Do I need a visa for a short stay in Thailand?

Hi, we’re heading to Laos for 3 weeks from December 12 to January 1, 2025. We land in Bangkok. We’d like to know if we need a visa for a very short stay in Thailand since we’ll just be passing through. I read that since July 2024, a visa isn’t required for stays under 30 days. Is that correct?

Thanks for your help! Elise

Hi there, There’s never been a need for a visa for stays under 30 days (except for certain countries). What changed on July 15, 2024, is that the visa exemption was extended from 30 to 60 days. You’re not even affected if you’re taking a short trip to Thailand.

Hi there,

If your passport is French (or from many other nationalities), you don’t need a visa as long as your tourist stay doesn’t exceed 60 days (59 nights) from the day you arrive in Thailand to the day you leave. Officially, you’re supposed to be able to prove this upon arrival, but in practice, it’s usually only checked at check-in for your outbound flight.

From what I’ve read elsewhere, by the time you leave, the Immigration Card system might have been implemented, which all arrivals will need to fill out electronically before departure. I don’t know much more about it, but it’ll probably just be a formality. Stay updated on the info. The topic was discussed in the forum here: https://voyageforum.com/forum/thailande-prevoit-carte-arrivee-electronique-mai-2025-d10664618/

Thanks so much for your reply! I’ll keep myself posted… thanks again!

Thanks so much for your valuable feedback.

there's a good chance the visa exemption will be extended to 30 days. It's currently being validated by the authorities...