Thailand visa exemption and tourist visas
Passport-country lists, Visa on Arrival, single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas.
Thailand tourist visas and visa-exempt entry serve different travellers. Use the passport list first, then check the length and purpose of your visit. The following ordinary-passport arrangements reflect the government’s measures effective from 15 September 2026. They do not replace the special rules for diplomatic passports, travel documents or people travelling for work.
Information checked 21 October 2026. Rules and border operations may change. This page is a dated research snapshot; confirm the linked authority’s current requirements for your passport, purpose and travel date. Hero photograph: Wat Arun temple beside the Chao Phraya River at sunset in Bangkok. This is destination context, not a photograph of a visa office or border checkpoint.
30-day tourism exemption: the 60-country list
Australia; Austria; Bahrain; Belgium; Bhutan; Brunei; Bulgaria; Canada; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Fiji; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; India; Indonesia; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Maldives; Malta; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Oman; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Africa; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Taiwan; Türkiye; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States. Check the embassy’s current notice for the exact passport wording and any later amendment.
Other ordinary-passport exemption arrangements
The same official notice lists Seychelles and Mauritius for a 15-day tourism exemption. Bilateral arrangements list Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and the Republic of Korea for 90 days; China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Lao PDR, Macau, Mongolia, Russia, Malaysia, Viet Nam and Timor-Leste for 30 days. Cambodia and Myanmar are listed for 14 days through international airports only. Passport type, agreement conditions and the actual admission stamp remain decisive.
Visa on Arrival: three nationalities, 15 days
The current notice lists Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia for a 15-day Visa on Arrival, with a THB2,000 fee and Immigration Bureau conditions. It is not the same as arriving without a visa, and it is not available at every checkpoint. Confirm your eligible entry port and prepare the application photo, accommodation, onward-travel and funds evidence specified by Immigration before departure.
Single-entry tourist visa: TR
A standard tourist visa normally provides a stay of up to 60 days on entry and a three-month validity window to use the single entry. Prepare passport and photo, proof of current location, travel arrangements, accommodation and the mission’s financial evidence. The 2026 removal of the general 60-day exemption did not itself abolish the separate tourist-visa category. Check your issued visa and the admission stamp.
Multiple-entry tourist visa: METV
The METV generally has six-month validity and permits up to 60 days per entry. London’s published checklist additionally requires the first entry within three months and proof of residence in its jurisdiction. Other missions may specify different evidence. Prepare the requested itinerary, onward tickets and accommodation, and check the responsible mission’s current financial requirements. An extension is a separate Immigration decision; repeated entries do not guarantee admission.
Prepare for the immigration counter
Have your accommodation address, onward or return travel and evidence of funds ready. UK advice states that British visitors may be asked for THB10,000 per person or THB20,000 per family and that visa-exempt land entry is normally limited to two entries per calendar year. Do not treat that UK-passport explanation as a universal rule for every bilateral nationality. The 2026 general tourism exemption does not authorise ordinary employment or business travel.
Which Thailand tourist visas fit your trip?
For a short qualifying holiday, begin with the exemption list. For longer tourism or a passport outside those arrangements, use the official e-Visa eligibility check. For remote work, study, a job, a family stay or retirement, use the purpose-specific guides instead of stretching a tourist entry to cover another activity. Complete the arrival card separately and check land-border status before arranging a crossing.
Put the documents and route together
Choose the permission for your real purpose, then check your arrival steps and any border crossing separately. Keep enough time for an extension decision or a confirmed departure before your permitted stay expires.
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Request our newsletter and latest Thailand trip ideas by email, or contact bloggsandco about planning your route. Visa decisions, passport checks and border permission belong to the official authorities linked above. We do not collect visa applications or guarantee immigration outcomes.