Thailandโs cabinet approved a temporary visa-fee waiver on 2 June for passport holders from 10 ASEAN member states. The waiver runs from 1 August to 31 December 2026 and removes the THB 2,000 fee previously charged for visa-on-arrival or visa exemption extensions. The measure aims to boost intra-ASEAN tourism during the post-pandemic recovery period.
Eligible travellers still receive the standard 60-day visa exemption on arrival and may extend for an additional 30 days at no cost during the waiver period. Over 4.8 million ASEAN visitors arrived in Thailand in 2025, representing 28 percent of total arrivals.
The waiver follows similar short-term fee holidays granted during 2023 and 2024 that increased regional arrivals by an average of 19 percent. Tourism officials expect an additional 600,000 visitors from the targeted countries before the end of 2026.
Immigration offices at major airports have been instructed to process the fee waiver automatically upon presentation of a qualifying passport. No pre-registration or special document is required.
What this means for you
ASEAN nationals planning travel between August and December should simply present their passport at immigration and receive the automatic fee waiver. No additional paperwork or payment is needed at the border.
Travellers considering a 30-day extension should apply at a local immigration office rather than leaving and re-entering, as the waiver also covers extension fees during the promotion period. Keep the arrival stamp as proof of entry date for any future extension request.
The temporary waiver offers a cost-saving opportunity for regional travel and is likely to be extended into 2027 if visitor numbers meet government targets.