Visas in Thailand

What you need to know

Choose an entry or visa route by your main purpose, passport nationality, application location and intended length of stay. Visa exemption and Visa on Arrival are separate from a visa, and Thailand revised those tourism-entry arrangements on 15 September 2026, so check the current official eligibility list rather than relying on an older guide.

For a visa application, use the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Thai e-Visa system and follow the checklist for the exact category and Thai embassy or consulate handling the case. Required documents, fees and processing arrangements vary. Visa validity is the period in which the visa may be used; it is not automatically the same as the period of stay granted by immigration on entry.

After entry, read the permitted-until date in your passport or immigration record and act before it expires. Extensions, 90-day reporting, residence notification and re-entry permission apply in different circumstances, so confirm the procedure with the Immigration Bureau or the responsible local immigration office before a deadline or overseas trip.

Permission to enter or stay does not by itself settle permission to work. If employment or business activity is planned, confirm both the appropriate immigration status and the Department of Employment work-authorisation process. For a complex family, retirement, investment or employment case, use the official checklist and obtain qualified advice before committing money or travel.