Thailand · Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Many nationalities enter Thailand for tourism under a visa exemption or visa on arrival for short stays; others apply for a tourist visa, increasingly through the official Thai e-Visa system. All arriving travellers may also need to complete the digital arrival card. Tourist entry does not permit work.
Many nationalities can enter Thailand for tourism under a visa exemption or visa on arrival for short stays; others apply for a tourist visa, increasingly through the official Thai e-Visa system. All arriving travellers may also need to complete the digital arrival card. Tourist entry does not permit work.
- Many nationalities get a visa exemption or visa on arrival for short tourism.
- Others apply for a tourist visa, increasingly via the official Thai e-Visa system.
- A digital arrival card may be required; tourist entry does not permit work.
- 1
Check exemption or visa-on-arrival eligibility
Many nationalities get a visa exemption or visa on arrival for short tourism. Confirm which applies to you and for how many days.
- 2
Apply via the Thai e-Visa system if needed
Tourist visas are increasingly issued through the official Thai e-Visa system run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Apply there rather than through resellers.
- 3
Complete the digital arrival card
Arriving travellers may need to submit a digital arrival card. Do this through the official channel — paid look-alike sites offer nothing extra.
- 4
Carry proof of onward travel and funds
Airlines and immigration commonly ask for onward travel and evidence you can support the stay. Have both ready rather than improvising at the desk.
- 5
Keep the stay within tourist purposes
Tourist entry does not permit work. If you need to work or stay long term, use the appropriate visa category from the start.
- Exemption or visa-on-arrival eligibility confirmed
- Tourist visa applied for via the official Thai e-Visa system if needed
- Digital arrival card submitted through the official channel
- Onward or return travel booked
- Proof of funds available
- Passport valid for the whole intended stay
- No work planned on a tourist entry
- Thai e-Visa (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Official Thai e-Visa system.
- Immigration Bureau (Thailand)
Official immigration authority.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to complete a digital arrival card for Thailand?
Arriving travellers may need to submit one. Use the official channel to do it — commercial sites that charge for the same submission offer nothing additional and are not official.
Is visa exemption the same as a tourist visa?
No. Visa exemption and visa on arrival are entry facilities for short tourism with their own day limits, while a tourist visa is applied for in advance — increasingly through the official Thai e-Visa system — and may allow a different length of stay.
Can I work remotely from Thailand on a tourist entry?
Tourist entry does not permit work. If your stay involves working, use the appropriate visa category from the outset rather than relying on a tourist entry.
Government portals
- Royal Thai Government — Official portal of the Royal Thai Government
- Thai Immigration Bureau — Visas, 90-day reporting, and re-entry permits
- Revenue Department — Thai personal income tax and VAT
- Board of Investment (BOI) — Foreign-investment incentives and the LTR long-term visa