Thailand's visa rules changed significantly in 2025 and early 2026. The summary: visa exemption still works for genuine tourists, but using it as a long-term residency strategy is now actively being targeted. If you live here, you need to be on the right visa.
This page covers what the changes actually mean in practice, not just what the official rules say.
What changed in 2026
These are the concrete rule changes that affect people living in Bangkok. Not proposals, not rumours - what is actually in force as of May 2026.
| What changed | What it means |
|---|---|
| 2 visa-exempt entries per calendar year | You can still enter on exemption, but it resets in January. Using it to live here year-round no longer works. |
| Extension limits per year | First extension: 30 days. Second extension: 7 days only. After that, officers push you toward a proper visa. |
| Land border restrictions | Visa-exempt land border entries cannot be extended. The old "border run" as a reset no longer functions reliably. |
| Same-day crossings flagged | Leaving and re-entering the same day is flagged as high risk. Officers can deny entry or shorten your permitted stay. |
| Non-immigrant categories reduced | From 17 categories down to 7, effective August 2025. Simplified on paper but check your specific category still exists. |
| TDAC mandatory | Thailand Digital Arrival Card now required within 72 hours before arrival for all foreigners. See section below. |
| 60-day exemption ending | Thai Cabinet approved ending the 60-day exemption on May 19, 2026. Most nationalities will revert to 30 days. Not yet in effect - takes effect 15 days after Royal Gazette publication. See the updates page for the full breakdown. |
| Visa on arrival drastically cut | VoA eligibility is being reduced from 31 countries down to just 4 as part of the same May 2026 reform. If you previously entered on VoA, check whether your nationality is still eligible before travel. |
Which visa should you be on?
The right answer depends entirely on why you're here and for how long. Use this as a starting point.
Visa exemption
Visa Exemption (60 days - changing)
FreeCitizens of 93 countries - including the UK, US, most of the EU, and Australia - can currently enter Thailand without a visa for up to 60 days. You get the stamp on arrival at the airport. No application needed.
Important - this is changing: The Thai Cabinet approved ending the 60-day exemption on May 19, 2026. Most nationalities will revert to 30 days once the rules are published in the Royal Gazette. As of May 24, 2026 the old rules still apply - but if you are planning travel later in 2026, do not assume 60 days. Check the updates page for the latest.
Extension: You can extend once at any Immigration office for 30 more days. Cost is 1,900 THB. You'll need your passport, a TM.7 form, a photo, and proof of address. Total possible stay on one entry: 90 days.
The 2026 limit: You can only extend a visa-exempt stay twice per calendar year. The first extension gives 30 days. If you somehow get a second one in the same year, it's only 7 days. After that, officers will not grant more extensions on tourist-basis stays.
Tourist Visa (TR)
Single Entry Tourist Visa
Apply in advanceApplied for at a Thai embassy or consulate before you travel, or online through the Thai e-Visa portal. Gives you 60 days per entry, extendable by 30 days at Immigration. The advantage over visa exemption: it's a formal visa, which means Immigration officers are less likely to question your intentions at arrival.
Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV)
Apply in advanceValid for 6 months from issue, with 60-day stays per entry. Good if you're travelling in and out of Thailand regularly. Most consulates limit you to one METV per year. Apply through the Thai e-Visa portal - available at all 94 Thai embassies and consulates worldwide as of 2025.
Who it's for: Someone spending extended time in Thailand but regularly leaving for other countries. Not a long-term residency solution.
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
DTV - Digital Nomad / Remote Worker Visa
Recommended for remote workersIntroduced in 2024, the DTV is Thailand's answer to the digital nomad visa. It's the right visa for most remote workers and freelancers who want to live in Bangkok long-term without the income and documentation burden of the LTR.
What it gives you: 5-year multiple entry visa. Each entry allows a 180-day stay, extendable by another 180 days. That's potentially a full year per entry, legally. No work permit required to work remotely for overseas clients or employers.
What you need to qualify: Proof of remote work or freelance income. Bank statements showing a minimum of 500,000 THB in savings. Passport photo. Health insurance is not officially required at the national level - most applicants are not asked for it. Some individual embassies request proof, but this varies. It's worth having regardless; just don't let it block your application.
How to apply: Through the Thai e-Visa portal online. Required documents typically include: passport, proof of employment or client contracts, bank statements showing 500,000 THB minimum (3–6 months), and passport photo. Processing takes 5–15 working days. Requirements vary slightly by embassy - check the specific portal for your country.
Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR)
LTR Visa - 10-Year Residency
High income requiredThailand's premium long-stay product, processed through the BOI rather than standard immigration channels. Four categories exist: Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, Work-from-Thailand Professional, and Highly Skilled Professional.
Key benefit: Foreign-sourced income remitted to Thailand is tax-exempt for Wealthy Global Citizen and Wealthy Pensioner holders. For high earners remitting significant income, this alone can justify the cost and process.
The real barrier: For the Work-from-Thailand category, your employer needs revenue of at least USD 150 million/year. Most freelancers and small company employees won't qualify. The Wealthy Global Citizen category requires USD 1 million in assets.
Non-immigrant visas
Non-immigrant visas are for people with a specific, defined reason to be in Thailand - employment, business, study, family. The category system was simplified from 17 types to 7 in August 2025.
| Category | For |
|---|---|
| Non-Immigrant B | Working for a Thai company or running a Thai-registered business. Requires a work permit alongside the visa. |
| Non-Immigrant O | Marriage to a Thai national, or supporting Thai children. Renewable annually with proof of relationship and funds. |
| Non-Immigrant ED | Enrolled in a recognised Thai educational institution. Language schools, universities. Requires regular attendance checks. |
| Non-Immigrant O-A | Retirement. For people 50+ with qualifying income or savings. See the retirement section below. |
| Non-Immigrant RS | Research and science. 90-day initial stay. |
Applying from inside Thailand: You generally cannot switch from a tourist visa or exemption to a non-immigrant visa without leaving Thailand and applying at an embassy abroad. Some categories have exceptions but this is the rule to plan around.
Retirement Visa (Non-Immigrant O-A)
Non-Immigrant O-A - Retirement
Stable and well-establishedFor people aged 50 and over who want to retire in Thailand. Well-established process, relatively predictable, and widely used. Renewed annually.
Financial requirements (one of the following):
800,000 THB in a Thai bank account (seasoned for 3 months before application, maintained throughout), OR monthly income/pension of at least 65,000 THB, OR a combination of income and savings totalling 800,000 THB.
90-day reporting
If you're in Thailand on a non-immigrant visa, you must report your address to Immigration every 90 days. This is not a visa extension - you're not applying for more time, just confirming where you live. It takes about 10 minutes if done online.
Overstay
Overstaying your visa in Thailand is taken seriously. It doesn't just mean a fine - repeated or long overstays result in bans that affect all future visits.
Overstay fines
If you've overstayed and realise it, don't compound the problem. Go to Immigration voluntarily - the outcome is better than being caught at the airport when you're trying to leave.
Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
As of 1 May 2025, all foreigners arriving in Thailand must complete a Thailand Digital Arrival Card before landing. This replaced the old paper TM.6 form. It's mandatory - you need to show it to immigration on arrival.