Do UK citizens need a visa for Thailand?
No visa for tourism. From 15 September 2026 a visa-exempt stay is up to 30 days and covers tourism only. You must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online no more than 3 days before you arrive.
Key facts
| Visa needed? | No, for tourism under the visa exemption. Business travel, including conferences and meetings, needs a visa before you travel. The digital arrival card is not a visa. |
|---|---|
| Maximum stay | Up to 30 days for tourism. GOV.UK says visa-exempt entry at land borders is normally limited to 2 entries per calendar year. That limit does not generally apply to arrivals by air. |
| Cost | No visa fee for the exemption. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card on the immigration website is free. |
| How to apply | No visa application for a 30-day tourist stay. Complete the arrival card on the Thai immigration website. Submit it within 3 days of arrival, including the arrival date. A business, work, study, or retirement stay needs the matching visa before travel. |
| Passport validity | GOV.UK says the passport must expire at least 6 months after the day you arrive and have at least one blank page. |
| Other documents | You may be asked for at least 10,000 Thai baht per person, or 20,000 baht per family, and for proof of onward or return travel. GOV.UK says British nationals have been refused entry without this evidence. |
| Official link | Use the authority’s own website. Entry Visa Guide does not take applications. · Thailand Digital Arrival Card (opens in a new tab) |
Apply only on the government website linked above. This site does not issue the authorisation and does not take the application. Other websites charge their own service fee on top of any government charge.
How to apply
- Check the passport expiry date and a blank page. The exemption is for tourism. If you are going for business, get a visa first.
- Within 3 days of arrival, complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (opens in a new tab). Thai immigration says it is free and that it is not a visa. Do not pay another website to file it.
- Carry evidence of funds and onward travel. Officers can refuse entry if they do not accept that you are a genuine visitor.
- Leave before the 30 days end. GOV.UK says an overstay is 500 baht a day, up to 20,000 baht, and can mean detention, deportation at your cost, and a re-entry ban.
What changed on 15 September 2026
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the United Kingdom among ordinary-passport holders entitled to a visa exemption of not more than 30 days for tourism, effective 15 September 2026. GOV.UK gives the same date and says the exemption does not cover business, conferences, or meetings.
GOV.UK says a person who entered before 15 September 2026 is usually allowed to stay for the period granted on arrival. A longer stay needs the right visa before travel or, if you are eligible, an extension from Thai immigration. This page does not state an extension fee, because the GOV.UK page does not publish one.
Recent changes
- Checked against GOV.UK Thailand entry requirements, the Thai MFA visa-exemption list effective 15 September 2026, and the immigration site for the digital arrival card. · source (opens in a new tab)
FAQ
Is the stay still 60 days?
No. From 15 September 2026 both GOV.UK and the Thai MFA describe a 30-day visa exemption for tourism. If you entered before that date, GOV.UK says you usually keep the period you were given on arrival.
Is the digital arrival card a visa?
No. Thai immigration says the Thailand Digital Arrival Card is not a visa, that every non-Thai national must complete it, and that there is no fee on the immigration website.
Can I go for a conference without a visa?
GOV.UK says no. From 15 September 2026 the exemption is for tourism only. Business, including conferences and meetings, needs a visa before travel.
How many times can I enter by land?
GOV.UK says visa-exempt entry through land-border checkpoints is normally limited to 2 entries per calendar year. It says that limit does not generally apply to flights.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Thailand entry requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa exemption list, ordinary passports, 15 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Thai Immigration Bureau: Thailand Digital Arrival Card (opens in a new tab)
Last verified: 2026-10-16
Related reading
Independent guide, not legal advice. Entry Visa Guide is an independent information site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or run by any government or public authority. Always check official sources before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Report an error.