Last updated: 8 October 2026. Checked against the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the official TDAC portal and Thai Immigration Bureau pages.
If you hold a passport from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, any EU country or one of the other countries on Thailand's list, you can now stay up to 30 days without a visa for tourism, not 60. The change took effect on 15 September 2026, so it applies to every trip in the November to February high season. Every foreign visitor must also file the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before arrival.
What changed on 15 September 2026
Thailand's Ministry of Interior announcements setting the new visa exemption rules were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and took effect on 15 September 2026, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
| Rule | From 15 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Visa-free stay, 60 listed countries and territories | 30 days (was 60) |
| Purpose | Tourism only |
| Entries by land border on the 30-day exemption | At most 2 per calendar year (not for Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore nationals) |
| Seychelles and Mauritius | 15 days visa-free |
| Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia | Visa on arrival |
- Who gets 30 days. Since 15 September 2026, passport holders of 60 countries and territories can enter Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism. The list includes the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Taiwan and all 27 EU member states (TAT, 1 September 2026).
- Land borders. Travelers using the 30-day exemption may enter Thailand through a land-border checkpoint no more than twice per calendar year. Nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are exempt from that cap.
- Other passports. Seychelles and Mauritius nationals get 15 days visa-free, and Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia nationals can get a visa on arrival. Separate bilateral agreements still give some nationalities 90, 30 or 14 days, so check with a Thai embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if your country is not on the list.
- Tourism only. The 30-day exemption covers tourism. If you are traveling for work or business meetings, apply for the right visa through the official Thai e-Visa site.
Can you stay longer than 30 days?
You can ask for more time inside Thailand. Thailand's Immigration Bureau lists 1,900 baht as the fee for an extension of stay, and visitors who entered visa-free may apply at an immigration office to extend by up to 30 days. Approval is at the officer's discretion, so apply before your permitted stay ends and do not book a non-refundable onward flight on the assumption it will be granted.
If you plan a longer stay, a visa obtained before travel gives you more certainty than counting on an extension.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
The TDAC replaced the paper arrival card, and the official TDAC portal is run by Thailand's Immigration Bureau. The facts below come from its official FAQ.
- Who must file. All non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea must submit a TDAC, including children and infants, visa-exempt visitors and visa-on-arrival travelers.
- Who does not. Aircraft crew do not need one. Transit passengers who stay airside and do not pass through immigration do not need one; if you leave the airport, you do.
- When. Submit within 3 days before arrival, counting the arrival date. The card is valid for one entry only, so every trip needs a new one.
- What you need. Passport details, flight or vehicle number and arrival date, your address in Thailand, travel purpose, a health declaration and an email address to receive the card.
- Families. One submission can hold up to 10 travelers.
- Mistakes. You can update a submitted card. The portal treats only the most recent submission as valid.
- Cost. The official portal is titled "Official Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): No Fees Required". Thailand's Immigration Bureau has warned that lookalike websites charge for the card (Khaosod English, 29 March 2026); type the address tdac.immigration.go.th yourself rather than clicking an ad.
- No phone on arrival? The FAQ says kiosks and Wi-Fi are provided on arrival. Kiosks are at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai airports.
The tourist entry fee is not in force
Thailand has no tourist entry fee in force as of 8 October 2026. A National Tourism Policy Committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister approved draft principles for a flat 450 baht fee per foreign visitor in mid-August 2026 and sent it to public consultation (The Nation, 15 August 2026). Thai media report the consultation closed on 28 September 2026. The fee still needs Cabinet approval and publication in the Royal Gazette, and collection would start only 180 days after that publication. Do not pay anyone who asks for this fee today.
SIM rules for foreigners
Thai SIM registration is tied to your passport. TrueMove H's tourist SIM page states that a tourist SIM must be registered with a valid passport under NBTC rules, with a maximum of 3 SIMs per person per brand, and that a tourist SIM's validity must not exceed 60 days. The NBTC notification behind these limits was published in the Royal Gazette on 29 August 2025 (The Nation, 31 August 2025).
Staying connected
Data matters most at two moments on this trip. Before you board, keep the TDAC confirmation and QR code that the portal sends by email where you can open it offline. After you land, you may need to update a TDAC detail, look up your accommodation address, or find the nearest immigration office if you later apply for an extension.
A travel eSIM installed before you fly gives you mobile data as soon as you land at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi or Phuket, without joining the airport SIM counter queue for passport registration. It is data only: it gives you no Thai phone number. If you need a Thai number, for example for a Thai bank account or local contacts who will call you, buy a Thai SIM and register it with your passport. Our Thailand eSIM guide compares both options, and you can check whether your phone supports eSIM before you go.
Compare our Thailand eSIM plans and install one before you fly.
FAQ
How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa in November 2026?
Up to 30 days for tourism, if your passport is on Thailand's list of 60 countries and territories, which includes the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and all EU countries. The 60-day stay ended on 15 September 2026.
Can I extend Thailand's 30-day visa exemption?
You can apply at an immigration office inside Thailand to extend by up to 30 days. The Immigration Bureau lists the extension fee as 1,900 baht, and approval is at the officer's discretion.
When do I fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
Within 3 days before you arrive, counting the arrival date, on the official portal tdac.immigration.go.th. Each card is valid for one entry only.
Does the TDAC cost money?
No. The official TDAC portal says no fees are required, and sites that charge for it are not the official service.
Do children and transit passengers need a TDAC?
Children and infants need one. Transit passengers who stay airside without passing through immigration do not, but anyone who leaves the airport does.
Is there a tourist entry fee for Thailand now?
No. A 450 baht fee per foreign visitor is still a draft: it has gone through public consultation but has not been approved by the Cabinet or published in the Royal Gazette.
Facts checked on 8 October 2026 against the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the official TDAC portal and FAQ, the Thai Immigration Bureau, TrueMove H and reporting by The Nation. Thai entry rules can change at short notice, so recheck the official TDAC portal and your nearest Thai embassy a week before you fly.