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ThailandThailand's Cabinet has officially announced that a final decision has been made to reduce the visa-free stay period from 60 to 30 days for tourists from 93 countries, including tourists from Russia.
The decision is final, but its parameters, including the timeline for putting it into effect, have not yet been published. Please take this information into account when planning your future trip and purchasing tickets. The ways to extend your visa-free stay in Thailand are described later in this article.
Important! Due to the renewed tensions on the border with Cambodia, checks on tourists entering the country have tightened. They now strictly check for outbound tickets; they require you to show enough cash for your stay; they may ask for hotel or accommodation booking confirmation. We advise taking this seriously and preparing for your trip.
Note: We try to constantly monitor any changes to the visa rules and promptly update this page with the most reliable information. However, we cannot guarantee that the information presented matches rapidly changing visa rules of individual countries. Therefore, the info on this page is for reference purposes. Also read Thailand visa and visa rules news here.
General info on visa rules and entry to Thailand
Starting May 1, 2025, all tourists entering Thailand must fill out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) on the website https://tdac.immigration.go.th. This form is not a visa or visa-free permission, it has no authorization functions, and it doesn't change any entry requirements. It's simply for tracking guests in the country. You need to fill it out no earlier than 3 days before entry. When filling it out, it's better to use an email address with a .com domain or others, as confirmation emails may not be delivered to .ru domains.
Hotel booking remains an optional requirement for entry to Thailand. When filling out the form, you can simply indicate one of the hotels where you plan to stay.
If you don't have time or can't fill out the TDAC in advance, you can do it at international airports at special counters, or from your own device using airport WiFi. However, for land or sea entry, it's better to fill it out in advance.
Russian citizens are among the lucky ones who are allowed visa-free entry to Thailand for up to 60 days. You can extend this visa-free stay by another 30 days by contacting an immigration office while in the country. For longer stays, you can try to get a visa at a consulate in Russia or any other country.
Citizens of other CIS countries are less fortunate. They require a visa for entry, but they can get it either at a consulate or upon arrival at the airport. Additionally, the Thai government periodically runs "promotions," announcing temporary visa-free entry for certain groups of countries or introducing free visas.
More details on all the nuances of the visa rules below:
Important info on passport validity
Previously, there was a rule for entering Thailand requiring that a passport be valid for at least 6 months from the end of the trip for visa-free entry. Starting in 2011, there has been widespread online discussion about this rule changing on May 1, 2011, and the only requirement now is that your passport be valid for the duration of your stay in Thailand.
In fact, the official interstate agreement on visa-free entry for Russians to Thailand has no clause about passport validity at all, so it's accepted as valid for the duration of the trip. In practice, many tourists from Russia have visited Thailand with passports valid for less than 6 months, and we haven't come across any reports of anyone being denied visa-free entry specifically due to short passport validity. The consulate even published an official response on this matter, confirming that a passport only needs to be valid until the end of the trip. Here is the link to it.
However, we still recommend not risking this issue, as you might be denied boarding at your departure airport, and it won't be easy to prove you're right. The issue is that airlines always interpret any doubts in their favor and will try to deny check-in and boarding at the slightest pretext.
If your passport has less than 6 months validity left and you urgently need to buy tickets, you can go ahead and buy them using the expiring passport while simultaneously applying for a second new one. Then you would check in for your flight using the old passport, but you could go through passport control with the new one. Just be aware that your old passport must be valid for the duration of your outbound and return flights; otherwise, the airline might refuse boarding based on the expired passport and demand a change fee for altering the ticket details.
Visa-free entry
Thailand allows citizens of 93 countries and territories to enter for tourism purposes without a visa . As of 2026, eligible travelers can stay for up to 60 days . Please note that Thai authorities are currently reviewing a proposal to reduce this visa-free period to 30 days for some nationalities .
List of countries and territories eligible for Thailand's visa-free scheme:
Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea (ROK), Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, USA, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam .
Additionally, citizens of Argentina, Chile, and Myanmar (with international passports) have bilateral visa exemption agreements with Thailand .
For Russian citizens arriving in Thailand for tourism purposes for up to 60 days, a visa is not required. You just need to fill out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) in English, get a stamp in your passport at passport control, and you can stay in the country for up to 60 days .
Requirements for getting the visa-free stamp are as follows:
- Return tickets or tickets to a third country within the visa-free period. Not everyone is checked, only selectively, and they might also check during boarding at your departure airport.
- Sufficient funds for your stay. This is checked very rarely. While requirements vary by source, you should be prepared to show 10,000–20,000 THB per person or 20,000–40,000 THB per family in cash (any major currency) . Bank statements or money on a card are generally not accepted.
There are no requirements for mandatory insurance, booking confirmation, tour voucher, etc.
Regarding the outbound ticket: if you plan to stay longer than 60 days, some tourists try to get around this by printing a fake e-ticket itinerary receipt made by themselves, but this is at your own risk. It's better to actually book a real ticket, print it, and then cancel the booking. Another option: simply buy the cheapest ticket on sale to any neighboring country with a local low-cost carrier like AirAsia, or make an official booking for a fee on special websites.
| Currency | Per person (from 20,000 THB) | Per family (from 40,000 THB) |
|---|---|---|
| US Dollar (USD) | 613 USD | 1227 USD |
| Euro (EUR) | 527 EUR | 1055 EUR |
| British Pound (GBP) | 456 GBP | 912 GBP |
| Chinese Yuan (CNY) | 4150 CNY | 8300 CNY |
How to count visa-free days in Thailand
The 60 visa-free days in Thailand are counted not as 60 hours from arrival or two months, but specifically as 60 days, including the day of arrival and departure. For example, if you arrive on April 10th, count 60 consecutive days on the calendar, counting April 10th as day one, not day zero.
Another important point is that the date is set when you go through passport control, not when your flight arrives or departs, and you can gain an extra day this way. For example, if your flight lands on May 10th shortly before midnight, but you go through passport control after midnight, your first day of stay will be counted as May 11th. The same rule applies upon departure.
How to extend your visa-free stay in Thailand
To extend your visa-free stay by another 30 days, you need to contact an Immigration Bureau in Thailand with an application, a 35x45 mm photo, and a ticket out of the country. The extension fee is 1,900 baht (about 58.27 USD). Importantly, the application is only considered as a tourist extension of stay. If the officer suspects you are working in Thailand, they may deny the extension. To increase your chances of getting the extension, it is recommended to include return flight tickets, hotel bookings, and proof of sufficient funds for your stay in Thailand.
Immigration offices where you can apply for an extension are available not only in Bangkok but also in other provinces and resorts. List of all immigration offices in Thailand with addresses here.
Another method is the so-called "visa run" or "border run," i.e., leaving for a neighboring country and immediately returning to get a new stamp for another 60 days, or getting a visa at a Thai consulate in another country and re-entering with that visa. However, after restrictions were introduced in August 2014, a "visa run," while still a working method, is no longer as easy as before. You might now be denied re-entry by a border officer if, due to the large number of entry-exit stamps from Thailand, they suspect you of illegal work in the country. If you are re-entering or even entering for the third time within a short period genuinely as a tourist after visiting neighboring countries, you shouldn't have any problems. Even if the officer has doubts, you can always try to explain your complex travel itinerary, and to be completely sure, show your tickets for your flight out of Thailand back home.
Thai visa for Russian citizens
If you plan to stay in Thailand longer than 60 days and don't want to deal with extensions and visa runs, you can get one of the types of Thai visas in Russia (at the embassy in Moscow) or in other countries.
The following types of visas exist:
- Transit Visa
- Tourist Visa
- Non-Immigrant Visa
- Diplomatic Visa / Official Visa
- Courtesy Visa
The most suitable option is to get a Tourist Visa for a stay of 90 days with single entry or 180 days with multiple entries.
Getting a tourist visa for Thailand in Russia
Previously, Russians had to apply in person or through special intermediaries at the Thai embassy in Moscow, but starting January 1, 2025, it became possible to apply for an eVisa on the website https://www.thaievisa.go.th/.
- Application strictly on the website https://www.thaievisa.go.th/.
- Documents must be filled out in English or Thai.
- You cannot pay for the visa online yet, so payment is made in cash in USD within 14 days after receiving the confirmation documents.
- Important! Banknotes issued before 2009 are not accepted.
- Visa payment at the Thai Embassy in Moscow from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Moscow time, excluding weekends.
- e-Visa is processed within 14 days after payment.
- The payment and visa issuance procedure may change, check the official website for info.
Once in Thailand, you can extend your stay on a tourist visa by contacting the immigration service, which is available in most popular resort areas of the country. Usually, this is only permitted for valid reasons, such as illness.
Getting a tourist visa for Thailand in other countries
Sometimes it's easier and faster to get a tourist visa for Thailand in other countries. That is, you can come here visa-free for 60 days, and then when that period ends, do a "visa run" to a neighboring country and get a visa there. You can do this on your own or use an organized "Visa-run" tour.
In most countries neighboring Thailand, you only need to provide a passport valid for 6 months, a photo, and a completed form.
- Visa fee at the embassy in Malaysia (in Kuala Lumpur or in George Town, Penang) – 110 ringgit (see Malaysian currency, exchange rate). Embassy website – http://www.mfa.go.th/
- Visa fee at the embassy in Laos (in Vientiane) – 1,000 baht (see Thai currency, exchange rate). Embassy website – http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org
- Visa fee at the embassy in Cambodia (in Phnom Penh) – 40 US dollars. Embassy website – http://www.mfa.go.th/
You can find information about embassy working hours and visa issuance conditions in other countries by visiting the embassy websites, which can be found here http://www.thaiembassy.org/
Thai visa for CIS citizens
Citizens of Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania do not yet have visa-free access to Thailand, but they can get a visa on arrival at Bangkok airports, Utapao (Pattaya), Phuket, and others (list). The visa is issued for 15 days and costs 2,000 Baht (about 61.34 USD).
Citizens of other CIS countries need to get a visa in advance from a Thai consulate.
To apply for a visa on arrival, you need to find the "Visa on arrival" counter at the airport and provide the following documents:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months (counted from the date of the return flight);
- Photo taken within the last 6 months (3x4 or 4x6 cm) without corners; a photo for a child regardless of whether they are included in the parents' passport or traveling on their own passport (instant photos can be taken right there at the airport);
- Fully paid return ticket or ticket to a third country within 15 days of entry;
- Funds equivalent to at least 10,000 baht per person (over 12 years old) or 20,000 baht per family;
- For minors traveling without parental accompaniment, a birth certificate and powers of attorney from both parents are required;
- 2,000 baht (exchange office located near the visa counters);
- Completed immigration card for each person (given out on the plane or available at the airport, more details here);
- A ticket with a queue number for the automated queue system (machine located at the end of the visa counters).
Citizens of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan get Thai visas in Ankara, while citizens of Armenia get them in Yerevan. Citizens of CIS countries not mentioned above can get visas in Moscow. Thai visa processing time: 2–3 days. For citizens of Tajikistan and the Chechen Republic, document processing time for a visa is 14 days. Also, remember you can get a visa in other countries where Thailand has an embassy (see here).
A 2-month visa costs $25 (when applying at the embassy in Moscow).
List of airports and border points where you can get a Thai visa on arrival:
- Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok
- Chiang Mai International Airport, Chiang Mai
- Phuket International Airport, Phuket
- Hat Yai International Airport, Songkhla
- Utapao Airport, Rayong (for arrival in Pattaya)
- Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint, Chiang Rai
- Chiang Saen Immigration Checkpoint, Chiang Rai
- Chiang Khong Immigration Checkpoint, Chiang Rai
- Betong Immigration Checkpoint, Yala
- Sadao Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla
- Samui Immigration Checkpoint, Surat Thani
- Sukhothai International Airport, Tak Immigration checkpoint
Overstaying your visa-free period or visa validity (overstay)
If you exceed the 60-day visa-free period or the validity of your visa (so-called overstay), you will be fined 500 baht for each day of overstay upon departure, but not more than 20,000 baht. If you overstay by one day, for example, your permitted stay ends on the 10th, and you leave on the 11th, the fine is not applied.
Under previous rules, if your overstay was no more than 21 days, there was a chance you'd just pay the fine. Now, if you exceed your visa or visa-free period by 15 days, you will be charged with violating the country's borders and illegal residence. This means you have a good chance of continuing your stay in Thailand in prison, followed by deportation. If you violate this rule multiple times, you will be placed on a "blacklist" and will not be able to visit Thailand in the future.
The fine is paid when going through passport control upon departure. When an overstay is detected, you will be directed to a special fine payment counter, where the process will take no more than 5 minutes. The fine can also be paid in advance at an Immigration Bureau, which can be found at many popular tourist resorts in Thailand.
Children under 7 years old are not charged the overstay fine.
Thai embassy in Russia
Royal Thai Embassy in Moscow
129090, Moscow, Bolshaya Spasskaya St., 9
phone (495) 208-08-17, (495) 208-08-56, (495) 208-72-83
fax (495) 290-96-59, (495) 207-53-43
Royal Thai Consulate in Saint Petersburg
199053, Saint Petersburg, Bolshoi Ave., 9/6 (reception: Mon.-Fri. 11 AM-1 PM)
phone (812) 325-6271
fax (812) 325-6313
Embassy of the Russian Federation in Thailand
Address: 78 Sap Road (entrance from Soi Santiphap), Bangrak, Bangkok 10500.
Tel.: (02) 234-2012, (02) 268-1169
Fax: (02) 268-1166, (02) 237-8488