If you’re traveling to Thailand as a tourist, US citizens are allowed to enter the country without a visa. But the length of stay depends on how you enter the country. If you’re entering Thailand by air through an airport, you can stay visa-free for 30 days. However, if you’re entering through a land-border checkpoint from a neighboring country, you can only stay for 15 days visa-free.

Even for visa-free travel, Thai authorities require a passport that’s valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry. It’s important to note that visa-exemption rules are subject to change, so stay up-to-date on regulations and requirements through Entriva.

Passport holders from the following countries are allowed visa-free access to Thailand:

• Australia (30 days)
• Canada (30 days)
• China (30 days)
• Most EU countries (30 days)
• Hong Kong (30 days)
• Israel (30 days)
• Japan (30 days)
• Kuwait (30 days)
• New Zealand (30 days)
• Norway (30 days)
• Singapore (30 days)
• South Africa (30 days)
• Turkey (30 days)
• United Arab Emirates (30 days)
• United Kingdom (30 days)
• United States (30 days)
• Argentina (90 days)
• Brazil (90 days)
• Chile (90 days)
• Peru (90 days)
• Russia (90 days)
• South Korea (90 days)

For some non-visa-free countries, eligible travelers can fly into Thailand and get visas upon arrival. These visas are valid for stays of up to 15 days.  In order to qualify for a visa on arrival, you need to have a return ticket (within 15 days of your arrival date), a passport with at least six months of validity, and proof of accommodation and sufficient funds for the duration of your stay.

Nationals of these countries can get a visa on arrival in Thailand: Andorra, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Romania, San Marino, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

For longer-term stays, some travelers may qualify for the Thailand Elite Card visa option. Offered through the Thai government, the Thailand Elite Card is a long-term visa and residency program designed for foreigners who want to stay in Thailand for extended periods of time. Along with permitting multiyear stays, the card comes with a number of benefits, including multiple-entry visas, airport fast-track, and concierge services.

There are four different types of Thailand Elite Cards, each with its own set of benefits and requirements:

• Five-year card: This is the most popular type of card. Costing ฿600,000 (Thai baht; THB), it allows you to stay in Thailand for up to five years.
• 10-year card: This ฿1,500,000 card allows you to stay in Thailand for up to 10 years.
• 20-year card: This card costs ฿2,000,000 and allows you to stay in Thailand for up to 20 years.
• Family card: This card is for families of up to five people. It costs ฿1,500,000 for the first cardholder and ฿500,000 for each additional cardholder.

In order to be eligible for a Thailand Elite Card, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a citizen of a foreign country.
• You must have a valid passport.
• You must have a clean criminal record.
• You must have a minimum of ฿200,000 in a Thai bank account.
• You must be able to provide proof of income.

If you plan to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days, you’ll need to obtain a valid visa before entering Thailand. There are different types of visas available depending on the purpose of your trip, from tourism to business travel. Entriva can determine which category of visa you need and help you apply.