Do You Need a Visa for Pattaya? Thailand Entry Rules (2026)
No separate Pattaya visa exists — Pattaya is in Thailand, and the same national entry rules apply everywhere in the country. Most Australians, Kiwis, Brits, Americans, Canadians and EU passport holders can enter without applying for a visa first. The catch is timing: Thailand has approved cutting the visa-free stay from 60 days down to 30 days, and some advice online is already stale.
Last checked: 9 July 2026. Visa rules change — confirm with the Thai Immigration Bureau or your embassy before booking.
The short version
- Most Western nationalities enter visa-free — no visa needed at the airport. As of July 2026, the current exemption is 60 days, though a change back to 30 days has been approved and is awaiting publication.
- All travellers must complete the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) within 72 hours before arrival. It’s free and done online. Without it you may face delays at immigration.
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your entry date.
- Extensions cost ฿1,900 and buy you an extra 30 days at the local immigration office — no need to leave the country.
- Visa on Arrival (VoA) is available to a limited list of nationalities, including India. The fee is ฿2,000 for a 15-day stay.
- If you need more time than the exemption allows, a Tourist Visa (TR) applied for before travel gives you 60 days, extendable to 90.
What’s actually changing in 2026
Thailand ran a 60-day visa-free programme from 2024 to boost tourism. It worked — arrivals climbed significantly. Now the government has approved reverting most nationalities to a standard 30-day exemption. The Thai Cabinet approved the change on 19 May 2026, but it only takes legal effect after publication in the Royal Gazette (then 15 days later). As of July 2026, that publication hasn’t happened, so the 60-day stamp is still being issued.
The safest approach: check the official Thai Immigration Bureau site or your country’s embassy a week before you travel. For a short holiday, either limit (30 or 60 days) covers most trips anyway.
Some nationalities keep longer terms under bilateral treaties regardless of this change:
- Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, South Korea: 90 days
- China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Laos, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Macao: 30 days (bilateral, not affected by the new rules)
Step 1: Complete the TDAC before you fly
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) replaced the old paper TM6 form. It’s mandatory for all foreign visitors entering by air, land or sea, and you submit it online before you travel — not at the airport.
How to do it:
- Go to tdac.immigration.go.th — this is the only official site, and it’s free. Be careful of lookalike sites that charge a “processing fee”; the TDAC is always free.
- Have your passport and accommodation address ready
- Submit within 72 hours of your arrival date
- You’ll receive a QR code by email — show it at immigration
For your accommodation address in Pattaya: the province is Chon Buri, district is Bang Lamung, and the postcode is 20150 for central Pattaya or 20250 for Jomtien. If you’re in a hotel, use their full address exactly. If you booked an Airbnb, use the property address.
Most visitors land at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and clear immigration there before making the 2-hour transfer to Pattaya. The Bangkok to Pattaya transfer options are covered separately.
Which visa situation applies to you?
Visa-exempt nationalities (most visitors)
93 countries and territories currently qualify for visa-free entry. This includes Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, and most Western and East Asian countries. You do not apply at an embassy or pay a visa fee; immigration stamps you in at the airport. Still need to complete the TDAC before you fly (see Step 1 above).
You can check if your nationality qualifies on the Thai Immigration Bureau website or at your nearest Thai embassy.
Common passports at a glance (as of July 2026):
| Passport | Entry type | Current stay | Action before flying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia, NZ | Visa-exempt | 60 days* | TDAC only |
| UK, EU, USA, Canada | Visa-exempt | 60 days* | TDAC only |
| Japan, South Korea | Visa-exempt | 90 days (bilateral) | TDAC only |
| Argentina, Brazil, Chile | Visa-exempt | 90 days (bilateral) | TDAC only |
| China | Visa-exempt | 30 days (bilateral) | TDAC only |
| India | Visa on Arrival | 15 days | ฿2,000 fee at airport |
| Others not exempt | Tourist Visa TR | 60 days | Apply at embassy first |
60-day exemption current but expected to revert to 30 days once new rules are published.
Visa on Arrival (VoA)
If your country isn’t on the visa-exempt list but is on the VoA list, you can get a visa at the airport on arrival. The current fee is ฿2,000, payable in cash, for a 15-day stay. You cannot extend a VoA.
India is the biggest nationality currently using this route. Note: when the revised rules take effect, the VoA country list is expected to shrink significantly — check the current status before you travel.
Tourist Visa (TR) — apply before you leave
The Tourist Visa is the right choice when:
- Your nationality isn’t exempt or on the VoA list
- You want a guaranteed 60-day stay regardless of any exemption changes
- You’re planning to extend to 90 days
Do this before you fly. You cannot convert a visa-exempt stamp into a Tourist Visa inside Thailand.
How to apply: Use the Thai e-Visa portal where it covers your country, or apply at a Thai embassy or consulate in person. The fee varies by country — the Thai e-Visa site shows the exact amount at application. Processing takes 5–10 business days.
Documents needed:
- Passport valid for 6+ months
- Return flight booking confirmation
- Hotel or accommodation booking
- Bank statement showing at least ฿20,000 (per person) or ฿40,000 (per family) in available funds
The Tourist Visa grants 60 days from first entry, extendable once by 30 days (total 90 days) at any immigration office.
Extending your stay in Pattaya
If you want to stay longer than your stamp allows, you extend at the local immigration office — no border run needed.
Where to go in Pattaya: Chon Buri Immigration, Jomtien Soi 5, off Jomtien Beach Road. It’s the building shown in the hero image above.
Extension cost: ฿1,900 for a 30-day extension
What to bring:
- Passport (original)
- Completed TM.7 form (available at immigration or download in advance)
- One 4×6 cm passport photo
- ฿1,900 in cash
- Photocopies of your passport photo page, entry stamp page and any visa page
- TM30 receipt from your hotel or landlord (this is the accommodation registration form — your hotel files it, so ask reception for a copy before you go)
Missing the TM30 copy is the most common reason people are turned away. Hotels file it automatically when you check in; ask for a printed copy the day before you plan to visit immigration.
Arrive early — the office opens at 8:30am and the queue fills fast, especially on Mondays after a long weekend. Once your number is called, the desk part is usually quick; the waiting is the pain. You walk out with a 30-day extension stamped in your passport.
Some hotels and travel agencies in Pattaya offer to handle the extension for you for a fee (typically ฿500–฿1,000 service charge on top of the ฿1,900 government fee). It’s not necessary — the process is straightforward if you go yourself — but it saves the queue if your time is tight.
If you’re weighing up a longer stay in Pattaya, our digital nomad guide covers monthly costs and long-term options. For scams to avoid during your trip (including a few targeting tourists at immigration queues), see the Pattaya scams guide.
Overstays — don’t
If you stay past your permitted date, the fine is ฿500 per day, capped at ฿20,000. Pay it when you leave at the airport or land border. If you overstay fewer than 90 days and leave voluntarily, the fine is usually the only consequence. Stay over 90 days and re-entry bans kick in on top of the fine. Get caught by immigration rather than leaving voluntarily — even a short overstay can trigger a 5-year ban.
If you realise you’ve run out of time, go to immigration and sort it out yourself. The longer you leave it, the worse it gets.
Practical checklist before you go
- Confirm your nationality qualifies for visa-free entry (or arrange a TR if not)
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond your entry date — airlines may deny boarding if not
- Complete the TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours of arrival (free, official site only)
- Have your Pattaya accommodation address in Chon Buri province ready to enter
- Have a return or onward flight booked — immigration and airlines occasionally ask for it
- Carry a printed or digital copy of your TDAC QR code
- Ask your hotel for a TM30 copy on check-in if you plan to extend your stay
- Have ฿1,900 available if you plan to extend your stay
Our Pattaya money guide covers ATMs, fees, and how much cash to carry once you’re on the ground.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Pattaya?
Most visitors from Western countries don’t. Thailand offers visa-free entry for 93 nationalities — including Australia, NZ, UK, USA, Canada and all EU countries. As of July 2026 the exemption is 60 days (a return to 30 days has been approved but not yet published). All visitors must complete the free TDAC digital card within 72 hours before arrival.
What is the TDAC?
It’s the online replacement for the old paper arrival card (TM6). Submit it at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours before you land — mandatory for everyone, free, takes about 5 minutes. You get a QR code to show at immigration.
How long can I stay without a visa?
60 days as of July 2026, with a 30-day change pending. Some nationalities (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, South Korea) get 90 days under separate treaties. Extensions of 30 days are available at local immigration offices for ฿1,900.
Where do I extend in Pattaya?
Chon Buri Immigration on Jomtien Beach Road. Bring your passport, a TM.7 form, one 4×6 cm photo, and ฿1,900 cash. Go early — they open at 8:30am and the queue fills fast.
Do I need to do a border run?
Not usually. You can extend your stay once at a local immigration office for ฿1,900 without leaving Thailand. If you need longer than that allows, a Tourist Visa applied for before departure is the cleaner option.
