Do I Need a Visa for Thailand? Quick Check

In force since 15 September 2026: the visa-free stay is 30 days

Thailand's Royal Gazette published the new visa-exemption framework on 31 August 2026 and it took effect on 15 September 2026. The standard visa-free stay is now 30 days for 60 countries and territories, not 60 days for 93. Travellers who arrived up to and including 14 September 2026 keep the 60-day stamp they were given. Anything below that refers to a 60-day stay describes the rules before 15 September. Full detail in our Royal Gazette report and the country-by-country visa page.

The answer depends entirely on your passport, and it changed on 15 September 2026. Thailand now has four tiers of entry: visa-exempt for 30 days (60 countries and territories), visa-exempt for 15 days (Seychelles and Mauritius), bilateral treaty stays of 90, 30 or 14 days for countries dropped from the list, and visa required for everyone else. Visa on arrival now covers just three nationalities. Below is a quick breakdown so you know exactly what applies to you, plus the one document every traveller needs regardless.

Do I need a visa for Thailand decision chart for the rules in force from 15 September 2026: visa-exempt passports from 60 countries and territories including the USA, UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Japan and India get 30 days free with no visa, extendable once by 30 days; Seychelles and Mauritius get 15 days; countries dropped from the list, among them South Korea, Brazil, China, Russia, Hong Kong and Vietnam, fall back to a bilateral treaty of 90, 30 or 14 days; Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia get a 15-day visa on arrival for 2,000 THB; everyone else must apply for a visa or e-Visa before travelling. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is mandatory in every case. — Find your passport's list, then your stay length — and remember the TDAC applies to every foreign traveller regardless of the answer.

Quick Answer

Thailand sorts all nationalities into three categories. Find yours below:

Visa-Exempt

60 Countries — 30 Days Free

No visa needed. You get a 30-day stamp on arrival, air or land, extendable once by 30 days at immigration for 1,900 THB. Includes the USA, UK, the EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, India and more.

Bilateral or Visa on Arrival

Dropped From the List

Countries taken off the exemption list keep their own treaty with Thailand: 90 days for South Korea and Brazil, 30 for China, Hong Kong, Russia and Vietnam, 14 for Cambodia and Myanmar. Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia get a 15-day visa on arrival, 2,000 THB cash.

Visa Required

All Other Countries

You MUST apply for a visa at a Thai embassy or via thaievisa.go.th BEFORE travelling. From 15 September 2026 this now includes Mexico, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka. Processing takes 5-25 business days. Without a visa, airlines will deny you boarding.

Visa-Exempt Countries (30 Days)

Citizens of these countries can enter Thailand without any visa for up to 30 days under the Royal Gazette notification of 31 August 2026, in force since 15 September 2026. Below are the most commonly searched nationalities:

Country	Stay Duration	Extension Available
United States	30 days	+30 days (1,900 THB)
United Kingdom	30 days	+30 days (1,900 THB)
Germany	30 days	+30 days (1,900 THB)
Australia	30 days	+30 days (1,900 THB)
Canada	30 days	+30 days (1,900 THB)
Japan	30 days	+30 days (1,900 THB)
India	30 days	+30 days (1,900 THB)
France	30 days	+30 days (1,900 THB)
Netherlands	30 days	+30 days (1,900 THB)
South Korea	90 days	Bilateral treaty — not affected

These are the 10 most-searched nationalities. 60 countries and territories qualify in total — the whole EU and EFTA, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, India, Israel, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, the Gulf states, South Africa, and the ASEAN members Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei.

Full country list

See the complete country-by-country visa list for all 60 exempt nationalities, the 15-day tier, the bilateral treaty stays that apply to countries dropped from the list, and the three visa-on-arrival nationalities.

Visa on Arrival Countries (15 Days)

From 15 September 2026 the Visa on Arrival scheme covers three countries, down from 31. The process happens at a dedicated VOA counter before immigration. Key facts:

Who: Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia only. India left the VOA list on 15 September 2026 and now has the 30-day visa exemption.
Cost: 2,000 THB (approximately $60 USD), payable in Thai Baht cash only.
Stay: 15 days, and it cannot be extended.
Required documents: passport valid 6+ months, a confirmed return ticket within 15 days, a passport photo (4x6 cm), proof of accommodation and 10,000 THB per person.

Country	Stay Duration	Notes
Azerbaijan	15 days	Visa on arrival, 2,000 THB, not extendable
Belarus	15 days	Visa on arrival, 2,000 THB, not extendable
Serbia	15 days	Visa on arrival, 2,000 THB, not extendable
India	30 days	Left the VOA list — now visa-exempt for 30 days
China	30 days	Not on the exempt list; 30 days under the bilateral treaty

Only 3 countries qualify for Visa on Arrival in total.

VOA Wait Times Can Be Brutal

During peak season (November–March), the VOA queue at Suvarnabhumi Airport can exceed 2–3 hours. You must queue, submit documents, wait for processing, then join the main immigration queue. If you qualify for an eVisa, applying in advance saves massive amounts of time at the airport.

Everyone Needs the TDAC

Here is the part most travelers miss: regardless of your visa status — visa-exempt, visa on arrival, or full visa holder — every foreign traveler must file a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before entering Thailand.

The TDAC is not a visa. It is a digital immigration form that replaced the old paper arrival card (TM.6). It collects your passport data, flight number, and hotel address in Thailand. You receive a QR code that the immigration officer scans at the counter.

TDAC Is Separate from Your Visa

The TDAC is a mandatory data form for all foreign arrivals. It does not grant entry permission - that is what your visa, or your visa exemption, does. Think of the TDAC as a digital customs card. See the complete country-by-country visa list for all 60 exempt nationalities and the tiers below them.

When to file: Up to 12 months before arrival. We recommend at least 72 hours before your flight.
Cost: Free on the government portal. $29 per traveller through our assisted filing service, with expert review and a refund if the card is rejected.
What you receive: A QR code delivered to your email. Present it at immigration alongside your passport.
What happens without it: You will be directed to a kiosk at the airport to fill it out on the spot, adding 30–60 minutes to your arrival process.

Step-by-Step: What to Prepare Before Your Flight

Check your visa status: Determine whether your nationality is visa-exempt, VOA, or visa-required using the tables above.
Apply for a visa if needed: If you need an eVisa, apply at thaievisa.go.th at least 30 days before travel. Processing takes 5–25 business days.
File your TDAC: Everyone must do this. Complete the online form with your passport details, flight number, and Thai hotel address.
Prepare your documents: Passport (6+ months validity), return flight booking, TDAC QR code on your phone, and 20,000 THB cash as a backup.
Arrive at immigration: Present your passport, TDAC QR code, and visa (if applicable) to the immigration officer. Visa-exempt travelers get a stamp immediately.

I'm American/British/Australian. Do I need a visa?

No. Citizens of the USA, UK and Australia are visa-exempt and receive a 30-day entry stamp on arrival for free. You need a passport valid 6+ months and a completed TDAC. One 30-day extension is available at any immigration office for 1,900 THB.

I'm Indian/Chinese. What are my options?

Indian passport holders are visa-exempt for 30 days and no longer use visa on arrival at all. Chinese passport holders are not on the new 60-country list, but China and Thailand have a mutual visa-exemption agreement, so Chinese travellers enter visa-free for 30 days, capped at 90 days in any 180-day period. Both still need a TDAC.

My country was dropped from the exemption list. Do I need a visa now?

Not necessarily. Thailand applies the one country, one privilege principle, so where your country holds a bilateral visa-exemption treaty that treaty governs: 90 days for South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru; 30 days for China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Russia, Timor-Leste and Vietnam; 14 days for Cambodia and Myanmar. If your country has no treaty — Mexico, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka among them — you need a visa or e-Visa before you fly.

Can I work in Thailand on a visa exemption?

No. From 15 September 2026 the exemption explicitly covers tourism only; the earlier wording that also allowed short business visits was dropped. Working, including remotely for a foreign employer, requires the appropriate visa and a work permit. Look at the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) if you work remotely.

I entered before the rules changed. Am I affected?

No. Anyone stamped in on or before 14 September 2026 keeps the full 60 days granted on entry, even though the framework changed while they are in the country, and can still apply for the usual 30-day extension. Everyone landing on or after 15 September 2026 gets 30 days.

Get a personalized answer

Try our free Thailand Visa Checker tool — just 3 questions and you'll know exactly which visa you need.

Visa sorted? Now file your TDAC.

Whether you are visa-exempt, VOA, or visa holder — every traveler needs a TDAC. Complete it in 5 minutes and get your QR code instantly. Our experts review every submission for errors.

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Reviewed by

Jason Hartley

Travel Documentation Specialist · TDAC.info

Last reviewed on

September 11, 2026

Fact-checked against the official Thai Immigration Bureau guidance.