Thailand Visa Exemption 2026: Every Country and How Long You Can Stay

When I first arrived in Thailand, I came in on the visa exemption. 60 days, no paperwork, just a stamp at Suvarnabhumi. I handed the immigration officer my passport, he flipped to a blank page, stamped it, and that was it. No application form, no fee, no hotel booking confirmation. I was in Thailand with two months to figure out my next move.

The visa exemption is the entry method most visitors use, and since 2024 it got significantly better. Thailand permanently extended the visa-free stay from 30 days to 60 days for most nationalities. That change alone turned Thailand from a quick stopover into a legitimate two-month destination without any advance planning.

How Visa Exemption Works

Visa exemption means you do not apply for anything. There is no form to fill out, no embassy visit, no online application. Citizens of eligible countries simply arrive at a Thai airport or land border, present a valid passport, and receive an entry stamp. That stamp grants you permission to stay for a set number of days, usually 60.

This is different from a tourist visa, which you apply for in advance at a Thai embassy or consulate. It is also different from a visa on arrival, which involves a separate queue at the airport and a 2,000 THB fee. Visa exemption is free and automatic.

As of June 2024, Thailand permanently upgraded the visa exemption duration from 30 to 60 days for nationals of most eligible countries. This was initially a temporary measure introduced during post-COVID recovery, but the government made it permanent after seeing the positive impact on tourism revenue. A few countries still receive only 30 days, which I will cover below.

Key point: The rules are the same whether you arrive by air or by land. Thailand eliminated the old distinction between air and land border entries in 2024. You get the same 60 days either way.

Visa Exemption Countries: 60-Day Stay

The following countries receive 60 days of visa-free entry to Thailand. This is the full list as of early 2026, organized by region. If your country is on this list, you just show up with a valid passport and get stamped in.

Europe (60 Days)

• EU and Schengen: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
• Other European: Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Americas (60 Days)

• North America: Canada, Mexico, United States
• South and Central America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru

Asia-Pacific (60 Days)

• East Asia: Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Mongolia, South Korea, Taiwan
• Southeast Asia: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore
• South Asia and Central Asia: Israel, Kazakhstan
• Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
• Oceania: Australia, Maldives, New Zealand

Africa (60 Days)

• Mauritius, South Africa

That is 93 countries total. The list is broad enough that most Western passport holders, along with many Asian and Middle Eastern nationalities, can enter Thailand without any advance visa work.

Countries with 30-Day Visa Exemption

A handful of countries receive visa exemption but with a shorter 30-day stay instead of the standard 60 days. These are mostly Thailand's immediate neighbors and a few others with bilateral agreements at different terms.

• ASEAN neighbors (30 days): Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam
• Other (30 days): Bhutan, China, Russia

Citizens of these countries can still extend by 30 days at a Thai immigration office, giving them up to 60 days total. The extension process is the same as for 60-day entrants: visit immigration, pay 1,900 THB, and get the extra time stamped into your passport.

Visa on Arrival Countries

If your country is not on the visa exemption list, you may still be eligible for a visa on arrival (VOA). This is a separate process from visa exemption. You fill out a form, pay a fee, and get a shorter stay. Here are the countries currently eligible for VOA.

Countries eligible for visa on arrival include:

• Andorra, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu

Note that some countries appear on both the visa exemption list and the VOA list. This is because of overlapping policy changes from 2024. If your country qualifies for both, always use visa exemption. It is free, gives you more days, and has no separate application process.

Important: The VOA queue at busy airports like Suvarnabhumi can be long. I have seen travelers waiting 45 minutes to an hour during peak hours. If your country qualifies for visa exemption instead, you skip this entirely and go straight to the regular immigration line.

How to Extend Your Visa Exemption

Every visa exemption entry can be extended by 30 days at any Thai immigration office. For 60-day entrants, that gives you 90 days total. For 30-day entrants, that gives you 60 days total. The cost is 1,900 THB (about $54), and the process takes a few hours.

What You Need for the Extension

• Your passport (original, with the visa exemption entry stamp)
• TM.7 application form (available at the immigration office or download in advance)
• One passport-sized photo (4x6 cm) (photo booths are usually available at the office)
• Copies of your passport photo page, entry stamp, and departure card (copy shops near immigration offices charge 2-5 THB per page)
• 1,900 THB in cash (exact change is not required, but bring Thai baht)

My Extension at Chaeng Wattana

I did my extension at the Chaeng Wattana immigration office in northern Bangkok. It is the main immigration hub for the Bangkok area and the busiest one in the country. Here is what the experience was like.

I arrived around 9 AM on a Wednesday, which turned out to be a good call. The office opens at 8:30 AM and the early crowd had already been processed. I grabbed a queue number from the machine, filled out the TM.7 form at the counter (they had blank forms and pens available), and got my passport photocopied at the little shop inside the building for 5 THB per page.

The wait was about 90 minutes. When my number was called, the officer checked my documents, took my photo, collected the 1,900 THB, and stamped the extension into my passport. The whole interaction at the counter took maybe 10 minutes. Total time from arrival to walking out: about two hours.

Entry Requirements (What Immigration Actually Checks)

The official entry requirements for visa exemption are straightforward, but what immigration actually enforces in practice is a different story. Here is the full list and what really happens.

• Passport valid for at least 6 months. This one is non-negotiable. If your passport expires within 6 months, you will be denied boarding by the airline before you even reach Thailand.
• Return or onward ticket. Officially required. At airports, immigration almost never asks. Airlines sometimes check at your departure gate. Land borders are more likely to ask. A cheap $30-40 flight to Kuala Lumpur or Ho Chi Minh City works as a backup if you do not have firm plans.
• Proof of funds: 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB per family. This is about $570 per person. I have never been asked for this at an airport. Land borders occasionally check, especially at smaller crossings. Having your banking app on your phone showing sufficient balance is generally accepted if asked.
• Proof of accommodation. Not consistently required. Having a hotel booking confirmation on your phone is enough if asked. Airbnb bookings work too.

In my experience entering Thailand four times across two airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang), I was never asked for proof of funds, accommodation, or a return ticket. The officer looked at my passport, checked the photo, stamped it, and waved me through. But your experience may differ, especially at land borders or if you are entering Thailand for the third or fourth time in a year.

Proof of Funds and Return Flight

The 20,000 THB proof of funds requirement causes more anxiety than it should. Let me be direct: at major airports like Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, immigration officers almost never ask to see your money. They process hundreds of arrivals per hour and simply do not have time to check everyone.

That said, there are situations where it comes up. Land border crossings, especially at smaller checkpoints like Poipet (Cambodia border) or Nong Khai (Laos border), are more likely to enforce this rule. Officers at these crossings see more "border runners" and may want to verify you are a genuine tourist with the means to support yourself.

Tips for the Proof of Funds Requirement

• Keep your banking app accessible. Showing a bank balance on your phone is generally accepted. No need to carry cash.
• A credit card statement works too. If asked, a recent credit card statement showing available credit well above 20,000 THB is usually sufficient.
• If entering by land, carry some cash. Having 20,000 THB in Thai baht on you eliminates the question entirely. You can withdraw it from an ATM before crossing.

If you need to convert currency before your trip, Wise gives you the real mid-market exchange rate. Much better than exchanging cash at the airport, which typically marks up the rate by 3-5%.

For the return ticket requirement, the same pattern applies. Airlines are actually stricter about this than immigration. Some airlines (especially budget carriers like AirAsia) will ask for proof of onward travel at check-in. If you do not have a return ticket, book a cheap refundable flight or a bus ticket to a neighboring country as backup. You can cancel it after you land.

Overstay Penalties

Overstaying your visa exemption in Thailand is a bad idea. The penalties escalate quickly, and Thailand has gotten much stricter about enforcement in recent years.

• 500 THB per day of overstay, capped at 20,000 THB. If you overstay by a few days and catch it yourself, you pay the fine at the airport when leaving. Most officers are matter-of-fact about it.
• Over 90 days overstay: 1-year re-entry ban. If you overstay by more than 90 days and are caught, you will be banned from entering Thailand for one year after deportation.
• Over 1 year overstay: 3-year re-entry ban. Extended overstays result in longer bans. Over 3 years gets you a 5-year ban. Over 5 years is a 10-year ban.
• Caught during a random check vs. voluntary departure. If you turn yourself in at the airport or an immigration office, the penalties are less severe than if police or immigration officers catch you during a random check at a hotel, apartment, or road checkpoint.

Visa Exemption vs Tourist Visa

This is one of the most common points of confusion. Visa exemption and a tourist visa are not the same thing, even though they both let you visit Thailand for tourism.

As you can see, the practical difference is small for a single trip. Both give you 60 days plus a 30-day extension for 90 days total. The tourist visa costs money and requires an embassy visit, while visa exemption is free and automatic.

The real difference shows up if you want multiple entries. The Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) costs about 7,000 THB (~$200) but lets you enter Thailand unlimited times over 6 months, getting 60 days per entry. If you are planning to base yourself in Thailand and take trips to neighboring countries, the METV saves you from worrying about entry limits.

Bottom line: If you are visiting Thailand once for under 90 days, use visa exemption. Do not bother with a tourist visa. If you need multiple entries or want the security of pre-approved documentation, get the tourist visa or METV.

When Visa Exemption Is Not Enough

Visa exemption maxes out at 90 days (60 + 30 extension). If you want to stay longer, you need a different visa. Here are the best options depending on your situation.

Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): If you work remotely, the DTV gives you 180 days per entry with 5-year validity. At 10,000 THB, it is the best value for digital nomads and freelancers. I almost chose this before going with the Privilege visa.

Thailand Privilege Visa: If you are committed to Thailand long-term and have the budget, Thailand Privilege gives you 5 to 20 years with no renewal hassle. This is what I ended up choosing after my initial visa exemption entry. The airport VIP treatment and Thai bank account access sealed the deal.

For a complete breakdown of every visa type, including retirement visas, education visas, work permits, and the LTR visa, see our complete Thailand visa guide.

Wondering what daily life costs? Check our cost of living in Thailand guide to plan your budget before arriving.

And for getting connected as soon as you land, our Thailand SIM card and eSIM guide covers all your options.