Short answer: Before you fly to Phuket in 2026, do three things. File your free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) at tdac.immigration.go.th within the 72 hours before you land. Check that your passport is on Thailand's 30-day visa-exemption list (cut from 60 days on 15 September 2026, tourism only). And carry a passport with at least six months' validity, an onward ticket and access to around 20,000 THB in funds.
Thailand's entry rules changed twice in the last eighteen months, and a lot of what's online is out of date. Here's the current picture as of October 2026, with links to the official sources so you can check them yourself.
What changed on 15 September 2026
Thailand's Cabinet approved a reset of the visa-exemption scheme in May 2026. It took effect on 15 September 2026.
| Before 15 Sep 2026 | From 15 Sep 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free stay | 60 days | 30 days |
| Eligible countries/territories | 93 | 60 |
| Permitted purpose | Tourism plus some short business | Tourism only |
| Extension | One-time, 30 days | One-time, up to 30 days (~1,900 THB) |
The UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Germany and France are all on the 30-day list. India also moved onto it: Indian passport holders, who used Visa on Arrival until 14 September 2026, now get the 30-day exemption. A few countries dropped to a 15-day exemption, and a small group still needs Visa on Arrival. The full list is published by Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mfa.go.th). Check your own nationality there rather than relying on a blog, including this one.
If you're coming for anything other than a holiday (work meetings, remote-work stints, study), the exemption no longer covers you. You'll need the appropriate visa before you travel.
Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): how to file it
The paper TM6 arrival card is gone. Since 1 May 2025 every non-Thai traveller entering by air, land or sea has to submit the TDAC online, and that includes children and infants. Passengers transiting without passing through immigration are exempt.
- Go to the official site only: tdac.immigration.go.th. The TDAC is free. Sites that charge a "processing fee" are not the official system.
- File within 72 hours of arrival. The form won't accept earlier submissions. Arriving on the 11th? You can file from the 8th.
- Have these ready: passport details, flight number, the address where you're staying in Thailand, your travel history for the previous 14 days and a short health declaration.
- Save the QR code. It's emailed to you. Screenshot it in case the airport Wi-Fi is slow, and show it at immigration.
- Every traveller needs a TDAC. That includes each child in your family.
Tip from the marina: use the same hotel address on your TDAC that you give us for your tour pickup. It saves confusion if plans change.
Proof of funds and onward tickets
Thai immigration can ask visa-exempt visitors to show roughly 20,000 THB per person (40,000 THB per family), or the equivalent in other currencies. On 6 July 2026 the Tourism Authority of Thailand reminded visitors to be ready to show "sufficient financial resources" on arrival.
Keep this in proportion. The rule dates back to 1980, checks are random and discretionary, and most holidaymakers arriving with a return flight and a hotel booking are never asked. Officers focus on repeated back-to-back entries, land-border visa runs and one-way travellers without paperwork. Still, carry a bank card and a printed or offline copy of your return or onward ticket. It takes thirty seconds and covers you if you're asked.
Changing money once you're here? Our currency exchange guide for Phuket covers where you get a fair rate and where you don't.
Extending your stay in Phuket
Thirty days is enough for most holidays. If you want longer, you can apply once for an extension of up to 30 days at an immigration office. For Phuket that's Phuket Immigration in Phuket Town. Expect a fee of around 1,900 THB, a passport photo and your passport. Go a few days before your 30 days run out, not on the last day.
Pre-flight checklist
- Passport valid for 6+ months from your arrival date, with blank pages
- Nationality confirmed on the MFA 30-day exemption list (or the correct visa arranged)
- TDAC filed at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours of landing, QR code saved offline
- Return or onward ticket saved offline
- Access to roughly 20,000 THB per person (card or cash)
- Accommodation address that matches your TDAC
- Travel insurance details
Arriving in Phuket for a tour
Most of our guests land at Phuket International Airport the day before their trip. Our join-in tours and private charters depart from Soho Pool Club at Boat Lagoon Marina on Phuket's east coast, and our join-in tours include shared hotel transfers. The paperwork above is all about getting through the airport. Once you're through, the rest of your holiday is the easy part.
Heading out on the water? Read what to pack for a day at sea and our Thailand travel safety guide, which includes the lookalike-website scams that now target TDAC applicants. When you're ready, the Phi Phi Sunrise Tour is our most-reviewed trip, and it reaches Maya Bay before the day-tripper crowds.
Simba Sea Trips has run small-group boat tours from Boat Lagoon Marina since 2005, and we meet international guests at the marina most mornings of the year. Paul Chappell, owner and Marine Base Captain, has spent more than 23 years in professional aviation and over a decade in Phuket marine operations. That's a lot of airports, and a lot of guests asking what they need before they fly. We keep this guide reviewed against official Thai government sources. Rules can change at short notice, so always confirm with tdac.immigration.go.th and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you travel.
Sources: Thailand Immigration Bureau TDAC portal (tdac.immigration.go.th); Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand visa-exemption notice (Cabinet approval 19 May 2026, effective 15 Sep 2026); Tourism Authority of Thailand traveller notice (6 July 2026).
Last reviewed 5 October 2026. Next scheduled review: January 2027.
