Thailand Visa Exemption Rules 2026: Who Gets In Free and For How Long

The visa exemption is the simplest way to enter Thailand. No embassy visit, no application form, no fee. You land at the airport, walk up to the immigration counter, and get a stamp in your passport. Done. The vast majority of Western backpackers use it, and for trips under 90 days it is the only entry permission you will ever need.

But 2026 brought significant changes to how the visa exemption works, especially if you plan to cross land borders. The 60-day air entry that was introduced in late 2024 is still in effect, but land entries have been cut to 30 days with a strict annual cap, one major land border is closed entirely, and the digital arrival card system that replaced the old paper forms is now fully mandatory. Miss any of these updates and you could find yourself turned away at the border or overstaying without realizing it.

This guide covers everything about the visa exemption as it stands right now: who qualifies, how long you get, what changed, and what you need to have ready when you show up at immigration.

Quick Facts: Thailand Visa Exemption at a Glance

| Detail | Info | |--------|------| | Eligible countries | 93 | | Air entry duration | 60 days | | Air entry extension | +30 days at immigration (1,900 THB) | | Air entry max per year | 6 (loosely enforced) | | Land entry duration | 30 days | | Land entry extension | Not available | | Land entry max per year | 2 (strictly enforced) | | TDAC required | Yes, within 72 hours before arrival | | Cost | Free (the exemption itself costs nothing) | | Passport validity | 6+ months from entry date |

The one-sentence version: If you hold a passport from one of 93 countries and fly into Thailand, you get 60 days free, extendable to 90. If you cross by land, you get 30 days with no extension and a maximum of 2 land entries per calendar year.

Full Country List: All 93 Visa Exemption Countries

Citizens of the following 93 countries and territories can enter Thailand without a visa. If your country is on this list, you do not need to apply for anything before you travel. You simply show up with a valid passport.

Europe (39 countries)

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican City, Andorra, Albania

Americas (12 countries)

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, United States

Asia-Pacific (28 countries)

Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, India, China (mainland)

Middle East and Africa (14 countries)

Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia

Not on the list? If your nationality is not listed above, you need either a Tourist Visa (TR) or a Visa on Arrival (VOA), depending on your country. See our full Thailand visa guide for backpackers for all the options.

Air Entry Rules (60 Days)

Flying into Thailand is the most straightforward way to use the visa exemption. You arrive at any international airport -- Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Don Mueang (DMK), Chiang Mai (CNX), Phuket (HKT), or any other -- and the immigration officer stamps 60 days into your passport. No questions asked, assuming your paperwork is in order.

What You Get

• 60 days from the date of entry
• Extendable once for 30 additional days at any Thai immigration office
• Total possible stay: 90 days on a single air entry (60 + 30 extension)

Annual Limit

There is no formal hard cap on air entries written into the law, but immigration officers have discretion to question or deny entry to travelers who appear to be living in Thailand on back-to-back tourist entries. The unofficial threshold is around 6 air entries per calendar year. If you have entered Thailand more than 6 times in a year, expect questions about why you keep returning, whether you are working in Thailand, and what your onward travel plans are.

In practice, most backpackers will never hit this limit. It mainly affects long-term expats who fly to a neighboring country and back every 60-90 days to reset their stay. If that describes your plan, consider a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) instead.

The Extension: How to Get 30 More Days

If 60 days is not enough, you can extend your stay by 30 days at any immigration office in Thailand. The process takes a morning, costs 1,900 THB in cash, and requires a filled-out TM.7 form plus a few photocopies. Apply before your 60 days expire -- ideally 7 to 14 days before the expiration date.

We have a complete step-by-step walkthrough for this: How to Extend Your Thailand Visa: TM.7 Form Guide.

Land Entry Rules (30 Days -- 2026 Restrictions)

Crossing into Thailand overland -- by bus, train, minivan, or on foot at a border checkpoint -- is a completely different experience from flying in. The rules are stricter, the allowances are shorter, and the enforcement is tighter than it has ever been.

What You Get

• 30 days from the date of entry (not 60 -- that is air only)
• Not extendable. You cannot go to an immigration office and add 30 days. The stamp you get at the border is your final date. When it expires, you leave.

The 2-Per-Year Cap

This is the rule that catches people off guard. You are allowed a maximum of 2 land border entries per calendar year (January 1 through December 31) using the visa exemption. This is strictly enforced. After your second land entry in a calendar year, the immigration officer at the border will turn you away.

That gives you a total of 60 days from land crossings in any given year -- two separate 30-day periods. If you need more time, fly in (60 days + 30 extension = 90) or get a proper visa.

Thailand-Cambodia Land Border: Closed

The armed conflict that erupted in July 2025 led to the closure of all Thailand-Cambodia land border crossings, including the once-popular Aranyaprathet/Poipet checkpoint that Bangkok backpackers used for decades. As of February 2026, these land crossings remain shut. Flights between Bangkok and Phnom Penh or Siem Reap still operate normally, but the overland route through Poipet is off the table. Stay away from the border area entirely due to ongoing military tensions.

For active border crossings you can still use, see our Thailand Border Run Guide.

Immigration Screening at Land Borders

Officers at land borders are trained to look for patterns of abuse. Multiple back-to-back land entries, very short stays in neighboring countries (the classic "cross the bridge, turn around, come back" move), and a passport full of Thai stamps all raise flags. Denial of entry at a land border is not hypothetical -- it happens regularly. And if you are refused, there is no appeal process at the checkpoint. You are stuck on the other side until you arrange alternative transportation.

Air vs Land Entry: Side-by-Side Comparison

| | Air Entry | Land Entry | |---|---|---| | Duration | 60 days | 30 days | | Extension | +30 days (1,900 THB) | Not available | | Max stay per entry | 90 days | 30 days | | Annual limit | ~6 entries (loosely enforced) | 2 entries (strictly enforced) | | Cost to extend | 1,900 THB | N/A | | Best for | Most backpackers, longer stays | Quick trips to/from neighboring countries | | TDAC required | Yes | Yes | | Cambodia border | Flights operate normally | Land crossings closed |

The takeaway: If you have any choice in the matter, fly into Thailand. You get double the time, the option to extend, and far less scrutiny from immigration. Land entries are best reserved for genuine overland travel between countries, not as a strategy for staying in Thailand long-term.

TDAC: Thailand Digital Arrival Card (Mandatory)

Since May 2025, every foreign national entering Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before arrival. This replaced the paper TM.6 departure card that immigration used to staple into your passport. The TDAC is digital, free, and mandatory regardless of whether you arrive by air or land.

How to Complete It

1. Go to the official portal: tdac.immigration.go.th
2. Complete the form within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival
3. Submit and save your confirmation (screenshot or email)
4. Present the confirmation at immigration if asked (most airports scan it automatically)

Information You Need

• Full name exactly as it appears on your passport
• Passport number, issue date, and expiry date
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Flight number or border crossing you are using
• First accommodation address in Thailand (hotel name and address)
• Purpose of visit (select "tourism")
• Expected length of stay

Common Mistakes

Wrong passport number. Double-check every digit. If the passport number on your TDAC does not match the one the officer scans, you will be pulled aside.

Submitting too early. The 72-hour window is strict. If you fill it out 4 days before your flight, it may not be valid when you arrive. Wait until you are within the 72-hour window.

Using a fake TDAC website. Dozens of scam sites charge between 30 and 150 USD for "express" or "premium" TDAC processing. The real TDAC is always free. If any website asks for payment, close the tab. The only legitimate URL is tdac.immigration.go.th.

Forgetting to save confirmation. Although most airports now scan the TDAC electronically, some land border checkpoints still ask to see your confirmation screen. Screenshot it or save the confirmation email.

Trying to edit after submission. You cannot change your name, passport number, or nationality after submitting. Minor details like flight times or accommodation address can be updated, but core identity fields are locked.

The Extension Process (Brief Overview)

If you entered by air and want to stay beyond your initial 60 days, you can extend your visa exemption by 30 days at any immigration office in the country. Here is the short version:

• Cost: 1,900 THB (cash only, no cards)
• Time: Same day processing, usually 1-3 hours total
• When to apply: Before your current permission expires (aim for 7-14 days before)
• What to bring: Passport, photocopies (bio page, entry stamp page), one passport photo (4x6 cm), completed TM.7 form, 1,900 THB cash
• Where: Any immigration office -- Chiang Mai, Bangkok (Chaengwattana), Phuket, Koh Samui, and dozens of others

The extension gives you exactly 30 additional days from the date your original 60 days would have expired (not from the date you apply). So if your entry stamp expires on April 15 and you apply for the extension on April 5, your new exit date will be May 15.

Important: Land border entries (30 days) cannot be extended. This only applies to air entries and tourist visa holders.

For the full step-by-step walkthrough including every field on the TM.7 form, what to photocopy, and which immigration offices are fastest, see our dedicated guide: How to Extend Your Thailand Visa: TM.7 Form Guide.

What You Need at Immigration

When you step up to the immigration counter -- whether at an airport or a land border -- here is what you should have ready. Some of these are always checked, some are occasionally asked for, and some are technically required but rarely enforced. Know the difference so you are not caught scrambling.

Always Required

Valid passport. Must have at least 6 months of validity remaining from your date of entry. If your passport expires in 5 months, you will be denied boarding or denied entry. No exceptions. Also make sure you have at least one blank page for the entry stamp.

Completed TDAC. The digital arrival card, submitted within 72 hours of arrival (see section above).

Sometimes Asked For

Return or onward ticket. Immigration officers can ask to see proof that you plan to leave Thailand. In practice, this is checked inconsistently -- maybe 1 in 10 travelers gets asked at airports, and it is more common at land borders. Airlines are more likely to check at the departure gate than Thai immigration is at arrival. If you do not have a return flight booked, a cheap onward ticket to a neighboring country (Kuala Lumpur, Vientiane, Hanoi) for under 30 USD satisfies this requirement.

Proof of accommodation. A hotel booking confirmation, hostel reservation, or even the name and address of where you are staying on your first night. Again, this is rarely requested, but having a screenshot of your booking ready on your phone takes 10 seconds and eliminates the question.

Legally Required but Rarely Checked

Proof of funds. Thai immigration law requires visitors to show they have at least 20,000 THB per person (approximately 570 USD) or 40,000 THB per family available for their stay. This can be in cash, shown on a bank app, or proven with a bank statement. In practice, immigration officers at airports almost never ask for this. At land borders, the odds increase slightly but it is still uncommon. Regardless, having access to at least 20,000 THB in your account is a reasonable minimum for a backpacking trip anyway.

The Realistic Checklist

For most backpackers arriving by air, here is what actually happens:

1. You hand over your passport
2. The officer scans it and checks your TDAC
3. You get a stamp with your entry date and your "admitted until" date (60 days later)
4. You walk through to baggage claim

The whole process takes under 2 minutes in most cases. The return ticket, accommodation, and funds questions come up occasionally and unpredictably. Be prepared, but do not stress about it.

Common Questions

Can I enter Thailand multiple times on visa exemption?

Yes. There is no rule that says you can only use the visa exemption once. You can enter, leave, and re-enter as many times as you like -- subject to the limits described above. For air entries, the soft cap is around 6 per calendar year. For land entries, the hard cap is 2 per calendar year. Each entry gives you a fresh duration (60 days by air, 30 days by land). Your previous entries do not "roll over" or accumulate.

What if I do not have a return flight?

This is one of the most common anxieties among backpackers, and the answer is: you will almost certainly be fine. Thai immigration rarely asks for a return ticket at the airport. Airlines sometimes check before boarding, so if you are worried, book a cheap one-way flight out of Thailand (Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur can cost under 1,000 THB on AirAsia) and cancel or skip it later. Some travelers use booking services that issue refundable tickets specifically for this purpose.

At land borders, immigration officers are slightly more likely to ask about your onward plans, but showing a bus ticket, train booking, or even a verbal plan is usually sufficient.

Can I work on a visa exemption?

No. The visa exemption is for tourism only. Working in Thailand -- whether for a Thai company or a foreign one -- is not permitted under the visa exemption. If you are caught working without a work permit, the consequences include fines, detention, deportation, and a potential ban on re-entering Thailand.

If you are a digital nomad or remote worker, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is designed for you. It allows remote work for foreign employers and clients.

In practice, plenty of backpackers work on their laptops in cafes without issue. Thailand does not have laptop police. But legally, you are not covered, and if anything goes sideways (a dispute with a client, an accident while "on the job"), your insurance and legal standing are compromised.

What happens if I overstay?

Overstaying your visa exemption is taken seriously. The penalties are:

• Under 1 day: Usually no fine if you leave voluntarily at the airport
• 1-90 days: 500 THB per day overstay, up to a maximum of 20,000 THB
• Over 90 days: Overstay ban from re-entering Thailand (1 year ban for 90+ days, scaling up to 10 years for extended overstays)
• Caught by police (not at airport): Detention, potential deportation, and a 5-year re-entry ban regardless of overstay length

Do not overstay. If your time is running out and you need more days, either extend at immigration (air entries only), leave the country, or apply for a different visa. For full details on fines and bans, see our Thailand Overstay Fines and Bans Guide.

What if I arrive by land and want to stay longer than 30 days?

Your options are limited. The 30-day land entry stamp cannot be extended. If you want more time, you have three choices:

1. Leave and fly back in. Exit Thailand to a neighboring country and return by air. You will get a fresh 60-day stamp (extendable to 90).
2. Apply for a Tourist Visa. Go to a Thai embassy in Vientiane (Laos), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), or Penang (Malaysia) and apply for a 60-day tourist visa before re-entering.
3. Switch to a DTV or other long-stay visa. If you qualify for the Destination Thailand Visa, apply from the neighboring country.

The cheapest option is usually flying back from whichever country you exited to. Budget airlines in Southeast Asia make this feasible for under 2,000 THB in many cases.

Does the calendar year reset on January 1?

Yes. The 2-per-year limit on land entries resets on January 1. If you used both land entries in November and December 2025, you have 2 fresh land entries available starting January 1, 2026. The 6-entry soft cap for air travel also resets annually, though since it is not formally codified, the reset is less relevant.

Related Guides

Planning a longer stay or still sorting out which visa type you need? These guides cover the rest:

• Thailand Visa Guide for Backpackers -- Full comparison of visa exemption vs tourist visa vs DTV, with a decision table for choosing the right one.
• Thailand Visa Extension TM.7 Guide -- Step-by-step walkthrough of the 30-day extension process, including every field on the TM.7 form.
• Thailand Border Run Guide -- Every open land crossing compared with costs, transport, and difficulty ratings.
• Visa Checker Tool -- Enter your nationality and get instant results on which visa options are available to you.