Thailand Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Many nationalities can enter Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days under the visa exemption scheme. Other options include a 15-day Visa on Arrival (VOA), a 60-day Tourist e-visa, or the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for remote workers and long-stay cultural programs. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Thailand visa at a glance
- Government fee
- $0 for visa-exempt nationalities — passed through at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- On arrival for visa exemption/VOA; 3–7 business days for e-visa (official portal ETA)
- Validity / stay
- 30 days (exemption), 15 days (VOA), 60 days (e-visa), 180 days/visit (DTV)
- Visa types
- 4
Do you need a visa for Thailand?
Indian passport holders can enter Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days under the visa exemption scheme. Filipino passport holders can enter Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days.
Since May 2025, the paper arrival card is gone — the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is mandatory for every foreign traveler, including visa-exempt nationals. Airlines will not let you board without the TDAC confirmation.
Some nationalities can enter Thailand visa-free for short stays under a bilateral agreement. Check the Royal Thai Embassy visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you may need a Visa on Arrival or Tourist e-visa.
Thailand visa types
- Visa exemption
- Tourism, family visits, business — 30 days
- Visa on arrival (VOA)
- Short trips if exemption is unavailable — 15 days
- Tourist e-visa
- Pre-arranged online visa for certain nationalities — 60 days
- Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
- Remote workers, long-stay cultural programs — 5 years, 180 days per visit
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Thailand depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Thailand visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — typically up to 30 days depending on the agreement. Indian passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 60 days.
Visa-required nationalities can use the Visa on Arrival (15 days), apply for a Tourist e-visa (60 days), or consider the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for longer stays.
Documents required for a Thailand visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportVisa exemption / VOA · 6+ months validity from your date of entry, one blank page.
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)Visa exemption / VOA · filed online at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours before arrival.
- Confirmed return or onward flight ticket showing departure within the permitted stayVisa exemption / VOA · Confirmed return or onward flight ticket showing departure within the permitted stay.
- Confirmed accommodationVisa exemption / VOA · hotel reservation or sponsor/host invitation where applicable.
- Proof of sufficient fundsVisa exemption / VOA · roughly 10,000 baht per person or equivalent in foreign currency.
- Valid passportTourist e-visa / DTV · 6+ months validity, one blank page.
- Completed and signed visa application formTourist e-visa / DTV · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoTourist e-visa / DTV · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itineraryTourist e-visa / DTV · Proof of travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodationTourist e-visa / DTV · Proof of accommodation.
- Return ticketTourist e-visa / DTV · Return ticket.
- Proof of financial meansTourist e-visa / DTV · Proof of financial means.
Thailand visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- $0 for visa-exempt nationalities — passed through at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- 30 days (exemption), 15 days (VOA), 60 days (e-visa), 180 days/visit (DTV)
- Official processing
- On arrival for visa exemption/VOA; 3–7 business days for e-visa (official portal ETA)
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Thailand visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm visa exemption eligibility. Check that your passport meets the current Thai visa exemption requirements. Rules can change
verify before booking.
File the TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours before arrival. It's free
do not use third-party sites that charge a fee.
Gather your documents: valid passport, TDAC confirmation, return ticket, hotel booking, and proof of funds
Gather your documents: valid passport, TDAC confirmation, return ticket, hotel booking, and proof of funds.
Arrive at the border or airport and present your documents
The immigration officer makes the final entry decision.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Thailand's visa requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Easy to miss a requirement at the border
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before you travel
TDAC
- Apply yourself
- You file it yourself at tdac.immigration.go.th
- With Expedify
- We guide you through submission
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You monitor official portals
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Thailand is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
- Completed TDAC confirmation.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A visa-free entry is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a visa-free entry.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Thailand visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Missing or incorrect TDAC
failure to file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Thailand visa questions, answered.
More for your Thailand trip
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.