Thailand's 1,000 Baht Departure Tax and Arrival Fee: Still Proposals

Two different proposals

Thailand is considering two separate charges, and they are easy to confuse. The arrival proposal is a visitor fee for eligible foreign tourists, first discussed at 400 baht and described in later government information as 450 baht. The departure proposal is a tax of 1,000 baht on each air departure, for Thai citizens and foreign nationals alike, subject to exemptions.

Neither is enacted, and neither is being collected.

The departure tax draft

The Revenue Department held a public consultation on a draft Departure Tax Act from 30 September to 29 October 2026. Under the draft, the starting rate would be 1,000 baht per air departure with a legal ceiling of 5,000 baht, and land and sea departures would be exempt at first. Airlines or ticket agents would normally collect it with the fare. The draft would take effect 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, and tickets bought before then would not be affected. There is no confirmed start date.

The proposal drew criticism from travel agents and visitors, and the Association of Thai Travel Agents warned about overlapping charges and competitiveness. The finance minister defended the idea as a way to encourage domestic travel.

What travellers should do

• Do not pay an unofficial arrival or departure charge to an intermediary or website.
• Follow your ticket, passport and immigration requirements as they stand today.
• Check official announcements before a future trip, and only ask an airline about a new charge once a law or Royal Gazette notice has been published.