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.

Chiang Mai VAT Refund for tourist

VAT Refund for tourist
Who can claim a VAT refund
• is not a Thai national
• is not an airline crew member departing Thailand on duty.
• departs Thailand from an international airport.
• purchases goods from stores displaying a "VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS" sign.
• present the goods and submit the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form(P.P10) and original tax invoices to the Customs officers immediately before check-in for departure from Thailand.
How to claim VAT refund?
• VAT refund only applies to goods taken out of Thailand with the traveller within 60 days from the date of purchase.
• Goods must be purchased from stores displaying the "VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS" sign.
• Goods must be at least 5,000 baht including VAT and must be purchased from each supplier at the amount of at least 2,000 baht per day.
• On the purchasing day, present your passport and ask the sales assistant at the store to complete the VAT Refund Application for Tourists form (P.P.10) and attach the original tax invoices to the form. Each application form (P.P.10) must show a value of goods of 2,000 baht or more.
• Before departure, present your goods and VAT Refund Application for Tourists form (P.P.10) to Customs officers for inspection before check-in.
• Luxury goods, such as jewelry, gold ornaments, watch, glasses, or pen, must once more be inspected by the Revenue officers at the VAT refund office at the departure lounge after passport control.
• You can either present your claim to the Revenue officers at the VAT Refund Counter or mail it back to the Revenue Department of Thailand or drop it into the box in front of the VAT Refund office.
How will the Refund be paid?
You can choose to receive your refund
1. Refund amount not exceeding 30,000 baht, will be made in cash (Thai baht) or by bank draft or credit to your credit card account.
2. Refund amount exceeding 30,000 baht, will be made by bank draft or credit to your credit card account.
The following fees apply to refund requests.
• For cash refund, a fee of 100 Baht.
• For bank draft refund, a fee of 100 Baht plus draft issuing fee at the rate charged by banks and postage fees.
• For credit into credit card account refund, a fee of 100 Baht plus money transfer fee at the rate charges by banks and postage fees.
The reasons why requests are disapproved
• You carry a diplomatic passport and reside in Thailand.
• You are an airline crew member departing Thailand on dutry.
• Goods were not taken out of Thailand within 60 days from the date of purchase.
• You did not depart Thailand by air carrier from an international airport.
• The name or the passport number on the original tax invoice attached to the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form (P.P. 10) is not yours.
• Value of goods purchased is less than 2,000 baht per day per store.
• VAT Refund Application for Tourist form ( P.P. 10) was not prepared on the date of purchase.
• Total value of the goods claimed for refund is less than 5,000 baht.
• Original tax invoices were not attached to the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form (P.P. 10).
• You did not carry the goods out of Thailand on the day of your departure.
• Goods were not purchased from participating shops in the VAT refund for tourists scheme.
• The quantity of goods shown in the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form ( P.P. 10) is less than that shown in the original tax invoice.
• Goods were taken out of Thailand without being inspected by Customs officers or by Revenue officers.
• Luxury goods were taken out of Thailand without being checked by the Revenue officers.
• Some of the tax invoices attached to the VAT Refund Application for Tourist form ( P.P. 10) were issued from a different store that mentioned on the form.

Chiang Mai Books, Consulates, Immigration

Maps, Books
1. Nancy Chandler's Map of Chiang Mai, 18th Edition.
“For many visitors, Chiang Mai's real appeal is in its secret sights, shops and cafes hidden down side streets and back alleyways, behind temples and inside otherwise nondescript lots. Nancy Chandler's Map of Chiang Mai shares these treasures, with extensive listings of everything from private museums and boutiques open 'by appointment only' to massage, cooking and Thai language schools, vegetarian restaurants, noodle stalls, things to do with the kids, tips for escaping the heat in summer, where to catch a European film, and more. The map includes detailed guides to the Night Bazaar and the backstreets of Warorot Market (Chiang Mai's Chinatown) as well as Greater Chiang Mai and the City Center. The latest edition index now includes more telephone numbers and descriptions than ever before!
2. DK’s Tourist Map Chiang Mai
3. Lonely Planet Thailand, Joe Cummings
4. Lonely Planet Chiang Mai & Northern Thailand, Joe Cummings
5. Lonely Planet World Food Thailand, Joe Cummings
Foreign Consulates
Australian Consulate 053-225975-6
Austrian Consulate 053-400231
British Consulate 053-203405
Canadian Honorary Consulate 053-850147
Chinese Consulate 053-276215
Germany Consulate 053-838735
Indian Consulate 053-243066
Japanese Consulate 053-203367
Swedish Consulate 053-220844
USA Consulate 053-252629
USIS 053-214120
YMCA Chiang Mai 053-221819, 053-222-366

Chiang Mai Immigration
Office hours are 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday
71 Moo3 Sanambin Road Suthep Muang Chiang Mai
Tel: 053 – 201755-6 Fax: 053-277-510

Post
The General Post Office is near the Train Station on Charoen Meuang Rd.
Office hours are 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 am to 12.00am.
The New Mae Ping Post Office
Office hours are 8.30 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday. Saturday 9.00am to 12.00am.
Other post offices branch : Praisani, Samlan, Phra Pokklao, Chotana, Mahidol, Chang Pheuak, Chang Khlan Rds, Chiang Mai University and Chiang Mai International Airport.