Thailand Visa Exemption: 30 Days Free, 60 Countries
Passport holders of 60 listed countries enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days of tourism, from 15 September 2026. The 60-day exemption is repealed. Officers may ask for proof of accommodation, onward travel and THB 20,000. One extension of up to 30 days costs THB 1,900.
On this page
From 15 September 2026, passport holders of 60 listed countries and territories enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days of tourism. The old 60-day exemption is gone. The rest of this page covers who is on the list, what the other passports get, what the officer asks and how to extend.
Who gets 30 days visa-free
The Ministry of Interior announcement of 31 August 2026 exempts listed passport holders from the visa when they enter temporarily for tourism. The stay is not more than thirty days. It takes effect fifteen days after its Gazette publication, which is 15 September 2026.
Nationals of 60 countries and territories are eligible, for stays of up to 30 days for tourism. The Gazette list has 60 entries. The countries and territories are:
- Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus.
- Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary.
- Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan.
- Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway.
- Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia.
- South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.
What changed from the 60-day rule
A companion Gazette announcement repeals the earlier announcement that gave a special sixty-day exemption for tourism, work or short-term business. Thailand cancelled the 60-day exemption for all 93 countries and territories. Short-term business visitors lost that route with it.
Each country or territory now gets one visa-exemption scheme.
What other passports get
Not every passport is on the 30-day list. Some countries have their own length of stay, and three countries get a Visa on Arrival instead.
| Passports | Stay |
|---|---|
| Bilateral agreement: China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam | 30 days |
| Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Korea (ROK), Peru | 90 days |
| Seychelles, Mauritius | 15 days |
| Cambodia; Myanmar at international airports only | 14 days |
| Visa on Arrival: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Serbia | 15 days |
Visa on Arrival
Nationals of three countries may apply for a Visa on Arrival at immigration checkpoints, for up to 15 days of tourism. The fee is THB 2,000, cash only and non-refundable. Holders generally cannot file for an extension, except in special cases of illness that prevent travel.
Russia and Belarus
Holders of ordinary Russian passports remain eligible for visa exemption for up to 30 days under the bilateral agreement between Thailand and Russia. Holders of Belarusian passports may continue to apply for a Visa on Arrival.
If your passport is on no list
Uzbek passport holders must apply for and obtain a visa from 15 September 2026. The same applies to Armenian passport holders, and Moldovan passport holders must continue to do so.
After the new measures take effect, foreigners enter with the new scheme, under a bilateral agreement, or with an appropriate visa applied for through the e-Visa system. The system is at thaievisa.go.th, and you apply 14 business days in advance and wait for approval before travelling.
At the immigration counter
Entry is for tourism only, for up to 30 days. Upon arrival, visitors present the necessary documents, including proof of accommodation and proof of onward travel scheduled within 30 days of the arrival date.
Immigration officers may request additional documents, such as proof of sufficient funds of THB 20,000 per person, or conduct an interview. Visa-exempt entrants must possess cash of THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family. Carry both the booking and the cash.
Permission to enter and the authorised period of stay are determined by the immigration police officers at the airport or port of entry. The stamp specifies the last date you may stay. Check that date before you leave the checkpoint.
Passports that do not qualify
Tourist visa exemptions do not apply to foreigners holding a Travel Document for Aliens issued by the exempt countries. Travel document holders issued by the British and Irish Governments are required to apply for a Thai visa before entering.
No work
Aliens are not allowed to work unless they are granted a work permit. A visa-exempt entry is for tourism only.
How many entries a year
Entry through land-border checkpoints is allowed no more than twice per calendar year. The limit does not apply to nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore. Nationals of other countries that the Minister designates are exempt from it too.
An embassy notice words the rule as only twice within a calendar year for the scheme. Travellers who intend to visit more than twice per year, or for purposes other than tourism, are strongly advised to apply for an appropriate type of visa. If you run border trips, hold a visa.
Entered before 15 September 2026
People admitted under the previous measures before 15 September 2026 may remain until the period of stay granted to them ends. The officer’s stamp on your passport sets that date.
Extend your 30 days once
A visa-exempt visitor may request an extension of stay of up to 30 days. Order 12/2568 allows one grant of no more than 30 days, counted from the day the permission ends. Apply before your stay ends, and approval is at the officer’s discretion.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee | THB 1,900 |
| Form | TM.7 with a photo |
| Where | The immigration office covering the area where you live |
Documents
Bring the original passport and one copy, the TM.7 form with the photo, and the signed Acknowledgement of Penalties for a Visa Overstay.
While the office decides
While an application is considered, you may stay. Officers may stamp appointments to hear the result several times, up to 30 days in total from the day the permission ended. A refusal means you leave within 7 days of the day the permission ended.
The order does not list the nationalities that its monitoring committee excludes from the tourist extension.
If you stay past the date
The overstay fine is at least THB 500 per day, to a maximum of THB 20,000 for an overstay of 40 days or longer. Read the overstay fines and ban tiers before you cut it close.
Fill in the TDAC before you fly
Foreign travellers must submit the TDAC within 3 days before arriving in Thailand. It is free, and the steps are in the TDAC arrival card guide.
Not confirmed: Whether sea arrivals count toward the twice-a-year limit is unclear: the Gazette names land-border checkpoints, while one embassy page names sea borders too. If you plan many entries, hold a visa. The nationalities excluded from the extension are not published in Order 12/2568. Ask the immigration office before you rely on an extension.
Common questions
How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa in 2026?
Up to 30 days for tourism if your passport is on the list of 60 countries and territories, from 15 September 2026.
Is the 60-day visa-free stay still valid?
No. The Gazette repeals the announcement that gave the special 60-day exemption to 93 countries and territories.
Can I work on a visa-exempt entry?
No. Aliens are not allowed to work unless they are granted a work permit. The exemption covers tourism.
How much money must I show?
Visa-exempt entrants must possess cash of THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family. Officers may ask for proof of THB 20,000 per person.
How many times a year can I enter by land?
Twice per calendar year through land-border checkpoints, except for nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore.
Can I extend 30 days visa-free?
Yes. A visa-exempt visitor may request an extension of up to 30 days. The fee is THB 1,900.
What if my passport is not on any list?
Apply for the appropriate visa through the Thailand e-Visa system.
Do I still fill in the TDAC with a visa exemption?
Yes. Foreign travellers must submit the TDAC within 3 days before arriving.
Which rule applies if I entered before 15 September 2026?
You may remain until the period of stay granted to you ends.
Can Visa on Arrival holders extend?
Generally not, except in special cases of illness that prevent travel.
Read next
General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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