Chiang Mai Visa, Thai Calendar

Visa Issues
Regulations covering the issuance of Thai visas are found in Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) section 5, 12 (1), 34 (15). Essentially, although every visitor to Thailand requires a valid passport, whether you need a visa to enter Thailand is dependent on the period of time you are expecting to stay in the kingdom and your nationality.
Visitors from a number of countries must obtain their visas before entering Thailand. Other visitors will be issued with a visa on arrival at an international airport, a border crossing, or an immigration checkpoint. A limited number of countries have agreements with Thailand that enable their citizens to enter Thailand without a visa. Visas are issued either by consulates and embassies outside Thailand, or the Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police within Thailand.

30-day visits: Most visitors are able to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without the need of a visa.

60-day visits: If you want to stay longer for a longer period you can obtain a two-month tourist visa from the Thai consulate or embassy in your country. However, if you are in Thailand and wish to extend your stay this can be done by obtaining a one-month extension from an immigration office (cost: 1,900 Baht).

Longer than 60-day visits: People wishing to stay in Thailand longer than two months require a ‘Non-Immigrant Visa’ – this is not a tourist visa and a person must meet certain requirements before being granted one (e.g. having family members in Thailand, etc.). A ‘Non-Immigrant Visa’ is issued for three months and can be extended to one year under certain circumstances.
Full details: A detailed description of visa requirements is provided by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Thai Calendar
Years are numbered according to the Buddhist Era (BE) which commenced 543 years before the Christian era. Thailand national holidays are linked to religious or agricultural traditions.
Loy Kratong Day(November)
Not a national holiday, but an evening when Thais pay respect to the goddess of the waters by floating candlelit offerings on any and all waterways around the kingdom.
King's Birthday (5 December) National Holiday
His Majesty the King's birthday is celebrated throughout the country and also serves as the nation's Fathers Day.
Constitution Day (10 December) National Holiday
December 10th celebrates the date in 1932 when the country was granted its first constitution.
New Years Eve (31 December) National Holiday
The day before the western New Year day is always a national holiday.
New Year's Day (1 January) National Holiday
The beginning of the western New Year is a national holiday in Thaland, one of three "new year" holidays celebrated every year.
Chinese New Year (February)
The beginning of the Chinese lunar year is celebrated in the Chinatowns of every city throughout Thailand. Some businesses close for the day, but it is not a national holiday.
Makha Bucha (February) National Holiday
Makha Bucha celebrates the Buddha's first sermon in to his disciples.
Chakri Day (6 April) National Holiday
Chakri Day commeorates the founding of the current dynasty, Rama I.
Songkran Day (13 April) National Holiday
Songkran is the traditional Thai new year, generally celebrated as a water festival.
Labor Day (1 May) National Holiday
International Labor Day is celebrated as a national holiday.
Coronation Day (5 May) National Holiday
Celebrates the day in 1949 when the current king was crowned.
Visakha Bucha (May) National Holiday
The holiest Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana of the Buddha.
Queen's Birthday (12 August) National Holiday
Her Majesty the Queen's birthday is a national holiday, also serving as the country's Mothers Day as well.
Buddhist Lent (August) National Holiday
This day marks the beginning of the Buddhist 'lent' period, a time when monks are supposed to retreat to their temples while new life springs forth.
Chulalongkorn Day (23 October) National Holiday
Celebrates the birthday of one of Thailand's most revered kings.