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Thailand visa guide: which visa do you need?
Thailand has many visa routes, and the right one depends on why you are staying, your age, your work and your money. Answer four quick questions for a shortlist, then read the guide for each route.
Visa picker
Guides to every main route
Tourist & exemption
How long you can stay in Thailand without a visa from 15 September 2026, how the tourist visa works, extensions, land-border limits and common mistakes.
Retirement visa
Compare Thailand's retirement routes for people aged 50+: Non-O with extension, O-A and O-X. Funds, insurance, seasoning rules, reporting and pitfalls.
Marriage & family (Non-O)
How the Thai marriage and family Non-O visa works: eligibility, 400,000 THB or 40,000 THB income rules, documents, renewals and common pitfalls.
DTV (remote workers)
Everything about the Destination Thailand Visa: who qualifies, 500,000 THB funds benchmark, 180-day stays, new rules from 31 August 2026, tax and work limits.
LTR visa
The 10-year Long-Term Resident visa: four categories, who it suits, benefits like annual reporting, BOI administration, the THB 50,000 fee and pitfalls.
Non-B (work & business)
How the Non-B visa works for employment and business in Thailand, how it differs from a work permit, sponsor documents, extensions and common mistakes.
Thailand Privilege
A guide to the Thailand Privilege paid-membership visa: five tiers from 5 to 20 years, published fees, benefits, restrictions and things to check before paying.
Education visa
How the Thai ED visa and ED Plus work: qualifying study, documents, extensions, work limits and the mistakes that put student visas at risk.
Extensions & 90-day reports
How Thai visa extensions work, why visa runs no longer suit long stays, re-entry permits, 90-day reporting, TM30 and overstay fines of 500 THB a day.
2026 rule changes
A dated summary of Thailand's 2026 visa changes: the 30-day exemption from 15 September, the land-border entry cap and the DTV tightening from 31 August.
How to choose
- Over 50 with a steady pension or savings: start with the retirement routes.
- Under 50 and working remotely for clients or an employer abroad: compare the DTV.
- High income or substantial assets and you want to avoid annual renewals: compare the LTR.
- Complicated or irregular finances and you want little paperwork: look at Thailand Privilege.
- Thai spouse or child: the family route is usually the natural and cheaper fit.
- Employed by a Thai company: you need the Non-B route and a work permit.
Switching category after you arrive is often harder than choosing correctly first.
Key rules to know
- A visa lets you stay. A work permit is a separate document required for any paid work in Thailand.
- Do not work on a retirement or marriage visa.
- Long-stay holders report their address every 90 days, and a TM30 notification applies when you change address.
- Annual extensions are done at immigration inside Thailand, not by leaving the country.
- Plan 3 to 6 months from decision to arrival, with visa paperwork and approval typically taking 4 to 8 weeks and longer for LTR or company-sponsored routes.
What changed in 2026
Thailand replaced the broad 60-day visa exemption with a 30-day scheme on 15 September 2026 and tightened DTV rules from 31 August. Read the dated summary of 2026 changes.
Living in Phuket
Once your visa is sorted, see our guides to long-term rentals, the best areas for a long stay and finding your area. For extensions and 90-day reports, read our extensions guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which Thailand visa is best for me?
It depends on your purpose, age, work, family situation, finances and how long you plan to stay. Use the picker on this page for a shortlist, then check the current requirements before applying.
What is the best Thai visa for someone over 50?
The retirement routes (Non-O with an extension, O-A or O-X) are the usual starting point for eligible people aged 50 or over. Some people also compare the LTR or Thailand Privilege.
Which visa suits a digital nomad or remote worker?
The DTV workcation route is designed for remote workers and freelancers serving clients or employers outside Thailand. Higher earners can also look at the LTR Work-from-Thailand category.
Can I live in Thailand on a visa exemption?
Not sensibly. From 15 September 2026 visa-exempt stays are mostly 30 days, and repeated entries are questioned. A long stay needs a proper visa.
This is general information, not legal advice or an official immigration decision. Check current requirements with the relevant Thai authority before you apply.