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Thailand visa for Australians

Australians can stay in Thailand for 30 days without a visa when arriving on or after 15 September 2026. The arrival day is day 1. For more time, ask for one extension of up to 30 days at an immigration office, costing about 1900 baht.

What changed

Until 14 September 2026, Australian passports received 60 days on arrival. If you entered by that date, you keep your stamped period. Everyone arriving later gets the shorter stay above.

Planning around the shorter stay

Longer school-holiday trips and island-hopping itineraries can now run past the visa-free period. Two ways to handle it:

  1. Extend once in Thailand. Visit an immigration office before your last day. Popular islands such as Phuket and Koh Samui have offices, but queues can be long in high season.
  2. Get a visa before you fly. Apply on the official e-Visa site if you already know you will stay longer.

Visa-free entry by land is limited to 2 times a calendar year, which matters if your trip loops through Malaysia or Laos.

Before you fly

  • Passport valid well beyond your stay
  • Return or onward ticket
  • The free TDAC arrival card

Worked example

Australians arriving on Tuesday, 1 December 2026 can stay until Wednesday, 30 December 2026: 30 days, counting the arrival day as day 1. With one approved extension, the last day becomes Friday, 29 January 2027. Leaving two days after the last legal day would mean an overstay fine of 1,000 baht at departure.

Your last legal day

Arriving by
Check an overstay fine (optional)

Choose your passport and entry date to see your last legal day.

Questions from Australians

Do Australians need a visa for Thailand?

Not for tourism within the visa-free period. Australia is on Thailand's visa-exemption list.

How many days can Australians stay visa-free?

The period was shortened on 15 September 2026. Use the calculator on this page with your arrival date to get your last legal day.

Can I extend?

Yes, once, at an immigration office in Thailand before your last day, for a fee and at the officer's discretion.

What if I want to stay for several months?

Apply for a visa through the official Thai e-Visa site before you travel, rather than relying on the exemption and an extension.

Sources

Last verified:

For information only, not legal advice. The immigration officer at your port of entry makes the final decision. ThaiSpend is an independent site and is not affiliated with Thai Immigration or any government agency. Spotted an error? Tell us.