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Visa policy of Thailand

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Visitors to Thailand must obtain an e-Visa unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries or citizens who may obtain a visa on arrival.

Thai stamps of visa on arrival (up), entry (right), exit (middle) and overstay (left) on a Russian passport

Visa policy map

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Visa policy of Thailand
  Thailand
  Visa not required (90 days)
  Visa not required (30 days)
  Visa not required (15 days)
  Visa not required (14 days)
  Visa on arrival (15 days) / eVisa (60 days)
  eVisa (60 days)

Visa exemption

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Ordinary passports

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Citizens of the following countries and territories may enter Thailand without a visa for tourist purposes for stays up to the duration listed below. Citizens entering Thailand under the visa exemption scheme will generally be permitted to cross a land border into the country no more than twice within a calendar year (except for citizens of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore).[1][2]

90 days

30 daysA[3]

15 days[4]

14 days

A - May apply to extend their stay for an additional 30 days.
B(xx*) - Thailand has bilateral visa exemption agreements with countries with this mark for stays of xx days. In addition, the stay of countries with * sign are limited to a cumulative maximum stay of 90 days within any 180 days according to bilateral agreements.
# - Thailand has bilateral visa exemption agreements with Cambodia and Myanmar for stays of 14 days and all other ASEAN members for stays of 30 days.
1 - For Chinese citizens with People's Republic of China passports, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports or Macao Special Administrative Region passports only.
2 - For air arrivals only.

Electronic Travel Authorization

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According to government plans as of April 2024, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system is expected to launch in a pilot phase by December 2024, with full deployment anticipated by June 2025. The ETA will be required for all visa-exempt travelers entering Thailand, regardless of their mode of entry (air, sea, or land). Applications will be submitted through the existing electronic visa portal and each entry into Thailand will require a separate ETA application, which is planned to be free of charge. It will enable holders to use automated gates at immigration checkpoints by scanning a QR code provided with their authorization. The ETA will not required by certain categories of travelers including holders of diplomatic passports, official passports, UN Laissez-Passer, and Border Pass users.[5]

APEC Business Travel Card

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Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing "THA" on the back of the card may enter Thailand without a visa for business trips for up to 90 days.[6]

ABTCs are issued to citizens of:[7]

Non-ordinary passports

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  Thailand
  Diplomatic and service passports
  Diplomatic passports

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports issued by the following countries and territories are allowed to visit Thailand without a visa for a maximum period of up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):[8]

D - Diplomatic passports only.
1 - 30 days

Visa-free transit

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Passengers transiting through Suvarnabhumi Airport for less than 12 hours do not require a visa, unless they are travelling on Air Cambodia, Beijing Capital Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Eastar Jet, IndiGo, Jeju Air, Pacific Airlines, Jin Air, Juneyao Air, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, SpiceJet, Spring Airlines, Trinity Airways or VietJet Air.[6]

Those transiting through Don Mueang International Airport for less than 12 hours do not require a visa only when travelling on Thai AirAsia or Thai AirAsia X.[6]

Citizens of Pakistan are required to obtain a visa when transiting through Thailand at all times.[9]

Visa on arrival / Electronic visa (e-Visa)

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Thai eVisa
Sample of Thai e-Visa
OwnerMinistry of Foreign Affairs
Websitewww.thaievisa.go.th

Besides traditional visa on arrival policy, from 21 November 2018 Thailand started issuing tourist visas valid for 15 days in a simplified procedure to visitors from the countries whose citizens are eligible for visa on arrival.[10] It costs 2,000 THB.

The e-Visa application also became available from February 2019 in some of the consulates of Thailand abroad.[11][12][13][8][14]

Thailand fully adopts e-Visa from 1 January 2025, making the visa application process simpler, faster and more accessible for foreign travelers.[15][16]

External image
image icon Map of entry points with Visa on Arrival facility
Visa type eVisa eVOA VOA
Multiple Single Single Single
Duration of stay 60 days 15 days
Validity 6 Months 3 Months 30 days N/A
Visa-fee Depend on applicant's nationality and place of residence (cheaper than VOA) Standard: 2,560 THB

Express: 4,560 THB

 Standard: 2,000 THB

Express: 2,200 THB

Processing time 3-10 working days Standard: 24-72 hours

Express: less than 24 hours

 May take up to several hours (depends on how busy the visa office is at the moment)
Proof of funds 60,000 THB (upload proof online) 20,000 THB (upload proof online) Following items may be checked at port of entry:
  • 10,000 THB cash per person, or
  • 20,000 THB cash per family, or
  • Equivalent foreign currency
Extendable Yes No
Application submission thaievisa.go.th thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com Archived 2023-11-20 at the Wayback Machine Visa office at the port of entry

Visa on arrival

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Citizens of the following three countries may apply for a visa on arrival at one of the designated immigration checkpoints in Thailand:[17][2]

Travellers eligible for a visa on arrival may obtain it at one of the following 48 immigration checkpoints:[18]

International Airport

# - Airport which accepts e-visa on arrival

Land and harbor checkpoint

Mandatory yellow fever vaccination

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Mandatory yellow fever vaccination for travelers to Thailand (2017), per Ministry of Public Health Announcement B.E. 2560. Navy color shows the required vaccination areas.

Citizens of the following countries or citizens arriving from the following countries require an International Certificate of Vaccination in order to enter Thailand, unless they produce evidence that they do not reside in the following areas.[19][20]

Failure to fulfill this requirement could result in refusal of entry into Thailand.[21]

Visa types

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General visa types

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Thai visa on a Chinese passport issued in 2021
  • Courte Upon official request, the Royal Thai Embassy may grant courtesy visas/laissez-passer to diplomats/UN officials/others who wish to enter the Kingdom on official duty and/or other purposes
  • Permanent resident: To qualify for this visa, you must have stayed in Thailand for 3 consecutive years with the one-year visa extensions. If married to a Thai for 5 years, one must be earning 30,000 baht/month. If single, your monthly income must be 80,000 baht minimum.
  • Tourist: If an individual wishes to remain in Thailand for more than 30 days, he/she may wish to obtain a tourist visa at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate prior to arriving in Thailand. The tourist visa must be used within validity date, that varies with the number of entries purchased, and allows an initial stay of 60 days. After arrival in Thailand, a tourist visa or a visa exempt entry may be extended once for an additional 30 days according to immigration Bureau order 327/2557. There is a 1,900 baht fee for each extension.
  • Transit: This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for the following purposes: to travel in transit through the Kingdom in order to proceed to the country of destination or to re-enter his/her own country (category "TS"); the person in charge of or crew of a conveyance coming to a port, station, or area in the Kingdom (category "C")

Non-Immigrant visa types

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  • Type B: to conduct business; work; attend business conferences; teach school; attend scuba diving, muay Thai, and massage courses
  • Type D: diplomatic visa
  • Type ED: to study; to come on a work study tour or observation tour; to participate in projects or seminars; to attend a conference or training course; to study as a foreign Buddhist monk
  • Type EX: to undertake skilled work or to work as an expert or specialist
  • Type F: to perform official duties, e.g., military exercises or governmental assignments
  • Type IB: to invest or perform other activities relating to investment, subject to the provision of the established laws on investment promotion
  • Type IM: to invest with the concurrence of the Thai ministries and governmental departments concerned
  • Type M: to work as a film-producer, journalist, or reporter with permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Type O: to visit family; to perform duties for a state enterprise or social welfare organizations (NGOs); to receive medical treatment; to be a sports coach as required by the Thai government; to be a contestant; to be a witness in a judicial process
  • Type O-A: retirement visa
  • Type R: to perform missionary work or other religious activities with the concurrence of the Thai ministries or government departments concerned
  • Type RS: to conduct scientific research or training or teaching in a research institute
  • Type S: to participate in an officially recognised sports event.

History

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A Thai entry stamp on a Chinese passport, indicates the visitor may stay no more than 30 days in this entry

In May 2014, there was a brief crackdown on visa runs during 2014 Thai coup d'état, meaning that if foreigners wish to re-enter Thailand after their visa-free or visa on arrival period has expired they have to obtain a visa in advance, or remain outside Thailand at least for one night.[22]

In August 2014, Thailand Prime Minister ordered the Immigration Police to be more flexible as the strict application of the law was affecting schools and the tourist industry.[23]

On 31 October 2018 it was announced that within 30 days (by the end of November 2018), overstay visas will no longer be allowed, and there will be no remaining overstayers in the kingdom by that date.[24]

Beginning 1 May 2025, all foreigners entering Thailand will be required to apply for the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), a replacement of TM6 Form. It is neither a visa nor an ETA because it is required for all foreigners, regardless the visa status.[25]

As of June 2025, Thailand has reduced permitted stays of Cambodian nationals from 60 days to 7 days, as a reciprocity measure of 2025 Cambodian–Thai border crisis.[26]

In November 2025, Thailand again imposed stricter immigration rules in a bid to crack down on foreign criminals engaged in cybercrime.[27] Foreign nationals exceeding the maximum limit of two visa-free entries per year without a valid reason will be denied entry into Thailand. However, the new rules were poorly publicised according to the Thai tourism industry, which called on the Thai authorities to clarify the updated rules and ensure that the information reaches tourists planning to enter Thailand without a visa.[28] In January 2026, it was clarified that there is no such rule that restricts foreign nationals to enter Thailand visa-free only twice per year.[29]

On 15 December 2025, Thailand implemented enhanced security measures at major Thai airports targeting two "high-risk groups",[30][31] namely Cambodian nationals and suspected "mercenaries from Eastern Europe and Northern Asia" entering Thailand without a visa.[32][33]

On 19 May 2026, the Thai cabinet meeting resolved to cancel the 60-day visa-free scheme for more than 90 countries. All countries affected by the cancellation of the 60-day visa-free scheme will return to their previous visa categories.[34]

Visitor statistics

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Most visitors arriving in Thailand on short term basis were from the following countries of nationality:

Country 2025 2024 202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012
Malaysia 4,520,856 4,952,078 4,626,4221,948,5495,511619,6234,265,5744,020,5263,494,4883,494,8903,418,8552,613,4183,041,0972,554,397
China 4,473,992 6,733,162 3,521,095273,56713,0431,251,49810,997,33810,535,2419,806,2608,757,6467,936,7954,636,2984,637,3352,786,860
India 2,487,319 2,129,149 1,628,542997,9136,544263,6591,996,8421,598,3461,415,1971,194,5081,069,422932,6031,050,8891,013,308
Russia 1,898,837 1,745,327 1,482,611435,00830,759590,1511,483,3371,472,7891,346,3381,090,083884,1361,606,4301,746,5651,316,564
South Korea 1,555,227 1,868,945 1,660,042538,76612,077262,0171,890,9731,796,4261,709,2651,464,2001,373,0451,122,5661,295,3421,163,619
Japan 1,091,227 1,050,904 805,768290,1469,461322,6771,806,4381,656,1011,544,4421,439,5101,381,7021,267,8861,536,4251,373,716
United Kingdom 1,083,162 965,862 817,220444,43238,663223,087992,574986,854994,7551,004,345947,568907,877905,024873,053
United States 1,081,929 1,030,733 930,206453,67837,880212,6691,165,9501,122,2701,056,423975,643867,505763,520823,486768,638
Taiwan 987,633 1,089,910 724,59494,8341,675117,511790,039687,748573,077522,273552,699394,149502,176394,225
Singapore 967,341 1,009,640 1,027,424614,6275,931126,7711,059,4841,069,8671,032,647967,550938,385844,133955,468831,215
Germany 965,898 873,364 729,163365,03045,874231,782852,481886,523850,139837,885761,819715,24073 7,658682,419
Laos 868,368 1,124,202 919,401502,124733380,2071,854,7921,664,6301,682,0871,388,0201,220,5221,053,983976,639975,999
France 816,935 720,806 545,003268,58723,461237,317745,346749,556740,190738,878681,114635,073611,582576,106
Australia 808,682 775,010 687,745336,6889,577123,827767,291801,203817,218796,370807,450831,854900,460930,241
Indonesia 787,524 876,610 762,118235,6322,57799,530710,494644,709576,110534,797469,125497,592594,251447,820
Philippines 704,575 598,124 461,251178,0214,07872,762506,430432,237381,252339,150310,968304,813321,571289,566
Myanmar 688,678 546,629 394,134193,7787,25655,279378,232368,188365,606341,626259,678206,794172,383129,385
Vietnam 660,386 984,248 1,033,688468,3931,794132,1271,048,1811,028,150935,179830,220751,162559,415725,057618,670
Hong Kong 643,158 876,076 802,368162,2401,657124,5181,045,3611,015,749821,064751,264669,617483,131588,335473,666
Israel 410,125 281,803 217,084146,29314,03829,444195,856188,788173,673161,579141,031138,778134,874129,551
Italy 311,852 267,474 191,983 85,254 5,322 60,602 272,374 279,905 264,524 265,597 246,094 219,875 207,192 200,703
Netherlands 284,343 261,467 229,539 116,354 8,539 52,402 241,608 236,265 222,409 235,762 221,619 211,524 218,765 208,122
Canada 263,954 251,336 214,264 90,608 6,440 58,499 273,214 276,094 258,494 244,869 227,601 211,059 229,897 219,354
Cambodia 253,557 553,060 583,708379,6654,914165,027910,696948,824840,871674,975537,950550,339481,595423,642
Poland 237,570 180,722 121,700 49,469
Sweden 236,833 212,523 178,259 97,378 17,094 111,994 287,341 311,949 323,736 332,895 321,690 324,865 341,398 364,681
Spain 216,249 207,710 153,458 87,400 3,514 25,904 188,997 181,880 179,584 168,900 150,995 116,983 123,084 113,141
Saudi Arabia 213,055 228,032 178,113 96,389 467 4,227 30,006 28,337 33,531 24,834 19,168 12,860 21,452 17,084
 Switzerland 194,911 184,046 156,337 81,180 11,429 52,361 192,130 207,471 209,528 209,057 206,480 201,271 199,923 191,147
United Arab Emirates 172,979 169,927 138,934 65,857 4,061 7,492 130,158 128,270 137,218 130,941 124,719 117,907 123,926 113,547
Kazakhstan 166,620 195,089 172,489 59,468
Denmark 148,337 138,278 115,224 64,249 8,480 66,848 162,456 169,373 161,920 165,581 159,435 160,977 163,186 167,499
Bangladesh 144,333 142,268 140,657 81,106 1,955 21,838 136,677 129,574 121,765 100,263 107,394 88,134 82,418 72,657
Turkey 127,525 92,116 69,10827,128
Norway 122,734 109,731 83,952 46,521 5,763 39,778 127,992 128,841 127,850 131,039 135,382 145,207 154,049 148,796
Belgium 122,347 108,046 85,512 48,684 5,386 26,394 114,669 114,270 112,266 111,013 106,090 99,729 101,109 94,896
Oman 119,577 103,317 86,48835,204
Austria 114,715 107,074 88,706 42,683 5,486 36,381 111,428 116,656 104,784 100,373 97,869 100,968 106,278 94,667
New Zealand 101,137 96,733 85,897 35,900 1,151 15,709 112,680 116,726 117,962 111,595 112,411 108,081 118,395 113,871
Sri Lanka 98,826 60,372 33,89312,7345768,155
Total 32,974,321 35,545,714 28,150,016 11,153,026 427,869 6,725,193 39,916,251 38,178,194 35,591,978 32,529,588 29,923,185 24,809,683 26,546,725 22,353,903

Work permit

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To legally work in Thailand, a foreigner must apply for a work permit. Work permit is a legal document that states a foreigner's position, current occupation, or job description and the Thai company he is working with. It also serves as a license to perform a job or an occupation allowed for foreigners inside Thailand.

A foreigner is eligible to apply for a work permit as long as he has a non-immigrant visa or a resident visa, has an available employer who will provide documents for work permit, and the occupation he will perform is not prohibited to foreigners.[35]

One Stop Service Centre for Visas and Work Permits

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The One Stop Service Centre for Visas and Work Permits was established on 1 July 1997 by authority of the Regulations of the Office of Prime Minister promulgated on 30 June 1997.

The objective of this centre is to simplify visa extension and permit issuance procedures to create a good investment environment. It aims to facilitate applications of visa extension and work permits (e.g., stay permission, re-entry permit, work permit).

The Center is located on Chamchuree Square Building, Floor 18, Phatumwan, Bangkok.[36]

Foreigners who are eligible to apply for visa extension and work permits

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  • Foreigner who is an executive or expert with privileges accorded to them by the following laws:
    1. Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (1977);
    2. Petroleum Act B.E. 2514 (1971);
    3. Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act B.E. 2522 (1979);
  • Foreigner who is an investor.
    1. If investing not less than 2 million Baht, he or she will be granted a 1-year permit.
    2. If investing not less than 10 million Baht, he or she will be granted a 2-year permit.
  • Foreigner who is an executive or expert.
  • Foreigner's associated company should be registered with capital or possess asset of not less than 30 million Baht.
  • Foreigner who is a member of the foreign press must present a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a copy of an ID Press Card issued by the Department of Public Relations.
  • Foreigner who is a researcher or developer on science and technology.
  • Foreigner who is employed in a branch office of an overseas bank, foreign banking office of an overseas bank, provincial foreign banking office of an overseas bank or a representative office of the foreign bank in which all offices are certified by the Bank of Thailand.
  • Foreigner who works on the necessary and urgent basis for a period of no longer than 15 days.
  • Foreigner who is an official of the representative office for foreign juristic persons concerning the International Trading Business and Regional Office of Transnational Corporation in accordance to the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999).
  • Foreigner who is an expert on information technology.
  • Foreigner who works at regional operating headquarters.

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Thailand halves visa-free stays to 30 days for passport holders from 60 places, including Singapore". The Straits Times. 2026-09-01. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
  2. 1 2 "Thailand to officially cut visa-free stay to 30 days on September 15, 2026".
  3. ↑ "Visa-exempt countries for 30 days" (PDF).
  4. ↑ "Visa-exempt countries for 15 days" (PDF).
  5. ↑ "Thailand "accelerating" on ETA introduction". August 27, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "ABTC Economy Entry Information" (PDF).
  8. 1 2 "Summary of Countries and Territories entitled for Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival to Thailand" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Thailand makes transit visa mandatory for Pakistani passengers".
  10. ↑ "Visa on Arrival".[permanent dead link]
  11. ↑ "Thailand offers online visa applications from February".
  12. ↑ "E-visas available from February 2019. China first country". 3 December 2018.
  13. ↑ "China First to Benefit From Thai E-Visas Next Year". Archived from the original on 2018-12-04.
  14. ↑ "Launch of Online Stickerless E-Visa Application Platform &Termination of Visa Application in Person and by Post". สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงเอเธนส์. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Thailand extends e-Visa worldwide". VisasNews. 2024-12-20. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
  16. ↑ "THAI E-VISA OFFICIAL WEBSITE".
  17. ↑ "Countries eligible for a visa on arrival" (PDF).
  18. ↑ Royal Thai Embassy, Singapore. "VISA ON ARRIVAL". Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  19. ↑ "พื้นที่เขตติดโรคไข้เหลือง" (PDF).
  20. ↑ "ประกาศกระทรวงสาธารณสุข เรื่อง ท้องที่หรือเมืองท่านอกราชอาณาจักรที่เป็นเขตติดโรคไข้เหลือง พ.ศ. 2560" (PDF).
  21. ↑ "Thailand Visa Information : List of countries which require International Health Certificate for Yellow Fever Vaccination". Archived from the original on 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
  22. ↑ "Phuket: Strict new immigration regulations mean crackdown on visa runs".
  23. ↑ "Phuket: Coup leader calls for Immigration to relax 'out-in' visa clampdown".
  24. ↑ "No more overstayers, no more corruption at Immigration – Hakparn".
  25. ↑ "Tourism Hot Spot Thailand Launches Digital Arrival Card for Foreign Visitors". Reuters.
  26. ↑ "Foreign Ministry affirms measures to cut electricity, internet to Cambodia remain". Nation Thailand. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  27. ↑ Reporters, Post (14 November 2025). "Thai immigration steps up visa run scrutiny". Bangkok Post. Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  28. ↑ Kasemsuk, Narumon (11 December 2025). "Calls to publicise updated entry rules". Bangkok Post. Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  29. ↑ "Thailand debunks rumors of two-time-only visa-free entry rule for foreigners". Pattaya Mail.
  30. ↑ Souvannasane, Thongsavanh (16 December 2025). "Thailand Tightens Airport Security Amid Cambodia Border Tensions". Laotian Times. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  31. ↑ Siradakul, Chattarin (15 December 2025). "Thailand tightens screening for visa-free arrivals". Thaiger. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  32. ↑ English, Khaosod (15 December 2025). "Thailand Denies Entry to 185 Amid Cambodia Border Tensions". Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  33. ↑ Ngamkham, Wassayos (15 December 2025). "Thai airports tighten passenger screening, watch for foreign mercenaries". Bangkok Post. Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  34. ↑ Vinaisatien, Tanawan (2026-05-19). "Thailand scraps 60-day free visa, restores old exemption rules". nationthailand. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
  35. ↑ "Thai Visas for Americans". US Embassy and Consulate. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  36. ↑ "Thailand Visa Information : Non-Immigrant Visa "B" (for Business and Work) - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand". mfa.go.th. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
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