New Foreign Office Thailand alert to UK holidaymakers

New Foreign Office Thailand alert to UK holidaymakers Foreign Office issues updated Thailand travel guidance for Brits on Monday The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has revised its travel guidance for those planning a trip to Thailand. The South East Asian destination is growing increasingly popular with British holidaymakers, with over a million making the journey every year. On top of this, tens of thousands of UK nationals live, work, or retire in Thailand - in locations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, and Phuket. To enter Thailand as a tourist, your passport must have an 'expiry date' at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least one blank page. The FCDO warns: "You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen." As of September 15, 2026, if you enter Thailand on a British passport, under the visa exemption scheme, you can stay for up to 30 days for tourism only. This does not extend to business travel, including attending conferences, meetings or other business activities. Those travelling for business purposes should secure the appropriate visa prior to departure. New Foreign Office Thailand alert issued New FCDO Thailand advice, issued on Monday, reads: "Visa-exempt entry for tourism through land-border immigration checkpoints is normally limited to two entries per calendar year. This restriction does not generally apply to arrivals by air. "If you frequently enter Thailand as a tourist, immigration officials may ask for evidence of your onward travel, accommodation, or sufficient funds, and may refuse entry if they believe you are not a genuine visitor." All overseas nationals travelling to Thailand, whether by air, land or sea, are required to complete a digital arrival card online prior to their arrival. Travellers are able to register for an arrival card up to three days before they land. Should you overstay your visa, you face a penalty of 500 Thai baht (around £11) per day, rising to a maximum of 20,000 baht (around £449). You also risk being detained, deported at your own cost, and banned from returning to Thailand for as long as 10 years.