Thailand has talked about a tourist entry fee since 2023, and every season someone retells the news as if it were already in force. Here is what is known as of 17 October 2026.
Where the 300 baht came from
The idea of charging foreign tourists a fee on entry (known in Thai as «ค่าเหยียบแผ่นดิน», literally “fee for stepping on the land”) has been discussed for years. The figure that stuck was 300 baht, about 10 US dollars, retold so often that many people assume it is already collected.
What applies in October 2026
| What | Status |
|---|---|
| Entry fee today | not charged |
| Proposed rate | 450 THB per person, the same for air, land and sea |
| Who backed it | National Tourism Policy Committee, 14.08.2026 |
| Next steps | public consultation (reported to have run in September 2026, results not published), then Cabinet |
| Start for air arrivals | target 2027, 180 days after Gazette publication |
| Land and sea | another 360 days of preparation |
| 1,000-5,000 THB exit tax | not officially confirmed |
The figures come from statements by Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul and the ministry’s permanent secretary after the committee meeting of 14 August 2026 (Krungthep Turakij), and from the Deputy PM on 9 October 2026 (Khaosod English). The permanent secretary said an inflation-adjusted calculation pointed to 490 baht, but 450 baht, about 15 US dollars, was judged reasonable.
On 9 October 2026 the Deputy PM told agencies to draw up transparent rules for collecting and spending the money before public consultation and submission to the Cabinet. So at that date the plan had not reached the Cabinet.
We found no official fee document in the Royal Gazette or on the ministry’s site as of 17 October 2026. The figures above are ministers’ statements quoted by the media.
What travellers should do
Nothing to pay on entry today. If a website or agent asks you to pay a “Thailand tourist fee” or “entry tax”, it is a scam. The mandatory arrival card is free too, see TDAC. What you can bring in is covered in our customs guide.
This page is reviewed every 30 days until a decision on the fee is made.
FAQ
Do I have to pay 300 baht when I arrive in Thailand?
No. As of October 2026 there is no entry fee. 300 baht was the rate in an older proposal; in August 2026 it was revised to 450 baht, and the fee still has no Cabinet approval.
When will Thailand start charging the tourist fee?
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports' permanent secretary (Krungthep Turakij, 16.08.2026), collection from air arrivals is targeted for 2027, 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, with another 360 days of preparation for land and sea checkpoints. There is no firm date until the Cabinet approves it.
Is there a new departure tax of up to 5,000 baht?
We found no official decision or draft for such a tax on government or ministry sites. It appears only in scattered reports and social media. We will update this answer if an official document appears.
How would the fee be collected?
The ministry is considering several channels: airline tickets, a website or app, kiosks, or adding it to hotel bills (Krungthep Turakij, 16.08.2026). The money would go to a fund for tourist sites, safety and tourist insurance. No channel has been chosen yet.
Sources
- PRD, Government of Thailand. Thailand Proposes New THB450 Tourism Fee for All Foreign Visitors (17 August 2026)
- Krungthep Turakij (Bangkok Biz News). National Tourism Policy Committee meeting of 14.08.2026 (16.08.2026), media
- Khaosod English. Thailand moves ahead with 450-baht tourist entry fee, eyes film incentives (09.10.2026), media
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Ministry news (no fee decision published as of 17.10.2026)
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