Good news for most travellers: Thailand grants visa-free entry to citizens of around 90 countries, and in 2024 it extended the stay to a generous 60 days. But rules change, and there's one new step everyone must complete online before arrival. Here's the current picture.
This is a general guide, not legal advice – always confirm on the official Thai government sites before you fly.
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Add it in the trip planner →Citizens of the UK, EU, US, Australia, Canada and many more get visa-exempt entry for up to 60 days for tourism, with no visa needed in advance. You can extend once by 30 days at a local immigration office (~1,900 THB). You may be asked to show proof of onward or return travel and funds, though this is enforced inconsistently. Check your own nationality's allowance before travelling – the list and durations do change.
If you're from a country not on the exemption list, or you want to stay longer, apply for an e-Visa online at the official Thai e-visa portal before you travel – don't use third-party lookalike sites that add fees. The 60-day Tourist Visa (single entry) suits longer holidays. For extended stays there are options like the multiple-entry tourist visa and, for remote workers, the long-stay DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) – but those need paperwork and are beyond a standard holiday.
Since 2025, every arriving foreigner must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online – it replaced the old paper TM6 form. Fill it in free at the official TDAC website within 72 hours before arrival. You'll enter passport details, flight number and your first night's accommodation, and receive a QR code to show at immigration. It's free: ignore any site charging a "service fee". Do this before you fly; airport wifi is not something to rely on.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with a blank page. Technically you need proof of onward travel out of Thailand within your permitted stay; airlines sometimes check this at check-in even when immigration doesn't. If your plans are open, a cheap onward budget-airline ticket covers the requirement.
Overstaying carries a fine of 500 THB per day (capped at 20,000 THB), paid at the airport on departure, and longer overstays can trigger bans on re-entry. Diarise your permitted-until date (it's stamped or recorded on entry) and extend at immigration before it lapses rather than gambling on it.
Probably not, if you're from the UK, EU, US, Australia, Canada or another exempt country – you get up to 60 days visa-free for tourism. You do, however, need to complete the free online TDAC arrival card before you arrive, regardless of nationality.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is a mandatory online form replacing the old paper landing card. Complete it free at the official TDAC website within 72 hours of arrival to get a QR code for immigration. Only use the official government site – third-party sites charge unnecessary fees.
Yes. A visa-exempt entry can be extended once by 30 days at a local immigration office for about 1,900 THB. For anything longer, look at a proper tourist visa or a visa run, and confirm current rules on official channels before relying on them.