TDAC and Thai visas:
30 days, not 60
Two things to get right before you fly. File the TDAC free online, no more than 3 days before arrival, and show the QR code at immigration — any site charging a 'processing fee' is a scam by definition. And Thailand rolled its blanket 60-day visa-free entry back to 30 days for 54 nationalities in 2026; most guides and forum threads still say 60 and are out of date.
The TDAC, and the visa rule most guides get wrong
TDAC first. Thailand's digital arrival card has been mandatory since May 1, 2025: file it free, online, no more than 3 days before arrival, and show the QR code at immigration. The only trap is the ecosystem of paid lookalike sites charging for the free form — use the official Thai immigration site only, and treat any 'TDAC processing fee' as a scam by definition.
Visas: 30 days, not 60. In 2026 Thailand rolled its blanket 60-day visa-free entry back to 30 days for 54 nationalities (US, UK, EU, Australia, Japan among them). Most guides and old forum threads still say 60 — they're out of date. Need longer? One 30-day extension costs ฿1,900 (~$57) at an immigration office. Overstaying costs ฿500/day, and past 90 days it's a one-year ban.
One regional note: the Thai–Cambodia land crossings remain closed and Bangkok is entirely unaffected — if Cambodia is on your route, fly there.
TDAC and visa FAQ
What are Thailand's visa rules in 2026?
Visa-free entry is 30 days for 54 nationalities (US, UK, most of the EU, Australia, Japan included) — rolled back from 60 days in 2026, so distrust any guide still quoting 60. One 30-day extension costs ฿1,900 at an immigration office. The old rule letting officers ask for ฿10,000–20,000 in cash on arrival technically exists and is occasionally enforced.
What is the TDAC and do I really need it?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card — mandatory for all foreign arrivals since May 1, 2025. File it free online no more than 3 days before arrival and show the QR at immigration. Only use the official immigration site: paid third-party 'TDAC service' sites are charging you for a free form.