✅ Now law (updated 2 September 2026): the change was published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August — from 15 September 2026 visa-free entry is 30 days (was 60) and the eligible list drops from 93 to 60 countries. Enter before 15 September and you still receive the 60-day stamp, valid in full. All four Gazette lists, the treaty exceptions and a searchable country checker: the 30-day rule, explained.
And if your plans run to months rather than weeks: the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is the government-sanctioned long-stay answer in 2026 — we keep a full, officially-sourced guide to it.
Last updated: April 2026
In this guide
News · Travel updates
Thailand changes the rules quietly and often. Most of the changes are bureaucratic, a few are consequential, and almost none of them make it to the major travel guides before they are out of date. Here is the short version of what 2026 looks like for incoming travellers — current as of publication, and worth checking again before you fly.
Entry — visa-on-arrival and the digital card
Most Western passport holders still get the visa-exemption stamp on arrival, valid for sixty days as of late 2024 — confirm with your nearest embassy before flying, as the list rotates. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card replaced the paper TM6 form: complete it within seventy-two hours of landing, screenshot the QR, hand it to immigration. No stamp on your phone, no entry.
What to leave at home
E-cigarettes and vapes remain illegal to import — the fines are real and the airport bag checks have become routine. Cannabis was decriminalised, then partially recriminalised; recreational use is no longer a grey area. Leave it. Bring sunscreen instead — the reef-safe kind, which is now the only kind allowed in marine parks.
The digital arrival card
The paper TM6 arrival card that travellers filled out on the plane was phased out in 2022 for most nationalities. In its place, Thailand introduced a digital arrival card system — technically the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) — which travellers complete online before departure. As of 2026, registration is required for most international arrivals. The process takes under five minutes at tdac.immigration.go.th. You’ll need your passport details, flight number, and accommodation address for your first night. A QR code is generated which immigration officers scan on arrival. If you forget to register, you can typically complete it on your phone at the immigration queue, but this slows your processing time considerably.
The cannabis reversal
Thailand’s 2022 decriminalisation of cannabis was partially reversed in 2024 when the Narcotics Act amendment reclassified cannabis as a narcotic for recreational purposes. Medical and research use remains legal with appropriate licensing, but recreational cannabis dispensaries — which proliferated rapidly after 2022 — now operate in a legal grey area that is being actively enforced. For visitors: do not assume that the presence of a dispensary means recreational use is legal. Possession of cannabis without a medical prescription carries penalties that have not changed from the pre-2022 framework. The situation continues to evolve; check current advice from your country’s foreign ministry before travel.
E-cigarettes and vaping
Vapes and all electronic nicotine delivery devices are illegal to import into or use in Thailand, and customs officers do confiscate them at the airport. The full picture — the fines, what actually happens at immigration, IQOS and heated tobacco, and what to do if you are already in Thailand with one — is in our guide to whether you can vape in Thailand in 2026.
Visa exemption and visa on arrival — who qualifies
From 15 September 2026, citizens of 60 countries receive a 30-day visa exemption on arrival (the 2024–2026 scheme covered 93 countries at 60 days) — no application required, just a valid passport and proof of onward travel. Several nationalities including India, China (in some periods), and Kazakhstan have received temporary extensions or modifications to this arrangement as part of Thailand’s tourism policy. The visa exemption was extended to 60 days for 93 nationalities in 2024 — then reversed on 15 September 2026, when stays returned to 30 days for a trimmed list of 60 countries including the UK, USA, Australia, Germany, and France. Check the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for the current list and duration for your nationality, as these arrangements change.
Visa on arrival (VOA) is available for approximately 19 nationalities not covered by the visa exemption, granting 15 days at the border and requiring a fee of 2,000 baht, a passport photo, and proof of funds (10,000 baht or equivalent). VOA queues at Suvarnabhumi Airport can be very long during peak periods — the dedicated fast-track lane is worth the additional fee if time is short.
The tourist visa (TR) for longer stays
For stays longer than the visa exemption period, a single-entry Tourist Visa (TR) issued by a Thai embassy or consulate before travel grants 60 days, extendable by 30 days at any immigration office for 1,900 baht. A double-entry TR grants two 60-day periods separated by a departure from Thailand. Applications require a completed form, passport photos, proof of accommodation and funds, and a processing fee that varies by embassy — typically around 1,000–1,500 baht. Processing takes 3–5 business days in most countries.
What to carry at the border
Immigration officers can and do ask for proof of onward travel (a flight or bus booking out of Thailand) and evidence of sufficient funds — officially 10,000 baht per person (20,000 per family) for visa-exempt arrivals. In practice, most visitors from Western countries are waved through without either. However, if your passport shows many stamps and your occupation is listed as “freelancer” or “writer,” having a printed onward booking and a bank statement showing a reasonable balance costs nothing and prevents delays. Budget carriers allow free rebooking within 24 hours on some routes — a refundable or flexible return ticket resolves the issue entirely.
Getting between cities: Once you’re in the country, working out how to move around is its own question. Our breakdown of Bangkok to Chiang Mai — four ways to travel, honestly ranked covers the train, bus, flight, and road options with real prices and honest trade-offs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa?
Most Western nationalities receive 30 days on arrival under the rules in force from 15 September 2026; entries before that date received 60. One 30-day extension at immigration is available.
Can I extend my stay?
Yes — any immigration office in Thailand can extend a visa exemption or tourist visa by 30 days for 1,900 baht.
Is recreational cannabis legal in Thailand in 2026?
No. The 2024 reversal reclassified cannabis as a narcotic for recreational purposes. Medical use with a prescription remains legal.
Related guides
- How to Extend a Tourist Visa or Visa-Free Stay in Thailand at Immigration
- Where to Stay in Phuket: The Complete 2026 Guide
- Thailand Privilege Card vs DTV: the expensive velvet rope or the budget tourist bus?
- Thailand ETA: The New Entry Form Visa-Free Visitors Need
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