Tourist Entry to Thailand - Visa-Exempt, Tourist Visa & Visa on Arrival

Confirmed change effective 15 September 2026 — source review 4 September 2026

Thailand’s revised visa-exemption and Visa on Arrival measures were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and take effect on 15 September 2026. Until 14 September, check the entry scheme then in force. For entry on or after 15 September, check the current Department of Consular Affairs ordinary-passport list for the passport held and travel purpose. The revised tourism measures include 30-day exemption for 60 countries and territories, 15-day exemption for two, and Visa on Arrival for three; the official list, not this summary, controls passport-specific treatment.

The MFA states that a foreign national who enters Thailand before 15 September 2026 under the earlier arrangement may remain until the end of the period granted under that permission. This does not guarantee admission, a particular permission, extension, re-entry or permission to work.

Status: Confirmed; effective 15 September 2026. Professional review: Not performed. General information only. See the visa-exemption and VOA guide.

Choose the route by passport and purpose

  • Visa-exempt entry: confirm that the passport appears on the current MFA list and read the conditions attached to that list.
  • Tourist visa: use the official Thai e-Visa portal or the responsible Thai embassy or consulate. The issuing post’s checklist, fee and processing notice control the application.
  • Visa on Arrival: confirm passport eligibility and current conditions through Consular Affairs before travel.

Do not infer eligibility, stay length, fees, documents, extension rights or entry conditions from nationality region, residence, an old table, an airline summary or social media. Entry route, passport, purpose and date of entry all matter.

Before travel

  1. Check the passport-specific route on the current Consular Affairs list.
  2. If a visa is required, select the responsible issuing post through the official e-Visa service and follow that post’s current checklist.
  3. Verify passport, travel, accommodation, financial-evidence and onward-travel requirements shown by the issuing post or carrier for the specific journey.
  4. Allow for document requests and processing variation; the site does not publish a universal processing time or fee.
  5. Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card separately within its official submission window. TDAC does not replace a visa or guarantee admission.

On arrival and extensions

The permission stamped or recorded at entry controls the permitted stay. Admission and any extension remain subject to Immigration authority and the individual case. Before relying on an extension, check the current Immigration procedure, documents, fee and office instructions for the permission actually held.

Tourist entry does not by itself establish permission to work. Activities, work authorization and penalties are fact-specific; obtain current Department of Employment or qualified Thai advice before performing work in Thailand.

Official sources

This page is general information. Official issuing-post, carrier and Immigration instructions control. Requirements can change; recheck them immediately before applying and travelling. No qualified Thai legal or immigration-professional review has been performed.