Thailand Visa Checker
How long you can stay in Thailand, by nationality — visa exemption, visa on arrival, extensions, the DTV, and what the 2026 rule changes mean for your trip.
Last verified: 31 August 2026 against the Cabinet decision, Interior Ministry notices and embassy announcements. Rules change often — always confirm on the official Thai e-Visa portal before booking.
Two big changes are happening right now
- Visa-free entry drops from 60 to 30 days for most nationalities (and the eligible list shrinks from 93) once the revision takes effect — expected 15 September 2026, fifteen days after Royal Gazette publication.
- DTV rules tightened on 31 August 2026: applications only in your country of citizenship or permanent residence, and a criminal record certificate is now required.
Who can enter visa-free
The lists below reflect the revised scheme as reported from the Cabinet decision. Until it takes effect, the current 60-day exemption still applies to all 93 nationalities on the old list. The binding lists are the Ministry of Interior announcements published in the Royal Gazette.
Visa exemption — 30 days (60 until the change)
Extendable once by 30 days (฿1,900) at an immigration office.
Visa exemption — 15 days
New shorter tier under the revised scheme.
Visa on arrival — 15 days (฿2,000)
Reduced from 31 countries to 4. India moves here from the 60-day exemption.
Bilateral agreements — unaffected by the change
Separate treaties between Thailand and these countries; the 2026 revision doesn't touch them.
Any other nationality needs a visa before travelling — for tourism, usually the single-entry 60-day tourist visa (TR) via the official e-Visa portal.
Extending your stay
A visa-exempt entry can be extended once, by 30 days, for ฿1,900 at any immigration office in Thailand. You'll need your passport, a completed TM.7 form, a passport photo and proof of accommodation. Bangkok's main office is at Chaeng Watthana (Government Complex, Building B); Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya have their own offices. Arrive early — queues build fast.
Under the current 60-day exemption that means up to 90 days in the country; once the 30-day rule takes effect, the ceiling for a visa-exempt trip becomes 60 days (30 + 30 extension).
The DTV after 31 August 2026
The Destination Thailand Visa (5 years, 180 days per entry, ฿10,000) remains open to remote workers, freelancers and "soft power" applicants (Muay Thai, cooking schools, medical stays), but two rules tightened worldwide on 31 August 2026:
- You must apply at a Thai embassy or consulate in a country where you are a citizen or permanent resident. Applying from a third country — the popular route via Vientiane, Phnom Penh or Kuala Lumpur — is no longer accepted.
- A recent criminal record certificate is now part of the required documents (validity requirements vary by embassy — London, for example, asks for one issued within six months).
Applications with the fee fully paid before 31 August 2026 are assessed under the previous rules.
Overstay: what it actually costs
Overstaying is a fine of ฿500 per day, capped at ฿20,000, paid when you exit. On top of the fine, longer overstays carry automatic re-entry bans if you leave on your own: 1 year for overstays over 90 days, 3 years over 1 year, 5 years over 3 years and 10 years over 5 years. If you're caught while overstaying — in a spot check or a raid — it's arrest, deportation at your own cost and a minimum 5-year ban.
Enforcement has visibly tightened in 2026, with immigration crackdowns on Samui, Phangan and elsewhere making the news all summer. If you're on overstay now, the least-bad move is always the same: go to the airport or a land border, pay the fine and exit cleanly — every extra day makes it worse.
Before you fly: the TDAC
Every foreign visitor must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within 3 days before arrival — it's free at tdac.immigration.go.th and replaced the old TM.6 paper form. Airlines increasingly ask for it at check-in. It's a registration, not a visa — it doesn't change how long you can stay.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa?
Right now, passport holders from 93 countries — including the US, UK, EU, Australia and Japan — get 60 days visa-free on arrival. Under the revision approved by Thailand's Cabinet, that drops to 30 days for most of those nationalities once the new rules take effect (expected 15 September 2026). A one-time 30-day extension (฿1,900) at an immigration office remains available.
Is Thailand reducing the visa exemption to 30 days?
Yes. The Cabinet approved replacing the 60-day exemption with a 30-day exemption for a shorter list of nationalities, plus a new 15-day tier (Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles) and a visa on arrival limited to four countries (India, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Serbia). The Interior Ministry signed the implementing notices on 27 August 2026; they take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette — expected 15 September 2026.
Can I extend my stay in Thailand without leaving?
Yes. A visa-exempt stay can be extended once by 30 days at any immigration office inside Thailand for ฿1,900. Bring your passport, a TM.7 form, one photo and proof of where you're staying. Offices in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya handle thousands of these — go early in the morning.
What are the new DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) rules?
From 31 August 2026, DTV applicants must apply in a country where they hold citizenship or permanent residence — applying from a third country (such as inside Southeast Asia) is no longer accepted — and must include a recent criminal record certificate. Applications fully paid before 31 August 2026 are assessed under the old rules.
What happens if I overstay my visa in Thailand?
Overstaying costs ฿500 per day, capped at ฿20,000, payable when you exit. Overstays of more than 90 days trigger re-entry bans if you leave voluntarily: 1 year (90+ days), 3 years (1+ year), 5 years (3+ years) and 10 years (5+ years). Being caught while overstaying — for example in a spot check — leads to arrest, deportation and a minimum 5-year ban. If you're on overstay, go to immigration or exit and pay the fine as soon as possible; it gets strictly worse with time.
Do I need to fill in anything before flying to Thailand?
Yes — every foreign visitor must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before arrival (tdac.immigration.go.th, free). It replaced the old TM.6 paper card. Airlines increasingly check for it at check-in.
Visa rules are one of the most-discussed Thailand topics anywhere — in August 2026 alone, 63 threads with nearly 3,000 comments on r/Thailand debated the changes above. Planning the trip itself? Start with the travel guides or check when to visit.