PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Thailand

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans don't need a visa for Thailand.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 30 days per visit.

Before you go

  • Purpose of visit

    Tourism only under the visa exemption (the 2024-2026 60-day scheme also covered short business; the new rule does not). Business, work, study, or longer stays need a visa (e.g. Tourist Visa TR, Destination Thailand Visa DTV, Non-Immigrant visas) via the Thai e-Visa system.

  • Passport validity

    At least 6 months, with a blank page (embassy: 6 months; FCDO: 6 months beyond arrival plus one blank page).

  • How to apply

    Visa exemption: nothing to apply for in advance, but the TDAC must be completed (see arrival_forms). For a visa (stays over 30 days): official Thai e-Visa portal https://www.thaievisa.go.th. Tourist Visa via Pretoria: single entry ZAR 650 (valid 3 months, up to 60 days stay), multiple entry ZAR 3,100 (valid 6 months, up to 60 days per entry). Non-refundable.

  • Where South Africans apply

    Royal Thai Embassy, Pretoria (applications online through thaievisa.go.th; tel +27 12 342 5470).

  • Return or onward ticket

    Required: return ticket (embassy); evidence of return/onward travel may be requested on arrival (FCDO).

  • Proof of funds

    Visa-exempt arrivals may be asked to show at least THB 10,000 per person or THB 20,000 per family (FCDO, which reports entry refusals). Tourist visa applicants in SA: bank statement showing ZAR 11,000 per person / ZAR 22,000 per family (single entry) or ZAR 110,000 / ZAR 220,000 (multiple entry).

  • Accommodation or invitation

    Proof of accommodation required for the Tourist Visa application; TDAC asks for accommodation address. No invitation needed.

  • Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

    Yellow fever certificate required only if arriving from a yellow-fever risk country. Thailand is not a risk country, so no SA re-entry certificate is needed.

  • Arrival forms

    Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), mandatory for all foreign nationals arriving by air, land or sea since 1 May 2025. Complete within 3 days (72 hours) before arrival at the official, free site https://tdac.immigration.go.th. Note: the earlier Thai ETA plan was replaced by TDAC; no ETA currently required.

  • Extending your stay and overstaying

    Embassy page says a 30-day extension can be requested at Thai Immigration, at the Immigration Bureau's discretion (written under the 60-day rule; whether the same extension applies to the new 30-day exemption is not confirmed). Overstay: THB 500 per day up to THB 20,000, possible detention, deportation and re-entry bans of up to 10 years.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

Research sources

  1. 1. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom) (Official, tatnews.org) https://www.tatnews.org/2026/09/thailand-introduces-new-30-day-and-15-day-visa-exemption-rules-from-15-september/
  2. 2. Royal Thai Embassy, Pretoria (Official, pretoria.thaiembassy.org) https://pretoria.thaiembassy.org/en/page/do-you-need-a-visa?menu=62ad0cbf03287b125f004213
  3. 3. Royal Thai Embassy, Pretoria (Official, pretoria.thaiembassy.org) https://pretoria.thaiembassy.org/en/page/29707-tourist-visa?menu=5d66366f15e39c2ad0003aed
  4. 4. Thai Immigration Bureau (Official, tdac.immigration.go.th) https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/
  5. 5. UK FCDO (updated 28 September 2026) (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/entry-requirements
  6. 6. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand_Digital_Arrival_Card
  7. 7. Envoy Global (Commercial, envoyglobal.com) https://www.envoyglobal.com/news-alert/thailand-reduces-visa-exempt-stay-periods-starting-september-2026/

From doineedavisa.co.za/thailand. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.