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Top 10 Things to Know Before Traveling to Thailand (2026 Rules)

The 60-day stay is gone, the arrival card is digital, and the cannabis shops are no longer what they were. Ten things to know before your first Thailand trip in 2026.

Quick answer: Three rules changed recently and catch first-timers out: since 15 September 2026 most tourists get 30 days visa-free, not 60; every foreign visitor must file the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card within three days before arrival; and since June 2025 buying cannabis without a Thai prescription is banned. Beyond that, dress for temples, never joke about the monarchy, carry cash for street food, expect a flat ATM fee, and install a travel eSIM before you fly.

Key takeaways

30 days, not 60. The visa-free stay for tourists was cut on 15 September 2026, for 60 countries and territories.
TDAC is mandatory and free. File it at tdac.immigration.go.th up to three days before arrival.
Cash for the street, cards for malls. ATMs charge foreign cards a flat fee per withdrawal, and PromptPay QR codes are built for Thai bank accounts.
Data first. Ride apps, maps and translation do most of the work, so land with a working line.

Your friend went to Thailand in 2024, stayed 55 days on a free entry stamp and bought weed from a shop on Khao San Road. Neither of those works the same way now. Here are ten things to know before you fly, from the new entry rules to the small moments that trip up first-timers in their first 24 hours.

1. How long can you stay without a visa in 2026?

From 15 September 2026, tourists from 60 countries and territories get a 30-day visa-free stay, tourism only. The old 60-day exemption for 93 countries ended with entries on 14 September. Business visits now need a visa, and land arrivals are capped at two visa-free entries per calendar year for most nationalities. If your trip is longer than 30 days, sort a visa before you go.

2. What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?

The paper arrival card is gone. Every non-Thai national, visa-free or not, files the TDAC online at tdac.immigration.go.th, opening three days before travel. It is free and the confirmation email is what you show at immigration. Any site that charges you for it is a third party.

3. Is cannabis still legal for tourists?

Not the way it was. Since late June 2025, shops may not sell cannabis buds without a prescription from a licensed Thai practitioner, limited to 30 days of use, and sellers who break the rule face up to a year in jail and a 20,000 baht fine. Walk-in shops selling to tourists may be operating outside the law. The simple rule: do not buy it.

4. What are the rules at temples and around the royal family?

Cover shoulders and knees at temples and the Grand Palace, and take shoes off before entering a prayer hall.
Never point your feet at a Buddha image, a monk or a person, and do not touch anyone's head.
Criticising or mocking the monarchy is a criminal offence. Treat banknotes, which carry the King's image, with respect too.
Stand when the royal anthem plays before films in cinemas.

5. How much do ATMs charge in Thailand?

Thai ATMs add a flat fee to foreign cards on every withdrawal, widely reported at about 220 baht and higher at some banks, before your own bank's charges. Take out larger amounts less often, and when the screen offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and choose baht. The fee is shown before you confirm.

6. Can tourists pay with the QR codes everywhere?

Usually not. The QR code on every noodle stall is PromptPay, which is linked to Thai bank accounts. Visitors from a handful of countries can scan it through linked home banking apps, but most cannot. Plan on cash for street food, markets and songthaews, and cards for hotels, malls and chains. Our guide to PromptPay for foreigners covers the exceptions.

7. How do you get around without being overcharged?

Use Grab or Bolt for a fixed price shown before you ride, or insist on the meter in a Bangkok taxi. If a friendly stranger near the Grand Palace tells you it is closed today and offers a cheap tuk-tuk tour instead, walk on: it is the oldest detour to a gem shop in Bangkok. Both tricks work only if your phone has data to check.

8. Which mobile network will you be on?

Install a travel eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, keep your home SIM on for bank SMS, and turn the travel line on after landing. The Fizen Thailand eSIM runs on TrueMove H, 4G and 5G (catalog checked 25 October 2026). Fixed plans are 3 GB for 3 days and 10 GB for 7 days and stop once the data is used; unlimited plans run 3 to 30 days at a fixed 10 Mbps, enough for maps, Grab and video calls in standard quality.

Your trip	Typical daily use	Plan that fits
Long weekend in Bangkok	about 0.5 to 1 GB	3 GB for 3 days
One week, light use	about 1 GB	10 GB for 7 days
Two weeks, maps, ride apps, calls	1 to 2 GB	Unlimited for 15 days

Most plans cannot be topped up, and more data means a new eSIM, so size for the whole trip. A verified fault on Fizen's side gets a free 1-for-1 replacement for the length of the trip, or a refund for the days you could not use, from a real person in chat. An unused eSIM that is not installed yet can usually be taken back; eligibility depends on the plan, so check Package details or ask chat. New users get US$10 of eSIM credit in the Fizen app's eSIM tab.

9. When is a Thai tourist SIM the better buy?

AIS, TrueMove H and dtac sell tourist SIMs at counters in Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang arrivals, registered to your passport. If you need a Thai phone number, for food delivery apps, a condo booking or a stay of several weeks, the local SIM is the better choice. If you want to walk past the queue with your phone already working, the eSIM is.

10. Which part of Thailand is dry when?

Thailand has two rainy coasts. The Andaman side, Phuket and Krabi, is wettest from about May to October; the Gulf islands, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, get their heaviest rain in November and December. The north is coolest and driest from November to February. For 2026, the Thai Meteorological Department expects heavy rain from Chumphon southward from mid-October to early January.

Get these ten right and the first day goes the way it should: a stamp for the days you need, a Grab ride at the fare the app showed, and pad krapow paid in cash at a plastic table.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Thailand in 2026?

Tourists from 60 countries and territories can stay up to 30 days without a visa since 15 September 2026. Longer stays and business trips need a visa. Check your passport on the Thai immigration or foreign ministry site.

Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card free?

Yes. File it at tdac.immigration.go.th within three days before arrival. Sites that charge a fee are not the official one.

Can tourists buy cannabis in Thailand?

Not legally without a prescription from a licensed Thai practitioner. Since June 2025 shops may not sell cannabis buds to customers without one.

Should I bring cash to Thailand?

Yes, some. Street food, markets and local transport are cash. Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a flat fee per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often.

Does a travel eSIM work everywhere in Thailand?

It works across cities, main islands and highways on TrueMove H. Expect weaker signal on remote islands, national parks and mountain roads, and download offline maps for those days.

Land in Thailand with data already on

Install the Thailand eSIM at home on Wi-Fi and switch it on after landing. TrueMove H, 4G and 5G. Paying in USDT? Use the Fizen app instead.

Get your Thailand eSIM

Terms and conditions

Information only. This article is information only. It is not an offer or a sale, and it is not travel, legal or financial advice. Entry and legal rules change; check official Thai government sources before you travel.
For readers in the United States. This is information only, not an offer or sale, and not advice. Fizen products and services are not offered to US Persons.
Data-only product. The eSIM is data only. It does not include a phone number or SMS. Most plans cannot be topped up (more data means a new eSIM), so size it for the whole trip.
Facts and availability. Carrier, plan sizes and speed were checked in the Fizen catalog on 25 October 2026. The shop page carries current plans and prices.

Sources

Entry rules, cannabis rules, weather outlook and eSIM catalog details checked on 25 October 2026.