Thailand Tourist Entry Fee 2026: The 300-Baht Charge

Thailand’s earlier 300-baht tourist fee proposal has been followed by a proposed 450-baht charge. Here is what the official announcement establishes and what travellers still need to confirm.

Update, 20 October 2026: the image caption describes the earlier proposal. The amount and payment arrangements remain subject to the final official scheme; an airline-ticket collection method should not be assumed.

October 2026 update: the proposal is now 450 baht

The Thai Government Public Relations Department’s 17 August 2026 update describes a proposed 450-baht tourism fee, replacing the earlier 300-baht proposal. A proposal does not establish that collection has begun. This review did not verify an official collection start date or a live government payment requirement. Treat 450 baht as a possible future budget item and check official announcements before paying anyone who claims to collect it.

Keep this proposed tourism charge separate from a visa fee, an airline ticket charge or a paid service offered by an intermediary. The free Thailand Digital Arrival Card is another separate process. A website asking for money is not evidence that the government has started collecting a new arrival fee. Ask which authority imposes the charge, what published rule applies and whether it is already included in something you have paid for.

For a group of four, a hypothetical 450-baht-per-person charge would add 1,800 baht. That is a contingency calculation, not a bill due today. Keep your first-day cash allowance for confirmed transport and food, and revisit this line of the budget when your departure date is close. Our news archive should not replace an official commencement notice.

What would make a new fee payable?

Before treating any charge as compulsory, look for an official start date, the categories of visitor covered, the amount and the authorised collection method. A report that a committee supports a policy is a different milestone from a working collection system. Save the announcement that applies to your departure date so you can compare it with anything an airline or payment website asks you to pay.

If a charge appears during booking, read its description and the airline’s published terms. A fee labelled by a booking intermediary may be its own service charge. Ask for clarification before making a second payment for something that might already be included. Keep the booking receipt and avoid entering passport or card details into a site reached only through an unsolicited message.

Keep the other arrival tasks separate

Your passport, entry permission, accommodation details and arrival card still need their own checks. Budget for the airport transfer you intend to use, including a late-arrival alternative if the last public service has departed. A future tourism levy would be an extra line in that plan; it would not replace a visa application or guarantee admission. Read our free TDAC guide for the arrival-card process.