In short
- Since 15 September 2026 the visa exemption gives 30 days instead of 60 to 60 countries, including the US, UK and Australia, for tourism only (Royal Thai Embassy London, 8 September 2026).
- One 30-day extension costs THB 1,900 and is at the officer's discretion (Siam Legal and Vialto, 2026). At land borders visa-exempt entries are capped at two per calendar year, though the official English summaries do not name the border type (Thaiger, 6 September 2026).
- The DTV gives 5 years, up to 180 days per entry and one 180-day extension. Since 31 August 2026 you apply where you are a national or permanent resident (ThaiLawOnline, 5 October 2026), with a police certificate (Royal Thai Embassy London, 8 September 2026).
- Retirement, LTR and Thailand Privilege differ in entry threshold and rights; of the visas listed here, only the LTR carries tax relief (BOI, 6 October 2026).
- Long-stay visas need an address report every 90 days (once a year for LTR). Your landlord files the TM30 notice within 24 hours (Thaiger, 8 September 2026; ThaiLawOnline, 7 September 2026).
How long can you stay without a visa, and how do you extend?
Since 15 September 2026 the exemption gives 30 days to 60 countries, for tourism only. You can extend once, by 30 days, at an immigration office for THB 1,900, and the officer decides. Anyone admitted up to 14 September 2026 keeps the 60 days granted at entry (Royal Thai Embassy London, 8 September 2026; Fragomen, 18 September 2026).
At land borders you may enter visa-exempt no more than twice per calendar year. Air arrivals have no numeric cap, but officers can refuse repeat visitors. The official English summaries do not say which border the cap covers, so check before you travel (Thaiger, 6 September 2026).
The DTV since 31 August 2026: what changed and who it suits
The DTV gives 5 years, up to 180 days per entry and one 180-day extension for THB 1,900. It needs proof of funds from THB 500,000 and a THB 10,000 fee in local currency. Since 31 August 2026 you apply only where you are a national or permanent resident (ThaiLawOnline, 5 October 2026), with a police certificate (Royal Thai Embassy London, 8 September 2026).
Applications submitted and paid before 31 August 2026 are decided under the old rules, and existing visas stay valid. Third-country filing in Vientiane, Penang and similar posts is closed unless you hold that country's nationality or permanent residence. The statement period depends on the mission: Washington asks for three months, London names no period (ThaiLawOnline, September 2026). An example of rebuilding a file after a refusal: A DTV refused over a bank statement.
UK and US applicants
London asks for a police certificate issued within six months (ACRO or an Irish police certificate) and lists proof of permanent residence in the UK, Ireland or a British Overseas Territory, such as indefinite leave to remain. We confirm with the embassy whether that applies to your passport. Washington and Los Angeles ask for an FBI check issued within three months. Each mission sets its own fee: GBP 300 in London and USD 400 in Washington (Embassy London, 8 September 2026; ThaiLawOnline, September 2026; Thaiger, 30 July 2026).
Which long-stay visa should you choose?
The DTV suits remote workers for foreign clients and people on soft-power programmes such as Muay Thai, cooking or medical treatment. Retirement visas start at 50, the LTR has category thresholds, and Thailand Privilege is a single payment. Terms are as of 6 October 2026 (BOI; Thailand Privilege; ThaiLawOnline).
| Visa | Term | Entry threshold | Limits and tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTV | 5 years, up to 180 days per entry | THB 500,000 in the account, THB 10,000 fee | No work for Thai companies, no tax relief |
| Retirement Non-O, age 50+ | Yearly extension | THB 800,000 in a Thai bank or THB 65,000 monthly income | No work, no tax relief |
| LTR | 10 years (5+5) | THB 50,000 fee; thresholds by category, for example income of USD 80,000 a year or USD 1 million in assets with USD 500,000 invested in Thailand | Foreign income exempt in three categories; highly-skilled professionals pay a flat 17% on Thai employment income |
| Thailand Privilege | 5 to 20 years | THB 650,000 (Bronze) to THB 5 million (Reserve) | No work, no land ownership, no tax relief |
Sources give two end dates for the Bronze price, 30 September and 31 December 2026, so we confirm it with the operator.
What we do
- In a consultation we compare the DTV, retirement, LTR and Privilege against your passport, your money and your plan for the year.
- We list the documents your mission asks for and check the list against the embassy's announcement.
- We prepare and translate the documents and collect the bank statements and the police certificate.
- We file through the e-visa system, extend the DTV by 180 days in Thailand and run your 90-day reports.
- If the DTV does not fit, we propose another status. The mission decides, and we cannot guarantee the outcome.
The price and scope are on the service card.
