Thailand Travel Guide: New 2026 Visa Rules, Monarchy Etiquette, and What to Know

As of 15 September 2026, Thailand replaced its 60-day visa exemption with a 30-day exemption for around 60 countries and territories, including the US, UK, EU states, Australia and Canada — this is a genuinely fresh change, only days old as of this guide's last update, so verify the current rule directly with Thai immigration or your embassy rather than trusting an older source. A one-time extension of up to 30 more days is available at immigration's discretion, which can bring a single entry to 60 days, but it's no longer automatic the way the old 60-day exemption was.

Entering by land border on the visa exemption is now capped at twice per calendar year for most nationalities, aimed at curbing visa runs. All travellers must file Thailand's digital arrival card before entry regardless of visa type — check the current requirement close to your travel date, since this is an active, recently-reformed area of policy.

Cash remains dominant outside malls, hotels and chain restaurants, especially in rural areas and markets. Thailand's domestic PromptPay QR system is everywhere locally but generally isn't usable by tourists, since it's tied to a Thai bank account or phone number — some bank-issued tourist QR options exist but aren't universal yet. Cards work fine in malls, hotels and chain restaurants; carry cash for markets, street food and rural areas.

Bangkok's BTS Skytrain and MRT cover the city well, with fares scaling by distance and contactless bank cards increasingly usable directly at the gates. Outside Bangkok, the rail network is limited and slow — most inter-city travel is by domestic flight, bus, or van rather than train.

The wai greeting (palms together, slight bow) is customary, but visitors aren't expected to initiate it with service staff — a smile or nod is fine. Temple dress codes require shoulders and knees covered; the Grand Palace's Wat Phra Kaew is the strictest, where a scarf over bare shoulders isn't enough — an actual sleeved top is required, and shoes come off before entering halls.

This is the one to take seriously: criticizing or insulting the Thai monarchy is a criminal offence under Thai law, with real prosecutions of foreigners on record and penalties running into years in prison. Never criticize the royal family, never deface currency (it bears the King's image), and stand for the national anthem when it plays in public spaces like cinemas or stations. This isn't cultural sensitivity advice — it's the law.

Tipping isn't traditional but is increasingly common and appreciated — rounding up or a modest amount for good restaurant service is typical, never obligatory.

Thailand has three broad seasons nationally: cool and dry (November-February, generally the best overall window), hot (March-May), and wet with the southwest monsoon (May-October, heaviest rain often in September). The genuinely useful nuance most generic guides miss: the Gulf coast islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan) run on roughly the opposite pattern to the Andaman/west coast (Phuket) — driest on the Gulf side roughly January-August versus Phuket's driest window of December-March. Check the specific coast you're headed to rather than assuming one national season applies everywhere.