Your pre-departure checklist
If you are packing medication, check our guide to bringing medicine into Thailand before travelling.
Before packing, also check Thailand's vape and IQOS rules.
Prepare before departure
Check your passport
At least 6 months’ validity is required for Visa on Arrival, together with 2 blank pages. Six months’ validity is generally advised for all travellers; confirm the rule for your entry route. Tourism exemptions are not available to Travel Document for Aliens holders.
Confirm your entry option
Check your nationality, purpose and planned stay with the entry checker. Exemptions are for tourism only.
Prepare onward travel and accommodation
Have onward/return ticket and accommodation details ready. The Thailand arrival card asks for accommodation. Visa on Arrival specifically requires a fully paid onward ticket usable within 30 days of entry.
Prepare evidence of funds
Exemption: 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB per family. Visa on Arrival: 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family. Other visas have their own criteria.
Complete your TDAC
All non-Thai nationals entering by air, land or sea must submit before arrival, within 3 days including arrival day — up to 72 hours before. Keep the confirmation/QR. Thai nationals do not need TDAC.
Review health prompts
Complete the TDAC health declaration. The system prompts when countries visited in the previous 2 weeks, boarding country, nationality or flight are on Ministry of Public Health lists.
Compare the document checks
| Item | Visa exemption | Visa on Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Tourism only; check the nationality scheme. | Tourism; Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia in this guide. |
| Passport | Six months is generally advised; exact route requirements are unverified — confirm. | At least 6 months of validity and 2 blank pages. |
| Funds | 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB per family. | 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family. |
| Onward travel | Have onward or return details ready. | Fully paid onward ticket usable within 30 days of entry. |
| Arrival card | TDAC for non-Thai arrivals. | TDAC for non-Thai arrivals. |
Use the comparison to organise your documents, then read the conditions for your own route. Evidence of funds for a short tourism entry is separate from the financial requirements for DTV, retirement or LTR. The presence of accommodation information in TDAC likewise does not replace checking your visa option.
Frequently asked questions
How much money should I show for Thailand entry?
The guide lists 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB per family for exemption, and 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family for Visa on Arrival. Other visas have their own financial criteria.
Do I need accommodation details for TDAC?
Yes. Prepare travel details and accommodation in Thailand along with your passport and personal information. Complete the TDAC in English and follow the health declaration prompts for your journey.
Does an onward ticket within 30 days allow a 30-day Visa on Arrival stay?
No. Visa on Arrival permits 15 days under the scheme covered here. Its fully paid onward-ticket requirement is a ticket usable within 30 days of entry; that document condition does not extend the permitted stay.
Is six months of passport validity confirmed for every entry route?
Six months of validity and 2 blank pages are confirmed here for Visa on Arrival. Six months is generally advised for all travellers, but the exact requirements for other routes are unverified; confirm with your embassy or Thai Immigration.
Check the guide for your application
Travelling with children? Start with the child’s visa or exemption route and the main family entry checklist. For a longer visit, see DTV applications through London or where to apply for an extension in Bangkok.
Sources
Official and source publications referenced for this page.