In this article:
What changed: The entry rules section by citizenship has been rewritten to match the rules in effect from September 15, 2026: Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine — 30 days without a visa, Belarus — visa on arrival for up to 15 days, citizens of Uzbekistan — visa obtained in advance. Added a fee of US$40/200 and cash payment at the embassy in Moscow, corrected the TDAC submission deadline.
A visa for Thailand is not one document but some fifteen categories, from a passport stamp requiring no paperwork at all to a ten-year resident program. A tourist, a remote worker, a retiree, and the spouse of a Thai citizen each need different visas and a different plan of action.
Choose your citizenship and the page will adjust to you. Then pick a visa based on your purpose and length of trip, check the table, and go through the checklist. Each visa has its own detailed guide.
I am a citizen of…
Citizenship determines everything: whether you're admitted without a visa, for how many days, and where to apply. Your choice is remembered.
For citizens of Russia
The stamp is applied at the border. Nothing needs to be arranged in advance.
Before September 15, 2026
60 days
AbolishedThe 60-day visa exemption was cancelled on September 15, 2026. Russians retain 30 days under the bilateral agreement; anyone who entered before this date may stay until the end of the period already granted.
Basis. Bilateral agreement between Russia and Thailand: holders of ordinary Russian passports may stay in Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days (Embassy of Thailand in Moscow, 31.08.2026). Russia is not included in the general list of 60 countries with 30-day visa exemption. officially
- Visa on Arrival
- Not available: as of September 15, 2026, visa on arrival is issued only to citizens of Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia. It isn't needed for a trip of up to 30 days either. officially
- e-Visa
- Since January 1, 2025, Russian residents apply for any type of visa only online via thaievisa.go.th. The Thai Embassy in Moscow accepts the fee only in cash US dollars at its premises within 14 days after the application is confirmed (tourist visa — US$40, multiple-entry — US$200); processing takes up to 14 working days from the payment date. How it works: see the electronic visa (e-Visa) — in a separate guide. officially
- Embassy
- Thai Embassy in Moscow, Serpov Pereulok, 6. An in-person visit is not required for e-Visa. officially
- Money at the border
- 20,000 ฿ per person / 40,000 ฿ per family. Caution: the missions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand contradict each other — Doha and Los Angeles state 20,000 ฿, Ankara 10,000 ฿. Bring 20,000 ฿. officially
- Extension
- +30 days at an immigration office, 1,900 ฿. At the officer's discretion. Step by step — see the guide visa extension in Thailand. secondary source
For citizens of Ukraine
The stamp is applied at the border. Nothing needs to be arranged in advance.
Before September 15, 2026
60 days
AbolishedUkraine has been included in the official list of 60 countries and territories with the 30-day visa exemption, which takes effect September 15, 2026.
Basis. Ukraine is on the official list of 60 countries and territories with 30-day visa exemption (from September 15, 2026). Ukraine has no bilateral visa exemption agreement with Thailand. officially
Kazakhstan's and Russia's 30 days rest on bilateral agreements. Ukraine has no such agreement — its period is set by the general list of 60 countries. Under this scheme, you may enter by land no more than twice per calendar year. If your trip is longer than 30 days, plan on a SETV tourist visa.
- Visa on Arrival
- Not available — Ukraine is not on the VOA country list. If the visa exemption isn't enough, the only option is a visa obtained in advance. officially
- e-Visa
- Online application via thaievisa.go.th is the only official channel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. How it works: see the electronic visa (e-Visa) — in a separate guide. officially
- Embassy
- There is no Thai embassy in Ukraine. The accredited embassy is in Warsaw (ul. Willowa 7). The status of an honorary consulate in Kyiv for 2026 has not been confirmed. secondary source
- Money at the border
- 10,000 ฿ per person / 20,000 ฿ per family — the notification threshold of the Thai Ministry of Interior. In cash; bank statements and cards formally do not count. secondary source
- Extension
- +30 days at an immigration office, 1,900 ฿, one time only. Step by step — see the guide visa extension in Thailand. secondary source
For citizens of Kazakhstan
The stamp is applied at the border. Nothing needs to be arranged in advance.
Before September 15, 2026
60 days
AbolishedThe 60-day visa exemption was cancelled on September 15, 2026. Kazakhstan retains 30 days under the bilateral agreement.
Basis. Kazakhstan is not on the general list of 60 countries. It is granted up to 30 days without a visa under a bilateral agreement with Thailand, checked against the Department of Consular Affairs list dated 24.02.2025. officially
- Visa on Arrival
- Not available: as of September 15, 2026, visa on arrival is issued only to citizens of Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia. It isn't needed for a trip of up to 30 days either. officially
- e-Visa
- Online application via thaievisa.go.th; jurisdiction — the embassy in Astana. How it works: see the electronic visa (e-Visa) — in a separate guide. officially
- Embassy
- Thai Embassy in Astana: Astana Tower business center, 16th floor, Samal Microdistrict 12. Periodically holds mobile consular days in Almaty. officially
- Money at the border
- 10,000 ฿ per person / 20,000 ฿ per family — the notification threshold of the Thai Ministry of Interior. In cash. secondary source
- Extension
- +30 days at an immigration office, 1,900 ฿, one time only. Step by step — see the guide visa extension in Thailand. secondary source
For citizens of Belarus
There is no visa-free entry for citizens of Belarus. A visa is required — VOA at the border or e-Visa in advance.
From September 15, 2026
VOA remains
The reform barely affects thisBelarus is on the official list of three countries issued visas on arrival (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Serbia): up to 15 days, fee 2,000 ฿.
Basis. Belarus is not on the official list of 60 countries with visa-free entry (in effect from September 15, 2026). There is also no bilateral agreement, checked against the list dated 24.02.2025. officially
Belarus is not on the visa-exempt entry list — neither on the previous list of 93 countries nor on the new list of 60. If you fly in without a visa and without a VOA, the airline may refuse to let you board. Plan for a VOA (up to 15 days) or an e-Visa in advance.
- Visa on Arrival
- The main option for a short trip. Up to 15 days, single entry, tourism only. Fee 2,000 ฿ — cash in baht, non-refundable. You need 4×6 cm photos, an accommodation booking, and a return ticket departing within 15 days. officially
- e-Visa
- The recommended option if you're staying longer than 15 days. Since January 1, 2025, residents of Belarus apply for any type of visa through thaievisa.go.th. A tourist visa gives 60 days. How it works: see the electronic visa (e-Visa) — in a separate guide. officially
- Embassy
- There is no separate Thai embassy in Belarus — the country falls within the consular district of the embassy in Moscow. In-person attendance is not required; applications are online. officially
- Money at the border
- For VOA — 10,000 ฿ per person / 20,000 ฿ per family, on top of the 2,000 ฿ fee for the visa itself. officially
- Extension
- VOA is hard to extend; for a trip longer than two weeks, it is cheaper to get an e-Visa right away. Step by step — see the guide visa extension in Thailand. secondary source
Find your visa in two clicks
Which visa you actually need
Purpose of your trip
For how long
Choose a purpose and length of stay — I'll show suitable visas with requirements and links to detailed guides.
All visas in one table
Amounts in baht (฿). Fees set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand change without notice — check before applying.
| Visa | How long you can stay | Money | Fee | Where to apply | Work | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry · RUvisa exemptionofficially | 30 days (from September 15, 2026) | — | 0 ฿ | Stamp at the border | Not allowed | +30 days, 1,900 ฿ |
| Visa on arrivalVisa on Arrivalofficially | 15 days, single entry | 10,000 ฿ per person | 2,000 ฿ in cash | Airport counter | Not allowed | Practically none |
| Tourist visaSETVofficially | up to 60 days per entry | ≈20,000 ฿ (depends on the mission) | 1,000 ฿; at the embassy in Moscow — US$40 (multiple-entry — US$200) | e-Visa or embassy | Not allowed | +30 days, 1,900 ฿ (up to 90 days in total) |
| Digital nomad visaDTVpartially confirmed* | 180 days per entry, 5-year visa | 500,000 ฿ in an account | ≈10 000 ฿ | e-Visa or embassy (not from within Thailand) | Only for a foreign employer | +180 days once per entry, 1,900 ฿ |
| Long-term residentLTRofficially | 5 years + 5 years | from US$40,000/year (4 categories; no income requirement at all for Wealthy Global Citizens) | 50 000 ฿ | ltr.boi.go.th → immigration | Yes, except the “remote worker” category | +5 years |
| Retirement visaNon-O-A / Non-Oofficially | 1 year, renewable | 800,000 ฿ in an account or 65,000 ฿/month in income | 5 000 ฿ | Embassy in your country of citizenship | Strictly prohibited | 1 year, 1,900 ฿ |
| Family visaNon-Osecondary source* | 1 year, renewable | 400,000 ฿ in an account or 40,000 ฿/month | 2 000 ฿ | Embassy, e-Visa, or status change within the country | A Work Permit can be obtained separately | 1 year, 1,900 ฿ |
| Student visaNon-Immigrant EDofficially | 90 days per entry, extendable to one year | Proof of funds | 2 000 ฿ / 5 000 ฿ | Embassy or e-Visa | Not allowed | 90 days each time, 1,900 ฿ |
| Work visa + Work PermitNon-Immigrant Bofficially* | 90 days per entry, extendable by one year | 20,000 ฿ per person | 2 000 ฿ / 5 000 ฿ | Embassy or e-Visa + employer letter | Only after obtaining a Work Permit | 1 year, 1,900 ฿ |
| Thailand Privilegeformerly Elite Visaofficially | 1 year per entry, membership of 5–20 years | Membership fee only | from 650,000 ฿ (Bronze) to 5,000,000 ฿ (Reserve) | thailandprivilege.co.th | Not allowed | Stamps can be extended throughout the membership term |
Notes on the figures*
- Digital nomad visa. 500,000 ฿ — official (MFA checklist). The 5-year term, 180 days, and the 10,000 ฿ fee are confirmed only by secondary sources.
- Family visa. 400,000 ฿ — a requirement not of the visa but of the annual extension (Royal Thai Police order 327/2557).
- Work visa + Work Permit. Working without a Work Permit is a criminal offense. The visa alone does not give the right to work.
Order of actions
What to do and when
1–2 months before
Decide whether you need a visa
- Check whether visa exemption still applies to your citizenship (the rules change).
- If the length or purpose falls outside the visa exemption, apply for an e-Visa. At the embassy in Moscow, processing takes up to 14 working days after the fee is paid, and you have 14 days to pay after confirmation is received.
- Check your passport validity: it must be valid for at least 6 months on the date of entry.
3 days before arrival
Fill out the TDAC
- The digital arrival card is mandatory for everyone, including visa-exempt tourists.
- Only tdac.immigration.go.th, free of charge. Paid lookalike sites are scams.
- You can submit it within 3 days before arrival; the day of arrival counts as one of those 3 days.
At the border
Go through passport control
- A return ticket or onward ticket to a third country — you may also be asked for this at check-in.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Cash: 10,000–20,000 ฿ per person, in baht. Cards and bank statements formally do not count.
- By land under the general 30-day visa exemption — no more than two entries per calendar year. More than two visa-exempt entries in a year without a clear reason — the officer may refuse entry. See entry stamp limits.
After checking in and afterward
Reporting
- TM30 is filed by the property owner or hotel within 24 hours of check-in.
- If you stay more than 90 consecutive days on a long-term visa — a TM.47 report every 90 days.
- Extend your visa early, not on the last day.
Formalities: mandatory for any visa
The visa is only half the story. These four items apply to every foreigner regardless of category.
TDAC · RU
Digital arrival card
- Who submits
- All foreigners, including visa-exempt tourists
- When
- Within 3 days before arrival, including the day of arrival
- Cost
- Free
- Fine
- You cannot get through the border without it
TM30
Notice of residence
- Who submits
- The property owner, landlord, or hotel — not you
- When
- Within 24 hours of check-in
- Cost
- Free
- Fine
- Up to 2,000 ฿ for the owner; for a hotel — 2,000 to 10,000 ฿
TM.47
90-day report
- Who submits
- Long-term visas, stays longer than 90 days in a row
- When
- Window: 15 days before the deadline to 7 days after
- Cost
- Free
- Fine
- Up to 5,000 ฿ plus up to 200 ฿ per day of delay
Overstay
Overstay
- Who submits
- Anyone who stays beyond the stamp
- When
- Counted from the first extra day
- Cost
- 500 ฿ per day, maximum 20,000 ฿
- Fine
- Over 90 days — deportation and an entry ban
Apostille
Document legalization
- Who submits
- Anyone submitting foreign documents: marriage certificates, diplomas, powers of attorney
- When
- Before applying for a visa or extension
- Cost
- Depends on the country and type of document
- Fine
- Without legalization, the document will not be accepted
Insurance in visa requirements
- Tourist visa. In the published list of documents for a tourist visa from the Thai Embassy in Moscow (updated September 12, 2026), medical insurance is not listed.
- Arrival card. Instructions for the digital arrival card (TDAC) does not provide for entering insurance policy details.
- Non-O-A Retirement Visa. On the page of the Thai Embassy in Moscow, insurance is mandatory: coverage of at least 3,000,000 baht or US$100,000, covering general illnesses, including COVID-19. Details — in the guide retirement visa for Russian citizens.
- Other visas. Check the list of documents for your category on the website of the embassy where you apply: requirements vary.
On choosing a policy: tourist insurance for Thailand — for a trip, medical insurance for expats — for long-term living in the country.
Verified October 4, 2026 against the pages cited; the lists apply to applications in Moscow — other embassies may differ. The publisher of MyThai does not hold an insurance agent or broker license. This material is for reference only.
Frequently asked questions
How many days can I currently stay in Thailand without a visa?
From September 15, 2026 — up to 30 days: for citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan under bilateral agreements, for citizens of Ukraine under the general list of 60 countries. Citizens of Belarus have no visa-exempt entry: visa on arrival of up to 15 days is available to them. Citizens of Uzbekistan need a visa obtained in advance. Anyone who entered before September 15 may stay until the end of the period already granted.
Is it true that Belarusians don't need a visa for Thailand?
No, this is a common mistake on travel websites. Belarus is not on the official list of countries with visa-exempt entry. There are two options: a Visa on Arrival for 15 days (2,000 ฿ in cash at the airport counter) or an e-Visa obtained in advance via thaievisa.go.th.
What changed on September 15, 2026?
The 60-day visa exemption has been cancelled. In its place: 30 days for 60 countries and territories, 15 days for two (Seychelles and Mauritius), visa on arrival — only for Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia. Bilateral agreements continue to apply separately, including those with Russia and Kazakhstan (30 days each). Entry by land under the general 30-day visa exemption is allowed no more than twice per calendar year.
Which visa suits a digital nomad?
DTV. The visa is valid for 5 years; each entry gives 180 days, with the option to extend by another 180 without leaving. The official requirement is 500,000 ฿ in an account, shown by a 3-month bank statement. You cannot work for a Thai employer on a DTV; it does not give a Work Permit. An alternative for those with an income of US$80,000 a year or more is LTR, but the “remote worker” category also does not come with a Thai Work Permit.
Which visa suits a retiree?
Non-O-A or Non-O Retirement: age 50 or older, 800,000 ฿ in an account or 65,000 ฿ in monthly income, renewed annually. Working under it is strictly prohibited. A 10-year alternative is LTR Wealthy Pensioner (passive income of at least US$80,000 a year, or at least US$40,000 plus US$250,000 in investments). A third option is Thailand Privilege: no age or income requirements, but a fee starting at 650,000 ฿.
How many times in a row can I enter visa-free?
There is no hard limit in law — it is at the officer's discretion. Since November 2025, the Immigration Bureau has announced that entry may be refused to those who use visa-exempt entry more than twice in a calendar year without a valid reason. The phrase “no more than two in a row” circulating on forums is not confirmed by official sources. From September 15, 2026, entry by land under the general 30-day visa exemption is allowed no more than twice per calendar year, so the scheme of “living in Thailand, leaving every 30 days” no longer works. More details on entry stamp limits in your passport — in a separate guide.
How much cash do I need to show at the border?
10,000 ฿ per person or 20,000 ฿ per family — the notification threshold of the Thai Ministry of Interior. The problem is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand's own missions contradict each other: the embassies in Doha and Los Angeles state 20,000 ฿ per person for visa-exempt entry, while the one in Ankara states 10,000 ฿. It is safest to plan for 20,000 ฿ in cash in baht. Checks are random, but the officer may refuse entry.
What is an overstay and how much does it cost?
It is staying beyond the permitted period. The fine is 500 ฿ per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 ฿ (the ceiling is reached on the fortieth day). Overstaying by more than 90 days already means deportation and an entry ban. Only these figures are officially confirmed; the detailed scale of bans of 1, 3, 5, and 10 years is published by law firms, and there is no Immigration Bureau document with it.
Will I become a tax resident of Thailand?
If you spend more than 180 days in the country in a calendar year — formally yes, regardless of visa type. Since 2024, the tax rules on foreign-sourced income have changed. LTR holders in the Wealthy Pensioner and Work-from-Thailand categories are exempt from tax on foreign income; Highly-Skilled Professionals have a flat rate of 17%. For details, consult a Thai tax advisor.
Where can I officially check the rules before flying?
Four websites, and only these: immigration.go.th (Immigration Bureau), mfa.go.th (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, lists of visa-exempt countries), thaievisa.go.th (visa applications), and tdac.immigration.go.th (arrival card). Everything else, including this page, is secondhand information. Fees and lists change without notice.
Sources and verification date
Figures on this page were checked against primary sources on July 8, 2026; entry rules by citizenship were updated on September 30, 2026. Where no official document exists, the note “secondary source” or “not confirmed” is shown — do not ignore it.
Source list (15)
- Lists of countries for 30- and 15-day stays and visas on arrival from September 15, 2026 (TAT Newsroom)
- Bilateral visa exemption agreements, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, 24.02.2025
- Russians — up to 30 days under the agreement; changes to visa exemption and visa on arrival (Thai Embassy in Moscow)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand briefing, 03.09.2026: cancellation of the 60-day visa exemption
- DTV checklist, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (PDF)
- Non-Immigrant O-A: age, 800,000 ฿, work prohibition (MFA)
- Non-Immigrant B and Work Permit (MFA)
- Consular fees (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand)
- LTR: four categories, BOI 2025 brochure (PDF)
- Thailand Privilege: tiers and prices
- TDAC — official portal
- Thai e-Visa — official application portal
- Overstay: 500 ฿/day, ceiling 20,000 ฿ (Thai Embassy in Washington)
- e-Visa is mandatory for residents of Russia and Belarus from 01.01.2025 (embassy in Moscow)
- Thai Embassy in Astana
Important. This page is a navigation tool, not legal advice. Thai visa rules and fees change without notice. Before traveling, check the requirements on immigration.go.th and at the Thai embassy. If your situation is non-standard — marriage to a Thai citizen, investment, inheritance — consult a licensed lawyer.