Thailand Tourist Visa: SETV and METV Explained
Updated 2026-07-05
A Thailand tourist visa gives you 60 days per entry and costs about 1,000 THB (roughly 40 USD) for the single-entry version. Citizens of more than 90 countries can currently enter visa-free instead, so you only need one if your nationality is not exempt or you want the 6-month multi-entry METV.
At a glance
| Visa options | SETV (single entry) or METV (multiple entry) |
|---|---|
| Stay per entry | 60 days |
| Extension | +30 days at immigration, 1,900 THB |
| SETV fee | About 1,000 THB (roughly 40 USD) |
| METV fee | About 150-200 USD, valid 6 months |
| METV bank proof | 200,000 THB equivalent |
| Maximum stay per entry | 90 days (60 + 30-day extension) |
| Last verified | 2026-07-05 |
Do you actually need a tourist visa?
Check this first, because many travelers do not. More than 90 nationalities currently enter Thailand visa-free for 60 days, including the US, UK, most of the EU, and Australia. If that covers you and your trip is under two months, you can skip the visa entirely and just complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before you fly.
Two groups need the tourist visa. First, nationalities not on the exemption list, such as India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, who must obtain a visa before travel. Second, exempt travelers who want more time or multiple entries than the visa-free scheme allows.
One caveat for 2026: the Thai cabinet has approved cutting visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for 54 countries. The change is not in force until it is published in the Royal Gazette, but if it lands before your trip, a 60-day tourist visa becomes relevant for far more people.
SETV: the standard 60-day single-entry visa
The Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) is the default choice. It costs about 1,000 THB (roughly 40 USD), allows one entry into Thailand, and grants a 60-day stay stamped on arrival. The visa itself is valid for three months from issue, meaning you must enter Thailand within that window.
Once inside, you can extend the 60 days by another 30 at any immigration office for 1,900 THB, giving a realistic maximum of 90 days on one entry. That is longer than any visa-free stay and makes the SETV the practical option for a two-to-three-month trip.
The main limitation is the single entry. If you leave Thailand mid-trip, even for a weekend in Cambodia or Laos, the visa is used up. You would re-enter visa-free (if eligible) or need a new visa.
METV: six months of multiple entries
The Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) is valid for six months and allows unlimited entries during that period, each granting a fresh 60-day stay. It costs roughly 150 to 200 USD depending on where you apply, and each 60-day entry can still be extended by 30 days in Thailand.
The catch is the financial requirement: you must show a bank balance equivalent to 200,000 THB (roughly 5,600 USD) held in your name. Some embassies want to see the funds maintained over several months, not deposited the week before you apply.
The METV suits travelers basing themselves in Thailand while hopping around Southeast Asia. Used carefully, entering near the end of the six-month validity and extending, it can cover close to nine months of total time in the region.
Requirements and documents
Tourist visa requirements are consistent across most embassies, though the METV adds the bank-balance proof. Prepare digital copies of everything, since applications are filed online.
Approval is usually routine if documents are complete and legible. The most common problems are passports with under six months of validity, missing proof of onward travel, and bank statements that do not clearly show the account holder name.
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond arrival, with blank pages
- Recent passport-style photo
- Proof of accommodation in Thailand (hotel booking or host address)
- Confirmed onward or return flight
- Bank statement showing sufficient funds (200,000 THB equivalent for the METV)
- Visa fee, paid online and non-refundable
Cost and how long you can actually stay
Budget math for the SETV: about 1,000 THB for the visa plus 1,900 THB if you extend, so a 90-day stay costs roughly 2,900 THB (around 80 USD) in government fees. The METV runs 150-200 USD up front, plus 1,900 THB for each in-country extension you use.
Do not plan on stretching further with repeated border runs. Thai immigration officers can and do refuse entry to travelers with long strings of back-to-back tourist entries. If you genuinely need more than three months at a time, look at the DTV, an education visa, or another long-stay category instead.
How to apply and what to do before arrival
Applications are filed online through the official Thai government e-visa system; there is no need to visit an embassy or mail your passport in most countries. The process takes about a week, so apply at least two weeks before travel. Our Thailand e-visa guide walks through the portal step by step.
Separately from the visa, every traveler must submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours before arrival. It is free and mandatory since February 2026, and airlines increasingly check for it at check-in. The TDAC is not a visa and does not replace one.
Not sure which visa fits?
Compare every Thailand visa side by side, or start a guided application with document checks and expert review.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Thailand tourist visa cost?
The single-entry tourist visa (SETV) costs about 1,000 THB, roughly 40 USD, though the exact amount varies slightly by country and currency. The multiple-entry METV costs about 150 to 200 USD. Add 1,900 THB if you extend your stay by 30 days at an immigration office in Thailand. All fees are non-refundable, even if the application is refused.
How long can I stay in Thailand on a tourist visa?
Each entry grants 60 days, and you can extend once by 30 days at a Thai immigration office for 1,900 THB, so 90 days per entry is the realistic maximum. On a METV you can exit and re-enter for a fresh 60 days throughout its six-month validity. Staying past your permitted date incurs a 500 THB per day overstay fine.
Do US or UK citizens need a tourist visa for Thailand?
Not for short trips. Both nationalities currently enter visa-free for 60 days, extendable by 30. A tourist visa only makes sense if the approved reduction of visa-free stays to 30 days takes effect for your country, or if you want the six-month multi-entry METV. Check the current visa-free allowance for your nationality shortly before booking.
Should I get the SETV or the METV?
Choose the SETV for a single trip of up to 90 days; it is cheaper and has no bank-balance requirement. Choose the METV if you will enter Thailand several times within six months, for example while traveling around Southeast Asia. The METV requires proof of 200,000 THB in savings and costs four to five times more, so it only pays off with multiple entries.
Can I extend a tourist visa inside Thailand?
Yes, once. Any immigration office will extend a tourist visa entry by 30 days for 1,900 THB using form TM.7, usually issued the same day. Second tourist extensions are granted only in limited circumstances such as medical treatment. After the extension, you must leave Thailand or switch to a different visa category that fits your situation.
Can I work in Thailand on a tourist visa?
No. A tourist visa prohibits all employment, including remote-looking arrangements with Thai clients or companies. Working without a permit risks fines, detention, and deportation. Remote workers employed abroad should look at the DTV, which explicitly covers foreign-sourced remote work with 180-day stays. Anyone employed by a Thai company needs a Non-Immigrant B visa and a work permit.
Related visa guides
Rules by nationality
From our news desk
Last verified 2026-07-05. Immigration rules change — we update these pages as official announcements land, and our Thailand visa news tracks changes daily. This page is general information, not legal advice.