Thailand's Visa Exemption Is Now 30 Days (2026): How to Extend Your Stay in Pattaya

What this article covers

• What changed on 15 September 2026 (the 60-day exemption became 30 days)
• What happens if you entered Thailand on or before 14 September
• Three options if you want to stay longer than 30 days
• The fee and documents for a 30-day extension at Jomtien Immigration
• What overstaying means

From 15 September 2026, the visa exemption is 30 days

From 15 September 2026, the period that visitors from the exemption list can stay in Thailand for tourism without a visa was shortened from 60 days to 30 days. The notice from Thailand's Ministry of Interior was published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and applies to the countries on the list. Japan is among the countries on the 30-day list; check which category your passport falls under before you travel.

How we got here:

• From 15 July 2024, a 60-day visa exemption had applied to 93 countries and territories, Japan among them
• On 19 May 2026, the Thai cabinet approved a revision of the scheme
• The revised scheme is organised into a 30-day tourist visa exemption, a 15-day tourist visa exemption and visa on arrival; the 60-day exemption was abolished
• Japan remains on the 30-day tourist exemption list (not the 15-day list or visa on arrival)

If you entered on or before 14 September

Anyone who entered Thailand on or before 14 September 2026 can stay until the date given at entry. The permission is not shortened retrospectively. Check the date written on the entry stamp in your passport.

Three options if you want to stay longer than 30 days

If you are planning a long stay in Pattaya, or anything over a month, there are broadly three routes.

• Extend by 30 days at Immigration. For people who want a few more weeks. Fee 1,900 THB; one extension per entry, normally 30 days
• Get a visa that fits your purpose. For stays of several months or more, or for people who come back every year for a long stay. The retirement visa is one example; requirements differ by visa type
• Leave Thailand and come back. For people with a trip to a neighbouring country planned anyway. You receive a fresh 30-day exemption on re-entry, but admission is at the discretion of the immigration authorities

Option 1: a 30-day extension at Jomtien Immigration

If you are staying in Pattaya, you apply at Jomtien Immigration (the Pattaya office of Chonburi Immigration). A visa-exempt stay can be extended once per entry, normally by 30 days. The fee is 1,900 THB.

A typical set of documents for the extension:

• Your passport, plus copies of the photo page and the page with your entry stamp
• The application form (TM.7)
• A passport-style photo
• Something showing where you are staying (a hotel booking confirmation or a rental contract, for example)
• 1,900 THB in cash for the fee

It has been pointed out that the documents requested vary from one immigration office to another. Please confirm the current practice in Pattaya before you apply. Our team accompanies customers to Jomtien Immigration regularly, so we can tell you what is being asked for at the moment.

Option 2: a visa that matches your stay

If you spend a long period in Pattaya every year, or are thinking about several months or more, a visa that matches the purpose of your stay is more reassuring than repeated extensions. The retirement visa is for people aged 50 and over and has financial requirements such as a bank deposit of at least 800,000 THB or a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB. There are several other visa types depending on your purpose. Requirements change from time to time, so we advise on the conditions in force at the time you ask.

Option 3: leave and re-enter

The third route is to take a trip to a neighbouring country and come back. You are given a new 30-day exemption when you re-enter, but whether you are admitted is decided by the immigration officers at the border. It is safer to use this as a planned, occasional option rather than as your main way of staying in Thailand.

What happens if you overstay

If you stay beyond your permitted date you are treated as an overstayer and are liable to a fine. The longer the overstay, the worse your position becomes, so keep track of the date yourself.

• Check the date on your entry stamp the day you arrive and note it in your diary or on your phone
• Apply for an extension with time to spare rather than on the last day
• When booking your departure flight, check that the date falls within your permitted stay

How our team can help

Through our visa support service, SIAM BAY PATTAYA handles extensions of stay, applications for and renewals of the various visa types, and guidance on the documents you need. If you have not travelled yet, our Thai entry support service covers preparation before departure through to the formalities after you arrive.

Frequently asked questions

I entered before 15 September with 60 days. Is my stay cut short?

No. You can stay until the date you were given at entry.

Can I extend by 30 days more than once?

On a visa-exempt stay, the extension is once per entry, normally 30 days. If you want to stay longer than that, consider a visa that fits your purpose.

Can I apply in Bangkok as well as Pattaya?

You apply at the immigration office responsible for the area where you are staying. If you are staying in Pattaya, that is Jomtien Immigration. Document requirements are said to differ between offices, so check the current practice at the office you will use.

I entered visa-exempt and now want a retirement visa. What do I need?

The retirement visa is for applicants aged 50 or over and has financial requirements such as a deposit of at least 800,000 THB or a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB. The steps depend on your situation, so check the conditions and get in touch early.

Is there a fine for overstaying by just a day or two?

Any stay beyond the permitted date is treated as an overstay and attracts a fine. Even if it is short, do not leave it; go to Immigration as soon as you can.

Last checked

Information checked by our Pattaya team on 2026-09-18 (page updated 2026-09-25). Rules change; confirm with the office before you go.