Do I Need a Visa for Thailand?
Thailand is one of the world’s most visited destinations, welcoming tens of millions of international tourists each year. Understanding whether you need a visa before you travel is essential — arriving without the correct documentation can result in being denied entry.
The good news is that Thailand has one of the most generous visa-exempt policies in Southeast Asia. Citizens of over 60 countries can enter without a visa at all, and many more can obtain a visa on arrival or an electronic visa (e-Visa) quickly and easily.
This guide breaks down exactly what you need based on your nationality, how long you can stay, and what options are available if you want to extend your visit.
| Important New Requirement from 1 May 2025 All foreigners entering Thailand must now apply for the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before arrival. This replaces the old TM6 paper form. It is required regardless of your visa status and is NOT the same as a visa or an ETA. |
Part 1: Countries That Do NOT Need a Visa
Citizens of the following countries can enter Thailand for tourism and business without obtaining any visa in advance. The permitted stay depends on your nationality.
90-Day Visa-Free Entry
The following five countries enjoy the longest visa-free stay of 90 days per visit, under bilateral agreements:
| Country | Notes |
| Argentina | Bilateral agreement — 90 day limit |
| Brazil | Bilateral agreement — 90 day limit |
| Chile | Bilateral agreement — 90 day limit |
| South Korea | Bilateral agreement — 90 day limit |
| Peru | Bilateral agreement — 90 day limit |
60-Day Visa-Free Entry
Citizens of the following countries and regions may stay in Thailand for up to 60 days without a visa. Many of these countries also have bilateral agreements. Note: Citizens of countries marked with an asterisk (*) are subject to a cumulative maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period under their bilateral agreement.
The 60-day entry is also extendable by an additional 30 days at a local immigration office for a fee of 1,900 THB.
Regional Blocs (All Member States)
| Bloc / Group | Notes |
| All European Union Member States | 60 days, extendable |
| All European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Member States | 60 days, extendable |
| All Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States | 60 days, extendable |
| ASEAN Member States | Except Cambodia (7 days), Myanmar (14 days), and Timor-Leste (30 days) |
Individual Countries — 60 Days
| Country | Special Notes |
| Albania | |
| Andorra | |
| Australia | |
| Bhutan | |
| Canada | |
| China (PRC passport holders) | 30-day bilateral agreement; cumulative max 90 days in 180 days (*) |
| Colombia | |
| Cuba | |
| Dominica | |
| Dominican Republic | |
| Ecuador | |
| Fiji | |
| Georgia | |
| Guatemala | |
| Hong Kong SAR | 30-day bilateral agreement (PRC passports only) |
| India | |
| Israel | |
| Jamaica | |
| Japan | |
| Jordan | |
| Kazakhstan | 30-day bilateral agreement; cumulative max 90 days in 180 days (*) |
| Kosovo | |
| Macao SAR | 30-day bilateral agreement (PRC passports only) |
| Maldives | |
| Mauritius | |
| Mexico | |
| Monaco | |
| Mongolia | 30-day bilateral agreement |
| Morocco | |
| New Zealand | |
| Panama | |
| Papua New Guinea | |
| Russia | 30-day bilateral agreement; subject to enhanced screening (see note below) |
| San Marino | |
| South Africa | |
| Sri Lanka | |
| Taiwan | |
| Tonga | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | |
| Turkey | |
| Ukraine | Subject to enhanced screening upon arrival |
| United Kingdom | |
| United States | |
| Uruguay | |
| Uzbekistan |
30-Day Visa-Free Entry
| Country | Notes |
| Timor-Leste | ASEAN member; bilateral agreement for 30 days |
14-Day Visa-Free Entry
| Country | Notes |
| Myanmar | ASEAN member; air arrivals only; bilateral agreement for 14 days |
7-Day Visa-Free Entry
| Country | Notes |
| Cambodia | ASEAN member; reduced from 60 days due to 2025 Cambodian-Thai border crisis; tourism purposes only; business exemption suspended; subject to enhanced airport screening |
| Important Note on Visa Runs Thailand has imposed a limit of two visa-free entries per year for nationals of certain countries, particularly aimed at curbing abuse by foreign criminals. However, as of January 2026, it was officially clarified that there is no blanket two-entry-per-year rule for all nationalities. If you are a long-term traveller doing repeated border runs, you may be questioned by immigration officers. |
Part 2: Countries That Can Get a Visa on Arrival (VOA)
Citizens of the following countries are not visa-exempt but may obtain a Visa on Arrival (VOA) at designated Thai immigration checkpoints. The VOA allows a single-entry stay of 15 days and costs 2,000 THB (standard) or 2,200 THB (express). It is not extendable.
Note: Some of these countries are also visa-exempt in general; citizens may still need a VOA if they have immigration violation records or inappropriate travel documents.
| Country | Note |
| Armenia | |
| Belarus | |
| Bhutan | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| Bolivia | |
| Bulgaria | Also visa-exempt (EU) — see note above |
| China | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| Costa Rica | |
| Cyprus | Also visa-exempt (EU) — see note above |
| El Salvador | |
| Ethiopia | |
| Fiji | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| Georgia | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| India | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| Kazakhstan | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| Kyrgyzstan | |
| Malta | Also visa-exempt (EU) — see note above |
| Mexico | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| Namibia | |
| Nauru | |
| Nepal | |
| Papua New Guinea | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| Paraguay | |
| Romania | Also visa-exempt (EU) — see note above |
| Russia | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| Saudi Arabia | Also visa-exempt (GCC) — see note above |
| Serbia | |
| Seychelles | |
| Taiwan | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| Tunisia | |
| Uzbekistan | Also visa-exempt — see note above |
| Vanuatu | |
| Venezuela |
Where Can You Get a Visa on Arrival?
Visas on Arrival are available at 48 immigration checkpoints across Thailand, including the following major airports:
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok) — also accepts e-VOA
- Don Mueang International Airport (Bangkok) — also accepts e-VOA
- Phuket International Airport — also accepts e-VOA
- Chiang Mai International Airport — also accepts e-VOA
- Krabi International Airport
- Hat Yai International Airport
- Hua Hin Airport
- Samui Airport
- Surat Thani Airport
- U-Tapao International Airport
Numerous land border crossings and harbour checkpoints also offer VOA facilities.
Part 3: The Thailand e-Visa (eVisa)
Since 1 January 2025, Thailand has fully transitioned to an electronic visa system for all visa types. This makes the process faster, simpler, and accessible from anywhere in the world through the official portal at thaievisa.go.th.
The e-Visa is available to citizens of all countries that require a visa. It can be applied for online and comes in two formats:
| Feature | eVisa (Multiple Entry) | eVisa (Single Entry) | e-VOA (Online VOA) | Visa on Arrival (VOA) |
| Duration of Stay | 60 days per entry | 60 days | 15 days | 15 days |
| Validity | 6 months | 3 months | 30 days | N/A |
| Visa Fee | Cheaper than VOA (varies by nationality) | Cheaper than VOA (varies by nationality) | Standard: 2,560 THB / Express: 4,560 THB | Standard: 2,000 THB / Express: 2,200 THB |
| Processing Time | 3–10 working days | 3–10 working days | Standard: 24–72 hrs / Express: under 24 hrs | Up to several hours at port of entry |
| Proof of Funds | 60,000 THB (upload online) | 20,000 THB (upload online) | 10,000 THB/person cash at entry | 10,000 THB/person cash at entry |
| Extendable | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Apply At | thaievisa.go.th | thaievisa.go.th | thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com | Visa office at port of entry |
Part 4: Special Categories of Travellers
Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders
Holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports from the following countries may enter Thailand without a visa for up to 90 days (unless noted):
All ASEAN member states, Albania, Argentina, Austria, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, and many others.
Some countries (e.g., Bangladesh, Pakistan) have diplomatic passport exemptions only, not ordinary passport exemptions.
APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)
Holders of passports from APEC economies who possess a valid APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) with ‘THA’ printed on the back may enter Thailand for business purposes for up to 90 days without a visa.
ABTC-issuing economies include: Australia, Brunei, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Transit Passengers
Passengers transiting through Suvarnabhumi Airport for less than 12 hours generally do not need a visa. However, travellers on certain low-cost and regional carriers ARE required to have a visa even in transit — check with your airline before travel.
At Don Mueang International Airport, visa-free transit is only available to passengers travelling on Thai AirAsia or Thai AirAsia X.
IMPORTANT: Pakistani citizens must obtain a transit visa when passing through Thailand regardless of flight duration or airline.
As of December 2025, passengers transiting through Thai airports heading to Cambodia may face enhanced checks.
Part 5: Mandatory Yellow Fever Vaccination
If you are travelling from (or have recently been in) a country where yellow fever is endemic, Thailand requires proof of yellow fever vaccination in the form of an International Certificate of Vaccination (the ‘Yellow Card’). Failure to present this document can result in refusal of entry.
Countries from which travellers require proof of yellow fever vaccination include:
- Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana (overseas territory of France), Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda
- Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
Note: This requirement applies to citizens arriving FROM these countries, not necessarily citizens OF these countries.
Part 6: Thai Visa Types Explained
If you require a visa — or wish to stay longer than the visa-exempt or visa-on-arrival periods — Thailand offers the following visa categories:
| Visa Type | Purpose |
| Tourist Visa | For stays over 30 days; valid for 60 days initially, extendable by 30 days; must be obtained at a Royal Thai Embassy before arrival |
| Type B | Business activities, work, attending conferences, studying martial arts or diving courses |
| Type ED | Study, seminars, training, foreign Buddhist monks |
| Type O | Family visits, NGO work, medical treatment, sports coaching |
| Type O-A | Long-stay retirement visa (for those 50+) |
| Type IB / IM | Investment-related activities |
| Type RS | Scientific research or teaching in a research institution |
| Type M | Film production, journalism |
| Type EX | Skilled work, expert or specialist roles |
| Type F | Official government or military duties |
| Type R | Religious or missionary work |
| Type S | Recognised sporting events |
| Type D | Diplomatic visa |
| Transit (TS/C) | Transiting through Thailand to another destination or crew members |
| Permanent Resident | For those who have been in Thailand 3 consecutive years with one-year extensions; income requirements apply |
Part 7: Working in Thailand
A visa alone does not permit you to work in Thailand. Any foreigner wishing to work legally must obtain a separate Work Permit, regardless of their visa type.
To be eligible for a Work Permit, you must hold a Non-Immigrant Visa (not a tourist or visa-exempt entry), have a Thai employer willing to sponsor the permit, and be applying for a role that is not restricted to Thai nationals.
Work permits are processed at the One Stop Service Centre for Visas and Work Permits, located on Floor 18 of Chamchuree Square Building, Pathumwan, Bangkok.
Quick Reference Summary
| Your Situation | What You Need |
| Citizen of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Korea, or Peru | No visa — 90-day stay permitted |
| Citizen of EU, EFTA, GCC, Australia, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, etc. | No visa — 60-day stay permitted (extendable by 30 days) |
| Citizen of Myanmar | No visa — 14 days, air arrival only |
| Citizen of Timor-Leste | No visa — 30 days |
| Citizen of Cambodia | No visa — 7 days, tourism only, enhanced screening |
| Citizen of India, Nepal, China, Russia, etc. | Visa on Arrival (15 days) or e-Visa (60 days) |
| Citizen of a country not listed above | e-Visa required before travel — apply at thaievisa.go.th |
| Diplomatic passport holder | Often visa-exempt for 90 days — check your country |
| APEC Business Travel Card holder | Up to 90 days for business, no visa required |
| Transiting for under 12 hours at Suvarnabhumi | Generally no visa required (some airlines excluded) |
| Pakistani citizen transiting | Visa required at all times |
| Arriving from a yellow fever zone | Yellow fever vaccination certificate required |
| Wanting to work in Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa + Work Permit required |
| Always Verify Before You Travel Visa policies can change at short notice. Thailand updated its rules multiple times between 2024 and 2026, including new digital arrival cards, changes to Cambodian entry conditions, and enhanced screening for certain nationalities. Always check with the Royal Thai Embassy in your country or the official Thai e-Visa website (thaievisa.go.th) before you travel. |
