Which passport allowance applies
The general tourist exemption changed on 15 September 2026. Eligible passports in the 60-country list receive up to 30 days. The list includes the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan and EU member states.
The Thai consular table separates these ordinary-passport groups:
| Passport or scheme | Published allowance |
|---|---|
| General 60-country tourist exemption | Up to 30 days |
| Mauritius and Seychelles tourist exemption | Up to 15 days |
| Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR bilateral arrangements | Up to 30 days |
| China and Russia bilateral arrangements | Up to 30 days |
| South Korea bilateral arrangement | Up to 90 days |
Use the rule for the passport you will carry. A Hong Kong SAR passport, Macao SAR passport, Taiwan passport and BN(O) passport are different documents. BN(O) holders should obtain a passport-specific answer from the Thai consulate in Hong Kong; do not assume that the Hong Kong SAR allowance applies.
The exemption is for tourism. Work, study and other purposes require the appropriate permission. At immigration, read the permitted-until date stamped in your passport before leaving the counter.
Land entries and journeys through Laos
For the general 30-day and 15-day exemption schemes, land-border entry is normally limited to two entries in a calendar year. Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore have designated exceptions. Bilateral arrangements are separate, so this is not a universal two-entry rule for every passport.
The official tourism notice describes a land-border cap. That does not create a right to unlimited repeat air entry: immigration can assess whether a visit matches the permission requested.
For a return from Laos, count your previous land entries before buying transport. If your itinerary exceeds the applicable exemption allowance, obtain the appropriate visa or a consular ruling first. A third bus ticket does not create entry permission.
The Thailand–Laos guide distinguishes bridge and railway crossings. Direct Thailand–Cambodia land crossings remain suspended; a Cambodian visa does not reopen them.
TDAC and documents to prepare
The TDAC is free and is not a visa. Submit through the official Immigration Bureau portal within three days before your arrival date, using your passport, journey and Thai accommodation details. The official wording is date-based; do not treat it as an exact 72-hour countdown.
For tourist exemption, the Thai embassy specifies cash equivalent to 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB per family. Do not rely solely on a banking-app balance. Keep your accommodation and confirmed onward travel within the permitted stay available for inspection.
Passport validity and document requirements depend on passport type and entry category. Check the relevant Thai embassy's requirements before departure, especially for temporary passports or travel documents. A rule for an ordinary passport should not be applied to every document issued by the same country.
Extensions and visas for a longer visit
A 30-day tourist exemption can be extended by up to 30 days at immigration's discretion. A 15-day exemption has a different extension allowance. Apply before the permission in your passport expires; an extension is not automatic.
If the exemption does not fit your journey, use the official Thai eVisa portal to identify the visa and processing consulate for your passport and legal residence. Follow that consulate's document and fee requirements. The entry-validity period of a visa and the stay granted after arrival are different dates.
Visa on arrival is also separate from exemption. The current ordinary-passport list covers Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia, with up to 15 days and a published application fee of 2,000 THB in cash. Do not join that queue merely because you have arrived without a visa.
Questions before you go
Is visa exemption the same as a visa on arrival?
No. An eligible visa-exempt traveller enters without applying for a visa. Visa on arrival is a separate application with its own passport list, fee and stay allowance. The TDAC is an arrival declaration and replaces neither.
Does a flight reset the limit on land entries?
The general exemption has a calendar-year land-entry cap, subject to nationality exceptions. Flying does not erase land entries already made that year. Repeat entry remains subject to immigration assessment; a ticket or visa does not guarantee admission.
Can I complete TDAC weeks before travelling?
The official submission window is within three days before the arrival date. Use the official immigration portal and the passport you will present at the border. Submit a new arrival declaration for each entry where required.
Thailand Transport Hub
Written and maintained from Bangkok. The people behind this site have lived in Thailand for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months.
