Thailand
Thailand visa guide
- 13 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Thailand work
Under the revised visa exemption scheme effective 15 September 2026, ordinary passport holders of 60 countries and territories can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism; other nationalities receive 14, 15, 30 or 90 days under bilateral agreements or a visa on arrival. Longer stays and other purposes require a visa, which is applied for online through Thailand's official e-Visa system (thaievisa.go.th); the application is processed by the Thai embassy or consulate responsible for the place where the applicant is located, and passports are normally no longer submitted in person.
Thailand's main categories are the Tourist Visa, the Transit Visa, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for remote workers and soft-power activities, Non-Immigrant visas (B for business and work, ED for education, O for family and other purposes, O-A and O-X for long stays by people aged 50 or over), the BOI's Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa and the visas linked to Thailand Privilege membership.
Each purpose in the e-Visa system has its own list of documents and financial thresholds, for example THB 20,000 for a tourist visa, THB 500,000 for the DTV and THB 800,000 or THB 65,000 a month for the O-A long-stay visa. Processing times are set by each mission: Bucharest, for example, quotes at least 5 to 10 working days and Islamabad about 14 working days after a complete application.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday up to 30 days: no visa. Longer holiday or a family visit under 60 days: Tourist Visa (single entry valid 3 months, or multiple entry valid 6 months). Remote work, Muay Thai, cooking courses or treatment over long periods: DTV, valid five years.
Job offer in Thailand: Non-Immigrant B with the Ministry of Labour approval (WP3). Business meetings: Non-B business visit, or a three-year multiple-entry visa for frequent travellers. Studies: Non-Immigrant ED. Married to a Thai: Non-Immigrant O. Age 50+: O-A (1 year) or O-X (5+5 years). High earners, wealthy investors and pensioners: LTR. Paid long-stay membership: Thailand Privilege.
Visa types for Thailand
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Visa exemption and Tourist Visa (TR)
From 15 September 2026 ordinary passport holders of 60 countries and territories can visit Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days.
Maximum stay: Visa-free: up to 30 days; Tourist Visa: stays of up to 60 days per entry, extendable at the Immigration Bureau - Medical treatment visa Medical treatment visas (Tourist MT and Non-Immigrant)
Patients going to Thailand for treatment choose by length: under 60 days, the Tourist Visa for medical treatment with a hospital appointment letter and THB 20,000 in funds; over 60 days, the Non-Immigrant visa for medical treatment with funds covering medical fees and living costs.
Validity: Single entry, valid 3 months - Transit visa Transit Visa (TS)
The Transit Visa covers stopovers in Thailand longer than 12 hours, crews bringing vehicles to Thai ports and athletes at sports events.
Validity: 1 entry valid 3 months; 2–4 entries valid 6 months
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Non-Immigrant B (business visit) and 3-year frequent business visit visa
Business visitors who attend meetings or deal with Thai partners apply for the Non-Immigrant B visa for a business visit: single entry valid three months or multiple entry valid one year, with an invitation from the Thai company.
Validity: Single entry 3 months; multiple entry 1 year; frequent business visa 3 years - Investor visa LTR Visa – Wealthy Global Citizen and Wealthy Pensioner
Wealthy individuals can obtain a 10-year LTR visa as Wealthy Global Citizens by holding at least USD 1 million in assets and investing at least USD 500,000 in Thai government bonds, Thai companies or Thai property, with average income of USD 80,000.
Validity: 10 years (5 + 5), multiple entry
Study and training
- Student visa Non-Immigrant ED (education)
The Non-Immigrant ED visa is for studying in Thailand, from school to university degrees, short Thai or English language courses, Muay Thai training, curricular internships, exchange programmes and government-organised training.
Validity: Single entry, valid 3 months; stay extended in Thailand
Work
- Digital nomad visa Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
The Destination Thailand Visa is a five-year multiple-entry visa for workcation (digital nomads, remote workers, foreign talent and freelancers), Thai soft-power activities such as Muay Thai, cooking courses or medical treatment, and certain voluntary work.
Validity: 5 years, multiple entry - Work visa Non-Immigrant B (employment) and work permit
Foreigners hired by a company in Thailand apply for a Non-Immigrant B visa for employment, a single-entry visa valid three months, after the employer obtains approval from the Ministry of Labour (WP3).
Validity: Single entry, valid 3 months - Skilled worker visa Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa – Highly-Skilled Professional and Work-from-Thailand Professional
The BOI's Long-Term Resident visa gives a 10-year renewable stay to high earners.
Validity: 10 years (5 + 5), multiple entry
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Non-Immigrant O (to stay with Thai family)
Foreigners married to a Thai national, or with Thai children or parents, who want to stay longer than 60 days apply for the Non-Immigrant O visa.
Validity: Single entry, valid 3 months; stay extended in Thailand
Residence
- Retirement visa Non-Immigrant O-A (1-year long stay) and O-X (5+5-year long stay)
People aged 50 or over can retire in Thailand on the Non-Immigrant O-A, a one-year multiple-entry visa requiring THB 800,000 in the bank or THB 65,000 monthly income and health insurance, or the O-X, valid five years and renewable for five more, requiring THB 3,000,000 on fixed deposit in a Thai bank.
Validity: O-A: 1 year, multiple entry; O-X: 5 years, multiple entry, renewable for 5 more - Golden visa and residence by investment Thailand Privilege (Privilege Entry Visa)
Thailand Privilege is the state-owned long-stay membership programme formerly known as Thailand Elite.
Validity: Visa: 5 years, multiple entry, renewed during membership
Online travel permits
- e-Visa Thai e-Visa system
All Thai visas, from tourist to DTV, Non-Immigrant, LTR and Privilege visas, are applied for online on thaievisa.go.th, the official system of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Processing time: Set by the Thai embassy or consulate handling the application, for example at least 5 to 10 working days in Bucharest or about 14 working days in Islamabad after a complete application
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
Not for tourist stays of up to 30 days if your country is among the 60 countries and territories in the 30-day exemption group of the scheme effective from 15 September 2026; some nationalities get other periods under bilateral agreements or a visa on arrival. Longer stays or other purposes need a visa from the e-Visa system.
How do I apply for a Thai visa?
Online on thaievisa.go.th. The application goes to the Thai embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you are located, and you must normally stay there during the whole process; passports and documents are generally no longer submitted in person.
How long does a Thai e-Visa take?
It depends on the Thai embassy or consulate handling the application: Bucharest, for example, quotes at least 5 to 10 working days and Islamabad about 14 working days after a complete application.
Is the visa fee refunded if I am refused?
No. The e-Visa fee is not refunded in any event, including refusals caused by spelling mistakes in names or e-mail addresses.
Which visa suits digital nomads?
The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): five-year multiple-entry visa for remote workers, freelancers and foreign talent with at least THB 500,000 in savings. High earners can also consider the LTR Work-from-Thailand Professional category.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.