All tourist routes are for tourism only. The MFA says so for the 30-day visa-free scheme of 15 September 2026.
The four options side by side
Figures are from current pages (Washington DC, Moscow, London, MFA) unless the cell says otherwise.
| Visa-free entry | Tourist visa (TR) | METV | DTV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Tourism only | Tourism | Tourism | Remote work, Thai soft power activities, family of a holder |
| Stay | Up to 30 days (60 countries); 15 days (2 countries) | Up to 60 days | Up to 60 days per entry | 180 days per entry |
| Validity | One entry | 3 months | 6 months | 5 years, multiple entries |
| Extension | Up to 30 days, at the officer's discretion (Washington DC) | Up to 30 days, to 90 days from entry (Washington DC) | Another 30 days (London, 2024 page) | Once, up to 180 days (London) |
| Funds | Carry 20,000 THB per person (Washington DC) | 20,000 THB per person (Moscow); USD 700 a month (Washington DC) | USD 2,000 each month for 3 months (Moscow) | 500,000 THB or the local figure |
| Fee | None | USD 40 (Washington DC, Moscow) | USD 200 (Washington DC, Moscow) | Set per embassy, for example USD 400 or GBP 300 |
| Police certificate | No | Not listed | Not listed | Yes, since 31 Aug 2026 |
| Residence proof | No | Not listed; some posts serve only their own area | Same as TR | Yes, since 31 Aug 2026 |
Older pages show the same shape at other posts: Helsinki (7 Nov 2023) lists the TR at EUR 40 and the METV at EUR 170 with EUR 6,000; Los Angeles (9 Oct 2023) lists the METV at USD 200 with USD 2,000 a month. Fees for the DTV at every post are in the DTV requirements guide.
Pick by situation
| Situation | Better option |
|---|---|
| Two-week holiday | Visa-free entry, if your passport is on the 60-country list |
| Six to eight weeks in one trip | A TR (up to 60 days), or visa-free plus an extension |
| Three months or more in a row | DTV. A TR plus extension runs to about 90 days |
| Working remotely for a foreign employer or clients | DTV workcation. Tourist stays are for tourism only |
| Muay Thai or a cooking course for months | DTV soft power |
| Many short trips in 6 months | METV |
| Spouse or child under 20 of a DTV holder | DTV family |
Repeat visa-free entries
London's notice says visa-exempt entry is allowed "only twice within a calendar year", and that people who visit more often, or for another purpose, should apply for a visa. The limit covers entries by land and by air. Citizens of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore have had an exception from this limit at land borders; check with your Thai embassy before you rely on it. The details are in after the 30-day change.
What the DTV asks of you
The DTV needs more papers than a tourist visa:
- At least 500,000 THB or the local figure. See proof of funds.
- Proof of permanent residence in the country where you apply. See proof of residence.
- A criminal record certificate. See police clearance.
- Proof of your purpose: see workcation, soft power or family.
Common mistakes
- Using visa-free entry for remote work or a course. Visa-free is for tourism.
- Planning a 3-month trip on 30 visa-free days and hoping for several extensions.
- Applying for a DTV from a country where you are only a visitor. See which embassy.
- Using a 2024 blog that still says 60 days visa-free.
Before you choose
- Count the days per trip and the number of trips in 6 months.
- Name your purpose. Tourism, or remote work, a course or family.
- Check the funds your route needs at your embassy.
- For the DTV, check that you can get proof of permanent residence and a police certificate in time.
You apply and pay yourself on thaievisa.go.th, and an officer decides. If you pick the DTV, the DTV pre-check checks your documents first. For the tourist visa, use the tourist visa pre-check.
Not confirmed yet
No official page we read states these points. Ask your embassy before you pay or submit.
- Whether citizens of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore still have an exception from the limit at land borders.
- The fee for a tourist or visa-free extension at Thai immigration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the DTV and a tourist visa?
The DTV is a 5-year, multiple-entry visa with 180 days per entry, for remote work, soft power activities or family. The tourist visa (TR) gives up to 60 days on one entry, for tourism only.
Can I extend a 30-day visa-free stay?
Washington DC says by up to 30 days, solely at the discretion of the immigration officer.
How long can I stay on a Thai tourist visa?
Up to 60 days. Washington DC says an extension can bring the total to 90 days from entry.
Can I work remotely on a tourist visa?
Tourist routes are for tourism. Remote work fits the DTV workcation category.
Which is cheaper, the DTV or the tourist visa?
The TR costs USD 40 at Washington DC and Moscow. The DTV costs USD 400 at Washington DC and GBP 300 at London, and needs 500,000 THB in funds.
Sources
- london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/visa-general-information (read 23 Oct 2026)London visa general information: visa-exempt entry "only twice within a calendar year"; more visits need an appropriate visa
- moscow.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/83954-2-tourist-visa (read 22 Oct 2026)Moscow tourist visa page updated 12 Sep 2026: TR USD 40, 3 months, up to 60 days, 20,000 THB per person, paid flight and booking; METV USD 200, 6 months, 60 days per entry, USD 2,000 each month for 3 months, employment letter
- washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/page/trsingle-entry (read 22 Oct 2026)Washington: TR USD 40, METV USD 200; 60 days; extension of up to 30 days, maximum 90 days from entry; USD 700 each month per person for 3 months; updated 27 Aug 2026
- washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/page/visaexempt-voajul2024 (read 22 Oct 2026)Washington: 30-day exemption for 60 countries from 15 Sep 2026; extension of up to 30 days solely at the discretion of the immigration officer; carry 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB per family; updated 17 Sep 2026
- london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/tourist-multiple-entries-visa (read 22 Oct 2026)London METV: 60 days per entry, extension possible for another 30 days; updated 4 Apr 2024
- thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/tourist-visa-metv-multiple-entries (read 22 Oct 2026)Los Angeles METV (page updated 9 Oct 2023): USD 200, 6 months, 60 days per entry, USD 2,000 balance for 3 months
- helsinki.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/tourist-visa-tr-metv (read 22 Oct 2026)Helsinki (page updated 7 Nov 2023): TR EUR 40; METV EUR 170, EUR 6,000 balance
- mfa.go.th/en/content/pb-summary-03092026-en (read 22 Oct 2026)MFA briefing of 3 Sep 2026: 30-day scheme for 60 countries, 15-day for 2, visa on arrival for 3, tourism purposes only; Royal Gazette 31 Aug 2026; effective 15 Sep 2026; does not affect other visa categories at this point
- london.thaiembassy.org/en/content/revision-of-thailand-s-visa-0926 (read 22 Oct 2026)London notice: up to 30 days, tourism only; 'only twice within a calendar year'; more visits or other purposes need an appropriate visa
- tatnews.org/2026/09/thailand-introduces-new-30-day-and-15-day-visa-exemption-rules-from-15-september/ (read 22 Oct 2026)land-border checkpoints: 30-day exemption generally no more than twice per calendar year; Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore excepted
- london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/destination-thailand-visa (read 22 Oct 2026)DTV: GBP 300, 5 years, multiple entries, 180 days per entry, one extension of 180 days; GBP 12,000 funds; page dated 8 Sep 2026
- washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/page/dtv-visa (read 22 Oct 2026)DTV: USD 400, 5 years; 3 months of statements with at least 500,000 THB or USD 16,000; page updated 10 Sep 2026
- moscow.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/adjustment-to-supporting-documents-for-destination-thailand-visa-dtv-a (read 22 Oct 2026)DTV documents changed 31 Aug 2026: permanent residence proof and criminal record certificate
Reviewed by the Thai Visa Pre-Check team
We check documents; we are not a law firm and not the Thai government. We read each embassy page named in the sources on the date shown.
We sell a document check. We do not apply for you, and only the embassy decides your visa.
- Last checked
- First published
What changed
- entry limit corrected. The London embassy confirms two visa-exempt entries per calendar year, by land or by air.
- first published. The comparison table now uses current pages only, with 2023 pages in one note. The visa-free and TR extension rows are now sourced from Washington DC.
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