THB 500 per day in fines, capped at THB 20,000, paid at the airport on exit. Overstays of 90 days+ trigger automatic bans (1-10 years). Pay and leave voluntarily before you're caught.

Home/from/gb/to/th

🇬🇧UNITED KINGDOM

🇹🇭THAILANDGB-TH

Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit Thailand?

Q: Do I need the TDAC even with visa exemption?

Yes. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is mandatory for every foreign visitor regardless of visa status. Submit free at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours of arrival.

Q: Can I extend my stay?

Yes — once. A one-time 30-day extension is available at a Thai immigration office before your current stamp expires. Bring passport, TM.7 form, photo, and THB 1,900.

Q: What is the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)?

A 5-year multiple-entry visa (THB 10,000) for digital nomads, remote workers, and people doing Muay Thai, Thai cuisine, or wellness programs. Each entry up to 180 days, renewable once for another 180.

Q: Can I work on a visa exemption?

No. Visa-exempt entry is for tourism and short business meetings only. Paid work requires a Non-B visa plus a work permit.

Visa-free for UK passports — but 60-day cap is being cut to 30 days from 2026. TDAC mandatory. British ordinary passport holders enter Thailand visa-free for tourism or short business visits. The Thai cabinet approved on 19 May 2026 a reduction from 60 to 30 days for most eligible nationalities (including the UK). The change takes effect after publication in the Royal Gazette. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is mandatory within 72 hours of arrival for every foreign visitor and replaced the paper TM6 card. A one-time 30-day extension is available at an immigration office for THB 1,900. Passport must be valid 6 months from entry.

VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-27

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.

United Kingdom (ILR)Living in United Kingdom as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-27

Visa type

Visa-free entry (in transition: 60 → 30 days)

Maximum stay

60 days now; 30 days post-implementation, extendable +30 days

per entry

Entries

Multiple

from issue date

Visa fee

Free (TDAC); THB 1,900 for extension

consular fee only

Processing time

On arrival

standard track

Validity

Per entry; rule change in publication phase

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Check passport validity

Your UK passport must be valid for at least 6 months from arrival, with one blank page.

· 6 months· 1 blank page

/02

Confirm the current visa-free window

Until the new rule is gazetted, UK passports still get 60-day visa-free entry. After implementation it drops to 30 days. Check immigration.go.th close to your travel date.

· 60d now → 30d transition

/03

Submit the TDAC

Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours before arrival. It's free and replaces the paper TM6.

· TDAC mandatory· free

/04

Arrive and clear immigration

Present passport and TDAC confirmation at BKK, DMK, HKT, CNX, USM, or other entry points. The stamp will show the allowed stay.

· airport stamp

/05

Extend if needed

Visit a Thai Immigration Bureau office before your stamp expires for a one-time 30-day extension. Bring passport, TM.7 form, photo, and THB 1,900.

· +30 days· THB 1,900

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items

Personalized checklist

0 / 10 complete

UK passport

Valid 6+ months from entry, 1 blank page

TDAC submission

Free, within 72 hours before arrival

Confirmed onward or return ticket

Required at boarding and immigration

Accommodation evidence

Hotel booking, Airbnb, or host's address

Funds evidence

Approx THB 20,000 per person / THB 40,000 per family (officers can ask)

Travel insurance

Recommended; required for some longer-stay schemes

Yellow fever certificate (if applicable)

Required if arriving from risk zones

Departure card copy

Keep the stamp for exit and any extension

Extension docs (if extending)

TM.7 form, passport copies, photo, fee

Tourist visa (if longer trip)

Single 60-day TR visa via Royal Thai Embassy in London

Track your progress · save & email a copy

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Visa-free entryFree60 days now; 30 days post-implementation

TDACFreeMandatory, within 72 hours of arrival

30-day extensionTHB 1,900One-time, at an immigration office

Tourist visa (TR)£30 (single) / £150 (METV multi-entry)Apply at Royal Thai Embassy in London or via eVisa

Overstay finesTHB 500/day, max THB 20,000Plus possible ban; resolve at immigration before exit

Total estimateFree — THB 22,000+ (with extension and overstay risk)incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa-free arrival

Minutes

Standard airport entry after TDAC scan and biometric check.

Extension at immigration

Same day

Visit a local immigration office; some areas (Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai) are busy.

Tourist visa (TR)

3-5 working days

Via Royal Thai Embassy in London or eVisa. Multi-entry (METV) requires extra docs.

Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

Up to 15 working days

Long-stay digital nomad visa, 5-year multi-entry, THB 10,000 fee.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Visa-run abuse pattern

Repeated back-to-back visa exemptions, especially via land borders, are scrutinized. Officers can deny entry to suspected long-stay residents.

Medium

/02

TDAC not submitted

Airlines can deny boarding to passengers without a valid TDAC; immigration can hold travelers until it's filed.

Medium

/03

No return or onward ticket

Airlines and immigration require confirmed onward travel within the allowed stay window.

Medium

/04

Insufficient funds

Immigration may ask for evidence of THB 20,000 (single) or THB 40,000 (family).

Low

/05

Prior overstay

Past Thai overstays trigger automatic refusals or limited stays.

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

2026-05-27

United Kingdom to Thailand route verified

Confirmed 60-day visa-free in effect, 19 May 2026 cabinet approval of move to 30-day cap, mandatory TDAC, and extension at THB 1,900.

2026-05-19 · major

Cabinet approves cut from 60 to 30 days

The Thai cabinet approved reducing visa-exempt stays from 60 to 30 days for around 90 nationalities, citing visa-run abuse. Effective after publication in the Royal Gazette.

2024-07-15

Visa exemption extended to 60 days

Thailand expanded its visa-exemption scheme to 93 countries with a 60-day stay; this is the rule now being scaled back.

/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Is the 60-day stay still valid in May 2026?—

Yes — the cabinet decision of 19 May 2026 must still be published in the Royal Gazette before it takes effect. Check immigration.go.th and the FCDO travel advice close to your travel date.

Do I need the TDAC even with visa exemption?+

Can I extend my stay?+

What is the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)?+

What if I overstay?+

Can I work on a visa exemption?+