Do you need a visa to travel to Thailand?

Which visa for a holiday in Thailand?

Like many countries, Thailand requires your passport to be valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry. In principle, a visa is required to visit Thailand. However, if your stay does not exceed 30 days, you do not need to apply for a visa before departure: you will receive the equivalent of a free 30-day visa on arrival, known as the visa exemption (see the list of 60 eligible countries below, as it does not apply to all nationalities).

Please note: since September 15, 2026, the visa exemption gives you a 30-day stamp (it used to be 60 days).

Which visa do you need to stay more than 30 days in Thailand?

If you plan to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days as a tourist starting September 15, 2026, you must apply for a tourist visa (e-visa) before departure or arrange for an extension locally. Visa applications are managed exclusively online via the official portal (www.thaievisa.go.th) by creating a personal account, from which your e-visa can be downloaded at the end of the process.

The visa exemption granted upon arrival is strictly reserved for tourist stays.

Extension of stay in Thailand

You can also extend the 30-day visa exemption you received on arrival by another 30 days (for a total stay of 60 days without a visa) by applying in Thailand at an Immigration Office (see the procedure for extending a tourist visa in Thailand, in French). I recommend avoiding the Bangkok office, as it gets very crowded. Note that while extensions are generally granted, approval is not automatic, especially if you have had several consecutive extensions or entries.

Also note: if you plan to stay in Thailand without a visa for longer than the initial 30-day exemption, some airlines may ask for proof that you will leave the country within 30 days and may deny boarding without it. The same applies if you travel on a 60-day tourist visa and plan to stay longer without a matching return ticket.

Applying for a tourist visa for Thailand

Documents required for a 60-day tourist visa

• Passport (original and a copy), valid for at least six months from the date of departure.
• Completed application form
• A recent color passport photo
• Copy of your residence permit (for travel document holders)
• Copy of your flight booking (entry into and departure from Thailand within 90 days)
• Proof of funds: a recent bank statement (statements printed from online banking must be signed and stamped by the bank) or a bank letter
• The visa fee, and possibly other documents depending on your nationality and the country where you apply

Overstaying in Thailand

Thai authorities take visa overstays very seriously, so be careful! Whatever the circumstances, you will have to pay a fine for each day of overstay, and you also risk being detained, contrary to what some people claim on forums. Although this is rare in practice, it does happen, especially if you can't pay the fine. Overstays of more than 90 days also lead to a ban on re-entering Thailand, whose length depends on how long you overstayed and whether you turned yourself in to Immigration or were caught. In short, avoid overstaying! The fine is 500 THB per day (up to 20,000 THB), and the consequences can go well beyond that. Also note that hotels and guesthouses may refuse you if your permission to stay has expired.

Visa runs in Thailand

To avoid overstaying your visa—or simply to skip the hassle of applying for an extension at an immigration office and paying the associated fees—there's a practice that has been widely used but is increasingly discouraged and penalized: the visa run. This involves leaving Thailand by crossing one of its land borders into a neighboring country and immediately re-entering Thailand to obtain a new visa exemption (for nationals of countries eligible for visa-free entry). There are still agencies, particularly in cities near border crossings, that offer such services and handle the entire process for you—from crossing the border to returning to Thailand with a fresh entry stamp granting a new permitted stay. HOWEVER, once again, I strongly advise against this practice! First, because when you add up all the costs involved, it is generally not that significantly cheaper than applying for a visa extension at an immigration office. More importantly, Thai authorities are now more determined than ever to crack down on this practice. A history of visa runs in your immigration records will greatly reduce your chances of being granted an extension or even a visa exemption since you’ll be categorized as someone suspected of visa fraud. Remember, visa exemptions and extensions are intended for genuine tourists, not as a substitute for a proper long-term visa.

The DTV Visa

The DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) is a visa category introduced by Thailand to attract remote workers, freelancers, students enrolled in training programs, digital nomads, and individuals wishing to stay in the country for an extended period without permanently relocating. Valid for up to five years (with authorized stays of 180 days, renewable once per year), it offers significant flexibility for living in, working remotely from, or studying in Thailand while enjoying the local lifestyle. HOWEVER, this visa is increasingly targeted by authorities due to misuse and could eventually be discontinued. DTV visa holders are classified as tourists—even digital nomads—which comes with certain drawbacks, such as the inability to open a Thai bank account.

While some agencies offer to handle the application process for you, you can also apply directly online via the official website: www.thaievisa.go.th.

arrow_circle_right