Planning a trip to Thailand and wondering whether you need a visa? The answer depends on your passport, the purpose of your visit and the date you enter. Thailand changed its visa exemption rules in September 2026, so information published before that change may no longer be accurate.
This guide explains the current position for holders of ordinary Polish passports travelling for tourism. Travellers with another nationality should check the rules for their own passport on the official Thai e-Visa website or with the Royal Thai Embassy responsible for their country of residence.
Important: entry is always decided by the immigration officer at the border. Rules can change, and this article is general travel information rather than legal advice. Check the official sources again shortly before departure.
The update matters even if a trip was booked months earlier. Airline messages, old embassy pages and travel articles can remain online after a rule changes. Use the date of the official announcement, the current nationality list and the conditions that apply on your actual arrival date. Keep screenshots or saved copies only as a backup. They do not override a decision made under the rules in force at the border.
Thailand entry rules for Polish passport holders in 2026
From 15 September 2026, Thailand replaced the previous 60-day visa exemption scheme with a revised system. Holders of ordinary Polish passports are included in the current list of nationalities eligible for a 30-day visa exemption for tourism. The change and the current country list are set out in the official announcement from Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Visa exemption for tourism: up to 30 days
A Polish citizen travelling for tourism can normally enter Thailand without obtaining a visa in advance and may be permitted to stay for up to 30 days. This is a visa exemption, not a visa issued on arrival. The officer records the permitted stay when you pass through immigration.
Do not rely on an old article, booking confirmation or social media post that still refers to 60 visa-free days. The official date stamped or recorded by immigration is the date that controls your stay.
The exemption applies to tourism. It should not be treated as a general permission for any activity during a 30-day visit. If the purpose is mixed or unclear, check the appropriate visa category before paying for non-refundable travel arrangements.
The 60-day exemption ended on 15 September 2026. Travellers who entered before that date remain subject to the permission recorded for their own entry.
Passport and onward travel
Travel with the same passport used for your booking and any visa application. Official Thai guidance requires an eligible passport, and airline checks may also apply before boarding. A passport with at least six months of validity is the safest practical standard. If your passport is close to expiry, damaged or has no usable space, confirm acceptance with the Royal Thai Embassy and your airline before travelling.
Keep confirmed proof that you will leave Thailand within your permitted period. The proof may be an air, rail, bus or boat ticket. A reservation that does not match your intended stay can lead to questions at airline check-in or at the border.
Thailand Digital Arrival Card
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or TDAC, is the online arrival form that replaced the former paper card. It is not a visa and does not extend your permitted stay. All non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea must normally submit it, including children. A traveller remaining in airside transit without passing through immigration does not need a TDAC.
Submit the form free of charge through the official TDAC website within the three days before arrival, including the arrival date.
| Requirement | Current guidance for an ordinary Polish passport |
|---|---|
| Visa for tourism | Normally not required for a stay of up to 30 days under the visa exemption |
| Purpose | Tourism. Other purposes may require the appropriate visa or permission |
| Passport | Use an eligible, undamaged passport and check validity requirements before travel |
| TDAC | Submit online within three days before arrival, including the arrival date |
| Onward travel | Carry confirmed proof of departure within the permitted stay |
How the permitted stay is counted and extended
The length of stay shown in a general visa guide is not a promise that every traveller will receive that exact period. Your permitted stay is the period granted by immigration for your particular entry.
Check the date recorded by immigration
Your day of entry counts as part of your stay. Before leaving the immigration area, check the date recorded in your passport or electronic entry record. If it appears incorrect, ask an immigration officer for help immediately. Do not calculate your departure date only from the date on your flight itinerary.
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Date of entry | This is the start of the period granted for the visit |
| Admitted-until date | You must leave or hold approved permission to remain by this date |
| Departure booking | It should fall within the period granted by immigration |
Extensions and repeated entries
Current official Thai embassy guidance states that a 30-day visa-exempt stay may be extended for another period not exceeding 30 days. An extension is not automatic. It must be requested from the Immigration Bureau, and the decision remains at the officer’s discretion. Check the current documents, fee and local office procedure before applying.
Leaving Thailand and returning is not a guaranteed way to obtain a new stay. Each entry is assessed separately. If you plan a longer visit, frequent entries or a purpose other than tourism, choose the appropriate visa before travelling rather than relying on repeated visa-exempt entries.
When you need a visa
The 30-day exemption is designed for eligible tourists. It does not replace visas and permissions intended for work, study, business activity, long stays or other specific purposes.
Purpose and duration determine the correct route
Apply for the appropriate visa when your planned stay exceeds the exemption, when you intend to work or study, or when another regulated activity forms the main purpose of your trip. Do not assume that calling a trip a holiday changes the legal nature of the activity.
Remote work, employment, volunteering, professional assignments and commercial activity can involve different visa and work-permission rules. Use the official visa categories and seek qualified advice if your situation is not a straightforward tourist visit.
Use the official Thai e-Visa system
Thai visa applications are submitted through the official Thai e-Visa website. The correct category depends on the purpose of travel, eligibility and supporting documents. Do not select a visa solely because its headline period appears convenient.
| Travel purpose | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Tourism beyond the visa-exempt period | Check the current Tourist Visa requirements |
| Employment or business | Check the Work and Business visa categories and any work-permission rules |
| Study or training | Check the Study visa categories and the institution’s supporting documents |
| Remote work or a long stay | Review the current DTV, LTR and other categories against your exact circumstances |
Requirements and processing times can change. Apply only through the official system and follow the instructions provided for your place of residence.
How to complete the TDAC
The TDAC collects arrival, passport, accommodation, travel-purpose and health-declaration information. It is free to submit on the Thai Immigration Bureau website.
Use only tdac.immigration.go.th. The official form does not charge a submission fee.
When and how to submit it
You can submit the TDAC within three days before arrival in Thailand, including the arrival date. The timing is based on arrival, not on departure from Poland or another country. A separate TDAC is required for every entry.
- Open the official TDAC website and choose the arrival-card option.
- Enter the traveller’s passport and personal details exactly as shown in the passport.
- Add the mode of travel, arrival date and flight or vehicle number.
- Provide the address of the accommodation in Thailand and the purpose of travel.
- Complete any health declaration requested by the system.
- Review the details, submit the form and save the confirmation with its QR code.
What to prepare before starting
Have the passport, arrival details, accommodation address and an email address ready. The official FAQ says the form usually takes only a few minutes when the information is prepared. Children and infants also need a TDAC, but an adult may include family members in a group submission.
If a hotel or flight changes, use the update function where available. Some identity fields cannot be edited. For those fields, the official guidance recommends submitting a new, correct form. The latest valid submission will be used.
Border control: documents, funds and common mistakes
Completing the TDAC does not guarantee entry. Keep your documents accessible and be ready to answer simple questions about the purpose, length and arrangements for the trip.
Documents to keep within reach
Carry the passport, TDAC confirmation, confirmed onward travel and the address of your accommodation. Keep supporting information available offline in case you cannot access mobile data at the airport.
| Item | Practical check |
|---|---|
| Passport | Correct traveller, eligible document, valid and undamaged |
| TDAC confirmation | Correct arrival date and passport details, QR code saved |
| Onward ticket | Confirmed departure within the period you expect to be granted |
| Accommodation | First address in Thailand available in English |
| Funds | Evidence of adequate funds if requested by immigration |
Financial means and avoidable errors
Official Thai embassy guidance for the current exemption refers to adequate cash or the equivalent of 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB per family. Immigration may ask for evidence. Check the latest wording before departure because requirements can change.
Common avoidable problems include using outdated 60-day information, entering passport details incorrectly on the TDAC, submitting the form too early, booking departure after the expected permitted stay, or arriving with a damaged or nearly expired passport.
Do not buy a token ticket that you do not intend to use simply to pass a document check. Your travel documents should reflect a genuine and workable plan.
Final checklist before departure
- Confirm that your nationality is eligible for the current visa exemption.
- Check passport validity and condition with the embassy and airline if there is any doubt.
- Keep confirmed proof of onward travel within the expected permitted stay.
- Submit the free TDAC within three days before arrival, including the arrival date.
- Save the TDAC confirmation and QR code on your phone, with an offline backup.
- Keep your first accommodation address and booking details available.
- Carry evidence of adequate funds if requested.
- Check the date granted by immigration as soon as you enter Thailand.
Before a multi-country itinerary, repeat the check for every planned entry. A second arrival requires a new TDAC, and a previous admission does not guarantee another one. Keep the documents for each leg consistent with the route you actually intend to travel.
Once the formalities are in order, you can focus on the trip itself. AsiaTrip arranges private tours for one closed group of 4 to 20 guests, without combining unrelated customers. Each itinerary is quoted individually in THB. Explore the private tours in Thailand or contact us about a route that fits your plans.
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