Entry Requirements and Visa for Thailand

For Travellers

For French Citizens

To encourage tourism, Thailand has simplified entry requirements for many nationalities. For a tourist trip, a passport in good condition valid for at least 6 months after the entry date is sufficient, with no visa required if staying fewer than 60 days (up from 30 previously). A return or onward ticket, along with proof of sufficient funds, may also be required in theory.

Since 2025, the old paper forms filled out on arrival have been replaced by a digital system. This is called the "Thailand Digital Arrival Card" (TDAC), which everyone must complete online (free of charge) at least 24 hours before arrival, regardless of nationality or mode of transport. The only exception: air transit passengers, who are exempt.

Multiple Entries

This concerns tourists visiting multiple countries in the region. Generally, you are allowed to enter and exit Thailand multiple times, provided you do not exceed two land entries per calendar year and theoretically 3 or 4 air entries. This applies regardless of the allowed stay duration, unless you hold a "Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa" (METV, valid for 6 months with a maximum 60-day stay per entry) or a "Destination Thailand Visa" (DTV, valid for 5 years with a maximum 180-day stay per entry), which offer more flexibility.

Long Stays

Like many countries, Thailand offers several types of paid visas for retirees, digital nomads, future residents, and other categories, such as the METV and DTV for multiple entries. These are for varying durations and require proof of financial means. Additionally, these visas are typically not issued in Thailand but by Thai consulates abroad.

There is also the well-known practice of a "visa run," which involves leaving Thailand for another country before returning to reset the stay duration. However, this practice is now officially illegal if done abusively, and checks are easier due to the shift to online procedures. Only "visa runs" that comply with the previously mentioned rules are permitted.

In Case of Overstay

Thailand has recently toughened penalties for overstaying (as well as for foreigners with legal issues). Heavy fines may be accompanied by imprisonment and deportation, along with a ban on re-entry for several years.

Other Nationalities

The same rules apply to Canadians, Swiss citizens, EU nationals, and many others.

Thai Consulates in France

• Consulate General: 8 rue Greuze, 75116 Paris. Tel: 01 56 26 50 50. There is also an honorary Thai consulate in Marseille and Monaco.