Thailand Visa-Free Stay in 2026: 30 Days, One Extension, New Limits
Since 15 September 2026, most visitors to Thailand get 30 days visa-free. You can extend once at immigration for another 30 days for 1,900 ฿, which gives you up to 60 days per entry. The old 60-day stamp no longer exists for new arrivals. Here is what changed, how to extend, and what to do if you want to stay in Phuket longer than two months.
4 min read
On this page
What changed
Thailand introduced 60-day visa-free entry for 93 countries in July 2024. In May 2026 the Cabinet decided to end it; the notices were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August, and the new rules took effect on 15 September 2026.
The new structure:
| Who | Visa-free stay |
|---|---|
| 60 countries under Thailand's unilateral scheme, including the EU, the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and India | 30 days |
| Countries with bilateral agreements: Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Laos and others | up to 30 days |
| Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, South Korea | up to 90 days |
| Belarus, Azerbaijan, Serbia | visa on arrival |
The visa-free stay is for tourism only. It does not allow work.
If you entered before 15 September
What counts is your entry date. If you received a 60-day stamp before 15 September, it stays valid in full. The 30-day rule only applies to entries from 15 September 2026.
How to extend a visa exemption
A visa-exempt stay can be extended once, by 30 days, at an immigration office. In Phuket that is the office in Phuket Town.
- Government fee: 1,900 ฿, cash only.
- You need your passport, a TM.7 form, a 4×6 cm photo and your TM.30 registration.
- Extensions are at the officer's discretion. If your passport shows back-to-back visa-free stays, you may be refused.
We handle stamp extensions end to end for 4,500 ฿: forms, TM.30 check, and advice on when to go so you are not queuing half the day. More in Visa extension in Phuket.
How many times can you enter visa-free?
There is no official cap on air arrivals. But the officer at passport control sees your full travel history, and after several visa-free stays in a row, questions are almost certain.
Land entries (via Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos or Cambodia) are capped at two visa-exempt entries per calendar year. The rule has existed since 2016 and was kept in the new notices.
The scale of checks is clear from the numbers: in June 2026, immigration reported 29,490 foreigners refused entry, citing insufficient funds, no clear itinerary and visa-run patterns.
What can be checked at the border
- TDAC. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card has been mandatory since 1 May 2025. It is free at tdac.immigration.go.th and is submitted within 72 hours before arrival.
- Funds. Officers may ask to see 20,000 ฿ per person (40,000 ฿ per family) in cash or on a bank statement.
- Onward ticket. Airlines often check this at check-in.
- Passport. Valid for at least six months from your arrival date.
How to stay longer than 60 days
A visa exemption plus extension gives you 60 days at most. After that you have three options:
- A visa run. Leave and re-enter. Each time means tickets, costs and a risk of refusal, all for another 30 days.
- A tourist visa. 60 days plus a 30-day extension, applied for online before you travel. Enough for one season.
- A long-term visa. Student, retirement, marriage, DTV or Thailand Privilege. All options compared in Long-term visas in Thailand.
Of the long-term options, the student visa is the only one with no financial requirement. In Phuket it costs from 27,200 ฿ for six months with every extension included. You need at least 15 days left on your stamp at the first immigration visit, so message us within your first week.
Summary
Since 15 September 2026, most visitors can stay in Thailand visa-free for 30 days and extend once for another 30 days for 1,900 ฿. If you entered earlier on a 60-day stamp, your stay is not shortened. Land entries are limited to two per year; air arrivals have no cap, but refusals are rising. If you plan to spend a season or more in Phuket, it is safer to apply for a long-term visa while you still have days on your stamp.
Send us your entry date on WhatsApp. Within 5 minutes we will tell you how many days you have left and whether there is time to get a student visa.
