Thailand visa questions, answered
Six questions, six short answers, checked on 30 September 2026.
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
Not for a stay of up to 30 days if your passport is on the 30-day list of 60 countries and territories, which covers the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the EU and EFTA states, Japan, India, Singapore and the Gulf states. Five countries get 90 days by treaty. Everyone else applies for an e-Visa before departure, except Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia, which keep Visa on Arrival.
Did the 60-day visa-free stay end?
Yes, on 15 September 2026. Arrivals from that date get 30 days. Anyone stamped in before 15 September keeps the 60 days written in the passport.
Can I extend the 30 days?
Once, by up to 30 days, at an immigration office inside Thailand for 1,900 THB, applied for before the stamp expires. A second extension is granted only for medical or documented emergencies.
Can I do a visa run?
By air, repeated visa-free entries draw questions and can be refused. By land, visa-exempt entries are limited to two per calendar year. For a longer stay, apply for a 60-day e-Visa or the DTV before you travel.
Does the arrival card replace the visa?
No. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is a separate, mandatory form for every foreign passport holder, filed inside the 72 hours before landing. You need it whether you enter visa-free, with an e-Visa or with Visa on Arrival.
Is the 300-baht entry fee being charged?
Not as of this update. It has been approved and delayed several times. Nobody should ask you for it at the border.