to see the money, especially at Poipet.
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Brandon ***********
 in no circumstance is not having the cash a reason to deny entry. As I said; can you imagine the headlines if it would happen, even just once?

If they're looking for a reason to deny entry, then they'll find one. They don't need one. If they can use an outdated cash requirement that nobody ever complies with because it's ridiculous as a stick to slap with, then they might. But don't tell people that having your money in the bank is not acceptable for entering Thailand. Of course it is.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
@Bart *************
 I tell people to follow the law
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Brandon ***********
 this law is heavily outdated and stupid, and carrying that much cash is neither common nor safe. I think this law requires a little grain of salt. Nobody will ever be refused entry to Thailand for keeping money in the bank.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
@Bart *************
 you're flat out wrong and people are denied entry for this every day. What you feel or believe is not relevant.
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Brandon ***********
 you even said they use this stamp regardless of the reason and without even asking for the cash. And then you say I'm flat out wrong? I think our opinions on this have more in common than differences.
a month ago
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Erwin ********
@Bart *************
 if you Google images for ‘Thailand entry denied passport stamp’ you’ll see that nearly all will mention “ไม่มีปัจจัยยังชีพตามสมควร” as reason for denial. So they just use it as an excuse to deny entry if they don’t trust your reason for visiting. To remove this excuse it’s good to have the 20k baht to show.
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Erwin *******
 for what? As you also imply, they'll just deny you for another reason.
a month ago
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Erwin ********
@Bart *************
 they don’t have any other ground under the immigration law without having a lot of evidence and involving a lot of paperwork. Suspecting that a visitor is coming to work illegally isn’t enough to deny entry. So as soon as the immigration officer is starting to ask too many questions, show the 20k without being asked.
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Erwin *******
 is entirely opposite. They do not need ANY reason to deny entry. It's at the officer's discretion.
a month ago
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Bart **************
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Leonard ******
Double that amount to 40K plus debit/credit cards and you'd be about right. I never rely on ATMs to draw cash on my travels in case they get gobbled up, prebook hotels however and self insure with a healthy credit balance in case the worse happens eg hospital
a month ago
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Thaimer ******
Like that’s lot of cash. You’ll need more than that cash in Thailand.

Anyway no one will ask you for any money
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Thaimer *****
 you may need cash every now and then (whether this amount is needed is up for discussion) but you don't need to carry all of it at once right. It's not that cash is the safest thing to carry a lot of in your pockets.
a month ago
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Thaimer ******
@Bart *************
 it’s not the safest definitely, but that’s 3x 200€ bills in your wallet to carry

Not some enormous amount of money
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
@Thaimer *****
 some people think £475 is unaffordable 🤷. I'd usually carry way more than that for start of my holiday.
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Thaimer *****
 it's not millions but it's still a little too much to carry. Not many do that.
a month ago
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Thaimer ******
@Bart *************
 Pretty much everyone who i know bring mire than that in cash upon arrival in Thailand. They exchange it to baht and spend during their vacation.

What’s one supposed to do? Withdraw 3000k each 1-2 day and pay 220 baht each time? As none tourist have QR and bunch of places doesn’t accept cards
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Thaimer *****
 pretty much everyone you know carries that much cash around? Sorry, but no. Just no.

Yes, to keep your cash safe you store it in a bank account. And then withdraw piecemeal. Of course 3000 is too little with the steep withdrawal fee, but you're not gonna carry your entire holiday budget in your pockets, come on.
a month ago
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Thaimer ******
@Bart *************
 yes, anyone I know who’s visiting Thailand carry way more cash with them than aprox 565 euro or 20k baht.

So what’s difference in taking 600 euro in cash with you upon arrival in Thailand or withdrawing 20k baht on ATM?

Personally I always go to Krungsri and withdraw 30k
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Thaimer *****
 I've once lost all my cash. Stolen by a fellow traveler. I still regret having withdrawn too much, though it wasn't as much as 20k. I remember realizing that it wasn't really safe but I wanted to save a few pennies on withdrawal costs, like you suggest. If only I had not bothered about the pennies.

But well, you do you. It's of course not wise, and no, others don't do it, and yes, you may also encounter an unlucky moment one day. If not, luck is with the stupid, they say. But I'll be happy for you.
a month ago
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Thaimer ******
@Bart *************
I guess there’s miscommunication here. I don’t walk around Thailand with 30k in my wallet.

I withdraw it and leave it room. I take few thousand with me.

Same upon arrival I exchange 1000€ more less in superrich.

I don’t stay in hostels so I guess no one to stole it from me lol

Although hotel worker could do it, but again me as hotel worker too I have some faith in colleagues 🤣
a month ago
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Thaimer ******
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Rob **********
Very rarely asked for, but if they do it must be in cash, and there are no ATM’s in that part of the terminal.
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
20k baht is not much. I'd say if you don't have that much money to show for a holiday then you're going to struggle financially.
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Lynnette ******
 all true, but the point is that (officially) it is required to be in cash. Hence the question.

But obviously the requirement is unrealistic. It may not have been in 1979 but it is very unrealistic today. And everyone knows that, immigrations officers as well.
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
@Bart *************
 in 1979 I'd have struggled to have 20k baht in my wallet as I started my holiday. 2024 it's not a lot at all.
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Lynnette ******
 in 1979 it was realistic to require a certain amount in cash as you needed to pay your entire holiday from the amount. In 2024 people do not carry 20k in their wallet. It is way too much to require. If you think it is normal to carry this amount, maybe redo the math?
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
@Bart *************
 no need to redo maths. 20k doesn't last long. They aren't asking for evidence you can fund the whole trip. It's not much different to arriving in USA and being asked to show money, as I was asked to do few months ago.
a month ago
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Bart **************
@Lynnette ******
 20k is too much, you cannot expect travelers to carry that. If you think it's little then you have strange perceptions about the value of money. The US is not requiring that sort of money. Neither is Thailand; they've just forgotten to sanitize their laws.
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
@Bart *************
 well I don't know many cash strapped folk who pay thousands for holidays but can't find 20k cash to bring with them. Just because I don't agree that the equivalent of about £475 isn't a lot of money for starting a holiday does not mean I don't understand the value of money. What a dopey thing to say.
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
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Lynnette *******
@Bart *************
 why is it unrealistic? That's not much to carry for the start of a holiday.
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
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Ian *********
I’ve never been asked for it in 30 years
a month ago
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Rick ********
@Ian ********
 also never asked in my 14 years of multi visits per year.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
@Ian ********
 you've been entering Thailand visa exempt for 30 years?
a month ago
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Ian *********
@Brandon ***********
 no sometimes with tourist visa sometimes o visa sometimes exempt. I done a lot of monthly bounces at one point.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
@Ian ********
 the 3 proofs are only for visa exempt generally
a month ago
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Brandon ************
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James *******
Yes and no you won't be able
a month ago
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John *****
Other than Internet people I've never heard an actual person being asked for this.
a month ago
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Did *****
You will need cash anyway.

Getting several times cash from ATM is expensive (220thb each time and your bank might have a bad exchange rate and charge you even more fees on top)
a month ago
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Robert *********
You should never have less than that .

Hurricanes ,political coups ,tsunami ,ATMs out of money ,military uprising ,bank strike ,all have happened to me .

Far better to lose it ,than not go have it when you really need it .

It's not that much money
a month ago
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Benjamin *********
@Robert ********
 💯
a month ago
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Benjamin *********
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Mark ***********
Australian passport here, in 35 plus trips to Thailand, I’ve never been asked. But if I was, it’s less than AUD$1000 & easy to withdraw from an ATM at the airport
a month ago
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Brandon ************
@Mark **********
 There is no ATM at the airport between your plane and passport control. They will not allow you to go to an ATM to withdraw the money. If they ask and you don't have it, you're on a flight out of Thailand with a denied entry stamp in your passport.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
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Michael *******
If you have a credit/bank card not an issue, this 20k thing is (sadly) for folk from the ASEAN region who may have limited means and are chancing it……so long as you have somewhere to stay or a plan they won’t bother you……..
a month ago
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Tony *********
@Michael ******
 What a load of crap ?????. I've been asked once just after covid and I come from Australia. So has nothing to do with being from an Asean region.
a month ago
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Stuart *********
@Michael ******
 Completely wrong. Any immigration officer can ask you to show 20k in cash ( baht or equivalent) it has nothing to do with being ASEAN.

Very rarely will they do so but if they do it needs to be cash. A credit card or bank statement won’t suffice.
a month ago
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Michael *******
@Stuart ********
 so you are suggesting everyone carrys cash with them ? Clearly not, they profile passengers, whether we like it or not - Filipino/indonesian maid or worker is more likely to be stopped than a Caucasian but I was trying to avoid saying that….it’s in the rules and at the IO’s discretion how hard they enforce it, if somebody has means they can talk their way through it I would imagine, but probably not above types of pax……..
a month ago
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Stuart *********
@Michael ******
 The rules are the rules. How the IO chooses to enforce them is up to them. Proof of cash is rarely asked for but it’s one of the three reasons why they can deny you entry.
a month ago
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Stuart *********
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Wayne *********
20,000baht not even 1000aud it's not a lot to carry when you travel. Cash saves you being slugged ATM fees
a month ago
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Luit *****************
@Wayne ********
 and at Superrich also gives you best exchange rate.
a month ago
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Luit *****************
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Paul *******
Immigration can ask for three proofs. Proof of a ticket out of Thailand within the 60 days of your entry. Proof of your accommodation in Thailand. Proof of funds (20,000 thb or equivalent in major currencies) which must be in cash. But Immigration rarely ask for these proofs unless you are a frequent traveller using the visa exempt entry or are scruffy or otherwise suspicious to Immigration. First time travellers to Thailand are almost never questioned but it could happen. But Immigration often asks travellers where they intend to stay.
a month ago
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Taisto ***********
@Paul ******
 Dear Sir. About proof of a ticket: Is a confirmed bus ticket to a neighboring country enough? Regards Taisto Sinkkonen
a month ago
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Graham ******
@Taisto **********
 Probably will work for Immigration but it is your airline that normally asks for that proof so check with them or you may not be flying without a flight ticket exiting Thailand
a month ago
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Paul *******
@Taisto **********
 Yes. That would work.
a month ago
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Paul *******
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Steve *******
To be fair it's not a large amount of cash to be carrying. Around £475. Especially when travelling abroad.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
It's not often asked for, but if it is asked for, it must be in CASH ONLY. They will not accept bank statement, credit card, banking app or anything else.
a month ago
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Brandon ************
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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