🇨🇳China

🇹🇭ThailandCN-TH

China to Thailand visa requirements

Q: Is the 60-day stay from the China-Thailand bilateral agreement?

No. The bilateral agreement effective 1 March 2024 provides up to 30 days per stay and a cumulative 90 days in any 180-day period. The current 60-day allowance is Thailand's later general visa-exemption scheme.

Q: Can I extend my stay?

Usually yes — visit a local Immigration Office before your stamp expires. A single extension of up to 30 days is discretionary and costs THB 1,900.

Q: Does this cover work?

It does not permit ordinary employment, residence, study, media activity, or remote-work relocation. The 60-day scheme mentions short business engagements and narrow urgent/ad-hoc work categories, but urgent/ad-hoc work requires notification to Thai authorities after entry.

Q: Is this rule subject to change?

Yes. Thailand's Cabinet approved revoking the 60-day scheme on 19 May 2026. It takes effect only after Royal Gazette publication plus 15 days, so verify official Thai sources before travel.

No visa needed while Thailand's current 60-day visa-exemption scheme remains in force. As of 2026-06-19, Chinese ordinary passport holders are listed in Thailand's current 60-day visa-exemption scheme for tourism, short business engagements, and narrowly defined urgent/ad-hoc work. The exemption is granted on arrival for up to 60 days and may be extended once for up to 30 days at Thai Immigration's discretion. Do not confuse this with the separate bilateral China-Thailand mutual visa-exemption agreement effective 1 March 2024, which provides a 30-day stay and a 90-days-in-180-days cumulative limit. Thailand's Cabinet approved revoking the 60-day scheme on 19 May 2026, but official Consular Affairs guidance says the change takes effect only 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette; until then, current conditions remain in place. Confirm the effective rule with Thai official sources and your airline before travel.

VISA-FREETOURISMPER-ENTRY ADMISSION; REPEATED ENTRIES SUBJECT TO IMMIGRATION DISCRETIONLast verified 2026-06-19

For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.

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/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-19

Visa type

Visa exemption (Thailand P.60 scheme; separate CN-TH bilateral waiver is 30 days)

Maximum stay

Up to 60 days per entry while P.60 remains in force; extension up to 30 days discretionary

per entry

Entries

Per-entry admission; repeated entries subject to immigration discretion

from issue date

Visa fee

Free for entry; TDAC free; optional extension THB 1,900

consular fee only

Processing time

Granted on arrival after passport and TDAC checks

standard track

Validity

Passport valid at least 6 months from entry

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Re-check the effective stay length

Thailand has approved a rollback of the 60-day scheme, but it takes effect only after Royal Gazette publication plus 15 days. Verify the rule still in force for your arrival date.

· pending change· official check

/02

Check passport validity

Carry a Chinese ordinary passport valid for at least 6 months from entry, with blank space for the entry stamp.

· 6mo minimum

/03

Book onward travel

Have a confirmed return or onward ticket within the permitted stay window. Airlines and immigration can ask for proof.

· onward proof

/04

Complete the TDAC online

Submit the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival at the official Immigration Bureau portal.

· online· free

/05

Arrive & enter

Present passport and TDAC confirmation at immigration; the visa-exemption stamp is issued at the border.

· on arrival

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

9 items

Personalized checklist

China -> Thailand · Visa exemption (Thailand P.60 scheme; separate CN-TH bilateral waiver is 30 days)

0 / 9 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredValid passport (6+ months)

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

Bio page + 2 blank pages

RequiredConfirmed return / onward ticket

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Within your stay window

RequiredProof of accommodation

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

First night minimum

RequiredSufficient funds

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family (cash/equivalent; border officers may ask)

RequiredCompleted TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card)

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Submit within 3 days before arrival

RequiredLatest visa-exemption notice

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Re-check before departure because 60-day rollback is pending

ConditionalOfficial application form or online application

Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed

Visa-free routes usually do not require a visa form; submit any arrival card or authorization if required.

RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary

Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it

Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.

RecommendedTravel medical insurance

Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates

Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.

Official sourcesRoyal Thai Embassy Ankara - 60-Day Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival (published 19 Oct 2023; updated 15 Jun 2026)Royal Thai Embassy Washington - New Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival to Thailand (published 13 Jul 2024; updated 5 Nov 2024)Thailand MFA - China-Thailand mutual visa exemption signing (published 28 Jan 2024; updated 28 Jan 2024)

Application link included: Royal Thai Embassy Ankara - 60-Day Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival (published 19 Oct 2023; updated 15 Jun 2026)

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Visa-exemption entry stampFreeNo visa fee for eligible Chinese ordinary passport holders

Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)FreeMandatory online arrival card; use the official portal

Optional extensionTHB 1,900Up to 30 days at Thai Immigration's discretion

Total estimate¥0 — THB 1,900incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

On-arrival visa exemption

At immigration

Stamp issued at the immigration counter after passport and TDAC checks.

TDAC online submission

Within 3 days before arrival

Free online arrival-card submission through tdac.immigration.go.th.

Extension

Same day in many offices

Apply at Thai Immigration before your stamp expires; approval is discretionary and the fee is THB 1,900.

Border re-entry

Variable

Frequent or repeated entries can be scrutinized. Verify current land-entry practice with Thai Immigration before relying on border runs.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Insufficient onward ticket proof

Airlines may deny boarding without confirmed return.

High

/02

Passport validity under 6 months

Hard rule — no exceptions at immigration.

Medium

/03

Pending scheme rollback

Thailand has approved revoking the 60-day scheme; travelers should verify whether the Royal Gazette effective date has passed before departure.

Medium

/04

Excessive land border crossings

Thai Immigration may scrutinize repeated land entries; rules have changed multiple times since 2024.

Medium

/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01

Immigration

Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.

/02

Customs

Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.

/03

Connectivity

Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.

/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024

2026-06-19

Reviewed by Claude Code

Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.

2026-06-19 · major

Corrected source of Thailand's 60-day exemption

Re-verified against official Thai sources. The current 60-day stay comes from Thailand's P.60 visa-exemption scheme, not the 1 March 2024 China-Thailand bilateral agreement. Added pending rollback warning and checked-date.

2026-05-19 · major

Thailand Cabinet approves visa-exemption rollback

Official MFA/Consular Affairs guidance says the 60-day scheme will be revoked once the Ministry of Interior notices are published in the Royal Gazette and 15 days have passed.

2024-07-15 · major

Thailand's 60-day visa-exemption scheme takes effect

China is included in the 93-country/territory list for up to 60 days under Thailand's expanded visa-exemption scheme.

2024-03-01 · major

China-Thailand mutual visa exemption begins

Bilateral agreement: ordinary passport holders are exempt for stays not exceeding 30 days, with cumulative stays not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.

2023-09-25 · major

Temporary visa-free program launched

Initial 5-month unilateral pilot from Thailand to Chinese citizens.

/09 — The questions