Passmere is a private company, not a government agency. This guide is free information, not legal advice. Each fact links to the official source and shows the date we checked it.

Entry requirements

Thailand entry requirements for U.S. citizens

Q: Do I need a visa for a vacation in Thailand?

Not for a tourist trip. The rule is: (under review — check the official source). The registration is the TDAC.

Q: When should I file the TDAC?

(under review — check the official source)

Q: Does the TDAC cost anything?

(under review — check the official source)

Q: How much money must I carry?

(under review — check the official source)

Q: How long can I stay without a visa?

Up to (under review — check the official source). Rules change, and the Thai government decides how long you may stay, so check the official source before you travel.

What U.S. tourists need to visit Thailand: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), how long you can stay, the cash rule and passport validity, with official sources.

Updated October 2, 20263 min read

What you need to enter Thailand

For a tourist trip, the answer is: under review — see the official source ¹. The registration is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), filled in on the official site of Thailand's Immigration Bureau, under review — see the official source ⁴.

under review — see the official source ⁵ under review — see the official source ²

Entry rules change often, and the Thai government decides who may enter. Check the official site before you travel.

How long you can stay

Visa-free tourist stays can last up to under review — see the official source ³. This rule changes from time to time, and the Thai government decides how long you may stay. Check the official source before you book your return.

Money you must carry

under review — see the official source ⁶

Plan for this before you leave home, so you are not caught short at the border.

Passport rules

under review — see the official source ⁷

If your passport expires soon, renew it before you go: see Renew your U.S. passport by mail.

Short on time? under review — see the official source ⁸ Read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.

Travel advisory

The U.S. Department of State rates Thailand at under review — see the official source ⁹. Advisories can change at any time, so read the current one before you book and again before you leave.

Step by step

Check your passport against the validity recommendation above.
Plan your return date inside the visa-free stay.
Inside the time window before you arrive, fill in the TDAC on the official site, under review — see the official source ⁴. Each traveler needs one.
Keep a copy of your submitted arrival card on your phone.
Carry the required cash or its equivalent.
Go through immigration with your passport when you arrive.

Checklist

Before you travel to Thailand

Passport that meets the validity recommendation above
TDAC submitted on the official site, inside the required time window
Return date within the visa-free stay
Required cash or its equivalent, per person or per family
Current travel advisory read

Do and don't

Do

Fill in the TDAC yourself on the official site, under review — see the official source ⁴.
Watch the timing: the TDAC is filed in a short window before arrival, not weeks ahead.
Check the current length-of-stay rule before every trip.

Don't

Don't pay anyone to file the TDAC for you. under review — see the official source ²
Don't stay past your permitted date.
Don't assume you can stay as long as on a past trip; the rule may have changed.

Is there a fee?

A visa-free tourist stay has no visa to pay for. under review — see the official source ² Passmere does not process visas or arrival cards.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for a vacation in Thailand?

Not for a tourist trip. The rule is: under review — see the official source ¹. The registration is the TDAC.

When should I file the TDAC?

under review — see the official source ⁵

Does the TDAC cost anything?

under review — see the official source ²

How much money must I carry?

under review — see the official source ⁶

How long can I stay without a visa?

Up to under review — see the official source ³. Rules change, and the Thai government decides how long you may stay, so check the official source before you travel.

Can Passmere file my TDAC for me?

No. Passmere is a private company and does not process visas or arrival cards. You file the TDAC yourself on the official site, under review — see the official source ⁴.

Sources and verification

Entry document for tourism — Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand): Visa Information. under review — see the official source
TDAC has no fee — Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police: Official Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). under review — see the official source
Maximum visa-free stay — Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand): Visa Information. under review — see the official source
Official TDAC arrival card website — U.S. Department of State: Thailand International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
When to file the TDAC — Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand): Visa Information. under review — see the official source
Required cash on visa-free entry — Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand): Visa Exemption / VOA — New Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme (30 Days). under review — see the official source
Passport validity rule — U.S. Department of State: Thailand International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
Urgent travel: passport agency appointment — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Passport Fast. under review — see the official source
U.S. Travel Advisory level — U.S. Department of State: Thailand Travel Advisory. under review — see the official source