Visa Exemption · Thailand
Thailand Visa Exemption
Many nationalities can enter Thailand without a visa for tourism. Here is who qualifies in 2026, for how long, and what to do if you need to stay longer or work.
Tourism only30 days for most60-day scheme ended 2026No work permitted
Overview
What is the Thailand visa exemption?
A visa exemption lets passport holders from eligible countries enter Thailand without applying for a visa first. You arrive, and immigration stamps you in for a set number of days. It covers tourism and certain short visits, such as meetings, but it does not allow work of any kind.
How long you get depends entirely on your nationality. Most eligible travelers get 30 days, a few get 15, and some neighbouring countries have separate reciprocal arrangements that run longer.
2026 update to the visa exemption rules. Thailand canceled the 60-day visa-free scheme that had covered 93 countries and moved to a "one country, one privilege" system: each nationality now has a single set entitlement. The change was approved on 19 May 2026 and takes effect 15 days after it is published in the Royal Gazette. Anyone already in Thailand, or who arrives before then, keeps their current permitted stay. Always confirm your nationality's current entitlement with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel.
At a glance
How long can you stay in Thailand visa-free?
Under the 2026 system, each country sits in one of these tiers. The reciprocal tiers apply to countries that let Thai nationals in without a visa, and they get the same in return.
| Privilege | Stay | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day visa exemption | 30 days | 54 countries, including most of Europe, the US, UK, Australia, Japan, the Gulf states, and ASEAN neighbors. See the full list → |
| 15-day visa exemption | 15 days | Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles |
| Visa on Arrival | 15 days | Azerbaijan, Belarus, India, Serbia (fee applies) |
| 90-day reciprocal exemption | 90 days | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, South Korea |
| 30-day reciprocal exemption | 30 days | China, Hong Kong, Russia, Laos, Macau, Kazakhstan, Timor-Leste |
| 14-day reciprocal exemption | 14 days | Cambodia, Myanmar (by air only) |
Visa on Arrival is different from a visa exemption: you still apply at the airport on arrival and pay a fee (around 2,000 THB), rather than being waved through. The reciprocal categories are listed as covering a few more countries than shown here, so check the official list if your country is not above.
By country
Thailand visa-free countries: the 2026 list
30-day visa exemption (54 countries)
Citizens of these countries can enter for tourism without a visa and stay up to 30 days.
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Belgium
Bhutan
Brunei
Canada
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Oman
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
15-day visa exemption
Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Citizens enter without a visa for up to 15 days.
90-day reciprocal exemption
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and South Korea. These run on long-standing bilateral agreements and are unaffected by the change to the main scheme, so a Peruvian citizen, for example, can still enter for up to 90 days.
30-day and 14-day reciprocal exemption
China, Hong Kong, Russia, Laos, Macau, Kazakhstan, and Timor-Leste get 30 days. Cambodia and Myanmar get 14 days, and Myanmar by air only.
Visa on Arrival
Azerbaijan, Belarus, India, and Serbia. These nationalities apply for a visa at the airport on arrival, for a stay of up to 15 days and a fee of around 2,000 THB.
What to prepare
Visa exemption requirements
- A passport valid for at least six months.
- Proof of onward or return travel out of Thailand within the permitted period.
- Proof of funds, which immigration may ask to see.
- A completed Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which is mandatory before arrival.
The TDAC is now required. The old paper arrival card is gone. Every traveler must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before arriving, whether by air or land. Do it before you fly to avoid being held up at immigration.
A visa exemption is for tourism and short visits only. You cannot work on it, paid or unpaid, including remote work for an overseas employer in some readings of the rules. If working is any part of your plan, you need a proper visa and, in most cases, a work permit.
Common questions
Thailand visa exemption FAQs
The questions travelers ask most about entering Thailand visa-free in 2026.
How many countries are visa-exempt for Thailand in 2026?
Under the 2026 rules, 54 countries get a 30-day visa exemption and three get 15 days, alongside separate reciprocal arrangements and a four-country Visa on Arrival list. The older figures you may still see, 57 countries, or 93 under the 60-day scheme, are out of date.
What happened to the 60-day visa exemption?
It was canceled. Thailand introduced the 60-day visa-free stay for 93 countries in 2024, then scrapped it in 2026 in favor of a "one country, one privilege" system. Cabinet approved the change on 19 May 2026, and it takes effect 15 days after Royal Gazette publication. Travelers already in Thailand when it takes effect keep their existing stay.
Can I work in Thailand on a visa exemption?
No. The visa exemption is for tourism and certain short visits only. Working, even remotely for an overseas employer, is not permitted in the strictest reading of the rules. If working is any part of your plan, you need a proper visa and usually a work permit.
Can I extend a visa exemption?
Usually yes, once, by up to 30 days, at a Thai immigration office, for a fee of around 1,900 THB. Beyond that you need to leave and apply for the right visa, or look at a long-term route such as the LTR visa.
Do I need the TDAC?
Yes. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is mandatory for every traveler, including on a visa exemption, and has to be completed online before arrival. It replaced the paper arrival card.
I need to stay longer than 30 days, what are my options?
Depends on what you are doing. For long-term living, the LTR visa runs to ten years. For startup founders, the SMART Visa runs up to four years. For taking a Thai job, you need a work visa and permit, which we sponsor through our entity if you don't have a Thai employer set up. We can compare the options for your situation.
Is the 60-day stay still available for any country?
Not under the visa exemption. The 90-day reciprocal exemption for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and South Korea is unrelated and unaffected. Other travelers wanting a longer stay should apply for a tourist visa before flying.
Need help with the right Thai visa?
Talk to our Bangkok team
A free, no-obligation call: thirty minutes with our Bangkok team to work out which visa fits, whether that is the LTR, the SMART Visa, a work-permit-sponsored route, or something else.
Emailthailand@emerhub.com
Phone+66 92 554 5444
OfficeUnited Business Center II
591 Sukhumvit 33, Watthana
Bangkok 10110
591 Sukhumvit 33, Watthana
Bangkok 10110