30 days, not 60
Since 15 September 2026, the visa exemption gives 30 days on entry, down from 60. The Thai cabinet approved the change on 19 May 2026, but it applies from 15 September: don't mix up the two dates.
Thailand's visa exemption is now 30 days: what changed and what to do
Up to date as of 29 September 2026. Immigration rules can change without notice: always check the current version with the Thai embassy in your country or Thai immigration before you travel.
What changed on 15 September 2026
The island hasn't changed. How long you can spend there without paperwork has, and if you're reading this in English, it almost certainly concerns you.
It applies to you
The exemption covers 60 countries and territories, including the UK, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, every EU country, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore and India.
Already in Thailand before 15 September?
You keep the 60 days you were given at immigration when you entered. Nothing changes for your current stay.
Staying longer than 30 days: your two options
Leaving the country isn't the only way past day 30. There's an option on the spot, and it costs less than a plane ticket.
Extend in Thailand
A 30-day extension is possible once, at a Thai immigration office, for 1,900 baht, subject to approval. That takes your stay to 60 days in total.
Who it suitsThe right choice if you simply want to stay put.
Leave and come back
A trip out of Thailand and back: by air, with no annual limit, or by land or sea, twice per calendar year at most. Coming back opens a new 30-day exemption.
Who it suitsThe right choice if you want to see somewhere else, or need more than 60 days overall.
Both are perfectly legitimate, and the right choice depends on what you want from that week. If you just want to stay in Phuket, the 1,900 baht extension is cheaper than any round trip. If you were planning to travel anyway, or need more than 60 days in total, leaving is where it starts to make sense.
What you need to enter Thailand
Three things to check before you board, whether it's your first arrival or you're coming back from a trip out.
A passport valid for six months from the date you enter Thailand, not from the date you leave home.
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), completed online in the three days before you arrive. It's free on the official immigration site; any site asking for money isn't the official one.
Proof you'll leave on time, typically an onward or return flight within your permitted stay.
At Phuket airport, licensed providers offer a fast-track service that takes you through immigration in a priority lane. Prices vary a lot from one provider to another, so we don't quote them here.
How many times can you come back in a year?
It depends only on how you enter the country, not on how many times you've already been.
By air, there's no annual limit. You can enter and leave Thailand by plane as many times as you need in a year.
The limit of two entries per calendar year only applies to land and sea borders. Nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are exempt from it. That's why the classic same-day border run has become a less reliable plan than it used to be.
Entry is always at the discretion of the immigration officer. Someone who stacks back-to-back exits and re-entries may be asked about their plans: carry proof of accommodation and of your onward travel.
If you have to leave anyway, make it a week worth having
Since 15 September, a two-month stay in Phuket means one compulsory exit. Most people treat it as a chore: a rushed round trip, two days lost, money spent for nothing.
We coordinate a six-to-seven-day circuit from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur and Bali, flying out and back. You come back with a new 30-day stay and two more countries behind you.
It isn't for everyone. If you simply want to stay in Phuket, the extension is cheaper than any trip and often the better choice. The circuit is for people who want to see something else during that compulsory week, or who need more than 60 days in total.
Thailand's 30-day visa exemption: common questions
- How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa?
- Since 15 September 2026, the visa exemption gives 30 days, down from 60. If you entered Thailand before that date, you keep the 60 days you were given at immigration.
- Does the 30-day rule apply to UK, US, Australian and Indian passports?
- Yes. The United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and India are among the 60 countries and territories covered by the visa exemption, along with Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, all EU countries, Switzerland, Japan and Singapore. Conditions can differ by nationality, so check your own country's page on the Thai embassy website before you travel.
- Can I extend my 30-day visa exemption without leaving Thailand?
- Yes, once: a 30-day extension is available at a Thai immigration office for 1,900 baht, subject to approval. That brings your total stay to 60 days.
- How many times can I enter Thailand visa-free in a year?
- By air, there's no annual limit. The limit of two entries per calendar year only applies to land and sea borders, and nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are exempt from it.
- What do I need at Thai immigration?
- A passport valid for six months from your date of entry, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) completed online before you arrive, and proof that you'll leave within your permitted stay, such as an onward flight.
- How can I stay in Phuket for more than 60 days?
- You need to leave Thailand and come back: by air with no limit, or by land or sea twice a year at most. Our Phuket, Kuala Lumpur and Bali circuit turns that exit into a six-to-seven-day trip rather than a same-day hop. For stays of several months, look at a long-stay visa with the Thai embassy before you travel.
Planning a long stay in Phuket?
Tell us your dates and how long you want to stay. We'll help with the place to live on the island, and with the trip out if you need one.
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