Is it safe to travel to Thailand right now?

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Thailand set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Thai Embassy in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Thailand, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least 1 blank page.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

If you’re a dual national, it is best to leave Thailand on the same passport you used to enter – this will avoid problems at immigration.

Visa requirements

From 15 September 2026, if you enter Thailand under the visa exemption scheme, you can stay for up to 30 days for tourism only. Visa-exempt entry does not cover business travel, including attending conferences, meetings or other business activities. If you are travelling for business purposes, you should obtain the appropriate visa before you travel.

Visa-exempt entry for tourism through land-border immigration checkpoints is normally limited to 2 entries per calendar year. This restriction does not generally apply to arrivals by air. If you frequently enter Thailand as a tourist, immigration officials may ask for evidence of your onward travel, accommodation, or sufficient funds, and may refuse entry if they believe you are not a genuine visitor.

If you entered Thailand before 15 September 2026, you will usually be allowed to stay for the period granted when you arrived. If you want to stay longer, you must get the appropriate visa before you travel or, if eligible, apply for an extension through the Thai immigration authorities.

You may be asked to show that you meet the entry requirements. This could include proof that you have enough money for your stay (at least 10,000 Thai baht per person or 20,000 Thai baht per family) and evidence of onward or return travel. British nationals have been refused entry for failing to provide this evidence.

If you overstay your permission to stay in Thailand, you could be fined, detained, deported or banned from re-entering the country. Make sure you understand the conditions of your stay and get any visa extension you need before your permission expires.

If you plan to work, study, retire or live in Thailand, you must get the appropriate visa before you travel.

Digital Arrival Card

From 1 May 2025, all foreign nationals entering Thailand, whether by air, land or sea must complete a digital arrival card online before arrival. Travellers can register for an arrival card within 3 days before they arrive.

Overstaying your visa

If you overstay the period of your visa, you will get a fine of 500 Thai baht a day up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. You risk being:

• held in detention
• deported at your own expense
• banned from re-entering Thailand for up to 10 years

Conditions in detention centres can be harsh.

Vaccine requirements

To enter Thailand, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Thailand guide.

Ebola

As a public health measure, Thailand has introduced health screening for travellers arriving from affected regions. Travellers are subject to a mandatory quarantine or self-isolation period of at least 21 days.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared this a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Thailand. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking cigarettes into Thailand

It is illegal to take more than 200 cigarettes per person into Thailand. This is enforced at customs on arrival. If you go over the limit, you could be fined 10 times the value. Your cigarettes will likely be confiscated.

Some countries have imposed measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak. These can include restrictions on entry and health screening measures for travellers having recently visited an affected country. If you are suspected of having symptoms, you may be subject to isolation, quarantine and/or travel restrictions. Contact the authorities of the country you are travelling to for more details.

The authorities of a country or territory decide who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from local authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

Passport

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you're travelling with.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid at least 6 months upon entry into Thailand.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

You should also be aware that current systems used by some countries and travel companies may not recognize the “X” gender identifier. You may still be asked to provide your sex/gender information as either male or female when travelling.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics
• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports and other travel documents

Visas

Tourist visa: not required for stays of up to 30 days
Business visa: required
Student visa: required
Work visa: required

Thai visa applications

If you're travelling to Thailand for tourism with a regular Canadian passport, you can obtain a 30-day visa exemption on arrival (no visa required), which can be extended at the Immigration Office for a maximum of 30 days, at the discretion of the immigration officer.

If you wish to stay longer than 30 days, or work or study in Thailand, you must obtain the appropriate visa from the Thai authorities by submitting your application online.

Avoid using visa agents or intermediaries, as Thai authorities actively monitor and strictly enforce visa regulations. If you have a passport with altered or counterfeit visas or stamps, you could face fines, jail, deportation and future entry bans.

Digital Arrival Card

All travellers must complete a digital arrival card online before they arrive in Thailand. This applies to all points of entry—air, land, or sea.

Register for a digital arrival card – Thailand’s Immigration Bureau

Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV)

A METV is valid for 6 months and allows multiple entries, however each visit must be 60 days or less. The METV must be obtained before travelling.

Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

A DTV is valid for five years. This visa allows multiple entries for the holder, their spouse and dependant children, with each stay not exceeding 180 days.

After the initial maximum stay of 180 days, you will have to leave and re-enter Thailand with the same DTV before it expires. DTVs are issued to remote workers, as well as participants of Muay Thai courses, Thai cooking classes, sports training, medical treatments, seminars, and music festivals.

DTV-holders are not permitted to work for Thai companies.

Those applying for non-immigrant visas of category "O-A" need to show proof of a valid health insurance meeting specific criteria.

Useful links

• Guidelines Non-Immigrant Visa (O-A) – Thai General Insurance Association
• Information about new visa measures in effect – Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Other entry requirements

You may be asked to show border officials a return or onward ticket and proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your stay.

If you are unable to do so, you may be denied entry.

Entry stamp

You must get an entry stamp from an immigration officer at the point of entry into Thailand. Don't get your visa, visa extension or entry stamp from visa shops or travel agents in Thailand.

A passport that has been altered or that contains counterfeit visas, and entry/exit stamps is deemed invalid. Offenders can expect jail sentences, fines and deportation, and may also be prohibited from entering Thailand in the future.

Length of stay

The date indicated on your Thai entry stamp determines how long you may stay in the country, even if your visa shows a different date.

All foreigners staying in Thailand longer than 3 months must notify Thailand's immigration bureau of their residence every 90 days.

Overstays

The Royal Thai Police perform random visa checks and strict penalties are enforced for overstaying. Canadians overstaying their visa have been arrested and detained until deportation. Deportation procedures are at the foreigner's own expense and can be lengthy. Detention conditions in immigration detention centres are poor.

If you overstay, regardless of whether you leave Thailand voluntarily or are deported, you may be banned from re-entering Thailand for 1 to 10 years.

Notification of stay longer than 90 days – Thailand's Immigration Bureau

Dual citizenship

If you are a dual citizen, you must enter and exit Thailand with the same nationality passport.

Children and travel

Learn about travelling with children.

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).