Thailand Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
There's no single answer — it depends on your passport. As of mid-2026, most Western nationalities (US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand) get up to 60 days visa-free, pending a Cabinet-approved cut to 30 days still awaiting Royal Gazette publication. Gulf states and South Africa share that 60-day rule; China, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia sit at 30 days; Brazil keeps 90. All arrivals must also file the free TDAC online within 72 hours.
Visa questions are the one place a generic travel-blog answer can actually cost you money or get you turned away at check-in. Here's the real breakdown by nationality, plus the one change worth watching before you book flights.
Last checked 15 July 2026 directly against Thailand's own official sources — the Immigration Bureau (visa-exemption list and extensions), the official Thailand e-Visa portal (for nationalities that need to apply in advance), and the official TDAC site (the free arrival form) — not just this page's own history. Visa rules like this one change with little notice, so we re-verify against those three sources every few weeks rather than trusting our own last edit. Spotted something that's changed since? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.
Everyone's rushing to book around the 60-day visa-free window before it (maybe) drops to 30. Here's the unrushed version: that 30-day cut has been "Cabinet-approved" and "pending" for months without hitting the Royal Gazette — Thailand has let proposed changes like this sit for six-plus months before. Book your trip on the rule that's actually in effect today, not the one everyone's panicking about.
Visa-free stay by nationality (as of mid-2026)
| Passport | Current visa-free stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States, Canada | Up to 60 days | No pre-application, no fee at the border. Extendable by 30 days at an Immigration office for a fee. |
| United Kingdom | Up to 60 days | Same terms as US/Canada — no visa application required. |
| EU / Schengen countries | Up to 60 days | Covered under the same visa-exemption scheme; confirm your specific country is on Thailand's current list. |
| Australia, New Zealand | Up to 60 days | Same terms as above. |
| China | Up to 30 days | Covered by a separate bilateral agreement with Thailand (in place since March 2024), not the 60-day scheme — already at 30 days, so it's unaffected by the pending change. |
| Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia) | Up to 60 days | Currently on the same 93-country scheme as the US/UK/EU list — faces the same pending revert to 30 days. |
| South Africa | Up to 60 days | Also on the 93-country scheme; same pending 30-day change applies. |
| Brazil / Latin America | Brazil: 90 days. Most other Latin American countries: up to 60 days | Brazil (plus Argentina, Chile, Peru) has a separate, long-standing 90-day bilateral deal, untouched by the pending change. Other Latin American nationalities generally fall under the standard 93-country scheme and face the same pending revert to 30 days. |
| Southeast Asia (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia) | Up to 30 days | Covered by a separate ASEAN bilateral exemption, already at 30 days — not part of the 60-day scheme, so the pending change doesn't affect it. Land-border entries are capped at 2 per year, except for Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore, which are exempt from that cap. |
| Other nationalities | Varies — 15 to 60 days, or a visa required in advance | Some get a shorter 15-day exemption (Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles); Visa on Arrival is being cut from 31 countries to just 4 (India, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Serbia); others need a visa or e-visa arranged before arrival. Check the Immigration Bureau's official list for your specific passport. |
A Thai Cabinet decision approved on 19 May 2026 would cut the visa-exemption period from 60 to 30 days for roughly 54 nationalities (the ones marked '60 days' in the table above), with three island nations — the Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles — dropping to a 15-day exemption. Visa on Arrival eligibility is also being slashed from 31 countries to just 4 (India, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia). As of mid-2026 this still hasn't taken effect: it kicks in 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, no publication date has been confirmed, and the 60-day stamp is still being issued at the border. Check the current rule for your passport within a week or two of booking, not months in advance.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
Every foreign traveler, regardless of nationality or visa status, must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before arrival — it's free, takes a few minutes, and must be submitted within 72 hours of your flight. Do this yourself at the official TDAC site (tdac.immigration.go.th); skip any third-party site charging a 'processing fee' for what is a free government form.
Other entry basics
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry.
- Immigration officers occasionally ask for proof of an onward or return flight, and sometimes proof of funds — have a printed or digital copy of your return ticket ready.
- If you overstay your visa-exempt period, there's a daily fine (paid at the airport or an immigration office) — it's not worth risking; plan an extension in advance if you need more time.
Extending your stay
Visa-exempt entries can typically be extended once, by 30 days, at an Immigration office in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or most tourist hubs, for a fee (roughly $70). Bring a passport photo, a filled extension form, and your TDAC confirmation.