Thailand Visas & Entry Requirements

How to Enter Thailand? Quick Answers

• Do I need a visa to enter Thailand? Citizens of most countries do not need a visa to enter Thailand and will receive a 60-day visa waiver upon arrival (effective from 15th July 2024).
• What are the other requirements for entering Thailand? Effective from 1 May 2025, all travellers need to complete a digital arrival card before entering Thailand. Travellers can register up to 72 hours before arrival.
• Do I need proof of onward travel? Proof of onward travel is recommended because it is sometimes checked at various border crossings.
• Do I need travel insurance? No, but having cover is recommended.

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Thailand Visa Summary

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The majority of travellers can enter Thailand visa free for up to 60 days. Most non-visa-exempt travellers can apply for a visa on arrival valid for 15 days.

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Thailand: Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements and Documents

• Hold a valid passport with at least 6 months validity and two blank pages.
• Proof of onward travel out of Thailand within the expiry date of your visa is recommended as spot checks happen.
• Proof of adequate finances (showing 10,000THB per person or 20,000THB per family) and confirmation of at least one accommodation booking. Spot checks do happen.
• Appropriate photo (not older than 6 months).

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Travel Insurance Requirements

There is no requirement for travel insurance to visit Thailand, however, a policy that covers treatment to avoid excessive medical charges is often a good idea.

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Thailand: Visa Exemption

Thailand Visa Exemption Summary

Most nationalities receive a free visa exemption upon arrival in Thailand by air or land. Visa exemption means you do not have to arrange a visa in advance. Depending on your nationality (see below), you will be granted a certain number of days of visa-free travel upon arrival into the country.

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Duration of Thai Visa Exemption

• 90 days: Citizens of five nations (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and South Korea) receive a 90-day visa-free entry stamp into Thailand. 
• 60 days: Citizens of 93 nations including the UK, the US, the majority of Europe, Australia and New Zealand receive a 60-day visa-free entry stamp into Thailand. (Can be extended to 90 days.) Here is the full list:

Albania	Finland	Lithuania	San Marino
Andorra	France	Luxembourg	Saudi Arabia
Australia	Georgia	Macao	Singapore
Austria	Germany	Malaysia	Slovakia
Bahrain	Greece	Maldives	Slovenia
Belgium	Guatemala	Malta	South Africa
Bhutan	Hong Kong	Mauritius	Spain
Brazil	Hungary	Mexico	Sri Lanka
Brunei	Iceland	Monaco	Sweden
Bulgaria	India	Mongolia	Switzerland
Cambodia	Indonesia	Morocco	Taiwan
Canada	Ireland	Netherlands	Tonga
China	Israel	New Zealand	Trinidad and Tobago
Colombia	Italy	Norway	Türkiye
Croatia	Jamaica	Oman	Ukraine
Cuba	Japan	Panama	UAE
Cyprus	Jordan	Papua New Guinea	UK
Czechia	Kazakhstan	Peru	USA
Denmark	Korea (ROK)	Philippines	Uruguay
Dominica	Kosovo	Poland	Uzbekistan
Dominican Republic	Kuwait	Portugal	Vietnam
Ecuador	Laos	Qatar
Estonia	Latvia	Romania
Fiji	Liechtenstein	Russia

• 14 days: Citizens of Cambodia and Myanmar (international airports only) receive a 14-day visa-free entry stamp into Thailand.

There is no cost for visa-free entry. 

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Thailand: Types of Visa

Visa On Arrival (VOA):  15 Day Single Entry Visa

• What is a Visa on Arrival (VOA)? This single-entry visa permits passport holders from 31 countries to stay up to 15 days in Thailand (with the possibility of an extension).
• How to apply: Apply at the border/checkpoint (during your journey by bus or plane you will be given the entry form to fill out).
• Cost: approx. 2000THB. (Subject to change.)
• What do you need to apply?
  • A passport with at least six months validity from the intended period of stay in Thailand
  • Photo, no older than six months
  • Other supporting documents

Tourist Visa – 60 Days (Single Entry)

• What is it? The 60-day Tourist Visa is the best option for travellers (who are not eligible for the 60/90-day visa exemption) and want to stay longer than 30 days in Thailand. The visa must be arranged in advance. It is recommended to apply 1 month before your departure date (you must enter within 90 days of the date on your visa). The visa is eligible for a one-time extension of up to 30 days (approx. 1900THB). 
• How to apply: The majority of nationalities can apply online. If you are not eligible to apply online, you have to apply at the nearest Thai embassy. The Thai Embassy must be located in any major town or city that is not in Thailand, for example, a neighbouring country or your home country. (See locations of Thai embassies here.)
• What do you need to apply? 
  • Completed application form (you can get this at the immigration centre or do it online)
  • Current passport with at least 6 months validity and 2 blank pages
  • Photocopies of your passport
  • One passport photo (4 x 6 cm, not older than 6 months) 
  • Evidence of adequate finances (showing 10,000THB per person or 20,000THB per family) – Spot checks are done
  • Proof of onward travel (air ticket paid in full) – Spot checks are done
  • Proof of accommodation booking – Spot checks are done
• Cost: $30-50USD depending on nationality

Tourist Visa – 6 Months (Through Multiple Entries)

• What is it? This allows tourists the ability to re-enter Thailand multiple times within a 6-month period. Each entry is capped at 60 days but can be extended for up to 30 days (approx. 1900THB) at the immigration office.
• How to apply: The majority of nationalities can apply online. If you are not eligible to apply online, you have to apply at the nearest Thai embassy. The Thai Embassy must be located in any major town or city that is not in Thailand, for example, a neighbouring country or your home country. (See locations of Thai embassies here.)
• What do you need to apply? 
  • Completed application form (you can get this at the immigration centre)
  • Current passport with at least 6 months validity and two blank pages
  • Photocopies of your passport and visa page
  • One passport photo (4 x 6 cm, not older than 6 months) 
  • Evidence of adequate finances (showing at least 200,000THB) – Spot checks are done
  • Proof of onward travel (air ticket paid in full) – Spot checks are done 
• Cost: $150-250USD for visa and then 1900THB for a 30-day extension.

Education Visa (Non-Immigrant ED Visa) – 90 Days to 1 Year (Single Entry)

• What is it? The ED Visa can be granted for travellers who want to stay in Thailand longer to ‘study, participate in seminars, learn Thai or study as a foreign Buddhist monk’. (This can include Muay Thai training, yoga, Thai language and other cultural activities.) It can be extended up to 5 times (the first extension is 30 days and each subsequent extension is 60 days). This totals 1 year. 
• How to apply: For the initial 90 days, applications need to be done at a Thai Embassy close to your residence and outside of Thailand. If eligible, extensions up to 1 year can be requested at your local immigration office or online. 
• What do you need to apply? 
  • Current passport with at least 6 months validity and two blank pages
  • Photocopies of your passport and visa page
  • One passport photo (4 x 6 cm, not older than 6 months) 
  • Enrolment letter/confirmation letter/certificates etc. based on the purpose of the ED visa (More details found here)
• Cost: 2000 THB.

DTV (Destination Thailand Visa)/Digital Nomad Visa – 5 Years (Through Multiple Entries)

• What is it? This visa, introduced in 2024, is available for those looking to travel and work in Thailand. Each entry allows travellers to stay for up to 180 days. It can be extended once per entry for another 180 days. 
• How to apply: You can apply online. If you are not eligible to apply online, you have to apply at the nearest Thai embassy.
• What do you need to apply? 
  • Must be over 20 years old
  • Have no previous overstays in Thailand 
  • Current passport with at least 6 months validity and two blank pages
  • Photocopies of your passport
  • One passport photo (4 x 6 cm, not older than 6 months) 
  • Show proof of at least 500,000THB in liquid assets
  • Employment contract or professional portfolio showcasing digital nomad/remote worker or freelancer status
• Cost: 10,000THB.
• Note: You cannot work for a local Thai company or freelance for Thai clients using this visa.

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Thailand: Extending your Visa

You can extend your tourist visa once at a Thai Immigration Office, which can be found in every province in Thailand. Regardless of whether you have the visa exemption that you received upon arrival or you have the 60-day tourist visa, you can extend your stay in Thailand.  Some visas can also now be extended online.

• How many days can you extend for? 30 days
• What do you need to take? 
  • Current passport with at least 6 months validity and two blank pages
  • Photocopies of your passport and visa page
  • Completed application form (you can get this at the Immigration Centre)
  • One passport photo (4 x 6 cm, not older than 6 months)
  • Proof of financial security (see relevant visa above)
  • Proof of lodgings 
• Cost: 1900THB 

Tip: The Immigration Offices in areas where there’s a high concentration of travellers and ex-pats, like Chiang Mai, can have big queues, so go early in the morning to avoid this.

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Border runs from Thailand

If you have extended your stay in Thailand once at an Immigration Centre and your time in the country is coming to an end, you may be looking into a ‘border run’ or ‘visa run’. Read more about border runs here.

How many times can you re-enter Thailand via a border run? –  The official rules state that you can make a border crossing overland into Thailand a maximum of two times per calendar year. Whether or not this rule is enforced is at the discretion of the immigration official. There is no official limit on the number of times you can fly into Thailand and renew your visa. Read more information on extending your stay in Thailand here.

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Thailand: Overstaying Your Visa

Penalties for Overstaying in Thailand

• The cost of overstaying your visa in Thailand is 500THB/day, to be paid at the airport upon departure. 
• The maximum fine for overstay is 20,000THB, which is equivalent to 40 days. 
• Beyond the 40 days, you may face deportation at your own cost or imprisonment. Also, blacklisting is very likely for between 1-10 years (depending on the severance); banning you from re-entering Thailand again in the future for the stated period.