Visa and Entering Thailand
Visa
From 15 September 2026, Thailand’s revised entry schemes for ordinary passport holders will take effect. Depending on nationality, travellers may qualify for:
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Visa exemption for 15 or 30 days
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Visa exemption under a bilateral agreement for 14, 30 or 90 days
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Visa on Arrival (VoA) at designated immigration checkpoints
Visa-free entry and a free visa are not the same: travellers who are not covered by a visa-exemption arrangement must obtain the appropriate visa before travelling.
Revision of Thailand’s visa exemption and Visa on Arrival (VoA) schemes
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The related ministry has issued the necessary regulation as a result of the Cabinet’s previous approval of the review of Thailand’s visa measures, which has now been published in the Royal Gazette as of 31 August 2026. Once again, those measures include the following: (1) granting one visa exemption arrangement per country/territory; (2) revoking the 60-day visa exemption scheme; (3) revising the 30-day visa exemption scheme for tourism purposes by expanding the number of eligible countries/territories to 60; (4) introducing the new 15-day visa exemption scheme for tourism purposes for two countries/territories; and, (5) revising the Visa on Arrival (VOA) scheme to reduce the number of eligible countries/territories to three. These measures will therefore take effect from 15 September 2026
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These revisions were made based on the following criteria: (1) national security; (2) tourism and economic interests; (3) reciprocity; (4) the reduction of overlapping visa exemption privileges, which may otherwise create confusion for foreign visitors; and, (5) convenience currently being provided by the e-Visa system.
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As such, foreigners who are already in Thailand under the current visa exemption schemes or plan to travel to Thailand before 15 September 2026 may stay until the last date of their permitted period of stay, which is indicated on the immigration stamp on their passport. This review also covers only the 30-day and 15-day visa exemption and VoA schemes, which apply to travel for tourism purposes only, and does not affect other visa categories at this point. Foreigners who wish to enter Thailand with other purposes must refer to the relevant visa category and the applicable laws and regulations.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, Weekly Press Briefing, 3 September 2026
Entry rules vary according to nationality and may change. Please confirm the latest requirements with the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in your country, or through an official Thai government website, before travelling.
More information:
Entering Thailand
All foreign nationals entering Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within the three days before arrival.
Complete the TDAC at https://tdac.immigration.go.th.