Thailand caps visa-exempt entries at 2 per year to target nomads

Headline: Thailand caps visa-exempt entries as checks tighten for nomads

Thailand’s entry screen is getting stricter

Thailand’s Immigration Bureau is enforcing tougher checks on visa-exempt arrivals, including a cap of two entries per calendar year for people without valid reasons to keep returning. Officers are checking travel history, onward tickets, accommodation and proof of funds, including 20,000 THB per person.

The rules are aimed at repeated short exits and re-entries that look like long stays dressed up as tourism. Entry denials have already hit about 2,900 foreigners since early 2025, according to the bureau.

Nomads and repeat visitors feel the pressure

Digital nomads, long-term travelers and expats who rely on back-to-back tourist entries are the main group affected. Short genuine trips are still moving through with less friction, but travelers should expect more questions at the border and at airports.

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is part of the process too. All foreigners must submit it online before arrival, which adds another step to entry screening.

What travelers should line up before arrival

The TDAC must be filed online 72 hours before arrival at entry.mfa.go.th. Travelers should also carry a return or onward ticket, accommodation details and funds proof in case officers ask for them.

Those planning longer stays may need to look at other visa paths instead of relying on repeated visa-exempt entries. Read our full Thailand guide for the complete picture and check visa updates for more coverage.