Visa Housing · Short stays & scouting

Renting in Thailand on a Tourist Visa & Visa Exemption visa.

Short-stay and scouting housing: how to rent a flexible base while you test neighbourhoods before committing to a long-stay visa and a 12-month lease.

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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.

Who this is for

Visitors on a tourist visa or exemption scouting before a longer move.

Housing for one of eight routes

Is the Tourist Visa & Visa Exemption the route you will 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 →

Your housing strategy

Treat a tourist-visa stay as reconnaissance, not commitment. The smart play is a flexible short-term rental — month-to-month or a serviced apartment — that lets you live in two or three shortlisted neighbourhoods before you lock into anything. Don't sign a long lease or pay big deposits on a tourist stamp: landlords are warier, you can't easily set up the address paperwork a long-stay visa unlocks, and your real preferences will shift once you've actually spent time in each area. Use this window to gather the data, then choose your long-stay visa and your home together.

Lease & term advice

Landlord, TM30 & address paperwork

Deposits & budget

Most Thai condo leases run on a 2 + 1 structure: two months' rent as a refundable security deposit plus one month's rent paid in advance. Short or flexible terms (under 6 months) usually cost more per month and may ask for a larger deposit. Short and serviced stays cost more per month but save you from a wrong 12-month commitment — use the cost-of-living tool to compare areas as you scout.

Best areas for this visa

Compare neighbourhoodsFind your best-fit areaBest for public transportNeighbourhood finder

Mistakes to avoid

Pro tips

Frequently asked

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.
Should I sign a 1-year lease while scouting?No. Use a tourist stay to test neighbourhoods with short-term rentals, then commit to a 12-month lease once you've chosen your area and long-stay visa.
Which visa should I switch to?It depends on your situation — remote work (DTV), retirement, marriage, study, work, or a paid Elite membership. See the full visa guides, then pick your home to match.
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Match your visa to the right home

You sorted the Tourist Visa & Visa Exemption. Now find the neighbourhood and residence that fit it.

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General information only — not legal, immigration, tax or financial advice. Rental practices, deposits, visa rules and address-reporting requirements change and depend on your situation; verify current requirements 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.

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