Thailand has repealed the 60-day visa exemption. Most nationalities now get 30 days per visit (15 days for Mauritius and Seychelles). Entries through land border checkpoints are limited to 2 per calendar year; the official announcement does not state a limit for air or sea arrivals. Verify with your embassy before travel. Full details.
What Is Visa-Exempt Entry?
Visa-exempt entry is a borderless, no-visa-required permit that allows citizens of specific countries to enter and stay in Thailand without obtaining a visa in advance. As of 15 September 2026, eligible nationalities get 30 days per visit (15 days for Mauritius and Seychelles). It is the simplest, freest way to enter Thailand as a short-stay tourist or visitor. No documents, photos, or fees are required, only a valid passport.
Visa-exempt entry is available to citizens of countries with bilateral visa-exemption agreements with Thailand. The list includes most Western countries, as well as many Asian, African, and Middle Eastern nationalities. Check the Thai Immigration Bureau website or your nearest Thai embassy for the complete list of eligible countries. If you're planning a longer stay beyond the 2-per-year exemption limit, the ED visa and DTV visa are popular alternatives.
The 2-Entry Limit
Visa-exempt entries through land border checkpoints are limited to 2 per calendar year. Nationals of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore are not subject to the limit. A third land border entry in the same calendar year is not permitted under the announced rule.
Air and sea arrivals: The official announcement applies the limit to land border checkpoints and does not state a limit for air or sea arrivals. How repeated air or sea entries are treated is not stated. Requirements may vary by immigration office.
Entry Details: Duration and Extensions
Each visa-exempt entry grants a 30-day permitted stay (15 days for Seychelles and Mauritius). A stay can be extended once at a Thai Immigration office, by up to a further 30 days, at the discretion of the immigration officer.
| Entry | Duration | Extendable | Extension Length | Total Max Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard exemption (60 countries and territories) | 30 days | Yes, once | Up to +30 days | Up to 60 days |
| Seychelles and Mauritius | 15 days | Check with immigration | Check with immigration | Check with immigration |
| 3rd land border entry in a calendar year | Not permitted | - | - | Requires paid visa |
Extending a Visa-Exempt Stay
A visa-exempt stay can be extended once by up to 30 days at a Thai Immigration office, which brings a 30-day stay to a maximum of about 60 days. Apply in Thailand before your permitted stay expires. Approval is at the discretion of the immigration officer.
To extend your visa-exempt stay:
- Visit a Thai Immigration office (see the Chiang Mai immigration office guide for which office handles extensions)
- Apply before your permitted stay expires; latest is the last day of your permitted stay
- Complete form TM.7 (Application for Extension of Permitted Stay)
- Provide: passport, TM.7 form, 1 passport-sized photo, proof of funds (10,000-20,000 THB)
- Pay fee: 1,900 THB
- Processing: Usually 1 business day
Eligibility by Nationality
Visa-exempt entry is available to citizens of approximately 60 countries and territories. Major countries include the United States, United Kingdom, European Union nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and many others.
The complete list of eligible nationalities changes periodically. Check the Thai Immigration Bureau (immigration.go.th) or your nearest Thai embassy to confirm your eligibility before traveling.
If your country is not on the visa-exempt list, or if you do not hold a valid passport with 6+ months validity, you must apply for a paid visa. Tourist Visa and DTV applications go through the eVisa system at https://www.thaievisa.go.th/. Visa on Arrival is applied at the airport upon arrival. Obtain information from the Thai embassy or consulate website for your jurisdiction.
Calendar Year Count
The 2-entry limit is counted per calendar year (1 January to 31 December), not over a rolling 12-month period. The official announcement applies the limit to land border checkpoints.
How entries made earlier in 2026, before 15 September, count toward the limit is not stated. Confirm with immigration before planning border crossings around it.
Impact on Border Runs
The 2-per-year land border limit makes repeated border runs far less viable. Border runs on a visa-exempt entry work only within 2 land border entries per calendar year.
For information on border-run strategy in the new 2026 context, see the border runs guide. For most travelers, paid visa options like the Tourist Visa or DTV are now more practical alternatives to border-running.
Visa-Exempt Entry Does Not Count Tourist Visa Quota
Important: Visa-exempt entries and Tourist Visas are independent systems. A Tourist Visa (applied at an embassy before arrival, or a Visa on Arrival) does not consume your 2-exemption quota. You can use both a Tourist Visa and visa-exempt entries in the same calendar year if your travel plans require it. See the Tourist Visa guide for details.
Chiang Mai Application and Extension Notes
If you arrive in Thailand on a visa-exempt entry via Chiang Mai International Airport or another entry point, you simply proceed through immigration, show your passport, and receive a stamp granting 30 days (15 for Mauritius and Seychelles), as of 15 September 2026. No form or fee is required.
To extend your stay, visit Chiang Mai Immigration. The Chiang Mai immigration office guide shows which office handles extensions and its current hours:
- Bring: passport, TM.7 form (available at the office), 1 passport photo, proof of funds
- Processing time: Usually 1 business day (submit in morning, collect next business day)
- Staff speak Thai and limited English; bringing a Thai-speaking companion or translation app is helpful
For general immigration compliance during your stay, see the Chiang Mai immigration guide.
Ongoing Compliance Requirements
TM30 Registration
All foreign visitors, regardless of visa type, must be registered with immigration within 24 hours of arrival. Your accommodation provider (hotel, guesthouse, or rental landlord) must file a TM30 form. See the TM30 registration guide for details.
90-Day Reporting
Most tourists on a 30-day exemption, including those who extend once, stay under 90 days and do not require 90-day reporting. If immigration assigns you a reporting requirement, you must report every 90 days. Check with your local Immigration office to confirm your situation.
Re-Entry Permits
If you intend to depart Thailand during your permitted stay and then return (on the same exemption or switching to a paid visa), you must obtain a re-entry permit (1,000 THB for single entry, 3,800 THB for multiple entries) before leaving. Without it, your permission to stay is automatically revoked upon departure. See the re-entry permit guide for details.
Overstay and Penalties
If you remain in Thailand beyond your permitted 30-day exemption (or 60 days with extension), you incur an overstay fine of 500 THB per day. Additionally, overstays can result in re-entry bans lasting 1-5 years or more, depending on the duration of overstay. Always depart by your exit date or apply for an extension or new visa before your permitted stay ends.
See the overstay penalties guide for details.
Alternatives to Visa-Exempt Entry
If you need a stay longer than the 30-day exemption plus one extension (up to about 60 days), or more than 2 land border entries in a calendar year, consider these alternatives:
- Tourist Visa: 60 days, applied at embassy before arrival. Independent of the 2-entry limit. Suits a single longer stay.
- Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): 5-year visa with 180-day initial stays, extendable to 360 days per entry. Suits stays of 6+ months or remote work.
- Visa on Arrival (VOA): Limited to nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. 15 days, applied at the airport.
- Extension planning: A 30-day exemption plus one extension gives up to about 60 days without a paid visa.
Disclaimer
This guide is informational only. Thai immigration rules and enforcement change regularly. The 2-per-year visa-exempt limit is a recent change (2026); immigration practices and enforcement may evolve further. For official and current information, contact the Thai Immigration Bureau, your nearest Thai embassy or consulate, or visit immigration.go.th. Immigration decisions and enforcement are at the sole discretion of Thai authorities.
Last reviewed: September 2026