Entering Phuket in 2026: What to Know Before You Fly
For a trip of up to 30 days most nationalities need no visa: a passport, the free TDAC card and a return ticket are enough. What changed in 2026 is the detail - 30 visa-free days instead of 60, a digital arrival card instead of the paper one, and closer checks on money and tickets. Anything longer than a month needs a visa, and the most affordable long-term one is the student visa, which we arrange in Phuket for 6 or 12 months without you leaving the island. Below is the checklist to go through before you fly.
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Checklist before you fly
| What | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for 6 months from the date of entry, with a blank page |
| TDAC | Free at tdac.immigration.go.th, within 72 hours of arrival |
| Return or onward ticket | Checked at airline check-in |
| Money | 20,000 ฿ per person, 40,000 ฿ per family |
| Address | A hotel or a lease - needed for the TDAC |
TDAC: the digital arrival card
On 1 May 2025 the paper arrival card was replaced by the Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
- It is filled in free of charge on the official site, tdac.immigration.go.th. Sites that charge for a TDAC are middlemen.
- It cannot be submitted earlier than 72 hours before arrival.
- Every entry needs a new card.
- Every child needs their own card; a group of up to 10 people can file together.
- After you file, you get a confirmation with a QR code. Save it on your phone and print it.
How long you can stay
Since 15 September 2026 the visa exemption for most nationalities is 30 days. It can be extended once by 30 days at Phuket Immigration for 1,900 baht. A 60-day stamp issued before 15 September runs its full length. The detail is in visa exemption in Thailand.
What they ask at passport control
- the purpose of the trip and how long you are staying;
- where you will be living;
- your return ticket;
- money - cash or a bank statement.
In June 2026 immigration reported 29,490 entry refusals. The main reasons: no money, no clear itinerary, signs of visa running. The more visa-free entries in a row your passport shows, the more questions you get.
If you plan to stay longer than a month
| Option | Length | Where you arrange it |
|---|---|---|
| Exemption plus extension | 60 days | On the spot, 1,900 ฿ |
| Tourist visa | 60 + 30 days | Before you fly, at thaievisa.go.th |
| Student visa with us | 6 or 12 months | In Phuket, from 27,200 ฿ with every extension included |
A student visa needs no bank statements and no proof of income. Only the timing matters: at your first immigration visit the stamp needs at least 15 days left on it, and about two weeks pass between the school and immigration. So write to us in your first week on the island, or better still before you fly. What is in the price is in how much a student visa costs, and the four packages are under prices.
Summary
For a trip to Phuket of up to 30 days you need a passport valid for six months, the free TDAC card and a return ticket, and at the border they may ask for 20,000 baht. The exemption can be extended once by 30 days. Living on the island for longer needs a visa, and the most affordable of the long-term ones is the student visa.
Since 2013 we have arranged visas for more than 3,000 people, and payment is cash at the school after your documents are checked. Send us your dates on WhatsApp before you fly: within 5 minutes we will tell you whether the exemption is enough or whether you should plan a student visa in Phuket from the start.
