What documents do I need to travel to Thailand?
To enter Thailand you need a passport valid for 6 months and either a visa exemption (most Western travelers) or an approved visa on arrival.
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Entering Thailand - what you need
Thailand is one of the easiest countries to enter for tourism - millions of visitors go there every year. But the rules have changed in 2025: every traveler now needs to complete a digital arrival card online before they reach immigration.
- A passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date.
- A completed Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) submitted online before arrival.
- Proof of onward or return travel within your permitted stay period.
- A trip1 hotel booking confirmation or accommodation address.
- Proof of funds (10,000 THB per person, 20,000 THB per family).
Visa exemption versus visa on arrival
Since 15 September 2026, citizens of 60 countries and territories can enter Thailand visa-free for tourism for up to 30 days under the visa exemption scheme, down from 60 days before. The list includes the US, UK, EU countries, Canada, Australia and India. Visa-exempt entries over land borders are generally limited to two per calendar year.
Visa on Arrival is now limited to travelers from Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia, and citizens of Seychelles and Mauritius get a 15-day visa exemption. Travelers from countries not on these lists must apply for a tourist visa in advance.
What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)?
The TDAC replaced the paper TM6 form in May 2025. It is a free online declaration with your passport details, flight, and accommodation information. You must complete it within 3 days before arrival.
Once submitted you receive a QR code which Thai immigration scans on arrival. Without the TDAC you may be sent to a counter to complete it manually.
Hotel check-in in Thailand
Thai hotels must register foreign guests with local immigration within 24 hours of arrival - they handle this automatically. Bring your passport and trip1 booking confirmation to check-in.
What documents do I need to travel to Thailand - FAQ
A passport valid for at least six months from arrival with a blank page, a completed Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), and proof of onward or return travel within your permitted stay. Officers can also ask for your accommodation address and proof of funds. Your trip1 booking confirmation gives you the address the TDAC asks for.
The big change is the stay length. Since 15 September 2026, US, UK, Canadian, Australian and EU citizens, among 60 nationalities, can stay visa-free for up to 30 days, down from 60. Visa-exempt entries by land are generally limited to two per calendar year. The digital arrival card, required since May 2025, still applies.
You can submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card within three days before you arrive, not earlier. It asks for your passport details, flight and accommodation, and you get a QR code that immigration scans on arrival. Without it you may be sent to a counter to complete it manually.
Nothing. The TDAC is free on the official Thai immigration website. Sites that charge a fee are third-party services, not the government, so avoid them. All foreign visitors arriving by air, land or sea must complete it, including US citizens.
Only if you are travelling as a family, and only if an officer asks. Thai immigration can ask visitors to show they have at least 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family for their stay. Not every traveller is asked, but carry a recent bank statement or card so you can show it if you are.
At least six months from the date you arrive in Thailand, with at least one blank page. Airlines check this at check-in and can refuse to board you if your passport falls short, so renew early if you are close to the line.