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Visa & Entry

ThailandLover keeps this as a reading map of how long you can stay, and which permission matches a holiday, remote work, study, or a longer life here. A visa exemption is not a visa.

Entry rules follow the passport and the purpose of the stay. The lengths below are the stay periods and conditions in this guide. They are a starting point, not a decision at the border.

Short visits

Visa exemption is a permission, not a visa

Passport holders on Thailand’s visa-exemption list — about 60 countries — can enter for tourism without applying first. Being on the list does not mean every traveler is admitted.

Not a visa
30 days per entry, from 15 September 2026
Who it is for
Tourism and a short stay, for passports on the exemption list.
Passport
Typically valid for at least six months.
Extension
One extension of up to 30 days may be requested at Thai Immigration. Approval is not automatic.
What it is not
It is not a way to live, work, or study in Thailand. Those stays use a visa of their own.

Nationality

The same stamp is not offered to every passport

Most exemption entries in this guide share the 30-day rule. A few passports are written differently, and the list itself can change.

Exemption list

For passports on the 60-country list, the recorded stay is up to 30 days per entry from 15 September 2026, with a possible one-time extension of 30 days.

Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania

These passports need an e-visa before arrival. The usual stay is 30 or 60 days, with substantial documents required.

Myanmar

An air arrival can be a 14-day visa exemption. A longer holiday needs a tourist visa, for up to 60 days.

If you need a visa

Choose the stay that matches the reason you are coming

Each card is one category: how long it lasts, what it is for, and the condition that usually comes with it.

TR 60 days

Tourist Visa

For a holiday longer than a visa exemption. The stay can be extended once for another 30 days.

  • Apply online through the Thai e-Visa portal.
  • Register the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before entry.
  • Show funds of at least 20,000 baht, or the equivalent, per person.
DTV 180 days

Destination Thailand Visa

A five-year, multiple-entry visa for remote work, Muay Thai, cooking classes, or medical treatment. Each stay can be extended once for another 180 days without leaving the country.

  • Up to 180 days per entry.
  • Proof of remote employment, or enrollment in a recognized activity.
  • Read the living side on Working & Digital Nomad.
Non-B 90 days

Business Visa

Meetings, investment, or setting up a company. It can be extended for up to one year.

  • An invitation letter from a Thai-registered company.
  • Thai e-Visa submission and financial proof.
  • Paid employment is a different permission. See the working visa.
Non-B + permit 90 days

Working Visa

Full-time work for a Thai employer or a BOI company. The stay can run to one year once a work permit is issued.

  • Work pre-approval (WP.10) or a BOI approval letter.
  • The visa and the work permit have to move together.
  • Everyday context sits on Working & Digital Nomad.
Non-ED 90 days

Student Visa

Full-time study, a language course, or an internship. The stay can be extended for the length of the course.

  • A letter of acceptance from a certified Thai institution.
  • Regular attendance, and 90-day address reporting.
  • Schools are outlined in Education & Schools.
O-A / O-X 1 year

Retirement Visa

A renewable year for people aged 50 or older who are retiring in Thailand.

  • A fixed monthly pension or a bank deposit.
  • Health insurance, and 90-day address reporting.
  • Where to live is on Long Stay & Retirement.
Non-O 90 days

Fiancée & Marriage Visa

Marriage, family reunification, or preparing a wedding in Thailand. It can be extended to one year, renewed annually.

  • A marriage certificate, or proof of intent to marry.
  • The first stay is 90 days.
Long stay Open

Residence Visa

Long-term or permanent residence, depending on the category. The exact stay is set by the category you qualify for.

  • Proof of a significant investment, a pension, or a family connection.
  • Used by retirees, families, and high-net-worth residents.
Official By mission

Diplomatic Visa

Official government duties or work for an international organization. The stay follows the assignment.

  • A note verbale from the sending government or agency.
  • Some categories are exempt from the usual visa fee.

Before you fly

Confirm the rule that applies to you

ThailandLover publishes the map. Thai Immigration and the embassy for your country publish the decision. An overstay is handled by Immigration and can affect a later entry, so leave or extend before the permitted stay ends.

  1. Match the visa to the real purpose of the trip. Tourism, work, and study are not interchangeable.
  2. Check that the passport will still be valid for the stay, and typically for six months on an exemption entry.
  3. Keep the e-visa approval if you applied online, and complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card when that visa requires it.
  4. Treat an extension as a request. It is granted at Immigration, not at the airport on arrival day.
Thai e-VisaOfficial application portal Thailand Digital Arrival CardArrival card registration Immigration BureauExtensions and stay rules

In short

Questions readers ask first

Is a visa exemption a visa?

No. A visa exemption lets eligible passport holders enter for tourism without applying for a visa first. From 15 September 2026 that stay is up to 30 days per entry. It does not mean every traveler is admitted.

How long is a Thailand tourist visa?

The Tourist Visa (TR) allows up to 60 days. It can be extended once for another 30 days. Applications are made online through the Thai e-Visa portal.

What is the Destination Thailand Visa?

The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a five-year, multiple-entry visa for remote work, Muay Thai, cooking classes, or medical treatment. Each entry allows up to 180 days, and that stay can be extended once for another 180 days without leaving Thailand.

Where do I confirm the rule for my passport?

ThailandLover is a guide, not the authority. Check the Thai e-Visa site, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or the Immigration Bureau, and the Royal Thai Embassy for your country, before you travel.

This page is a guide from ThailandLover. It is not legal advice, and it is not an application service. Rules, fees, and the exemption list change. Confirm them before you travel.

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