📌Thai visas – read this first (updated 10/2026)

Updated 19 October 2026. Rules change often – always check official sources before you travel. Forum posts are not official advice.

1. Visa-free entry – now 30 days

• From 15 September 2026, nationals of 60 countries and territories (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, most EU countries and the Nordic countries) can stay up to 30 days for tourism without a visa. Before that date the stay was 60 days for 93 countries.
• Visa-free entries over land borders are generally limited to twice per calendar year (air arrivals are not limited this way).
• Extensions: a visa-exempt stay has been extendable once by 30 days at a local immigration office (about 1,900 THB). Reports say this is still possible under the new rules, but confirm with your local immigration office.
• At the border you may be asked for an onward or return ticket and proof of sufficient funds – keep them ready.
• Check that your nationality is on the current list before you travel.

2. TDAC – Thailand Digital Arrival Card

All foreigners must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before arrival. It is free on the official site tdac.immigration.go.th. Check the site for how early you can submit it, and beware of paid look-alike sites.

3. Common visa types

All visas are applied for online at thaievisa.go.th, normally through the Thai embassy or consulate responsible for your country of nationality or residence.

• Tourist Visa (TR) – for holidays longer than the 30-day visa-free stay. Check the current permitted stay and extension rules on the e-Visa site.
• DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) – 5-year multiple-entry visa, up to 180 days per entry, extendable once by 180 days in Thailand. For remote workers, freelancers and "soft power" activities (e.g. Muay Thai, cooking courses). Requires proof of funds of at least 500,000 THB (or the equivalent set by your embassy). From 31 August 2026 a recent criminal record certificate (issued within 6 months) and proof of permanent residence are also required. Working for Thai employers is not allowed.
• Non-Immigrant O – e.g. for retirees (50+) and people living with a Thai spouse or family member. Extended in Thailand one year at a time.
• Non-Immigrant O-A – long-stay retirement visa for ages 50+ (one-year stay, requires health insurance and funds).
• Non-Immigrant O-X – 10-year retirement visa for ages 50+, only for nationals of 14 countries (Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, Canada and the US). Requires e.g. a 3 million THB deposit in a Thai bank (or 1.8 million THB plus 1.2 million THB annual income) and health insurance.
• Non-B (work), Non-ED (study) and LTR (long-term resident visa for wealthy individuals, retirees and professionals).

Exact requirements and fees vary by embassy – always check the e-Visa site or your Thai embassy.

4. Extending your stay in Thailand

• Extensions are handled at the local immigration office for the area where you stay. In Bangkok the office is at the Chaeng Wattana Government Complex.
• Bring at least: passport, completed TM.7 extension form, passport photo, copies of passport pages (photo page, entry stamp), your address and the fee in cash. Long extensions (retirement, family) also need bank or income documents.
• Apply before your current permission to stay expires. Overstaying is fined per day, and a long overstay can lead to an entry ban.
• Retirement and family extensions are granted one year at a time. Financial and document requirements vary between offices – ask your local office before moving money.
• If you leave Thailand during a one-year extension, you need a re-entry permit or the extension is cancelled.

5. 90-day reporting and TM30

• If you stay in Thailand more than 90 consecutive days, you must report your address every 90 days (TM.47) – in person, by post or online through the Immigration Bureau.
• TM30 is the landlord's notification of a foreign resident. Hotels file it automatically; in rented housing it is the landlord's responsibility – make sure it has been done, as it is often checked when you apply for extensions.

Official sources

• Thai e-Visa: thaievisa.go.th
• Thai Immigration Bureau: immigration.go.th
• TDAC arrival card: tdac.immigration.go.th
• TAT News on the 30-day rule

Ask in this section! Mention your nationality, your current visa or entry stamp, where you are applying from and how long you plan to stay. If you notice outdated information here, please reply to this topic.