If you're coming for a week or two, the new 30-day limit changes nothing. It does matter for a long trip or a Thailand and Laos combination: you'll now need an extension or a visa, and overland re-entries count towards a yearly cap. The rules for other passports are in our Thailand entry requirements guide.
Do Australians need a visa for Thailand?
No. Australia and New Zealand are both on Thailand's 30-day visa-exempt list, which applies to entries from 15 September 2026. There's nothing to apply for in advance; you're stamped in on arrival.
A few things to know about the exemption:
- It covers tourism only. Business trips need a Non-Immigrant "B" visa.
- Visa-exempt entries over land are capped at 2 per calendar year. A loop into Laos and back by train or bus counts. The Tourism Authority of Thailand applies the cap to land borders and some official sources add sea arrivals. It doesn't cover flights, although the UK government's wording is broader.
- If you entered before 15 September 2026, the stay you were given on arrival still stands.
Don't count the days yourself. Your entry stamp shows the last date you can stay, so check it before you leave the immigration desk.
Staying longer than 30 days
The first option is to extend once in Thailand. You go to a Thai immigration office, fill in form TM.7 and pay 1,900 THB for up to 30 more days, at the officer's discretion. Thai embassies say this is still available under the new rules.
The second is a Tourist Visa, sorted before you leave. It gives you 60 days on arrival plus a possible 30-day extension. Apply at thaievisa.go.th while you're outside Thailand:
- Register with your email.
- Choose the Thai mission that covers where you live, then Tourist Visa. The Consulate-General in Sydney covers New South Wales only. The Embassy in Canberra covers every other state and territory. New Zealanders apply through the Embassy in Wellington.
- Fill in your details. The site reads your passport photo page automatically.
- Upload a passport scan, a recent photo (taken in the last 6 months, plain background), bank statements, flights and accommodation. The portal lists exactly what each mission wants, so follow it.
- Sign the declaration and pay by card.
- The approval comes by email as a PDF. Print it and carry it.
Both the Canberra embassy and the Sydney consulate say processing usually takes about 10 business days once your documents are complete, and Canberra warns that some cases take 4 to 6 weeks. Both recommend applying about a month ahead, and the portal doesn't accept applications more than 3 months before you fly. Sydney lists A$60 for a single-entry Tourist Visa and A$300 for multiple entry. Canberra doesn't publish its fee on the page we checked, so check it on thaievisa.go.th before you pay. The Wellington embassy lists NZ$300 for single entry and NZ$1,000 for multiple entry. The portal asks for proof of at least 20,000 THB, such as three months of bank statements.
Don't overstay. It costs 500 THB a day up to 20,000 THB and can mean detention, deportation and a re-entry ban of up to 10 years.
Entry checklist
- Passport valid for 6 months from arrival, with a blank page
- Return or onward ticket
- TDAC filed at tdac.immigration.go.th within 3 days before landing (it's free)
- Proof of funds: the UK Foreign Office says 10,000 THB per person, and the Thai embassies in London and Washington say 20,000 THB per person. Carry about 20,000 THB or be ready to show a card or bank balance
- Address of your first night's stay
- Travel insurance
- No vape, no dexamfetamine or Vyvanse, and a Thai FDA permit for codeine
- Tourist Visa PDF, if you're staying longer than 30 days without extending
There's no tourist entry fee in 2026. A 450 THB fee is proposed from early 2027 at the earliest.
Flights from Australia and New Zealand
| Airline | Nonstop routes |
|---|---|
| Thai Airways | Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to Bangkok. Its winter 2026/27 schedule has Sydney and Melbourne twice daily and Perth daily. Brisbane is no longer served |
| Qantas | Sydney to Bangkok |
| Jetstar | Budget nonstop flights from several Australian cities to Bangkok and Phuket. Check the route map on jetstar.com for your city |
| Finnair | Melbourne to Bangkok, daily from 25 October 2026, continuing to Helsinki |
Virgin Australia doesn't fly to Thailand. Timetables change by season, so check the airline's schedule when you book.
Low-cost connections through Singapore (Scoot) or Kuala Lumpur (AirAsia X) are another option. AirAsia X drops Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on 25 October 2026 but is adding flights from Perth and Melbourne.
There's no nonstop from New Zealand in 2026, so plan on one stop via Australia or Singapore. Thai Airways is aiming to start flying to Auckland in March 2027, but it isn't on sale yet.
When to fly
December and January fall in Thailand's high season (November to February), when fares are usually highest. The wet season, roughly May to October, is generally cheapest. Prices move daily, so compare dates on a fare calendar. Our best time to visit Thailand guide covers the weather month by month.
What to bring from Australia
Plug adaptor. Thai sockets take types A, B, C and O. Australian and New Zealand plugs (type I) don't fit them, so pack an adaptor. Thailand runs at 220 V, 50 Hz, close to Australia's 230 V, 50 Hz, so your devices only need the adaptor, not a converter.
Money and cards. Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a flat 220-250 THB per withdrawal (up to 350 THB at some). AEON ATMs are cheaper, at about 150 THB. Take out larger amounts less often, and always choose to pay in baht, not Australian dollars, when a machine or card terminal asks.
Insurance. Thailand doesn't require it for entry, but private hospitals ask for a payment guarantee before treating you. Get a policy with medical cover. Your policy should cover medical evacuation, and some activities, such as motorcycling, can cost extra, so check the policy if you plan to ride a scooter. To drive a motorbike you need a valid motorcycle licence. There's no free healthcare agreement between Australia and Thailand.
Medicines. Amphetamine-based ADHD medicines, including dexamfetamine and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), are banned in Thailand, and no permit is available. Methylphenidate is allowed up to 30 days' supply with a doctor's letter. Codeine and other opioids need a permit from the Thai FDA at permitfortraveler.fda.moph.go.th. Thai embassy guidance says to apply at least 14 days before you arrive and gives 30 days' supply as the limit, so apply early and check the quantity with the FDA. Keep everything in original packaging and declare permit medicines at the red channel.
Vape. Leave it at home. Vapes, pods and e-liquid are illegal to bring in, own or use in Thailand, and fines typically run 5,000-30,000 THB.
Everything else. Pack reef-safe sunscreen (some ingredients are banned in marine national parks, with fines up to 100,000 THB), DEET or picaridin repellent, and temple clothes that cover shoulders and knees. The rest is in our Southeast Asia packing list.
Arrival day, step by step
- In the 3 days before you fly: file your TDAC and save the confirmation. Set up a travel eSIM if you want data on landing.
- On arrival at Bangkok (BKK) or Phuket (HKT): immigration will check your passport and may ask about your onward ticket or funds. You're stamped in for 30 days.
- Customs: use the red channel if you have permit medicines, more than 200 cigarettes or 1 litre of alcohol, or more than US$15,000 in cash. Otherwise, green.
- SIM and cash: AIS, TrueMove H and dtac have counters at both BKK and HKT, and you'll need your passport for a SIM. Look for an AEON ATM.
- Onward from Bangkok (BKK): the Airport Rail Link runs from the basement (level B1) to Phaya Thai, from 05:30 to midnight, for about 45 THB. Public metered taxis charge the meter plus a 50 THB airport fee plus expressway tolls. If a domestic flight leaves from Don Mueang (DMK), allow at least an hour by road; there's a free shuttle bus for passengers with an onward boarding pass.
- Onward from Phuket (HKT): the Airport Bus runs to Phuket Town for 100 THB, and the Smart Bus goes to Patong, Karon and Kata for about 100 THB. A metered taxi adds a 100 THB airport fee, and 2026 transfer guides put a taxi to Patong at roughly 750 to 1,000 THB in total. Shared minibuses cost about 180 THB per person.
Travel Thailand with us
Flying into Phuket? Southern Thailand Jungle & Islands covers Khao Sok and the Andaman coast in 10 days. Thailand Island Hopping Tour is 10 days across the islands. Either leaves plenty of room in your 30 days. Ages 18 to 40, and I'm with the group the whole way as your Trip Host.
