Thailand's 30-Day Visa Rule Is Now Live

Thailand's 30-Day Visa Rule Is Now Live: What UK and EU Visitors Need to Know

TL;DR: From 15 September 2026, UK and EU passport holders get 30 visa-free days in Thailand, not 60. The change is now in force. If your trip runs past a month you need to either apply for a Tourist Visa before you go, look at the DTV digital nomad visa, or extend once at an immigration office. Here is the full picture in plain English.

Thailand's cabinet approved this change earlier in 2026. We covered it when it was announced and flagged it was coming. As of 15 September, it is live. If you are landing in Thailand on or after that date on a UK or EU passport, your visa-free stamp gives you 30 days, not 60.

What exactly changes on 15 September?

Just the duration. No new paperwork, no new arrival fee, no extra forms at the border. The visa-exemption programme still applies to UK and EU passport holders, but the free stay is now capped at 30 days instead of 60. All 60 countries that previously got 60 days have been moved to 30 days under this update.

Day one is the day you arrive in Thailand. Count forward 30 calendar days from there and that is your last permitted day. If you are taking a two-week beach holiday you will not notice any difference. If you were planning a 45-day trip and expecting to overstay the old 60-day limit, the maths has changed.

What are my options if I want to stay longer than 30 days?

You have three solid routes, all of them legal and widely used by UK and European travellers.

• Tourist Visa (TR): Apply at a Thai embassy or consulate before you leave home. Gives you 60 days on arrival, extendable once for a further 30 days at a Thai immigration office, so up to 90 days in-country total.
• Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): Thailand's dedicated visa for remote workers, digital nomads, and long-term leisure travellers. Valid for five years, multiple-entry, up to 180 days per visit. Requires proof of remote work or an approved purpose.
• In-country extension: If you are already on a visa-free stamp you can apply for one 30-day extension at any immigration office, giving you 60 days in total. The process got tighter in 2026, so do not leave it to the last minute.

Is the DTV visa right for me?

If you are working remotely, freelancing, or planning a longer slow-travel stint in Thailand, the DTV is worth a serious look. It is not a tourist visa, so it requires a specific application with supporting documents, but it gives you far more flexibility than the standard visa-free route. Our full Thailand DTV visa guide covers eligibility, documents needed, and how to apply.

How do extensions work now?

You can extend a visa-free stamp once, for 30 days, at any Thai immigration office. The total stay is then 60 days. The process has got more rigorous since earlier in 2026: Thailand tightened its visa extension rules and is more likely to ask for proof of funds and onward travel. Turn up early, bring your passport, photos, the TM7 form and around 1,900 baht in cash. Do not apply on the day your stamp expires.

Can I still do a border run to reset the clock?

Technically yes. Leaving Thailand and re-entering gives you a fresh 30-day stamp. But Thailand has been cracking down on people who repeatedly enter on visa-exemptions rather than obtaining a proper visa. If you are planning a long stay it is far better to get the right visa upfront than to gamble on repeat entries being waved through at the border.

What about the bilateral agreements?

Not every country is affected by this change. Countries with separate bilateral treaties, such as South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru, retain their longer visa-free periods of 90 days under those agreements. UK and EU member states are on the standard visa-exemption list, so 30 days is the rule for all of them. There are no special carve-outs for individual EU countries.

Frequently asked questions about Thailand's 30-day visa rule

How many days do UK visitors get in Thailand from September 2026?

30 days, down from 60. The change took effect on 15 September 2026. You can extend once for a further 30 days at a Thai immigration office if needed.

How many days do EU visitors get in Thailand?

30 days, for all EU member states. All 60 countries on Thailand's standard visa-exemption list now get 30 days, regardless of which specific EU passport you hold.

Can I extend my 30-day visa-free stay in Thailand?

Yes, once, for 30 more days, giving you 60 days total. Apply at a Thai immigration office before your current stamp expires. Take your passport, two passport photos, a completed TM7 form, and around 1,900 baht.

Do I need any new forms or paperwork to enter Thailand visa-free?

No new forms are required by this change. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is a separate, already-established requirement that remains free. This update purely changes how long your visa-free stamp lasts.

Which countries still get 60 or 90 days in Thailand?

Countries with bilateral treaties keep their longer stays. South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru retain 90-day visa-free access under separate agreements. Those arrangements are unchanged by the September 2026 update.

A 30-day Thailand trip looks very different in budget terms to the old 60-day default, especially once you start pricing in accommodation, daily spend across baht and your home currency, and the cost of any visa if you want longer. BudgetBro lets you track all of it in one place across more than 160 currencies, so you always know where the trip sits. Check the latest UK to Southeast Asia flight prices to plan your route in, and always confirm your entry requirements at the official Thailand Immigration Bureau before you travel.