Thailand Visa on Arrival Changes 2025

A reminder of the baseline: Thailand's Visa on Arrival (VoA) grants a 15-day stay for eligible foreign nationals who obtain their visa at the airport or border crossing on the day of arrival, rather than applying in advance at a consulate. The fee is 2,000 THB.

The VoA is distinct from Thailand's visa exemption programme — currently 60 days for eligible nationalities (extendable by a further 30 days at Immigration's discretion), not application-required at all. Most Western nationals (Australia, UK, USA, EU, Japan, South Korea) do not use the VoA because they qualify for this visa exemption automatically. Note: Thailand's Cabinet approved a plan on 19 May 2026 to cut the standard exemption from 60 to 30 days for most of the eligible countries. It activates 15 days after Royal Gazette publication — still pending as of 10 August 2026 (per the Tourism Authority of Thailand and KPMG's GMS Flash Alert). Confirm the current duration before relying on it for travel planning.

The VoA nationality list has genuine overlap with the exemption list — several nationalities once considered "VoA-only," including India and Taiwan, are now also exemption-eligible. Where a nationality qualifies for both, the exemption is almost always the better choice: it's free, and currently longer than the VoA's 15 days, versus paying the 2,000 THB VoA fee for a shorter stay. Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan are examples of nationalities that may also have dual eligibility — always check whether exemption applies to you before defaulting to VoA — a wasted 2,000 THB fee for a route you never needed is an easy, avoidable mistake.

Thailand has periodically expanded the VoA eligible nationality list to boost tourism from specific markets. As of June 2025, the full list is maintained by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs at mfa.go.th. Nationals of India and Kazakhstan are among the commonly VoA-eligible nationalities that benefited from expanded or restored access post-COVID.

Thailand's government has run VoA fee waiver periods — temporary zero-baht VoA — as a tourism stimulus measure. These have been announced at short notice and apply for limited windows. Whether a fee waiver is in effect at the time of your travel should be verified with the Thai consulate or MFA before departure.

Thailand introduced an online pre-registration option (available at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports) allowing VoA-eligible travellers to upload documents and pre-pay the 2,000 THB fee before arriving, reducing time at the airport counter. This is not mandatory — walk-up VoA remains available. The pre-registration portal is accessible at immigration.go.th or through approved travel portals.

The pre-registration shortens airport processing time but does not change the 15-day stay grant or any other VoA conditions.

• The 15-day maximum stay (not extendable) • The 2,000 THB fee for nationalities that do not receive a fee waiver promotion • The requirement to leave Thailand before the 15-day stay expires • The basic document requirements: return ticket, accommodation evidence, funds

If you are travelling to Thailand from a VoA-eligible country and need more than 15 days, a tourist visa (60 days) is the right option — applied for at a Thai Embassy before departure. Some VoA-eligible nationalities can also use Thailand's e-Visa portal (evisa.thaigov.go.th) for a tourist visa without a consulate visit.

VoA nationality lists and fee waiver promotions change. Before travel, verify: 1. Your nationality is still on the current VoA list at mfa.go.th 2. Whether a fee waiver promotion is currently running 3. Whether your desired port of entry (land border vs airport) offers VoA

Visa on Arrival changes are announced via the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Bureau. Visa Centre does not speculate about future policy changes — we report only confirmed information from official Thai government sources. For the most current list, check mfa.go.th directly.

The Visa on Arrival is not the only step required to enter Thailand. Since 2025, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) has been a mandatory pre-arrival digital declaration for every international arrival, regardless of visa type — VoA travellers, visa-exempt travellers, and full visa holders alike. Complete it online at tdac.immigration.go.th within the published window before departure, typically 72 hours. TDAC and VoA are entirely separate systems: obtaining your Visa on Arrival at the airport counter does not satisfy the TDAC requirement, and airlines or border officials can deny boarding or delay entry if TDAC is missing, even with a valid VoA in hand. Complete both, and keep your TDAC confirmation accessible on arrival.

We track both the exemption reform and VoA/TDAC requirements as they're published and can confirm your specific nationality's current status before you book.

General guidance only. VoA eligibility and terms are set by the Thai government and subject to change without advance notice. Independent visa assistance agency; not affiliated with any government body.