Thailand Visa Exemption Change: Back to 30 Days (15 September 2026)
Visa Exemption from 15 September 2026: 30 Days, Then Non-B
What changes on 15 September 2026, how the extension works (commonly 1,900 THB), and how we use the 30-day exemption as a short arrival bridge while your school paperwork finishes.
1. What Changed and the Two Dates That Matter
The two dates we get asked about most, and where to check them yourself.
The Ministry of Interior announcements were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and take effect 15 days after publication. That puts the start date at 15 September 2026.
Some online headlines mixed up the publication date with the start date and said 1 September. The official notices give 15 September 2026. Please check them yourself on immigration.go.th and in the Royal Gazette, because that is where the official rule lives, not on our blog.
✓ The stamp date decides. If your entry stamp is dated 14 September 2026 or earlier, you keep the 60-day stay you were given. If it is dated 15 September or later, you typically get 30 days.
| Item | Until 14 September 2026 | From 15 September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Main visa-free stay | Up to 60 days | Up to 30 days |
| Countries on main list | 93 countries and territories | 60 countries and territories |
| Stated purpose | Tourism, short business, urgent work | Tourism only |
| One in-country extension | Yes: up to +30 days, commonly 1,900 THB | Yes: up to +30 days, commonly 1,900 THB |
| Practical ceiling per entry | About 90 days total | About 60 days total |
| Land border entry cap | 2 visa-exempt land entries per year | 2 per year (MY, BN, ID, SG exempt) |
| 15-day exemption tier | Not separated | Mauritius and Seychelles |
| Visa on Arrival (VoA) | Wider list | Azerbaijan, Belarus, Serbia only |
Current practice as we understand it; the column that applies depends on the date on your entry stamp. Check immigration.go.th and the Royal Gazette for the official rule.
2. Why Teachers Can Still Use This Route
How 30 plus 30 days can work as a short paperwork bridge.
Schools Move Slower Than Flights
We often see a teacher's flight date arrive before the school sponsorship letter, WP-3 pre-approval, degree legalisation, police check and medical certificate are all in one place. Flights cannot always be moved. An exemption can work as a short arrival bridge. It is not permission to work.
30 + 30 = 60 Days on the Ground
The main change after 15 September is the length of your first stamp: typically 30 days instead of 60. A 30-day stamp plus one TM.7 extension of up to 30 days gives roughly 60 days in Thailand. If your passport is on the list, that can buy time while your papers finish, but the officer at the stamp decides whether to let you in.
Cannot Teach on Exemption
An exemption is not work permission, and neither is a TR tourist visa. No classes and no salary until your Non-B visa and work permit are in place. The exemption only lets you in as a visitor while your school and our coordinators prepare that paperwork.
3. The 60-Country 30-Day List and Bilateral Treaties
The published list for the 30-day exemption. Check the current list on immigration.go.th before you book.
The 60 Visa-Exempt Countries (30 Days Tourism):
Australia; Austria; Bahrain; Belgium; Bhutan; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Canada; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Fiji; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; India; Indonesia; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Maldives; Malta; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Oman; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Africa; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Taiwan; Turkiye; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America.
4. Counter Rules: What Officers Check
Entry is always at the officer's discretion under the Immigration Act. These are the typical counter asks we see, not a guaranteed list.
Purpose is Tourism
From 15 September the stated purpose of the exemption is tourism. Have your hotel booking to hand and answer the officer's questions honestly. You are not entering to work, and you must not work until your Non-B and work permit are in place.
TDAC Arrival Card (Free)
Submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours before arrival. It is free. Watch out for copycat sites that charge a fee, and save the QR confirmation on your phone.
Proof of Funds (Sometimes Asked)
Officers may ask to see funds. The figure commonly cited is 20,000 THB per person (40,000 THB per family), in cash or a bank balance you can show. It is a typical counter ask, not a guaranteed check either way.
Onward Flight Booking
Airlines and officers may ask for proof that you will leave Thailand within your permitted stay. It is a typical ask rather than a guaranteed one, so keep the booking on your phone.
TM.30 Address Receipt
Your hotel or landlord should file the TM.30 residence notification within 24 hours of check-in. Ask for a copy of the receipt, because offices usually want it for your extension. More in our TM.30 guide.
Land Border Limits
Visa-exempt land border entries are capped at two per calendar year (Malaysian, Bruneian, Indonesian and Singaporean passports are outside this cap). Arrivals at international airports do not count towards the 2-entry land limit.
5. How to Extend the Exemption (Commonly 1,900 Baht)
One extension per entry, for up to 30 extra days. Fees and paperwork can change, so confirm at immigration.go.th or your provincial office that week.
📋 What Offices Usually Ask For (TM.7):
- ✔ Original passport with at least 6 months validity
- ✔ Photocopy of passport photo page and current entry stamp
- ✔ Completed Form TM.7 (Application for Extension of Stay)
- ✔ One recent 4 × 6 cm passport photo on white background
- ✔ The fee in cash, commonly 1,900 THB (bring exact cash; cards are not accepted)
- ✔ Landlord or hotel TM.30 residence notification receipt
- ✔ TDAC submission confirmation code screenshot
⏱️ How We Do It at Immigration:
When to apply: We suggest visiting your provincial immigration office 7 to 14 days before your 30-day stamp runs out. The extra days are normally added from the end of your current stamp, so going early does not usually cost you any days.
Where: Apply at the provincial office that covers your TM.30 address (for our teachers that is often Sukhothai, Phitsanulok or Tak). You cannot extend at the airport departure desk.
Office hours: Most offices open Monday to Friday, about 08:30 to 16:30, and close on Thai public holidays. Check your office before you go.
6. Exemption vs. TR Tourist Visa vs. Direct Non-B
Pick your route by how long your papers will take.
| Your Document Status | Best Route to Use | Total Days | Action Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| File nearly ready, flight soon | 30-day visa exemption | 30 + 30 = 60 days | Land visa-free, settle in, school finishes Non-B paperwork. |
| Police check / legalisation takes 6 to 10 weeks | Tourist Visa (TR) via e-Visa | 60 + 30 = 90 days | Apply for TR online before flying for a larger buffer. |
| Nationality dropped from list, no treaty | Tourist Visa (TR) | 60 + 30 = 90 days | Must apply before flying; visa-free entry is unavailable. |
| WP-3 pre-approval already issued | Non-Immigrant B e-Visa | 90 days initial | Cleanest route: arrive with your Non-B stamped from home. |
Day counts are typical at the time of writing. Check the current e-Visa terms on the official Thai e-Visa site, and remember the officer at the stamp decides on entry.
7. What If Your Documents Are Delayed?
What we do to keep your stay in order while your papers finish.
Verify Entry Date
The stamp date decides. Stamped in on or before 14 September: typically 60 days. Stamped in on or after 15 September: typically 30 days. Check the date on your stamp, not your ticket.
Calendar Day 18
Set a reminder for Day 18 of your stay. If the school's Non-B paperwork is not ready to lodge, go to provincial immigration and apply for the TM.7 extension (up to 30 days).
Compile School File
Your school puts together your degree, background check, medical certificate and WP-3 pre-approval letter for the Department of Employment.
Non-B Conversion
If enough days are left on your stamp, the change to Non-B may be possible inside Thailand (your office decides); otherwise we organise a consular trip to Laos. Never let your stamp run out.
8. What You Cannot Do on a Visa Exemption
Three Things You Cannot Do:
- ❌ No teaching on an exemption: An exemption is not work permission. No classes, no covering timetables and no salary until your Non-B visa and work permit are in place. Working without permission can lead to fines and deportation.
- ❌ The DTV is not a teaching visa: The Destination Thailand Visa is meant for people working remotely for employers outside Thailand. It does not let you work in a Thai school. More in our DTV guide.
- ❌ No rolling border runs: Visa-exempt land entries are capped at two per calendar year, so repeated border hops will not keep you in the country.
9. After You Land: The Transition Sequence
How our teachers go from a visitor stamp to working legally.
When you arrive on an exemption, our coordinators help you check in and make sure your landlord files the TM.30 residence report. At the same time, our operations team works on your school contract, background check and hospital medical certificate.
Once the Department of Employment issues your WP-3 pre-approval letter, you move to a Non-Immigrant B visa. Many of our teachers do this on an organised consular trip to the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane or the Consulate in Savannakhet, Laos. The full process is in our Visa and Work Permit Guide 2026.
✓ With your Non-B active, your digital work permit is finalised and your stay is extended at provincial immigration to cover your teaching contract.
10. Overstay Penalties: Commonly Cited Figures
Overstaying is serious. These are the figures commonly cited; check Immigration for the current rules. They are not KET's rules, and the authorities decide each case.
| Overstay Condition | Fine (Commonly Cited) | Re-Entry Ban (Commonly Cited) |
|---|---|---|
| Voluntary surrender under 90 days | 500 baht per day (capped at 20,000 baht) | No ban, but recorded on your immigration record |
| Voluntary surrender 90 days to 1 year | 20,000 baht maximum fine | 1-year entry ban |
| Voluntary surrender over 1 year | 20,000 baht maximum fine | 3 to 10-year entry ban depending on duration |
| Apprehended by authorities (any length) | Fine plus detention and deportation costs | 5-year ban if under 1 year; 10-year ban if over 1 year |
Commonly cited / check Immigration. KET is not Immigration. Confirm current fines and bans on immigration.go.th and in the Royal Gazette.
11. Pre-Flight Checklist for Teachers
- [ ] Passport valid for at least 6 months with 2 blank facing pages
- [ ] TDAC arrival card done at tdac.immigration.go.th (free) within 72 hours before arrival
- [ ] First night accommodation address ready for TM.30 residence filing
- [ ] Onward or return flight within your permitted stay (a typical counter ask)
- [ ] Proof of funds, commonly cited as 20,000 THB per person in cash or bank statements (a typical ask, not guaranteed)
- [ ] Original unlaminated degree and criminal background check in hand luggage
- [ ] Calendar reminder set 10 days before stamp expiry for TM.7 extension
- [ ] KET coordinator contact number and LINE account saved on your phone
- [ ] Read our pre-departure guide for the full paperwork and packing list
