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Thailand currently combines several tourist-entry routes: visa exemption, Visa on Arrival, advance visas through the eVisa system, and the mandatory Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). The correct route depends on nationality, passport or travel document, purpose, country of residence, and intended stay length.
Ethan Brooks
Updated Nov 3, 2026
11 min read
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Thailand allows ordinary passport holders from the United States, United Kingdom, India, Türkiye and 56 other countries and territories to visit visa-free for up to 30 days. Other passports have different stay limits, qualify for Visa on Arrival or require a visa before departure. Most international visitors must also complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC).
| Entry route | Ordinary passports covered | Tourist stay | What to arrange |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day visa exemption | 60 countries and territories, including Australia, Canada, India, Türkiye, the UK and the US | Up to 30 days | Onward travel within the permitted stay |
| 15-day visa exemption | Mauritius and Seychelles | Up to 15 days | Onward travel within 15 days |
| Bilateral visa exemption | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and South Korea | Up to 90 days | Use the allowance for your passport |
| Bilateral visa exemption | China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia, Timor-Leste and Vietnam | Up to 30 days | Check any cumulative stay limit under your agreement |
| Bilateral visa exemption | Cambodia and Myanmar | Up to 14 days | Myanmar passport holders must arrive through an international airport |
| Visa on Arrival (VOA) | Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia | Up to 15 days | Use a designated checkpoint and bring the fee and supporting documents |
| Tourist visa before travel | Includes Armenia, Moldova and Uzbekistan, as well as eligible visitors planning a longer holiday | Normally up to 60 days on a Tourist Visa (TR) | Obtain approval before traveling |
The official Thai passport eligibility lists distinguish ordinary passports from diplomatic and official passports. The table reflects the rules as of November 3, 2026. If you travel on a refugee or other non-national travel document, check eligibility for that document rather than the passport rules for your country of residence.
Thailand ended its 60-day exemption for 93 countries and territories on September 15, 2026. The new rules also changed which travelers can get a visa at the border. Seychelles moved from VOA to a 15-day exemption, while Armenian and Uzbek ordinary passport holders now need a visa before departure.
The change matters if you booked a longer holiday under the old rules. For example, a US passport holder planning a 45-day trip can apply for a tourist visa covering the itinerary before flying. A 30-day visa-exempt admission leaves the final 15 days dependent on an extension. Anyone admitted before September 15 keeps the stay already granted on their entry stamp.
Ordinary passport holders from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and South Korea can visit for up to 90 days under bilateral agreements. This distinction matters for a six-week trip. A South Korean passport holder can cover it under the agreement, while a Japanese passport holder falls under the 30-day scheme below.
These are the 60 countries and territories covered by the 30-day tourist exemption. The bilateral and 15-day groups are listed separately in the table above.
| Alphabetical range | Eligible countries and territories |
|---|---|
| A–C | Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia |
| D–H | Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary |
| I–K | Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan |
| L–N | Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway |
| O–S | Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland |
| T–U | Taiwan, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States |
Myanmar ordinary passport holders may use the 14-day bilateral exemption when entering through an international airport. If you are traveling overland, arrange the appropriate entry permission before setting out.
Ordinary passport holders from Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia can apply at designated immigration checkpoints for a tourist stay of up to 15 days. If your crossing is outside a major airport, confirm it processes VOA applications before booking that route.
Bring these items to the VOA counter.
Your passport, a completed VOA application and a recent 4 × 6 cm photograph.
The THB 2,000 fee in cash.
A paid return or onward ticket showing departure within 15 days.
Evidence of funds of at least THB 10,000 per person or THB 20,000 per family.
Your accommodation details and TDAC confirmation.
Allow for six months of passport validity on arrival and carry a passport with two blank pages to meet the guidance issued by the Thai embassy in London. If you want to stay longer than 15 days, apply for a tourist visa before traveling. An ordinary holiday does not qualify for a VOA extension.
Ordinary passport holders outside Thailand’s published exemption, bilateral and VOA groups generally need a visa before departure. That includes Armenian, Moldovan and Uzbek citizens traveling for tourism. The standard single-entry Tourist Visa (TR) also provides a route for eligible visitors who already know they need more time than their exemption allows.
Apply through the official Thai eVisa portal. Enter your passport country, current physical location, purpose and intended travel dates. The Thai embassy or consulate responsible for your location processes the application. Apply from outside Thailand and be ready to document your lawful presence or residence in that mission’s jurisdiction.
Typical tourist-visa files include the passport biodata page, a recent photograph, proof of current location, travel plans, accommodation and financial evidence. The responsible mission may request additional documents, and fees and processing periods differ. Once your approval arrives by email, keep an offline copy and carry a printout for airline and immigration checks.
If remote work is the reason for a longer stay, check whether you qualify for Thailand’s Destination Thailand Visa before choosing a tourist visa.
Submit the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card free of charge, starting three calendar days before arrival. If you arrive on Friday, you can submit it from Tuesday. Use the date you reach Thailand, especially if your flight departs the previous day.
The TDAC applies to foreign nationals entering by air, land or sea, including children, visa holders and visa-exempt visitors. Two exceptions matter here. Passengers who remain in transit without passing Thai immigration do not need it. Neither do travelers entering with a border pass.
Have your passport, arrival details, Thai accommodation address and an email address ready. The form also asks about your journey and recent travel for its health declaration. Download the confirmation so you can show it even if your phone has no signal. Submit a fresh TDAC for each entry, including when you return on a multiple-entry visa.
For the 30-day exemption, travel with an ordinary passport valid for at least six months on the day you arrive. Check that the passport is in good condition and has space for immigration stamps. Your name, passport number and nationality on the TDAC and any visa must match the document you present.
Keep confirmed onward or return travel within the permitted stay. Airlines may check this before boarding, and immigration can request evidence that the visit is temporary. If your exemption is 30 days and your only flight out is on day 45, a plan to request an extension leaves you without proof of departure within your initial allowance.
Save the address and booking confirmation for your first hotel, rental or host. If you are still deciding where to stay in Thailand, settle the first night before completing the TDAC so you can enter the address where you will actually stay.
Under the 30-day tourist exemption, be prepared to show THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family in cash or the equivalent in foreign currency if requested. Under VOA, the lower threshold applies. Keep the THB 2,000 application fee separate from the funds you need to show.
Your recent itinerary determines whether yellow fever documentation is required. If you have traveled from or through a designated risk area and the requirement applies, submit your vaccination certificate through Thailand Health Pass before travel and carry the original for arrival. A first vaccination must be at least 10 days old.
Goods in your baggage are a separate customs matter. Before packing medication, alcohol or vaping products, check what you can bring into Thailand.
Land borders. Under the 30-day scheme, visa-exempt entry at land checkpoints is generally limited to twice per calendar year. Nationals of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are exempt from that limit. Border opening status is a separate question. As of November 3, 2026, Thailand–Cambodia land crossings remain closed to ordinary travelers.
Airports and seaports. If your passport requires VOA, make sure your arrival checkpoint issues it, particularly on a cruise or ferry itinerary. The 14-day bilateral exemption for Myanmar ordinary passport holders specifically requires an international-airport arrival.
Connecting flights. If the airline transfers your bags and you remain in the international transit area, you do not submit a TDAC. Confirm with the airline that your tickets, passport and connection qualify for airside transfer. If you must clear immigration to collect bags, stay overnight outside the terminal or change airports, Thai entry rules apply even if your next flight leaves the same day.
Landing at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and flying out of Don Mueang (DMK) means entering Thailand and traveling across Bangkok. Allow time for passport control, baggage and your second check-in, and plan your ground transport in Bangkok before you fly. If you arrive late and arrange your own ride, the Thailand safety guide covers taxi and transport precautions.
Visitors admitted under the 30-day tourist exemption can apply to Thai Immigration for up to 30 additional days. Tourist Visa (TR) holders can also apply for an extension of up to 30 days. Apply before the date on your admission stamp. Approval is discretionary. If your passport falls under a bilateral agreement, check the conditions of that agreement before relying on an extension.
Check the last permitted date on your stamp before leaving the immigration counter. Overstay fines are normally THB 500 per day, up to THB 20,000. Overstaying can also lead to detention, deportation and a re-entry ban.
Booking against the old 60-day allowance. Count the days from arrival through departure against the allowance for your passport.
Using an old VOA list. India now falls under the 30-day visa exemption. Armenia and Uzbekistan require advance visas.
Choosing the wrong eVisa mission. Apply through the mission responsible for the place where you are physically located.
Counting on an airside transfer with bags to collect. Ask the airline where your baggage is tagged and whether the next boarding pass can be issued in transit.
Overlooking local rules after immigration. Once you leave the airport, separate Thai rules on vaping, cannabis and visitor conduct apply.
Save your TDAC, onward ticket and hotel address offline before departure. Mobile data becomes useful when plans change and you need to contact your hotel, rebook a pickup or retrieve a new ticket. If you want data ready on landing, you can install a Roafly Thailand eSIM before the flight.
If you prefer staff to help you get connected, check SIM card options at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The guide to getting internet in Thailand also covers local SIMs, roaming and Wi-Fi. If you have already decided on an eSIM, you can compare Thailand eSIM plans and networks before buying.
US citizens with ordinary passports can visit for tourism without a visa for up to 30 days. For a six-week holiday with flights already booked, a tourist visa obtained before departure can cover the trip without relying on an extension.
British citizen passport holders qualify for up to 30 days visa-free for tourism. If you live in the UK but travel on a UK-issued refugee travel document, you need a Thai visa before traveling.
Ordinary Indian passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism. Use the visa-exempt entry route and complete the TDAC. There is no THB 2,000 VOA fee on this route.
Yes. The bilateral agreement allows ordinary mainland Chinese passport holders to stay up to 30 days per visit and up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Both limits matter if you make several trips.
Ordinary Turkish passport holders can visit for tourism without a visa for up to 30 days. Have the TDAC confirmation, accommodation details and proof of departure within that period ready.
No. It records your arrival details. If your passport requires a visa before travel, obtain the visa approval separately. Showing the TDAC confirmation alone will not cover that requirement.
