Thailand Visa Exemption 30 Days (2026): SETV, METV or DTV?

From 15 September 2026, the visa-free stay in Thailand is 30 days instead of 60 for most nationalities, including Russia, Germany, France, Israel, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. If 30 days is not enough, you have four routes: a one-time extension on the spot, a single-entry tourist visa (SETV), a multiple-entry tourist visa (METV), or the DTV, which since 31 August 2026 can only be filed from your country of citizenship or permanent residence. This guide compares them side by side and shows which one fits which plan.

What changed on 15 September 2026

The Thai consulate in Ho Chi Minh City published an official infographic, "The revision of Thailand's visa exemption and VoA schemes, 2026", with the new rules in force from 15 September 2026 (source). Per that infographic:

• 30 days for 60 countries and territories, including EU countries, Germany, France, Israel, India, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Malaysia. Russia, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, China and Laos also get 30 days under bilateral agreements.
• 14 days for Cambodia and Myanmar (international airports only).
• 90 days for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and South Korea.
• 15 days for the Seychelles and Mauritius.
• Visa on arrival (2,000 THB) only for Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.

Check your own passport on the infographic before you book. Some blogs still say the change started in April or May 2026. The official date is 15 September 2026.

Two more points affect your planning. According to Thaiger (15 September 2026), visa-free entries across land borders are limited to two per calendar year, and the limit does not apply to citizens of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore. And according to Thaiger (14 July 2026), immigration now looks at the full history of your passport. The same report says 29,490 foreigners were refused entry from January to May 2026 and that an immigration spokesperson told people who travel once or twice a year they have nothing to worry about. Frequent visa runs are what attract attention.

You also need to file the free TDAC arrival card for any entry. According to Thaiger, it can be submitted no earlier than 3 days before arrival at tdac.immigration.go.th.

The four options in one table

Fees in other missions are in local currency and differ, so confirm the amount for your mission before paying. Tourist visas do not allow work. The e-Visa portal asks for at least 20,000 THB in funds for a tourist visa, and individual missions can ask for more. The DTV requires at least 500,000 THB; see our financial requirement guide.

Visa exemption: when 30 days is enough

If you come for a holiday or a working trip of up to a month, you do not need anything extra. You arrive, get the stamp, and leave within 30 days.

If you want a few more days, you can ask immigration for an extension of up to 30 days (form TM.7). It costs 1,900 THB according to Thaiger and the officer decides. If you are a citizen of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal, Togo, Nigeria or Uganda, the extension is limited to 7 days, per the Bangkok Immigration page.

The exemption stops working as a plan if you travel in and out all year. A border hop every month is a visa run, and given the stricter checks reported by Thaiger, it is the weakest plan available now. A visa that matches the time you actually spend in the country is the real alternative to a visa run.

SETV and METV: the tourist visa route

Both are tourist visas applied for online at thaievisa.go.th. You must be outside Thailand when you apply, and the system routes your file by your current location, meaning the country where you are at the moment you file (e-Visa portal). The consulate decides on each application.

SETV gives one entry and 60 days, with a possible 30-day extension on the spot. In total, that is up to 90 days. The Ho Chi Minh City consulate lists a $40 fee and 5 working days for processing.

METV is valid for 6 months and gives 60 days per entry, with a 30-day extension for each entry. Because you must leave Thailand between entries, it suits people who plan border trips anyway. With three entries, each extended once, and the last entry just before the visa expires, one METV can cover about 270 days, roughly 9 months. In practice that depends on the checks described above. The Ho Chi Minh City fee is $200. Our full METV guide explains entries, extensions and documents, and what METV costs shows the whole budget.

Where can you apply? We regularly file METV applications in Vietnam (consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, embassy in Hanoi) and Indonesia (embassy in Jakarta) for clients who are not residents there, and we recommend these two. Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Malaysia also work. Rules differ between missions, so read where to apply METV abroad before choosing a country.

DTV: who can still use it

The DTV remains the most flexible visa: 5 years, up to 180 days per entry, and a 180-day extension. But from 31 August 2026 the rules changed worldwide. Per the Ho Chi Minh City consulate announcement of 28 August 2026, you must file at a mission of the country where you are a citizen or a permanent resident, and the application needs a certificate of no criminal record. Ho Chi Minh City also accepts holders of a Temporary or Permanent Residence Card in Vietnam. If you are a tourist in Vietnam or Indonesia without residency there, the DTV is closed to you in those countries. Our DTV home-country rule explainer covers the details and the differences between missions.

We still prepare DTV applications for people who file from their country of citizenship or permanent residence, from 8,000 THB, with the consular fee paid separately.

Which one fits you: four scenarios

"I am coming for a month." Use the visa exemption. Check the number of days for your passport, and file the TDAC. If you need a week or two more, ask for an extension, knowing the officer decides.

"I want to spend the winter, 3 to 5 months." A single visit on the exemption will not cover it. An METV fits: 60 days per entry plus an extension of 30, and 6 months of validity. For 5 months (about 150 days) you need at least two entries, with an exit between them. We build the entry and extension plan for you.

"I live in Thailand half the year or more, but I am not in my home country now." The DTV is closed in your current country unless you are a citizen or permanent resident there. METV is the realistic bridge. For stays beyond roughly 9 months, you need either a DTV filed from your home country or country of permanent residence, or a new visa application.

"I work remotely and can file from home." Go for the DTV. You get 5 years and 180 days per entry. You need funds of at least 500,000 THB and a clean criminal record certificate, and you should prepare evidence of your remote work; see proof of remote work for the DTV.

FAQ

How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa in 2026?

From 15 September 2026, 30 days for most nationalities, including Russia, Germany, France, Israel, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. Some passports get 14, 15 or 90 days, so check the official infographic for yours.

Can I extend the 30-day visa-free stay?

Yes, by up to 30 days at an immigration office. The fee is 1,900 THB according to Thaiger and the extension is not guaranteed. Citizens of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal, Togo, Nigeria and Uganda can get no more than 7 days.

Is there a limit on visa-free entries?

According to Thaiger, no more than two land-border entries per calendar year, except for citizens of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore. The same outlet reports that immigration now reviews passport history, so frequent entries invite questions.

SETV, METV or DTV: which is better?

It depends on length and where you can file. SETV suits one visit of up to about 90 days. METV suits 3 to 9 months with exits. DTV suits people who can apply from their country of citizenship or permanent residence and want up to 5 years.

Is a tourist visa better than a visa run?

For anyone staying more than a month it is the more predictable plan. A visa matched to your stay avoids repeated border trips, which are the pattern that immigration is checking more closely, according to Thaiger.

Do I still need the TDAC with a visa?

According to Thaiger, the TDAC is required for all foreigners and is free. It does not replace a visa or the visa exemption stamp.

Need help choosing?

If you are unsure whether to take the exemption, a tourist visa or a DTV, we can look at your passport, your dates and your country of residence and recommend a route. Get Thai Visa works under a written contract from our office at Stecon Tower, Sukhumvit 21 in Bangkok (meetings by appointment), and we have been on the market since 2022. We help you choose and then prepare your METV or DTV application.