Answered8 months ago
Can my friend from Australia visit Thailand for 60 days with just a stamp, or does he need a visa?
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I’m sure this has been addressed but I can’t find an answer. Friend in Australia. He wants to visit Thailand for 60 days. Should be just show up and extend a 30 day stamp? Or what do you suggest. Thanks.
Answer summary
An Australian passport holder can enter Thailand under a 60-day visa exemption, which does not require a visa on arrival if they enter for tourism. They can extend their stay by applying for a 30-day extension at immigration, typically a few days before their initial 60 days expires. However, there has been ongoing discussion about potentially reducing the visa exemption period to 30 days, although this change has not yet been officially implemented. It's recommended to keep updated via the Thai embassy website for the most current information.
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Paul ***********
Thai government are reconsidering the 60 day visa exemption and rolling it back to 30 days. It hasn’t happened yet, but depending on when you want to travel might effect any long stay plans. So keep an eye on any further developments on this matter
Tiger_55********
OPPaul De Graaf indeed. As I said. Not many people are on too
Of this like you and me. 😆
Of this like you and me. 😆
Jo **********
why would they extend the visa exemption is for 60days.
Tiger_55********
OPOk everyone thank you. It amuses me that literally no one raised the issue of all these references on the internet to potential changes to the 60 day admittance policy until I did. Frankly I wouldn’t give a damn, my dear (look it up if you don’t know that quote). Some people like me and 99.9999% of the people on this forum are very experienced and sophisticated despite giving different and conflicting answers. But not everyone is as comfortable with uncertainty as we are. My friend for example. I’m gonna tell him to buy a ticket for 59 days (people make calculation errors) and buy it about 3 months in advance. Maybe get a 60 day visa when he buys the ticket. Personally I wouldn’t do any of this shit. And I’d be holding cancelable mileage tickets till I was ready to commit to buying. But not many people hold hundreds of thousands of miles on multiple airlines along with top tier lifetime airline status on multiple airlines. And I bet most people here don’t have a clue what I’m talking about. I’ll probably get him the ticket and give him a bill for the best seat and cheapest ticket on the plane along with instructions on what to do about immigration. Thanks for input everyone. This has been useful information crowd sourcing and it’s clear that no one knows what’s going on. And it doesn’t matter. 😆
Karl *******
Tiger_5555555567 You sound very tense. I would genuinely relax a little about it. The talk of changing from 60 days to 30 has been going on for a long time, but that's been nothing from official channels. Flex tickets are generally much more expensive, but of course, if you gift one with miles, then it matters less. Personally, I'd buy a non-flex ticket, and in the extremely unlikely case that the visa-waiver period is reduced, your friend can always get another ticket out of and back into Thailand around the 30 day mark to avoid any difficulties. And that ticket can be a $10 ticket hold only, which is adequate to show evidence of a booked departure.
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You sound very tense. I would genuinely relax a little about it. The talk of changing from 60 days to 30 has been going on for a long time, but that's been nothing from official channels. Flex tickets are generally much more expensive, but of course, if you gift one with miles, then it matters less. Personally, I'd buy a non-flex ticket, and in the extremely unlikely case that the visa-waiver period is reduced, your friend can always get another ticket out of and back into Thailand around the 30 day mark to avoid any difficulties. And that ticket can be a $10 ticket hold only, which is adequate to show evidence of a booked departure.
Roy *********
Personally I’m not concerned about what could or couldn’t happen and just arrive because once it’s stamped in my passport it’s 60 days, if it’s changed before I arrive then I’ll apply for the appropriate visa or do a few days in a neighbouring country, if your friend isn’t a regular traveler and is a tourist then they won’t have any problems it’s the overstaying they are targeting
John *********
Still 60 days until an official announcement in the Royal Gazette
No exact implementation date has yet been announced. Until the new regulation takes effect, the current 60-day visa-free stay remains in place.
No exact implementation date has yet been announced. Until the new regulation takes effect, the current 60-day visa-free stay remains in place.
Ken ****
I just arrived this week on Canadian passport, got usual 60days on entry. Fill in online form 3 days before arrival.
Can extend further 30days in country
Can extend further 30days in country
SeaWeed **********
Yes if they have Australian passport
And fill out arrival card online 3 days before arriving
And fill out arrival card online 3 days before arriving
Anthony **********
Still 60 days on arrival for Australians .
Mark ******
Still getting 60 days visa free so good to go
John *********
He can. But he'd better do it in a hurry because Thailand is talking about reducing the 60 day visa exempt back down to 30 days.
LH *******
Tiger_5555555567- it is ok. If people didnt ask questions there would no no need for this page at all. Yes there is a bit of confusion going on and the more you research the more you may be confused. As of TODAY Aussies are 60 days visa exempt. BUT....that is today and may not be the case in a week or a month . Only way to know for sure is to look at the Thai embassy web site ...and keep checking it
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- it is ok. If people didnt ask questions there would no no need for this page at all. Yes there is a bit of confusion going on and the more you research the more you may be confused. As of TODAY Aussies are 60 days visa exempt. BUT....that is today and may not be the case in a week or a month . Only way to know for sure is to look at the Thai embassy web site ...and keep checking itTiger_55********
OPLH Lorac yep
djfre*****
With all the confusion about 60 day visa free going on at the moment I would suggest getting an 60 day Evisa online from your nearest Thai Embassy then your 60 day is guaranteed n believe me it's better than trying to get a 30 day extension at the Jomteim immigration office ( that's something to be avoided at all costs unless you go thru an agent or know the drill already)
Tiger_55********
OPdjfree1510 Best advice of the night. I was thinking that too actually. Great minds and all that. Thanks.
Stephen ********
Australian passport holder gets 60 days free entry stamp on arrival provided they are not deemed to be attempting to live or work in the country
Tiger_55********
OPStephen Howell indeed. Currently. With other ideas being rooster being discussed.
Stephen ********
Tiger_5555555567 Current rules are the only rules which are currently relevant. Not sure about the rooster? 👍
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Current rules are the only rules which are currently relevant. Not sure about the rooster? 👍Tiger_55********
OPStephen Howell sorry typo.
Charmae *******
Aust is visa exempt for 60 days ..only thing to do is fill out tdac ( arrival card,,,) within 72 hrs of flight
He can extend his 60 days for another 30 days ONCE at immigration
There's also a weird thing called the internet ..a quick google search tells all you need to know
He can extend his 60 days for another 30 days ONCE at immigration
There's also a weird thing called the internet ..a quick google search tells all you need to know
Gary ******
Google can’t keep up with Thailand changing the rules
Charmae *******
They haven't changed any rules
They are enforcing the ones already in place
They are enforcing the ones already in place
Gary ******
Not today, but maybe tomorrow
If a person books a 50 day holiday, and now is told that he may have to pay extra to change flights, and lose deposits already pre paid, because they may go back to 30 days for Visa exempt countries, that’s 2 changes in 12 months
If a person books a 50 day holiday, and now is told that he may have to pay extra to change flights, and lose deposits already pre paid, because they may go back to 30 days for Visa exempt countries, that’s 2 changes in 12 months
Tiger_55********
OPCharmae Craig Thank you for your nasty comment. Now read this son. It’s also on the weird thing called the internet. And it’s all over the place. I have no idea if it’s BS. I doubt you do either.
Charmae *******
Nohh FFS grow up
No nasty comment what so ever FFS it was Informative
If your feelings are hurt that's on you not me ..I told you the exact truth
And fact ... You'd get a more reliable answer checking online with the relevant embassies
No nasty comment what so ever FFS it was Informative
If your feelings are hurt that's on you not me ..I told you the exact truth
And fact ... You'd get a more reliable answer checking online with the relevant embassies
Chrichna ***********
Tiger_5555555567 if you keep looking at sites like this ...
Better look for the official website
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if you keep looking at sites like this ...Better look for the official website
Stuart ********
Very easy to find out. Check the local Thai Embassy website. It has all the info you need. Also a quick web search will also tell you.
Tiger_55********
OPStuart Morley Good and obvious point. If up to date of course.
Stuart ********
Tiger_5555555567 I would have thought the Thai embassy would be up to date.
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I would have thought the Thai embassy would be up to date.Tiger_55********
OPStuart Morley well … even the US government isn’t up to date these days.
Haim *******
Australian passport holders visiting Bangkok do not use a "Visa on Arrival" but instead enter under a 60-day visa-exempt scheme for tourism, which can be extended for another 30 days while in Thailand. You must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 3 days before
Tiger_55********
OP@Haim ******
Thanks. Do you have any idea if there is truth to the statements that suggest the 60 day rule is being rescinded?Haim *******
Tiger_5555555567 talking about but not implemented yet. Thailand try to fight the bad guys who behave like scumbags. On the other makes many efforts to encourage and boost the shrinking wave of tourism.
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talking about but not implemented yet. Thailand try to fight the bad guys who behave like scumbags. On the other makes many efforts to encourage and boost the shrinking wave of tourism.
Thaimer ******
What exactly would your friend extend if he/she stay only 60 days?
Tiger_55********
OP@Thaimer *****
Please read other posts.Thaimer ******
Tiger_5555555567 nothing to read. Stamp is for 60 days hence no need for any extension
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nothing to read. Stamp is for 60 days hence no need for any extension
Summer ******
I believe it’s still 60 day entry as of now.. they are talking about changing it back to 30 days.. but yes that’s all you would do is come then 5-10 days before it expires you go to immigration and get it extended another 30 days.
Tiger_55********
OPSummer Dawn EXACTLY MY POINT. People are ignoring this issue. Maybe they have not seen these posts in the newspapers and on the web. What irritates me is that they trash me for being more knowledgeable than them. It’s interesting. Not surprising of course. It won’t surprise you when I observe that in general men, unlike women, open their mouths widest when they are wrong. Thank you.
Jan ******************
Australian passport holders can get a 60-day visa exemption upon arrival if they don't have a previous excessive travel history.
Everyone has to do a TDAC electronic arrival form from 72 hours prior to arrival.
Everyone has to do a TDAC electronic arrival form from 72 hours prior to arrival.
Gina *******
Until they change it back to 30. And then it’s easy to get an extension at the embassy
Tiger_55********
OPJan Kenneth Nesland When and if will this happen is basically my question.
Jan ******************
Tiger_5555555567 No one can give a definitive answer to that, because what is being discussed is still at proposal and policy discussion stage. There has been no formal announcement, no published regulation, and no effective date set.
As of today, visa exemption remains 60 days per entry. Until there is an official notification from the Immigration Bureau or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the current rules continue to apply.
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No one can give a definitive answer to that, because what is being discussed is still at proposal and policy discussion stage. There has been no formal announcement, no published regulation, and no effective date set.As of today, visa exemption remains 60 days per entry. Until there is an official notification from the Immigration Bureau or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the current rules continue to apply.
Bevan ***********
Jan Kenneth Nesland and IF it changes, the change COULD be immediate, or it COULD have a later start date.
No one knows until it is implemented. And no one knows if it will be implemented.
No one knows until it is implemented. And no one knows if it will be implemented.
Peter *********
Jan Kenneth Nesland are you sure that while using visa exempt that you can still extend by 30 days after the 60. I did do exactly that on my last trip (returned home
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/26) but I noticed on the immigration website now that it doesn’t seem to offer the facility to extend while using visa exemption exempt / it says you must leave after days with no mention of extending. You can extend with the 60 day single entry tourist visa and the METV after 60 days but I think visa exempt might have recently changed. Worth checking now rather than risking an extension on visa exempt not being granted. Maybe I just missed it?Jan ******************
Peter Tulloch There has been no formal rule change removing the 30 day extension for visa exemption. In practice, many immigration offices still grant a 30 day extension after the initial 60 days.
What has changed since late 2025 is stricter scrutiny. Some offices are more restrictive if the travel pattern suggests repeated back to back stays without returning to the country of domicile. In those cases, extensions may be limited or questioned, but this is discretionary practice, not a new written rule.
What has changed since late 2025 is stricter scrutiny. Some offices are more restrictive if the travel pattern suggests repeated back to back stays without returning to the country of domicile. In those cases, extensions may be limited or questioned, but this is discretionary practice, not a new written rule.
Thaimer ******
Peter Tulloch yes, you can easily extend 60 days visa exemption in any immigration office
Tiger_55********
OPPeter Tulloch Thanks for your excellent insight. It’s sadly missing from many posts.
Andrew ********
Look harder.
Tiger_55********
OPAndrew Patron No you have it all wrong. Snow White does all my research. I don’t have time for this sort of thing. And she’s way smarter than anyone posting on this forum, especially me. She’s a stray. Very well read she is too. I pay her rather well. In Aussie steaks from Lotus. Norwegian salmon too. She refuses to eat the kind of junk food that most members of this forum seem to be eating.
James ******
Andrew Patron maybe not the best choice of words, but you have a point. if you can't find the answer to this most basic of questions, you aren't looking.
Stuart ********
@James *****
I did think the same thing. I found the answer in 3 seconds. Happy to help anyone, but do some people really struggle with a web search?Tiger_55********
OPStuart Morley well I’m probably smarter than you. Because I found it in 2 seconds. Actually I knew it already. But what I’m concerned about are the non stop comments on the web about it being changed to 30 days. What’s you take on that? I mean who knows is probably the answer.
Tiger_55********
OP@James *****
Horrible choice of words you mean. Thank you for your validation. And as for looking, I did look, and I have probably done more searches for information on the web and libraries than most people on this forum. But the point is simple. This topic requires some expertise, experience and knowledge of up to date rules. Which is why I asked. And I’m still asking. People can trash me if they want. I don’t care. Because my experience is that people who behave like this are low life who in reality know shit about the topic. So I now look forward to knowledgeable up to date input that is correct. Ok? And add to that decent manners - that’s in short supply these days.Tiger_55********
OP@James *****
Wot?James ******
Tiger_5555555567 First off....the citations are literally included in the search results, 2 inches below this you'll find the direct link to the Australian Embassy in Thailand. I'd trust them over input from random strangers in a facebook group....and as you can see, answers here are inconsistent. But hey, if that's how you prefer to do "research" then go for it 😂
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First off....the citations are literally included in the search results, 2 inches below this you'll find the direct link to the Australian Embassy in Thailand. I'd trust them over input from random strangers in a facebook group....and as you can see, answers here are inconsistent. But hey, if that's how you prefer to do "research" then go for it 😂Tiger_55********
OP@James *****
First off. I want knowledgeable input from people who understand this stuff. Secondly I want to know what people think about the proposed change to 30 days that we keep seeing. And thirdly I don’t believe any old shit like this that appears on the web with no apparent citations.James ******
Tiger_5555555567 all it took was 3 words in Google. You put more effort into making this post.
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all it took was 3 words in Google. You put more effort into making this post.Tiger_55********
OPAndrew Patron send me an invite to your middle school graduation and what kind of candies you like
Charles ********
Tiger_5555555567 I think you mean, crayons.
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I think you mean, crayons.Tiger_55********
OPCharles Hallam Those too. 😆
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