{"id":6550,"date":"2026-08-03T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T07:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/thailand-visa-entry-requirements"},"modified":"2026-08-03T09:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T07:00:16","slug":"thailand-visa-entry-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/en\/thailand-visa-entry-requirements","title":{"rendered":"Thailand Visa &amp; Entry Requirements: What to Know in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.sayna-article .quick,.sayna-article .tip{background:#f4f7fb;border-left:4px solid #467AFF;border-radius:8px;padding:14px 18px;margin:20px 0}.sayna-article .tip{background:#fff7ef;border-left-color:#ff7900}.sayna-article .h{font-weight:700;font-size:1.05em;margin-bottom:6px;color:#0a0a0b}.sayna-article table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:18px 0}.sayna-article th{background:#eef1f7;text-align:left;padding:10px 12px;font-weight:700;border-bottom:2px solid #dfe3ec}.sayna-article td{padding:10px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #eef1f7}.sayna-article .faq details{border-bottom:1px solid #e5e8ee;padding:4px 0}.sayna-article .faq summary{font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;padding:9px 0}.sayna-article .cta-box{background:#fff5ec;border:1px solid #ffd8b0;border-radius:12px;padding:22px;text-align:center;margin:26px 0}.sayna-article .cta-box a{display:inline-block;background:#ff7900;color:#fff;padding:12px 26px;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700;margin-top:8px}<\/style>\n<div class=\"sayna-article\">\n<div class=\"quick\">\n<div class=\"h\">\u26a1 In short<\/div>\n<p>Most Western travellers enter Thailand <strong>visa-free for tourism<\/strong>. The big 2026 change: on <strong>19 May 2026<\/strong> the Cabinet approved cutting the visa-free stay from <strong>60 to 30 days<\/strong> for most nationalities, a measure that takes legal effect only once published in the Royal Gazette. Everyone must complete the free <strong>Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)<\/strong> online within <strong>72 hours<\/strong> before arrival, and a <strong>300-baht entry fee<\/strong> is planned for 2026. The arrival card is free; sites charging for it are scams.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tip\"><span class=\"h\">Stay connected on arrival<\/span> Set up your <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/thailand\">eSIM for Thailande<\/a> before you go: 100% online activation, no physical SIM to swap.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<nav aria-label=\"Contents\" class=\"toc\">\n<div class=\"h\">Contents<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#visa\">Do you need a visa?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#change\">The 60-to-30-day change<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#tdac\">The digital arrival card<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#fee\">The new entry fee<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#passport\">Passport and proof rules<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#longer\">Staying longer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ready\">Getting entry-ready<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<p>Thailand&#8217;s entry rules changed meaningfully in 2025 and 2026, and a lot of older advice online is now wrong. If you read a blog saying you get 60 days visa-free, or that there is a paper form to fill on the plane, it is out of date.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the current picture, in plain terms. Always confirm the specifics for your nationality on official sources close to your travel date, since these rules are moving.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"visa\">Do you need a visa?<\/h2>\n<p>For a standard tourism trip, most Western nationalities do <strong>not<\/strong> need a visa arranged in advance. Citizens of the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and EU countries such as France, Germany and Spain can enter under the <strong>visa exemption<\/strong> scheme, getting a stamp on arrival.<\/p>\n<p>This applies to tourism only. If you plan to work, study or stay long term, you need the correct visa arranged before you go.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"change\">The 60-to-30-day change<\/h2>\n<p>This is the update that catches people out. In July 2024 Thailand extended the visa-free stay to a generous 60 days. On <strong>19 May 2026<\/strong>, the Cabinet approved rolling that back: the visa-free stay is set to revert to <strong>30 days<\/strong> for most nationalities, under a tiered framework. The change becomes law only after publication in the Royal Gazette, so at the border the 60-day rule may still apply until then.<\/p>\n<p>A few countries keep longer allowances under separate bilateral treaties, but the safe assumption for most travellers is now <strong>30 days<\/strong>. If your trip runs longer, plan for a tourist visa or an extension rather than assuming the old 60 days still applies. Because the change is recent and not yet fully in force, double-check your nationality&#8217;s current limit on an official source before booking a longer stay.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Traveller<\/th>\n<th>Typical visa-free stay (2026)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Most EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia<\/td>\n<td>30 days (once gazetted; 60 until then)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>A few bilateral-treaty countries<\/td>\n<td>60 or 90 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Staying longer \/ working<\/td>\n<td>Visa required in advance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"tdac\">The digital arrival card (TDAC)<\/h2>\n<p>Since <strong>1 May 2025<\/strong>, every foreign arrival must complete the <strong>Thailand Digital Arrival Card<\/strong>, the online form that replaced the old paper TM6 card. Key facts:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Complete it <strong>within 72 hours before arrival<\/strong>, online.<\/li>\n<li>It is <strong>free<\/strong> on the official immigration website. Any third-party site charging a fee is a scam, and there are many.<\/li>\n<li>You get a <strong>QR-code confirmation<\/strong>. Save it and, ideally, screenshot it so you can show it offline at immigration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It takes a few minutes. Do it a day or two before you fly, from wherever you have a connection, and keep the confirmation handy.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"fee\">The new entry fee<\/h2>\n<p>For 2026, Thailand has approved a <strong>300-baht tourist entry fee<\/strong>, about 8 euros, for air arrivals, with rollout expected around mid-2026 and the charge likely bundled into the airfare rather than collected at the counter. It is modest, but new, so budget for it and do not confuse it with the free arrival card. The two are separate: the card costs nothing, the entry fee is a genuine government charge. Confirm whether it is live for your travel dates.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"passport\">Passport and proof rules<\/h2>\n<p>Standard requirements apply, and they are worth checking before you go.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Passport valid for at least six months<\/strong> beyond your arrival date.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of onward travel<\/strong> may be requested: a flight out of Thailand within your permitted stay.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of funds<\/strong> can be asked for, though it is rare in practice for exemption arrivals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Airlines sometimes check onward tickets at check-in, so have yours accessible on your phone.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"longer\">Staying longer<\/h2>\n<p>If 30 days is not enough, you have options. You can apply for a <strong>tourist visa<\/strong> in advance for a longer initial stay, or extend your permission once inside Thailand at an immigration office, typically for an extra 30 days for a fee. Repeated back-to-back visa-free entries by land are increasingly scrutinised, so do not rely on quick border hops to reset your stay.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tip\">\n<div class=\"h\">\ud83d\udca1 Entry checklist before you fly<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Confirm your nationality&#8217;s current visa-free limit; assume 30 days.<\/li>\n<li>Complete the free TDAC within 72 hours of arrival, official site only.<\/li>\n<li>Save the TDAC QR code offline as a screenshot.<\/li>\n<li>Budget for the planned 300-baht entry fee, separate from the free card.<\/li>\n<li>Check your passport has six months&#8217; validity and have onward travel to hand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"ready\">Getting entry-ready<\/h2>\n<p>Almost all of this now happens on your phone: completing the arrival card, saving the QR code, showing onward travel, checking the latest rules. That is easiest when you already have a connection rather than relying on airport Wi-Fi that may not cooperate.<\/p>\n<p>Set up a <a class=\"cta-inline\" href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/thailand\">eSIM for Thailande<\/a> before you leave, and you can complete the card, pull up your documents and step through immigration without a hitch. Orange&#8217;s negotiated roaming agreements connect you to the local 4G\/5G networks the moment you land, with <strong>24\/7<\/strong> support and a <strong>100% refund<\/strong> if you never use it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cta-box\">\n<p>Handle every entry step from your phone, connected on arrival<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/thailand\">Explore the Orange Travel eSIM for Thailand<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<section aria-label=\"Frequently asked questions\" class=\"faq\">\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>Do I need a visa for Thailand?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Most Western nationalities, including UK, US, EU, Canada and Australia, can enter visa-free for tourism. On 19 May 2026 the Cabinet approved cutting the visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days for most countries, taking effect once published in the Royal Gazette, so check your current allowance before travelling for longer.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">The TDAC is a mandatory free online form that replaced the paper arrival card. Since 1 May 2025 all foreign arrivals must complete it within 72 hours before arrival at the official immigration website. Beware of third-party sites that charge for it.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">For most nationalities the visa-free stay is moving to 30 days, following the Cabinet decision of 19 May 2026 that applies once gazetted. A handful of countries keep 60 or 90 days under bilateral treaties. If you need longer, apply for a tourist visa in advance.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>Is there an entry fee for Thailand?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">A 300-baht tourist entry fee (about 8 \u20ac) for air arrivals has been approved for 2026, with rollout expected around mid-year and likely bundled into the airfare. The digital arrival card itself remains free; only unofficial sites charge for it.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>Do I need internet to complete the arrival card?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Yes. The TDAC is filled in online in the 72 hours before arrival, and you should save the QR-code confirmation offline. A travel eSIM ensures you can complete and access it wherever you are.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":6549,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"Thailand Visa &amp; Entry Requirements: What to Know in 2026 | Orange Travel","_seopress_titles_desc":"Thailand visa and entry requirements in 2026: the 30-day change, visa exemption, the free digital arrival card (TDAC) and the new entry fee explained.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/en\/thailand-visa-entry-requirements","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-turism","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"lang":"en","translations":{"en":6550,"fr":6548,"es":6552},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6550"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6550\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6554,"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6550\/revisions\/6554"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/ot-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}