Thai Visa on Arrival in 2026: Who Still Qualifies
Since 15 September 2026, the visa on arrival covers three nationalities only. Who now enters visa-free, who still needs a visa, and why the "9A visa" is not Thai.
If you searched for the "9A visa" while planning a trip to Thailand, let us save you some time: 9A is not a Thai visa. It is a Philippine visitor visa. In Thailand, the short-stay options at the border are visa-free entry and the Thai visa on arrival, and both changed on 15 September 2026. The biggest change: the visa on arrival now applies to three nationalities only. This guide sets out who qualifies for what, and what to do if you plan to stay longer.
On this page
01The Thai visa on arrival since 15 September 2026
Under the measures in force since 15 September 2026, the Thai visa on arrival (VOA) is open to ordinary passport holders from Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. It allows a stay of 15 days, the fee is 2,000 THB, and the criteria are set by the Immigration Bureau. It is issued at the immigration checkpoint when you land.
It covers a short tourist stay only. It does not allow you to work or study, and it is not a route to a long stay.
⚠ If you used a visa on arrival before
Until September 2026, the visa on arrival covered a much longer list, including India and China. Those travellers now fall under a visa exemption scheme instead (see section 02). Thailand states that these measures are subject to change: check the official list published by the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles just before you travel.
02Who enters visa-free instead
Most nationalities now enter Thailand without a visa, under one of four schemes. The length of stay depends on your passport, not on where you land.
| Scheme | Who it covers | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Visa exemption | 60 countries and territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India and most European countries | 30 days |
| Bilateral agreements | 10 countries and territories, including China, Russia, Malaysia and Viet Nam | 30 days |
| Bilateral agreements | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Republic of Korea | 90 days |
| Bilateral agreements | Cambodia and Myanmar (international airports only) | 14 days |
| Visa exemption | Seychelles and Mauritius | 15 days |
| Visa on arrival | Azerbaijan, Belarus, Serbia (fee 2,000 THB) | 15 days |
If your nationality is on none of these lists, you need a visa before you travel, applied for through the official Thai e-Visa portal.
03The 9A visa: why it does not apply to Thailand
The 9A, or 9(a), is a category of Philippine immigration law: the temporary visitor visa. It has no equivalent under that name in Thailand, and holding one gives you no right of entry here. Our colleagues explain where these Philippine letter-and-number codes come from in why Philippine visas are called 9G or 13A.
For Thailand, the question to ask is simpler: does your passport qualify for visa exemption, for a visa on arrival, or do you need to apply before you fly?
04Before you fly: a short checklist
Whatever scheme applies to you, run through these five points before departure.
- Your scheme — find your nationality on the official list effective 15 September 2026: visa on arrival, visa exemption or bilateral agreement.
- Your passport — check that its validity meets the entry requirements for your scheme.
- The TDAC — since 1 May 2025, every foreign national entering Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before arrival, whatever their visa status.
- Onward travel — carry proof of your return or onward ticket and your accommodation details.
- Your real plans — if you intend to stay beyond a short visit, apply for the right visa before you travel, not after you land.
Good to know
If you travel with a visa on arrival, carry the 2,000 THB fee in cash and check the documents the Immigration Bureau asks for: requirements at the checkpoint can be stricter than travellers expect.
05Staying longer than a short visit
If you are planning to retire, work or settle in Thailand, none of these short-stay options is the right starting point. Long stays rely on visas applied for in advance, each with its own eligibility rules:
- Retirement — the Non-Immigrant O-A and O-X, explained in our Thailand retirement visa guide.
- Work, study or family — the Non-Immigrant B, ED and O visas.
- Remote work — the Destination Thailand Visa, covered in our DTV visa guide.
- A longer holiday — a tourist visa applied for before you travel.
Our in-house visa team in Bangkok handles these applications directly with the Thai authorities, as one accountable provider. Our Thailand visa & immigration services start by confirming the category that actually fits your plans.
06The key figure
For most travellers, the visa on arrival is no longer the question: a visa-free stay is. For everything longer than a short visit, neither option is the answer.
3
Key figure
The number of nationalities still eligible for the Thai visa on arrival since 15 September 2026: Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.
Planning more than a holiday?
Tell us about your move, your retirement or your work plans, and we will confirm the right route for your nationality and timing. Talk to our Thailand visa & immigration team →
07Thai visa on arrival — common questions
Is the 9A visa valid for Thailand?
No. The 9A is a Philippine visitor visa. Entry to Thailand depends on Thai rules only: visa exemption, visa on arrival, or a visa applied for in advance.
Which countries can still get a Thai visa on arrival?
Since 15 September 2026, only Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia, for a 15-day stay and a 2,000 THB fee. Most other nationalities either enter visa-free or need to apply before they travel.
Do I still need the TDAC if I enter visa-free?
Yes. Since 1 May 2025, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card applies to all foreign nationals entering Thailand, whatever their visa status.
