All you need to know about Thailand’s THB300 tourist fee

Thailand may soon be adding one more item to your pre-trip admin list: a THB300 tourist entry fee. The long-discussed levy is back on the table under the country’s incoming “Anutin 2” administration, with officials confirming that the proposal will be presented at the government’s first Cabinet meeting. If approved, foreign visitors arriving by air would be charged THB300, or roughly USD9.

This fee has been floating around for years. Earlier versions of the plan also included a THB150 fee for travellers entering by land and sea, but for now, that part appears to have been shelved. Officials have reportedly decided not to proceed with those charges at this stage, partly to avoid burdening cross-border commuters and day-trippers.

The fee is also getting a bit of a branding rethink. In Thai, it has sometimes been referred to rather bluntly as ka-yiab-phaen-din, which translates to something along the lines of a “fee for stepping on the land.” However, ministers have suggested giving it a friendlier name to improve public perception.

Separately, Thailand is also revisiting its visa-free entry rules. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to propose reducing the current 60-day visa-free stay for eligible foreign tourists to 30 days, with the option to extend for another 30 days. The stated reason is to curb abuse of the system and address security concerns. That means this is not a done-and-dusted policy yet, but it is one more sign that Thailand is tightening its entry framework while trying not to scare off actual holidaymakers.

For now, tourists heading to Thailand still need to prepare the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before arrival. This online form must be submitted within three days before entering the country. Depending on your nationality and length of stay, you may also need a tourist visa, which currently comes in single-entry and multiple-entry forms.

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