Every Thailand visa change
going into 2026
The TDAC is mandatory. Seventeen non-immigrant codes became seven. The 60-day visa-exempt is heading back to 30. Here's what actually applies to you when you fly in next month.
Three things actually changed for foreigners in Thailand: the paper TM6 arrival card died and was replaced by the mandatory TDAC; the 17 historical non-immigrant visa codes were consolidated into 7 cleaner categories; and the visa-exempt period (extended to 60 days in late 2024) is now under review with a Cabinet proposal to revert it to 30 days. The DTV continues unchanged, and enforcement on back-to-back visa runs has tightened.
1. TDAC: the mandatory digital arrival card
The biggest practical change for every traveler — including expats returning home from a trip — is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which became mandatory on 1 May 2025 and replaced the old paper TM6 form completely. Every non-Thai national must submit the TDAC online before crossing the border, regardless of whether you're on a visa, visa-exempt, or visa-on-arrival.
What you have to submit
- Passport details (number, expiry, nationality)
- Travel dates and flight/transport information
- Accommodation address in Thailand for first night
- Onward travel information if applicable
- Health declaration (basic — disease symptoms within 14 days)
Where to do it
Only via the official portal at tdac.immigration.go.th. The application is free. Beware of third-party sites charging fees — they're scams or dropshippers. The official portal accepts submissions starting 72 hours before arrival and you'll receive a QR code by email. Save it offline; airports have weak WiFi at peak times.
What happens if you don't have one
Airlines now check TDAC compliance at boarding. Without a valid TDAC QR code, you can be denied boarding at your departure airport. At Thai immigration, missing TDAC means delays and possible secondary screening. Don't risk it — fill it out the day before you fly.
2. Seventeen non-immigrant codes became seven
Effective 31 August 2025, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs consolidated 17 historical non-immigrant visa codes into 7 main categories. This was largely an administrative cleanup — old codes that had been deprecated for years were finally retired — but it has practical implications for anyone applying via Thai embassies abroad.
The 7 categories
| Code | Purpose |
|---|---|
| B | Business / employment (was: B, IB) |
| O | Other (retirement, marriage, dependents, volunteer) |
| ED | Education / study |
| M | Media / journalism |
| R | Religious |
| RS | Research and Scientist |
| F | Official duties (diplomatic adjacent) |
If you applied for a Non-Immigrant visa before 31 August 2025 under an old code (like Non-O-A specifically issued as a sub-code), your existing visa is still valid until expiry — the consolidation applies to new applications only. The DTV, LTR, SMART, and Privilege visas are separate from this consolidation and were not affected.
3. The 60→30 day visa-exempt rollback proposal
Visa-exempt entry for citizens of 93 countries was extended from 30 to 60 days in late 2024 as a tourism-recovery measure. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has now signaled that the experiment is ending — a Cabinet proposal is heading to formal ratification to halve visa-exempt back to 30 days.
As of 26 April 2026, the change has not been enacted. The current 60-day visa-exempt remains in force. But every official statement we've seen indicates the rollback is happening — most likely sometime in mid-2026.
What this means for travelers
- Trip already planned for May–June 2026: 60 days still applies. Use them.
- Trip planned for late 2026: Plan for 30 days. The "+30 day extension" at any immigration office (฿1,900) is expected to remain, giving you a total 60-day stay if needed.
- Long-stay applicants: No impact. Your retirement, marriage, DTV, etc. are governed by separate rules.
- Frequent border bouncers: The 30-day cap combined with the November 2025 land-border 2/year cap makes ad-hoc visa-runs nearly impossible. The DTV at ฿10,000 for 5 years × 180 days/entry is now the rational alternative.
4. Stricter enforcement on back-to-back entries
Even before any official rollback of visa-exempt, immigration officers at major airports and land borders have been applying more discretion against visitors with patterns of consecutive visa-exempt entries. Documented at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and especially Mae Sai/Mae Sot land crossings:
- Refusal of visa-exempt entries for travelers with 3+ visa-exempts in the prior 12 months
- Requests for proof of onward travel beyond the typical "we'll see what we feel like" bar
- Proof-of-funds checks (typically ฿20,000 cash equivalent for solo travelers)
- Detailed questioning about source of income, accommodation, and intent
If you're approaching the third visa-exempt entry in 12 months and want to stay long-term, switch to a proper long-stay visa before the next entry, not after a border refusal.
5. Proof of funds: the ฿20,000 question
Proof-of-funds requirements have always been on the books — Thai immigration regulations have specified ฿20,000 per person or ฿40,000 per family for visa-exempt entry — but enforcement was sporadic for years. In 2026, enforcement at airports and land borders is more consistent.
What counts as proof
- Cash equivalent (฿20,000 in any currency at landing day's rate)
- Recent bank statement showing balance
- Credit card with available limit (proven by recent statement)
- Combination of cash and card
The threshold is rarely the issue — most travelers easily exceed it. The issue is officers asking for it. Have your phone ready to show a bank-app screenshot if asked.
6. The DTV continues — and is now the obvious answer for many
The Destination Thailand Visa launched in mid-2024 and has continued unchanged through 2026. Five years validity, 180 days per entry, ฿10,000 fee, remote-work explicitly permitted, and the soft-power category (Muay Thai, Thai cooking, Thai language, traditional Thai medicine) is broader than most people realize.
For anyone who would have done back-to-back visa-exempt or tourist visa rotations, the DTV is now the rational replacement. Read our full DTV page for the application path and what qualifies.
7. What didn't change (worth noting)
- LTR Visa: 10-year residency program continues, tax exemption under Royal Decree 743 intact
- Privilege Visa: 4 tiers (Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Reserve) all available; Bronze deadline still 30 September 2026
- Retirement (Non-O, O-A, O-X): Financial requirements unchanged; ฿800,000 deposit or ฿65,000/month for Non-O
- Marriage Non-O: ฿400,000 deposit or ฿40,000/month income; documentation rigor unchanged
- SMART Visa: Only S-track since the February 2025 reform; T, I, E, O tracks merged into LTR or discontinued
What to do this week
- If you have a trip planned, submit the TDAC the day before you fly. tdac.immigration.go.th
- If you've been doing visa-exempt rotations, plan your switch to a proper long-stay visa before the rollback. Use our visa finder quiz to identify your best fit.
- If your last visa-exempt entry was within 12 months and you're returning, expect more questions at immigration. Bring proof of funds and onward travel.
- If you're applying for any non-immigrant visa from a Thai embassy abroad, confirm the new code structure — older codes are no longer issued.