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.
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. As of 15 September 2026 it covers tourism only, and it does not allow work of any kind.
How long you get depends on your nationality. Most eligible travelers get 30 days, two nationalities get 15, and some neighboring countries have separate reciprocal arrangements that run longer.
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 receive the same in return.
| Privilege | Stay | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day visa exemption | 30 days | 60 countries and territories, including most of Europe, the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, India, the Gulf states, and ASEAN neighbors. See the full list → |
| 15-day visa exemption | 15 days | Mauritius, Seychelles |
| Visa on Arrival | 15 days | Azerbaijan, Belarus, 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, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam |
| 14-day reciprocal exemption | 14 days | Cambodia, Myanmar (by air only) |
Visa on Arrival is different from a visa exemption: you apply at the airport on arrival and pay a fee (around 2,000 THB), rather than being waved through. The reciprocal tiers run on separate bilateral agreements that the 2026 change did not touch; check the official list if your country is not shown above.
Thailand visa-free countries: the 2026 list
30-day visa exemption (60 countries and territories)
Citizens of these countries and territories can enter for tourism without a visa and stay up to 30 days.
15-day visa exemption
Mauritius and Seychelles. Citizens enter without a visa for up to 15 days. The Maldives, grouped here under the earlier draft, was moved to the 30-day list before the rules were finalized.
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, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam get 30 days. Cambodia and Myanmar get 14 days, and Myanmar by air only.
Visa on Arrival
Azerbaijan, Belarus, 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. India, previously on this list, now holds the 30-day visa exemption instead.
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.
Every traveler must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arriving, whether by air or land. It is best done ahead of your trip to avoid being held up at immigration.
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, 60 countries and territories get a 30-day visa exemption and two get 15 days, alongside separate reciprocal arrangements and a three-country Visa on Arrival list. Older figures you may still see, such as the 93 countries under the 60-day scheme, are out of date.
What happened to the 60-day visa exemption?
It ended. Thailand introduced the 60-day visa-free stay for 93 countries in 2024, then replaced it in 2026 with a "one country, one scheme" system. The four regulations were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and took effect on 15 September. Travelers admitted on or before 14 September kept the stay granted on entry.
Can I work in Thailand on a visa exemption?
No. Since 15 September 2026 the exemption is for tourism only, and the earlier allowance for short-term work and business activities has been removed. Working, even remotely for an overseas employer, is not permitted under 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. That brings a 30-day entry to about 60 days. Beyond that you need to leave and apply for the right visa, or look at a long-term route such as the LTR visa or the DTV.
Is there a limit on entering by land?
Yes. Travelers using the 30-day or 15-day exemption can generally cross a land border into Thailand no more than twice per calendar year. Nationals of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore are exempt, and the limit does not apply to arrivals by air.
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?
It depends on what you are doing. For remote work, the DTV runs five years. 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 can extend a 30-day entry once, or apply for a tourist visa before traveling.
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 DTV, the SMART Visa, a work-permit-sponsored route, or something else.
591 Sukhumvit 33, Watthana
Bangkok 10110