Current status — 1 August 2026
The current exemption has not yet been cut to 30 days. The official measure effective 15 July 2024 and the current Thai Department of Consular Affairs list still publish the eligible 60-day scheme, checked again on 1 August 2026.
The latest official 19 July 2026 update and the Thai MFA summary show the implementing notices remain pending Royal Gazette publication and would take effect 15 days after publication. The approved revision proposes 30-day exemption for 59 countries, 15-day exemption for Mauritius and Seychelles, and Visa on Arrival for Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. Until that effective date, current entry conditions remain in place; the relevant Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate publishes the nationality-specific position.
What changed in enforcement
Three dated events matter:
- 18 November 2025: Immigration announced a cap of two visa runs; more without a valid reason may be denied at airports or border checkpoints. This is an enforcement screen, not a promise that either of the first two entries will be granted. See the official PRD notice.
- 6 June 2026: Immigration reported intensified “suspicious visa run” screening and explicitly identified Chonburi among targeted locations. See the official PRD update.
- 1 August 2026 check: the current official TDAC FAQ requires a new arrival card for every entry by air, land or sea, submitted within 72 hours before arrival.
There is no official “six airport entries” allowance in these notices. Entry remains an individual decision by the Immigration officer.
The status of border runs in 2026
Land borders
Border-opening status can change at short notice and is not published as one permanent nationwide list. Confirm the intended checkpoint with Thai Immigration and the neighbouring country's official border authority before travel. A same-day exit and return may be treated as a visa run and screened under the November 2025 policy.
Air arrivals
The two-run screening announcement also names airports. It does not publish a separate six-entry air entitlement. A valid visa, confirmed accommodation, onward plan and evidence of a genuine visit may be examined, but none guarantees admission.
Extensions at Jomtien Immigration
An extension is an application to Immigration; it is not automatic. As of 1 August 2026, the official Immigration tourism-extension handbook lists a 1,900 THB application fee. The permitted extension length depends on the entry category, nationality and officer's decision.
| Application | Official fee | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist or visa-exempt extension | 1,900 THB, re-verified 1 August 2026 | Whether this entry is eligible and how many days may be granted |
| Change to a Non-Immigrant category | Category-specific; confirm with Immigration | Eligibility, remaining permitted stay, office jurisdiction and financial evidence |
The current official fee and general extension route were re-verified on 1 August 2026. Jomtien does not publish reliable same-day queue times or a universal document list for every nationality, so confirm locally.
Tourist visa instead of a border bounce
A Tourist Visa is a formal application through the official Thai e-Visa system or the responsible Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate. Fees, financial evidence, processing times and document lists vary by post; use the page for the post handling your residence and apply from a location where that post accepts applications.
A visa is not a workaround for previous non-compliance and does not guarantee entry. The border officer still decides admission.
There is no safe “maximum tourist days” formula
Thai Immigration has not published a guaranteed yearly total produced by multiplying stamps and extensions. The November 2025 policy instead screens repeated visa-run behaviour and preserves officer discretion. This page therefore does not publish a theoretical annual maximum.
When a long-stay category may match the published purpose
Where the actual purpose is longer-term residence rather than a short visit, Thailand publishes separate visa categories. The links below describe the current rules; they do not promise eligibility or approval.
Your purpose is longer-term residence rather than tourism
Compare categories by their published purpose and current eligibility rather than trying to manufacture residence from repeated tourist entries:
- Remote workers and approved activities → DTV
- Retirement → Non-O retirement
- High-skilled or qualifying long-term residents → LTR
- Paid membership route → Privilege
- Married to a Thai → Marriage Non-O
- Genuine study → Education (ED)
You have a repeated short-entry pattern
The November 2025 and June 2026 official notices confirm enhanced screening. They do not publish a guaranteed refusal point, so this site does not invent one.
You've been refused entry once
A refusal decision is case-specific. Obtain the written reason where available and verify any later visa or entry route with the responsible Royal Thai Embassy and Immigration; a new visa does not guarantee admission.
FAQ
I went to a neighbouring country for the day. Can the return be treated as a visa run?
Yes. The Immigration policy announced on 18 November 2025 screens visa-run behaviour at both airports and land checkpoints. It is not limited to a named border or to land entries.
Does a Tourist Visa guarantee entry?
No. It gives a traveller a visa to present; Immigration still decides admission. The November 2025 announcement focuses on visa-run behaviour, so the travel pattern and stated purpose can still be examined.
Has the current visa-exempt entry already been reduced to 30 days?
No, not as of 1 August 2026. The revised 30-day allocation is pending Royal Gazette publication and would take effect 15 days after publication. The eligible-nationality scheme effective 15 July 2024 currently remains in force.
Can I leave and receive a fresh visa-exempt permission on return?
You may present for entry if your nationality is eligible on that date, but no entry is guaranteed. Repeated short exits and returns are screened under the two-run policy announced on 18 November 2025.
I have a long-stay permission. What should I check before leaving?
Check whether the visa or permission allows another entry and whether a TM8 re-entry permit is required. A re-entry permit must be issued before departure and does not extend the existing permitted-stay date.
What if I'm denied entry?
Ask for the written decision or reason where one is provided and contact the relevant Royal Thai Embassy or Immigration office before making another journey. The consequence and available review route depend on the individual decision.
Are visa runs cheaper than a long-stay visa?
There is no responsible universal calculation. Transport costs change, consular fees vary by post, and admission is never guaranteed. Compare the current official fees and requirements for the category matching the actual purpose of stay.