Thailand Pass, quarantine hotels and PCR tests are long gone. Flying back to Thailand in 2026 comes down to the right visa or exemption, a re-entry permit if you hold a long-stay visa, and a free TDAC arrival card filed in the 3 days before you land.
We first wrote this guide in 2020, when getting into Thailand meant a Certificate of Entry, a 14-day hotel quarantine, a COVID-19 test and a fit-to-fly letter. None of that exists any more.
Coming back is back to normal, with a few newer rules that catch people out. The visa exemption dropped to 30 days in September 2026, the paper arrival card went digital, and immigration can ask to see your money at the counter.
This guide covers what you need before you book, what to do before you leave Thailand if you live here, the arrival card, the papers to carry, and what happens at the airport.
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