Travel Tips

Thailand Entry Rules in 2026: TDAC, Visa-Free Stay Changes & What Applies Right Now

By Thailand-Tours Team•May 22, 2026•14 min read

Thailand entry rules are in reset mode as of May 2026. Two stories matter at once: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is already compulsory for non-Thai arrivals, while the Cabinet has approved a rollback of the 60-day visa-exemption scheme—but the new nationality-by-nationality rules only take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette.

Editorial note: Do not rely on 2025 screenshots or second-hand advice. Confirm your nationality's rules with the Thai embassy or MFA-linked sources before you fly—and re-check the day Royal Gazette details appear.

What applies now vs what changes next

Topic	Status today	Pending change
TDAC	Mandatory for non-Thai arrivals (air, land, sea)	Keep checking submission window & transit rules
Visa exemption length	Existing framework until Gazette + 15 days	Rollback of 60-day scheme; new tiers by nationality
Advice quality	Use official TAT / TDAC pages	Embassy-specific confirmation after Gazette

The highest-risk gap for travellers is assuming a friend's 2025 visa-free stay length still applies. Until the Royal Gazette notice is published, treat Cabinet-approved numbers as directional—not operational for your passport.

TDAC: complete before arrival

All non-Thai travellers must submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before entry, generally within three days of arrival, whether you arrive by air, land, or sea.

Practical TDAC tips

Submit on a stable connection—save the confirmation screen or QR
Use passport details exactly as printed; typos slow immigration
Have hotel booking and onward travel ready; officers may ask
Do not wait until check-in at the airport—airlines increasingly check

For a mistakes-focused companion read, see our 5 costly entry mistakes and Thailand 2026 changes overview.

Approved visa-exemption framework (pending Gazette)

Under the Cabinet-approved framework reported in May 2026:

54 nationalities/territories → 30 days visa exemption
3 nationalities/territories → 15 days
Bilateral agreements continue separately
Visa on Arrival remains for 4 places as before

Important: We are not publishing nationality-specific lists here until the Royal Gazette and embassy guidance confirm them. Indian travellers should verify with the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi or Mumbai before booking long stays.