Thailand tourist visa and visa exemption: 2026 rules

Visa exemption from 15 September 2026

• Eligible passport holders from 60 countries and territories can enter for tourism for up to 30 days without a visa.
• Two further countries or territories receive 15 days, and three can use visa on arrival instead.
• The immigration officer decides admission and stamps the permitted stay, so the date in your stamp is the date that counts.
• Travellers who were already in Thailand, or arrived before 15 September, can stay until the last date on their existing stamp.

Land-border limit

Most nationalities can make two visa-exempt land-border entries per calendar year. Nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are exempt from that cap, and the cap applies to land entries rather than air arrivals. Embassies sometimes word the limit differently, so check the wording for your passport and route.

Tourist visa (TR)

A tourist visa is obtained before travel, usually through the Thai e-Visa system or a Thai embassy or consulate. It normally allows 60 days per entry, with a possible 30-day extension at immigration if approved. Visa validity and permitted stay are different things: a six-month multiple-entry tourist visa does not allow a continuous six-month stay, because every entry gets its own stay period.

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival is a separate route for a small list of nationalities. It has its own fee, evidence requirements and a short stay period of about 15 days, and it is not a substitute for the visa exemption.

Extensions

• Some tourist and visa-exempt stays can be extended at a Thai immigration office, but an extension is never automatic.
• Apply before the current permission expires, not on the last day.
• Visitors to a Thai spouse or Thai child can apply for an extension of up to 60 days, normally once per stay and with evidence of the relationship.

Entry checklist

• A passport that meets Thailand's validity and blank-page requirements
• Confirmed onward or return travel within the permitted stay
• Accommodation details, including the address you give on the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
• Proof that the visit is temporary, including funds if asked

TDAC is not a visa

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is an arrival declaration. It does not grant a visa or extra days. Complete it through the official system only.

Common mistakes

• Following airline posts or social media instead of an official nationality check
• Reading the visa label instead of the permitted-until date in the entry stamp
• Treating repeated back-to-back visa-exempt entries as a residence plan, since officers increasingly question them
• Working on tourist entry, which is not allowed
• Leaving extension applications to the last day

Staying longer than a holiday

If you plan to live in Phuket for months, a visa-exempt stay is not a plan. Compare the DTV for remote workers, the retirement visa if you are 50 or over, or the family route, and read our guide to long-term rentals in Phuket. Not sure which fits? Try the visa picker.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa in 2026?

From 15 September 2026, qualifying passport holders from 60 countries and territories can stay 30 days visa-free. Two further countries or territories get 15 days. Check your passport on the official list.

Can I extend a visa-exempt or tourist stay?

Often yes, at a Thai immigration office, but it depends on current rules, your documents and the officer's decision. Apply before your permission expires.

Can I work on a tourist visa or visa exemption?

No. Both are for tourism only. Work needs the right visa and a work permit.

Official sources

• Thai e-Visa (official)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consular services
• Thai Immigration Bureau