6/year
Visa-exempt entries · since Nov 2025
Visa-exempt stay
30 days
From April 2026 (was 60 days)
What changed in 2025–2026 (the short version)
Three policy changes in 18 months killed the rolling-stamp lifestyle:
- November 2025: Land-border entries capped at 2/year for the 93 visa-exempt nationalities. Air arrivals capped at 6/year. Both counts reset on 1 January.
- April 2026: Visa-exempt stay cut from 60 days to 30 days. Cabinet-approved. The 30-day extension at Thai Immigration is still available, so visa-exempt visitors can still reach 60 days total in-country (30 + 30).
- May 2025: TDAC mandatory. Every entry to Thailand requires the Thailand Digital Arrival Card at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours of arrival.
The combined effect: someone who used to live in Thailand on a rolling tourist stamp / border run cycle is now structurally locked out. The maximum legal "tourist" stay across a calendar year is now roughly 4–6 months at most for visa-exempt nationals — and they have to actually spend time outside Thailand between trips.
The status of border runs in 2026
Land borders (Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar)
| Border crossing | Status 2026 |
|---|---|
| Aranyaprathet ↔ Poipet (Cambodia) | Open · 2 visa-exempt entries/year cap applies |
| Mae Sai ↔ Tachileik (Myanmar) | Open · 2/year cap |
| Nong Khai ↔ Vientiane (Laos) | Open · 2/year cap |
| Mukdahan / Nakhon Phanom ↔ Laos | Open · 2/year cap |
| Sadao / Padang Besar ↔ Malaysia | Open · 2/year cap |
| Various smaller crossings | Variable — same cap applies |
Crossings are still operating normally for tourists who actually visit the neighbouring country. What no longer works: same-day "bounce out, bounce back in" runs as a rolling stay strategy.
Air arrivals
Six visa-exempt entries per calendar year via airports. Practically this means up to 6 separate visits, each capped at 30 days (post-April 2026) extendable by another 30 — so theoretically up to 360 days across a year. But Immigration officers have wide discretion and can refuse entry to anyone who looks like a serial tourist. Expect tougher questioning by visit 3+, and a likely refusal by visit 5–6.
Extensions at Jomtien Immigration (the new normal)
Instead of leaving the country to refresh your stamp, you extend at Jomtien Immigration. The standard 30-day extension is now the default move for short-stayers in Pattaya.
| Extension type | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day extension of visa-exempt | 1,900 THB | 1–2 hours at Jomtien | Visa-exempt visitors wanting more than 30 days |
| 30-day extension of TR (Tourist Visa) | 1,900 THB | 1–2 hours | TR e-Visa holders wanting beyond 60 days |
| Visa-exempt → TR conversion | 2,000 THB | Multi-visit · 1–2 weeks | Switching basis without leaving Thailand · case by case |
| Visa-exempt → Non-O conversion | ~2,000 THB + extension | Multi-visit · 1–2 weeks | Over-50 retirees with 800k seasoned |
Practical examples of legal extension paths:
- Visa-exempt 30 + extension 30 = 60 days total · 1,900 THB · most common short-stay pattern
- TR e-Visa 60 + extension 30 = 90 days total · ~3,000 THB · best for mid-length stays without committing to long-stay
- METV 60 days × 6 months · 5,000 THB · multi-trip scenario, requires 200k THB bank balance proof
The TR e-Visa: the workaround that still works
If 30 days on arrival isn't enough but you don't want a long-stay visa, the TR e-Visa (Tourist Visa, Single Entry) still gets you 60 days on arrival — same as visa-exempt used to. Apply online at the official Thai e-Visa portal before flying.
| Field | TR e-Visa |
|---|---|
| Cost | ~1,000 THB (~$30 USD) |
| Validity | 3 months from issuance |
| Stay on arrival | 60 days |
| Extendable at Jomtien | +30 days for 1,900 THB · max 90 days total |
| Counts toward 2/year land or 6/year air cap? | No · TR e-Visa entries don't count against the visa-exempt caps |
| Required documents | Passport scan, photo, hotel/flight confirmation |
| Processing time | 5–10 business days |
Key insight: TR e-Visa holders are not bound by the November 2025 land-border cap (which applies to visa-exempt entries). So the closest thing to "still doing visa runs" in 2026 is: TR e-Visa from your home country → 60 days in Thailand → leave → another TR e-Visa for next visit. But each TR e-Visa requires a fresh online application and proof of onward travel, so this isn't trivial.
The 2026 math: maximum days as a tourist
For someone who wants to be in Thailand without committing to a long-stay visa:
Visa-exempt only (no TR e-Visa)
- 2 land-border entries/year × (30 days + 30 extension) = up to 120 days
- Or 6 air entries/year × (30 days + 30 extension) = theoretically 360 days, but Immigration discretion will block this around entry 3–4
- Realistic ceiling: 4–5 months/year via visa-exempt alone
TR e-Visa (the real workaround)
- Each TR e-Visa: 60 days + 30 extension = 90 days max
- Multiple TR e-Visas/year possible — each requires a fresh application from outside Thailand
- Realistic: 2–3 TR e-Visas/year = ~6–9 months max in country, with mandatory exit gaps between them
METV (multi-entry tourist)
- 6-month multi-entry: 60 days per entry × unlimited entries within 6 months = ~180 days
- Then forced gap before applying for the next METV (which embassies grant grudgingly to repeat applicants)
- Realistic: ~6 months/year ceiling, with friction
The pattern: if you want to be in Thailand for more than ~6 months/year, the math forces you into a long-stay visa. The era of indefinite tourist-stamp residency is over.
When to switch to a long-stay visa
If you're in any of these situations, get a real visa instead of fighting the extension/run cycle:
You want 180+ days/year in Thailand
The tourist routes structurally cap you below this. Options by profile:
- Remote workers earning foreign income → DTV (5 years, 180 days per stay, 10k THB)
- Over 50 with 800k savings → Non-O retirement
- $80k+/year income → LTR (10 years, tax-exempt)
- Cash-rich, can't qualify for LTR → Privilege (650k+ THB, 5–20 years)
- Married to a Thai → Marriage Non-O
- Genuinely studying → Education (ED) — but pick a real school post-2025 crackdown
You're a serial border-runner with 4+ extensions in your passport
You're now flagged. Immigration officers see this in the system. Each subsequent entry is harder. By the time you're at extension 6, you'll likely be denied. Switch tracks before this becomes a deportation issue.
You've been refused entry once
The "you've been here too much" refusal is now common. If it's happened to you once, it'll happen again on similar profiles. Get a long-stay visa from your home country before flying back.
Locale network: Tourist (DE) · DTV upgrade · Rollback blog · Shoestring · DE mirror · RU mirror
FAQ
I went to Cambodia for the day to refresh my stamp — does that count against the 2-entry land cap?
Yes. Every visa-exempt entry counts, regardless of duration. A same-day bounce to Poipet and back to Aranyaprathet uses one of your two annual land entries. Make those two entries count.
Do TR e-Visa entries count against the cap?
No. The November 2025 cap applies specifically to visa-exempt entries (the free 30-day stamp on arrival for the 93 nationalities). Tourist Visa (TR), METV, and any Non-Immigrant visa entries don't count against that limit. This is the main reason TR e-Visa is the live workaround for anyone who needs a few extra months without committing to long-stay.
The 60-day extension was reduced — does the in-country extension still work?
Yes. From April 2026, visa-exempt visitors get 30 days on arrival instead of 60. The 30-day extension at Thai Immigration (1,900 THB at Jomtien) is still available, so total in-country stay can still reach 60 days. What changed is the upfront stamp duration, not the extension option.
Can I still apply for a fresh visa-exempt stamp after I leave Thailand and come back?
Yes — within the cap. 2 land entries / 6 air entries per calendar year. After that, you need a TR e-Visa, METV, or a long-stay visa. Officers can still refuse entry at their discretion if your travel pattern looks like de facto residency.
I have a long-stay visa — does the cap apply to me?
No. The 2/6 cap is purely on visa-exempt entries. If you hold any Non-Immigrant visa (Non-O, Non-B, ED, DTV, LTR, Privilege, Marriage, etc.) you enter on that visa and the cap doesn't apply. Just remember to get a re-entry permit before leaving Thailand if you want to keep your long-stay visa active.
What if I'm denied entry?
You'll be put on the next return flight at your own expense. Refused entries are flagged in the system, making future entries harder. If you've been refused once and you actually need to live in Thailand, the right move is to apply for a real long-stay visa from your home country before attempting another entry. Don't try to "test" by flying back.
Are visa runs still cheaper than getting a long-stay visa?
For 6+ months/year in Thailand, no. The DTV is 10,000 THB total for 5 years. That's 6,500 THB per year — cheaper than a single ED visa, way cheaper than 4 border runs at Pattaya minivan rates (~3,000 THB per round trip plus visa fees if any). The break-even is roughly 90 days/year: above that, a long-stay visa is the cheaper and easier answer.
Related guides
- Tourist Visa & visa exempt — 30 days on arrival from April 2026 (The new tourist baseline)
- DTV — 5 yrs · 180 days/stay · 10k THB (Best long-stay alternative)
- Jomtien Immigration — Hours, queue strategy, what to bring (Where extensions happen)
Free 15-min consultation
Want a personal answer?
A real human in Pattaya replies within 24 hours.