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Try it free →In force, not yet confirmed centrallyPublished by Thai missions, no central instrument found
DTV: apply where you are a national or resident, and bring a police certificate
- What this page says now
- You could apply at any Thai embassy or consulate, including while present in a third country on a tourist stay — which is why applicants shopped for the post with the lightest checklist. No criminal-record or police clearance certificate was required.
- What changed
- You must be a national, or a legal/permanent resident, of the country where you apply, and must apply at the Thai mission covering that country. Being physically present somewhere on a tourist stay or visa exemption does not qualify you to apply there. A criminal-record / police clearance certificate from your country of citizenship or legal residence, issued within the last 6 months (UK applicants use the ACRO certificate). Applied from 31 August 2026 according to the sources below, not to a published instrument.
Announced from 31 August 2026 by individual Thai missions — Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane; Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet; Royal Thai Embassy, London — rather than by a single published Ministry of Foreign Affairs instrument. We have not found a consolidated official announcement, so confirm the current checklist directly with the mission handling your application. Five-year validity, 180-day stays with one extension, the ~THB 500,000 financial test and the dependant provisions are unchanged — the change is who may apply where, and one extra document. Allow several weeks for the police certificate.
The page below has not been changed on the strength of this, and will not be until Thai e-Visa — Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand publishes it. BAANLYY publishes what the Thai government publishes, not what is expected of it.
Sources for the change: Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane — published DTV application conditions · Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet — published DTV application conditions · Royal Thai Embassy, London — published DTV application conditions.
Check it yourself: Thai e-Visa — Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police. Sources last re-read 4 September 2026. BAANLYY is not a law firm or an immigration adviser and this is not legal advice.
Not confirmedReported, not confirmed by any official source
Proposed: a 300-baht arrival fee
- What this page says now
- No arrival or tourism fee is charged on entry, and none appears in the costs on this page.
- What it is proposed to change to
- 300 baht for arrivals by air and 150 baht for arrivals by land or sea, described by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as returning to Cabinet for a decision on how it would be collected.
No Thai government source for this has been found. Everything cited below is a news outlet or a private operator.
This proposal has been announced and postponed repeatedly since 2022. There is no Cabinet approval, no Royal Gazette entry and no start date. Budget for it if you like, but do not plan around a date, because nobody has published one.
The page below has not been changed on the strength of this, and will not be until Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand or Tourism Authority of Thailand publishes it. BAANLYY publishes what the Thai government publishes, not what is expected of it.
Source for the change: The Nation — Why Thailand is reviving its 300-baht tourist fee plan (not a government source).
Check it yourself: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · Tourism Authority of Thailand. Sources last re-read 4 September 2026. BAANLYY is not a law firm or an immigration adviser and this is not legal advice.
Housing guides by visa
Digital nomads & long-stay
DTV visaRemote workers and freelancers on the 5-year DTV doing 180-day stays.
How to rent on this visa →Executives, retirees & investors
LTR visaHigh earners, investors and wealthy retirees on the 10-year LTR.
How to rent on this visa →Retirees 50+
Retirement Visa (Non-O / O-A / O-X) visaRetirees 50+ on the Non-O / O-A / O-X retirement route.
How to rent on this visa →Premium, hassle-free long stay
Thailand Privilege (Elite) Visa visaMembers on the 5–20 year Thailand Privilege (Elite) membership.
How to rent on this visa →Spouses of Thai nationals
Marriage Visa (Non-O) visaForeigners married to a Thai national on the Non-O marriage extension.
How to rent on this visa →Students & language learners
Education Visa (Non-ED) visaStudents and language/Muay Thai learners on the Non-ED education visa.
How to rent on this visa →Employees & business owners
Work Permit & Business Visa (Non-B) visaEmployees and business owners on a Non-B visa with a work permit.
How to rent on this visa →Short stays & scouting
Tourist Visa & Visa Exemption visaVisitors on a tourist visa or exemption scouting before a longer move.
How to rent on this visa →Housing for one of eight routes
Which of the eight routes will you actually be on?
The lease advice here is written around one route of eight, and it hangs on that route: how long a single entry lets you stay is what decides whether six months or twelve is the term to sign, and how much deposit you should be prepared to lose. Answer seven short questions and see the two or three routes worth checking for your situation — each with the money it asks for, what it costs, and the Thai government page that requirement comes from. Signposting only: it decides nothing about your status, and it is not legal or immigration advice.
See which routes to check →Prefer to read the routes yourself?
Start with the visa knowledge center → to find your route, then come back to match it to a home. Already know your area? Find your best-fit neighbourhood → or model your costs →
Renting by visa type — frequently asked questions
Should I sign a 1-year lease on a DTV?
Only once you're sure of the area and that you'll be in-country for it. Many DTV holders start on a 6-month or monthly term and switch to a 12-month lease — which is cheaper per month — after settling in.
Should LTR holders rent or buy?
It depends on your horizon and capital. With 10 years of stability, buying a condo within the 49% foreign quota can make sense — but run it through the purchase-cost and cap-rate tools first. Renting stays flexible while you decide.
Will renting affect my THB 800,000 visa deposit?
It shouldn't — keep your deposit and rent money in a separate account so the seasoned THB 800k stays above the threshold. Don't fund move-in costs out of the visa balance during the seasoning window.
Does the Elite visa skip the 90-day report?
No. Thailand Privilege removes income/age tests and adds VIP services, but the 90-day address report still applies — keep your lease and TM30 receipt on file.
Is renting easier on a marriage visa?
Usually yes — a Thai spouse can sign the lease and handle Thai-language dealings, and may already own the home. Just ensure the foreigner's address is still notified via TM30.
What's the best lease for a student visa?
A flexible 6-month or month-to-month lease near your school. Courses extend or change, and you don't want to be locked into a 12-month term across the city.
Where should I live on a work permit?
Optimise for commute — minutes to your office on the BTS/MRT usually matter more than unit size. See the public-transport and compare-neighbourhoods guides.
Can I rent long-term on a tourist visa?
You can technically rent, but it's unwise: landlords are warier, address and bank setup are harder, and your preferences will change. Stay flexible (month-to-month or serviced) until you hold a long-stay visa.
Visa sorted? Find the home.
Match your visa to the right neighbourhood and residence with BAANLYY's free area tools.
General information only — not legal, immigration, tax or financial advice. Rental practices, deposits and visa/address-reporting rules change and depend on your situation; verify with official Thai government sources or a licensed specialist before acting. BAANLYY is a data-and-tools platform, not a broker or property manager, and never takes paid placement.
Written by Kirby Scofield
Founder of BAANLYY · International real estate broker, investor & relocation specialist
Reviewed by Kirby Scofield · Founder of BAANLYY · Founder & Broker, Scofield Group
Last reviewed: 18 July 2026 · Last updated 18 July 2026
Sources
- Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police ↗Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police · Accessed 19 August 2026
- Thai e-Visa — Ministry of Foreign Affairs ↗Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand · Accessed 19 August 2026
Official primary sources are listed above with the date we last checked them. Thai rules, fees, thresholds and procedures change and can be applied differently by individual offices and embassies — confirm the current requirement with the responsible authority before relying on it. General information only, not legal, tax or medical advice. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.