Quick facts
Visa needed?
No
Visa exemption on arrival
Stay length
30 days
Cut from 60 days on 15 Sept 2026
TDAC
Mandatory
Since 1 May 2025 · free · online
One-time extension
30 days
1,900 THB at any immigration office
Passport validity
6 months
From date of entry
Cost to enter
Free
Visa exemption has no fee
What's changing and when
LIVE NOW
TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) — mandatory
Replaced the paper TM6 card on 1 May 2025. Every visitor, including visa-exempt Brits, must submit it online at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours before arrival. Free, takes a few minutes.
LIVE — 15 SEP 2026
Visa-free stay cut from 60 to 30 days
Approved by Thai Cabinet 19 May 2026, published in the Royal Gazette 31 August 2026, and now in force since 15 September 2026. 60 countries and territories (including the UK) now get 30 days, down from 60. Two other nationalities (Mauritius, Seychelles) get 15 days, and the Visa on Arrival list shrank to three countries.
ONGOING
Stricter enforcement against "visa runs"
Immigration has warned that repeated back-to-back visa-exempt entries — used to stay long-term without a proper visa — may result in denied entry, at officers' discretion.
Your pre-departure checklist
Essential — Before booking
✓
British Citizen passport valid 6+ months
Full British Citizen passports only — check your specific passport type qualifies for visa exemption before booking.
✓
Check the current stay length before finalising plans
The 30-day limit is now confirmed and in force. If you need longer than 30 days, you must either extend once in-country (+30 days, 1,900 THB) or apply for a proper visa before travel — the old 60-day automatic stamp no longer exists.
✓
Complete your TDAC within 72 hours of arrival
Free, online, mandatory for every visitor. Do it at tdac.immigration.go.th — the only official site. Save the QR code confirmation.
Before you fly
✓
Proof of onward or return travel
Immigration can ask for evidence you'll leave within your permitted stay. Keep your return ticket accessible.
✓
Travel insurance
Thailand doesn't require proof of insurance for tourist entry, but private hospital costs for visitors can be substantial. Strongly recommended, not optional in practice.
✓
Money that works in baht
UK cards typically add ~3% forex fees. A multi-currency card avoids the mark-up on every transaction, and Thailand's ATM fees favour fewer, larger withdrawals.
On arrival & during your stay
✓
Show your TDAC QR code at immigration
Along with your passport. Standard immigration questions about purpose and duration follow — answer simply and consistently with your TDAC entry.
✓
TM30 registration if staying somewhere non-hotel
If you're staying in a private residence or long-term rental rather than a licensed hotel, the accommodation must register your stay within 24 hours. Hotels handle this automatically.
✓
Need longer than your permitted stay? Extend before it expires
A one-time 30-day extension is available at any Thai immigration office for 1,900 THB — apply before your current stamp runs out, not after.
Completing your TDAC — step by step
01
Go to the official TDAC site
Only use tdac.immigration.go.th — copycat sites exist and may charge for what's actually a free government service.
02
Enter your passport, flight, and accommodation details
Have your flight number and first night's accommodation address ready. Takes about 5-10 minutes.
03
Submit within the 72-hour window before arrival
Too early and it won't yet be accepted; leaving it too late risks arriving without confirmation. Aim for 1-2 days before you fly.
04
Save the QR code confirmation
Screenshot it — don't rely on airport WiFi. Show it alongside your passport at immigration.
Mistakes that catch Brits out
Booking a 45-day trip assuming 60 days still applies. That buffer is gone — the limit is now genuinely 30 days, with one 30-day extension available in-country. Anyone still planning around the old 60-day stamp will be caught out at the border.
Treating the exemption as a renewable long-stay visa. Repeated back-to-back visa-exempt entries — the classic "visa run" — can result in denied entry at the officer's discretion. It's tolerated less each year.
Paying for TDAC on a copycat site. The official arrival card is completely free. Any site charging a fee for TDAC "processing" is not the official government portal.
Remote working on the tourist exemption. Legally not permitted, though historically under-enforced. Enforcement is tightening — the DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) exists specifically for remote workers and is the correct route.
Forgetting TM30 for non-hotel stays. Long-term rentals and private residences require the property to register your stay within 24 hours — this is separate from your own TDAC and easy to overlook.
Smart traveller essentials
Travel insurance for Thailand
Not legally required for tourist entry, but private hospital treatment for visitors is expensive. Comprehensive medical cover is the one thing not worth skipping.
Compare travel insurance →
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Spend in baht without the mark-up
A multi-currency card converts GBP to THB at the real rate — standard UK cards quietly add ~3% to every transaction.
Get a Wise card →
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Data from the moment you land
Thailand eSIMs are cheap and widely used — install before you fly and skip the airport SIM counters entirely.
Browse Thailand eSIMs →
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Official sources
This checklist is compiled from
- → Thailand Immigration — Official TDAC portal
- → Royal Thai Embassy — Visa exemption information
- → GOV.UK — Thailand travel advice for British citizens
✓ Last verified: 1 October 2026 · The 30-day rule is confirmed and in force since 15 September 2026