Do your clients need a visa for Thailand in 2026, and for how long can they stay? The answer right now: nationals of around 93 countries and territories enter visa-free, and how long they may stay now turns on a single date: clients arriving before 15 September 2026 still get 60 days, and clients arriving on or after 15 September 2026 get 30 days for most nationalities. The 19 May 2026 Cabinet approval is no longer pending — the Interior Ministry notifications giving effect to it were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and take effect fifteen days later, so quote against the arrival date, not the booking date. Everyone, regardless of nationality, must also complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before arrival. This guide breaks the rules down by nationality and shows how a Thailand DMC for travel agents keeps your bookings compliant and smooth. Pair it with our source-markets overview.
Explera is an IATA TIDS-registered Thailand DMC trusted by 340+ agency partners, with 24/7 ground support and IATA TIDS registration (96215733). Entry rules move fast in Thailand — we track every gazette change so you quote the right stay length and never strand a client at immigration. Always confirm the current rule for a specific passport at booking; the position below reflects mid-2026.
Visa-exempt nationalities — the moving 60/30-day picture
As of mid-2026, roughly 93 nationalities enter visa-free. The scheme shows 60 days until 15 September 2026. The 19 May 2026 Cabinet approval to cut it to 30 days for most nationalities was published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and takes effect fifteen days later, on 15 September 2026 — so quote against the arrival date, not the booking date. Two island nations — Seychelles and Mauritius — move to 15 days. The Maldives do not: they sit in the 30-day group, alongside India.
Bilateral exceptions that keep 30 days
Several key markets retain 30 days under standing bilateral agreements regardless of the change: China (under the Thailand–China mutual visa-exemption agreement in force since 2024), plus Laos, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Macao. For agents selling these markets, the messaging is stable even as the general rule tightens.
The TDAC — mandatory for everyone
Since 1 May 2025, all foreign arrivals must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online at the official immigration portal within 72 hours before arrival. It is free. Beware third-party sites charging a "processing fee" — brief clients to use the official portal, or let our team handle it. Read our dedicated TDAC guide for agents.
Longer stays — e-Visa and the DTV
Clients who need more than the visa-exempt window apply via Thailand's e-Visa, or the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) — a five-year, multiple-entry visa open to all nationalities, allowing long stays per visit for remote workers, "workation" travellers and long-stay tourists. See our e-Visa & DTV options guide for the detail.
How to package it — your Thailand DMC for travel agents
Entry compliance is invisible when it works and a disaster when it fails. Our full Thailand DMC services for travel agents brief clients on the exact rule for their passport, confirm TDAC completion, flag stay-length limits against the itinerary, and arrange visa-run or extension logistics where needed — with 24/7 support and pacing tuned to the markets you sell in.
Selling notes for the trade
- Quote the stay length conservatively. With the 60→30-day change in force from 15 September 2026, confirm which rule the travel dates fall under rather than promising 60 days.
- China and CIS markets are stable. Bilateral 30-day arrangements hold — reassure those clients.
- Always brief the TDAC. It's mandatory, free and official-portal only; steer clients away from paid look-alike sites.
- Long-stay? Point to the DTV. Five years, all nationalities — a strong option for remote workers and repeat visitors.
- Let the DMC own compliance. One wrong stay-length assumption can ruin a trip; we confirm per passport.
Frequently asked questions
How long can visa-exempt travellers stay in Thailand in 2026?
Currently up to 60 days for around 93 nationalities, but a May 2026 Cabinet decision reverts most to 30 days from 15 September 2026 — so confirm which rule the travel dates fall under. Seychelles and Mauritius move to 15 days; India and the Maldives are in the 30-day group.
Which nationalities keep 30 days regardless?
China, Laos, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Macao retain 30 days under bilateral agreements even as the general exemption tightens.
Does everyone need the TDAC?
Yes — since 1 May 2025 every foreign arrival must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival, via the official immigration portal only.
What if a client wants to stay longer than the exemption allows?
They can use Thailand's e-Visa, extend once at an immigration office, or apply for the five-year Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), which is open to all nationalities.
Keep every booking compliant across the changing rules — with a Thailand DMC for travel agents that tracks the gazette. Send us your client's nationality and dates and we'll confirm the exact entry rule.
