Thai law applies to every visitor from the moment you land, and several rules are stricter than travellers expect. Some changed in 2025 and 2026. This guide explains the laws that matter most on a holiday and how to avoid breaking them. It was checked in September 2026. Rules change, so confirm anything important with your government's travel advice, for example the UK's Thailand safety and security advice.
What Changed in 2025 and 2026
- Visa-free stay: 30 days, not 60, from 15 September 2026.
- Arrival card: since 1 May 2025, every foreign national arriving by air, land or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online, within 3 days before arrival.
- Cannabis: since 26 June 2025, cannabis flower needs a Thai prescription.
- Alcohol: since 29 May 2026, sales run from 11:00 to midnight with no afternoon break.
- Helmets: since 1 June 2025, police enforce the helmet law with fines of up to 2,000 THB.
- Deportation: from 28 August 2026, a foreign national can be deported without a criminal conviction if their conduct is judged contrary to public order or good morals. People who are deported face limits on returning to Thailand.
Visas, Overstay and Your Passport
The 30-day visa exemption
Nationals of 60 countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, India, Japan and most EU states, can now stay up to 30 days without a visa for tourism. If you entered Thailand before 15 September 2026, you keep the stay you were given. Visa-free entry for tourism is normally limited to two entries per calendar year. The full rules are on the UK's Thailand entry requirements page.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date and have at least 1 blank page. Officers may ask you to show at least 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family. For visas and stay extensions, call the Immigration Bureau on 1178 or 0 2572 8500.
Overstaying
An overstay costs 500 THB per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 THB. An overstay can also lead to a ban on entering Thailand again. The ban depends on how long you overstayed and on whether you go to immigration yourself or are arrested:
| How it ends | Overstay | Entry ban |
|---|---|---|
| You go to immigration yourself | More than 90 days | 1 year |
| You go to immigration yourself | More than 1 year | 3 years |
| You go to immigration yourself | More than 3 years | 5 years |
| You go to immigration yourself | More than 5 years | 10 years |
| You are arrested | Less than 1 year | 5 years |
| You are arrested | More than 1 year | 10 years |
The ban starts on the day you leave Thailand. Count your days from the entry stamp.
Carrying your passport
Police can ask to see your passport and may give you 24 hours to show it. A copy of the photo page is usually enough, so keep the passport in the hotel safe and carry a copy. Never hand your passport to a scooter or jet-ski rental business as a guarantee: some firms keep passports and demand money for damage they say you caused.
The Monarchy
Criticising the monarchy is a crime in Thailand. Section 112 of the Criminal Code covers defaming, insulting or threatening the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, and the crime carries a long prison sentence. The law also applies to posts online and to articles you share. The safe approach: do not comment on the royal family while you are in Thailand, in conversation or on social media.
Drugs and Cannabis
Since 26 June 2025:
- Cannabis flower can only be bought with a prescription from a Thai-licensed practitioner. A foreign prescription does not count.
- Recreational use is illegal, and smoking in public, including near temples, parks and public facilities, is prohibited. Hotels can ban it in rooms.
- Taking cannabis out of Thailand brings fines starting at 30,000 THB per kilogram. If you cannot pay, you can be detained and put on an immigration watch list.
Other drugs carry far heavier penalties. Possession of Class A drugs can bring the death penalty, and even small quantities bring heavy fines or prison.
If you take prescription medicine, carry it in its original packaging with a letter from your doctor, and check the rules with the Thai embassy in your country before you travel.
Vapes and Cigarettes
E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import, possess or use. Tourists caught with them have faced confiscation, fines typically between 5,000 and 30,000 THB, detention and court proceedings. Importing vapes can bring up to 10 years in prison.
Cigarettes are legal, but you may not bring more than 200 per person into Thailand (fines can be 10 times their value). Smoking in some public places brings a fine of up to 5,000 THB.
Alcohol
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Sales hours | Licensed shops, restaurants and bars may sell alcohol from 11:00 to midnight, with no 14:00–17:00 break since 29 May 2026. |
| Exceptions | International airport terminals, licensed hotels, licensed entertainment venues and designated event venues may sell outside those hours. |
| Fines for customers | Since 8 November 2025, up to 10,000 THB for drinking in a venue during banned hours (now midnight to 11:00). |
| Major Buddhist holidays | No sales, except at airport duty-free. As of September 2026, the next one is Ok Phansa, Monday 26 October 2026, when the ban is less strictly enforced. Ask your hotel to confirm close to the date. |
In the first phase of the customer rule, officials gave warnings instead. You must also be of legal drinking age to buy alcohol.
Two safety points matter as much as the law. People have died from drinks contaminated with methanol, so choose sealed, branded drinks. Never leave a drink unattended, and do not accept drinks from strangers.
Driving and Riding
- Licence: you need an International Driving Permit. For a scooter, carry a motorcycle licence plus the permit.
- Helmets: rider and passenger must both wear one. The fine is up to 2,000 THB, or 4,000 THB when neither wears a helmet.
- Insurance: riding without a valid licence can make your travel insurance invalid.
- Registration: an unregistered motorcycle cannot legally be used, so check the papers before you rent one.
- Drink-driving: strictly enforced, especially at New Year and Songkran. The blood alcohol limit is 0.05% for most drivers, 0.02% for drivers with a licence held under 2 years or no licence, and zero for professional drivers.
The World Health Organization ranks Thailand among the world's deadliest countries for motorcycle deaths.
Other Rules That Surprise Visitors
- Playing cards: it is illegal to carry more than 120.
- Drones: every drone must be registered with the NBTC (the national telecoms regulator) within 30 days. Flying an unregistered drone can bring a fine of up to 100,000 THB, up to 5 years in prison, or both.
- Sky lanterns and fireworks: as of September 2026, releasing them in Bangkok at Loy Krathong (24 November 2026) is banned, with up to 3 years in prison, a fine of up to 60,000 THB, or both. Check the current rules with the local authorities before the festival.
Getting Around Without Legal Risk
If you want a drink with dinner or have no motorcycle licence, let a professional drive. Public transport costs less; a private car suits families, groups with luggage and late arrivals. Smile Taxi Service fares are fixed per vehicle, one way, with expressway tolls included:
- Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok: 600 THB by sedan, 800 THB by SUV, 1,100 THB by van. Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok.
- Bangkok to Pattaya: 1,500 THB by sedan, 1,700 THB by SUV, 2,000 THB by van. Book an SUV from Bangkok to Pattaya.
You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (a 5% fee is added). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details). See all routes on the price list.
If You Get into Trouble
- Tourist Police: 1155, 24 hours a day, with English-speaking operators. The Thailand Tourist Police app works without a Thai SIM card.
- Police and general emergency: 191. Ambulance: 1669. Fire: 199.
- Tourist fraud: the Ministry of Tourism and Sports tourist-fraud office at Suvarnabhumi Airport, 0 2134 4077, 24 hours. When you report a fraud or theft to the Tourist Police or to this office, ask for a police report for your insurer.
- Australian Embassy: +66 2 344 6300. Embassy of Canada: +66 2 646 4300.
- British Embassy: use the FCDO online contact form. Family in the UK can call the UK government's 24-hour line in London, +44 20 7008 5000.
For other countries, save your embassy's number from its official website before you travel.
Legal Safety Checklist
- Complete the TDAC online in the 3 days before arrival.
- Count your 30 days.
- Carry a copy of your passport photo page.
- Leave vapes and cannabis at home.
- Do not comment on the royal family, in person or online.
- Ride a scooter only with a motorcycle licence, an International Driving Permit and a helmet.
- Save 191, 1669, 1155 and your embassy's number.
FAQ
Can I still smoke cannabis in Thailand? Only with a prescription from a Thai-licensed practitioner, and never in public. Since 26 June 2025, recreational use is illegal.
Can I bring my vape? No. Importing, possessing or using a vape is illegal, with fines typically between 5,000 and 30,000 THB and possible prison.
What time can I buy alcohol? From 11:00 to midnight in licensed shops, restaurants and bars since 29 May 2026, but not on major Buddhist holidays such as 26 October 2026.
How long can I stay without a visa? Up to 30 days from 15 September 2026 for nationals of the 60 visa-exempt countries, including the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. Overstaying costs 500 THB a day, up to 20,000 THB.
Can I rent a scooter without a motorcycle licence? You should not. You need a motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit, and without a valid licence your travel insurance may not pay.
To travel without driving yourself, book your transfer or message us on WhatsApp or LINE.