A tourist stay in Thailand is defined by the stamp in your passport, not by a blog headline. This guide covers visa exemption, the Tourist Visa (TR), typical fees, and how overstay is counted.
Who this is for
Short visits for tourism. If you will work for a Thai employer, look at Non-Immigrant B. If you already hold a long-stay visa, skip to the 90-day and extension hubs.
Visa exemption
Visa exemption is not a visa. Officers stamp a permitted stay on arrival for listed nationalities. The list and the number of days change; the Thai embassy that covers your passport is the source of truth, together with the Immigration Bureau.
Air versus land
From 15 September 2026, 30-day exemption stamps apply at air and land borders for listed nationalities — but land-border frequency limits (generally two exemption entries per calendar year) matter for visa-run planning. Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore are among the exceptions to that cap. Photograph the stamp you actually receive.
How many entries
Visa exemption and TR strategies for repeated tourism are limited by immigration discretion and published rules on entries per year. Long-term looping on exemptions risks denial at the border — plan proper visa categories for extended stays.
Tourist visa (TR)
Apply at a Thai embassy or consulate if you are not eligible for exemption or you need a longer tourist stay. Single-entry TR visas are commonly 60 days in country and may be extended once. Multiple-entry TR visas allow repeated entries within the visa validity, each with its own stamp.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-entry TR (embassy) | 1,000–3,000THB | Set by the issuing post in local currency |
| Multiple-entry TR (embassy) | 5,000–12,000THB | Varies widely by post |
| In-country extension (TM.7) | 1,900THB | Cash at a provincial immigration office |
| Overstay fine (guideline) | 500THB/day | Commonly capped at 20,000 THB per incident |
How to apply for a TR
- 1
Confirm you actually need a visa
Many nationalities enter visa-exempt. Check the embassy list before you pay a visa fee.
- 2
Book the post that will accept you
Requirements and appointments differ. Some posts will not accept third-country residents.
- 3
Submit the file the post asked for
Forms, photographs, funds, and onward tickets are typical. Incomplete files are delayed, not negotiated at the counter.
- 4
Enter and read the stamp
The visa sticker is permission to request entry. The immigration stamp sets the stay.
Reading your passport stamp in 2026
The passport stamp is your legal stay — not the visa sticker alone, not a blog headline, and not your flight booking date.
- Entry
- Arrival date — day / month / year on the ink stamp
- Until / permitted days
- Must-leave-by date, or a count of permitted days
- Conditions
- Sometimes noted — no work, no extension, reporting
After entry, immigration writes:
- Date of entry (day/month/year)
- Permitted stay — a number of days or a must leave by date
- Sometimes conditions (no extension, reporting required, etc.)
Photograph the stamp at the counter before you leave the airport or border post. From 15 September 2026, visa-exempt nationalities on the Royal Gazette list are typically stamped 30 days (15 days for Seychelles and Mauritius). If the officer grants fewer days than you expected, the stamp wins — adjust your plans immediately.
Use the expiry calculator below with the exact date on the stamp, not assumptions from embassy websites.
Documents
Take to the embassy
- Passport with blank pages and sufficient remaining validity
- Completed application form and a photograph to the post's specification
- Proof of onward travel and funds, if that post requires them
- Appointment confirmation where the embassy uses a booking system
Info
Always confirm the current document list with the embassy that will issue the visa. Posts do not share one checklist.
Extensions inside Thailand
A 30-day tourist extension is commonly available at provincial immigration offices on TM.7. Bring the form, a photograph, the fee in cash, and a TM.30 receipt if that office still asks for it. Same-day return of the passport is common, not guaranteed.
Full walkthrough: How to extend a tourist stay.
Entry denied or short stamp
Officers may shorten a stay or refuse entry if funds, onward travel, or travel history raise questions. The stamp you receive overrides blog posts about “standard 30 days.” Photograph the stamp at the counter.
Frequently asked questions
Is visa exemption the same as Visa on Arrival (VOA)?
No. Exemption is stamp-on-arrival for listed nationalities without a prior visa fee. VOA is a separate paid category for limited passports at designated airports.
Can I work remotely on a tourist stamp?
Tourism permissions are for tourism. Remote work for foreign employers is a grey area; long intentional stays should use DTV or another appropriate category.
Does travel insurance replace visa funds proof?
Some embassies ask for bank balances; insurance does not replace financial evidence where the post requires it.
Where is my expiry date?
On the entry stamp in your passport — day/month/year permitted to stay. Use the calculator below from that date.
Overstay and expiry
If you stay after the date written in the passport, daily fines apply. The calculator below uses the widely cited 500 THB per day guideline with a 20,000 THB cap. Detention and re-entry bans are not in the model.
Tool
Overstay Fine Calculator
Estimate the immigration overstay penalty based on days overstayed and visa type.
Immigration penalties depend on individual circumstances, voluntary surrender, and current Thai law. This calculator uses the commonly cited 500 THB/day fine with a 20,000 THB cap. Overstays may also result in detention, deportation, or re-entry bans not reflected here.
Count remaining days from the stamp, not from your flight booking.
Tool
Visa Expiry Calculator
Enter your entry date and permitted stay to see your visa expiry date and days remaining.
Stamp dates, visa conditions, and extension approvals vary. Always check your passport stamp, 90-day reporting obligations, and official immigration records.
See also How to extend a tourist stay and the visa exemption hub.