Travel to Thailand from China

Flying from China to Thailand in 2026 is straightforward: no Thailand Pass, no quarantine, and no COVID vaccination proof at the border. You still need the correct visa or exemption, a completed TDAC, and documents immigration may ask for at the counter. Chinese passport holders should confirm bilateral visa exemption or apply for tourist e-Visa or VOA before travel.

At Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok, we help Chinese travellers every week who are unsure whether visa exemption, a tourist visa, or a long-stay option fits their trip. Start with our Thailand entry requirements 2025-2026 guide, complete your TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours of arrival, and use this guide for flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Kunming, Royal Thai Embassy Beijing contacts, VOA cash requirements, and common mistakes Chinese visitors make at Suvarnabhumi and regional gateways.

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Chinese visa policy

30 days typical

Mutual exemption schemes may allow 30 days per entry. Confirm China on the official list before booking.

TDAC deadline

72 hours

Submit before arrival at tdac.immigration.go.th. Required for every foreign entry since 1 May 2025.

Thailand Pass

Abolished

COVID registration ended in 2022. TDAC replaced the paper TM6 card, not Thailand Pass.

Flight time

4 to 5 hours

Multiple daily services to BKK, DMK, HKT, and CNX from major Chinese hubs.

Entry rules for Chinese passport holders (June 2026)

Chinese passport holders should confirm the current bilateral visa policy before every trip. Thailand and China have run mutual visa exemption schemes for ordinary passports, often 30 days per entry for tourism, but terms and dates change. Cross-check the official exemption list and MFA announcements before you book non-refundable flights. If no exemption applies, use tourist e-Visa, visa on arrival (15 days, 2,000 THB cash), or another category that matches your trip.

Every foreign visitor, including Chinese tourists entering on exemption or pre-approved visas, must submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before entry. We offer TDAC assistance at our TDAC service page if you want help avoiding field errors that slow you down at immigration.

Your need	Recommended option	Notes
Short tourism (exemption if active)	Visa exemption at the border	Mutual schemes may allow 30 days per entry. Confirm dates on the official exemption list before booking.
15-day holiday without pre-approval	Visa on Arrival at designated airports	2,000 THB cash, documents required. See our visa on arrival guide for full checklist.
Extended travel (30 to 90+ days)	Tourist visa (TR) via Thailand e-Visa	Typically 60 days, extendable in Thailand. Apply before travel through e-Visa or your regional Thai consulate.
Remote work or frequent visits	Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)	For eligible remote workers and approved soft-power activities. Cannot be obtained on visa exemption after arrival.

Longer stay options for Chinese travellers

Holiday longer than exemption allows? Tourist visa (TR), DTV for remote workers, and retirement or family visas each have different financial and insurance rules. Entering on exemption and hoping to fix it later is how Chinese travellers end up in our urgent queue with overstays or wrong stamps. Choose the correct category before departure and apply through Thailand e-Visa or the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing.

Visa category	Typical stay	Best for
Tourist visa (TR)	60 days, extendable in country	Chinese travellers who need clearer documentation, repeat visits, or more time than exemption alone provides.
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)	Up to 180 days per entry	Remote workers, digital nomads, and frequent visitors who outgrow repeated tourist entries.
Non-Immigrant O-A retirement	1 year, renewable	Chinese travellers aged 50+ with qualifying retirement income and approved health insurance.
Thailand Privilege (Elite)	5 to 20 years	Premium packaged long stay with concierge-style immigration support.
Long-Term Resident (LTR)	Up to 10 years	Wealthy pensioners, remote workers, and professionals meeting LTR financial thresholds.

Browse all visa types for a full comparison, or read our DTV application guide if you are comparing DTV against repeated tourist entries.

TDAC: TDAC: mandatory for every Chinese visitor

Since 1 May 2025, all non-Thai nationals must complete TDAC online before entry by air, land, or sea. Submit within 72 hours of arrival using Thailand time at tdac.immigration.go.th. The form is free, required on every entry, and replaces the old paper TM6 arrival card. Thailand Pass is abolished, so ignore outdated blog posts that still mention COVID registration.

Avoid copycat sites charging fees. We offer field-by-field help on our TDAC guide and a pre-flight review at our TDAC service page.

Remember: TDAC is registration only. Immigration still decides admission based on visa category, funds, tickets, and discretion at the counter. A completed TDAC does not guarantee entry or replace visa approval.

Bangkok arrival tips for Chinese travellers

Mobile payment habits from China do not always transfer smoothly in Thailand. Carry a card or cash in Thai baht for immigration VOA fees, taxis, and street vendors. WeChat Pay and Alipay acceptance varies by merchant.

eSIMs and airport SIM counters are widely available after immigration. Download your TDAC confirmation offline before you leave the airport Wi-Fi zone.

Flights and routes from China

Beijing (PEK/PKX), Shanghai (PVG/SHA), Guangzhou (CAN), Chengdu (CTU), and Kunming (KMG) offer extensive Bangkok service with Chinese carriers and Thai Airways. Flight time is typically 4 to 5 hours to Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Some LCC routes use Don Mueang (DMK). Phuket and Chiang Mai accept international flights from Chinese hubs.

Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Thai Airways, and regional LCCs serve Bangkok and resort gateways. Compare BKK and DMK when booking onward domestic connections. No special approved flight list applies: any commercial carrier with Thai landing rights is acceptable for immigration purposes.

Book return or onward tickets that match your permitted stay. Immigration officers compare your stamp expiry to your departure date, and airline check-in staff at Chinese hubs may ask for TDAC proof before you board. If you plan open-jaw travel (fly into Bangkok, leave from Phuket), carry documentation showing you will exit Thailand within your stamp period.

At the airport: what to expect

Suvarnabhumi is the main gateway for Chinese travellers. The walkthrough below applies to other international airports with minor variations in terminal layout. Keep passport, TDAC confirmation, and return ticket in hand luggage, not only in checked bags.

Disembark and follow transit signs

After landing at Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Don Mueang (DMK), Phuket (HKT), or Chiang Mai (CNX), follow signs to international arrivals and passport control. Chinese passport holders use the foreign passport lanes. Have your passport, TDAC confirmation screenshot, and return ticket accessible before you reach the counter. Do not pack these only in checked luggage.

Immigration counter

Present your Chinese passport, visa stamp or exemption eligibility, and TDAC confirmation (screenshot or email). The officer may ask where you are staying, how long you plan to remain, and whether you have sufficient funds. Answer consistently with what you entered on TDAC. Exemption or visa entries receive a stamp matching your permitted stay length in 2026, subject to policy at the time of travel.

Customs declaration

Declare cash over 20,000 USD equivalent when entering or leaving Thailand. Know restricted goods rules for medications, drones, and agricultural products. Most Chinese tourists pass through the green nothing-to-declare channel, but carry prescription medicines in original containers with doctor letters if applicable.

Collect baggage and clear arrivals hall

Retrieve checked bags at the carousel, then exit through customs. Keep your arrival stamp page accessible because hotels and visa agents may ask to see it during your stay. If you applied for an e-Visa before travel, the stamp should match your approved category and permitted stay length.

Ground transport

Use the official taxi queue at Suvarnabhumi, pre-booked hotel transfer, Grab, Bolt, or Airport Rail Link depending on your destination and budget. Avoid unlicensed touts offering fixed fares above the meter rate. Save your hotel address in Thai script on your phone for the driver.

First tasks in Thailand

Confirm your stamp expiry date and set a calendar reminder before it expires. Overstay fines run 500 THB per day up to 20,000 THB. If you plan to extend or change visa category, start researching requirements early rather than waiting until the last week of your stamp. See our entry requirements hub for post-arrival compliance.

Documents to keep in your carry-on

Immigration officers may request any of the following at the counter before you collect checked luggage. Requirements vary by entry path, but carrying the full set avoids delays when an officer asks for extra proof beyond what your airline verified at departure in China.

Chinese passport valid 6+ months beyond your planned stay (VOA minimum 30 days beyond arrival)
TDAC confirmation screenshot and email saved offline on your phone
Proof of accommodation matching your TDAC entry (hotel booking or host address)
Return or onward ticket dated within your permitted stay
Proof of funds if requested (cash, cards, or bank statements)
Printed or digital tourist e-Visa approval when entering on a pre-approved visa
Travel insurance certificate when your visa category requires it or you want hospital coverage

For a printable overview of entry documents and post-arrival compliance, see our Thailand entry requirements guide and the extended travel to Thailand checklist.

Royal Thai embassy and consular support in China

For visa applications before travel, use Thailand e-Visa or the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing and consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, and Chengdu. Many Chinese applicants use e-Visa exclusively. Confirm whether your local post requires in-person submission.

Royal Thai Embassy, Beijing

Jurisdiction: China-wide visa services as listed on the embassy website

Full visa services when exemption is insufficient. Apply early during Golden Week and Lunar New Year peaks.

Official website

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Shanghai

Jurisdiction: Eastern China including Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang area residents

Consular services for eastern China. Confirm whether your case must be handled in Beijing or Shanghai before applying.

Official website

Not sure which post serves your region? Confirm jurisdiction on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand before mailing passports or booking consulate appointments. Many Chinese travellers apply tourist visas online through Thailand e-Visa without an in-person visit when the category allows.

China travel advisory context

China Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes Thailand travel safety information independently of Thai immigration rules. Standard precautions apply for urban tourism. Southern border provinces may carry separate security notices.

Chinese government travel notices shape insurance coverage, employer approval, and peace of mind. They do not change Thai immigration law. Advisory text does not guarantee entry or replace passport, visa path, and TDAC requirements at the border.

Read our Thailand travel advisory guide for a full comparison of Chinese, UK, Australian, and Canadian advisory wording alongside what still applies at the Thai immigration counter. Chinese citizens may enrol in STEP for embassy alerts; enrolment is optional and does not substitute for TDAC or a valid entry stamp.

Verify on the official page: mfa.gov.cn travel information

For outdated COVID-era rules that no longer apply, see our travel restrictions guide.

Common mistakes Chinese travellers make

These errors show up repeatedly in our Bangkok office consultations with Chinese clients. Most are avoidable with a fresh checklist and official sources, not forum posts from 2021 or 2022 that still mention Thailand Pass or quarantine hotels.

Relying on outdated Thailand Pass checklists from 2020 to 2022. TDAC at tdac.immigration.go.th is mandatory for every Chinese entry in 2026.
Assuming visa exemption authorises remote work from a Bangkok cafe. Tourist exemption does not permit employment in Thailand, including China-employed remote arrangements.
Submitting TDAC on copycat sites that charge fees. The official form is free at tdac.immigration.go.th.
Arriving for VOA without 2,000 THB cash in Thai baht. Card payment is not accepted at the VOA counter.
Assuming WeChat Pay works everywhere in Thailand and arriving without baht for taxis or street vendors.
Entering repeatedly on visa exemption when the real plan is long-term stay. Immigration compares entry history and may shorten stamps.
Storing all entry documents in checked luggage with no offline phone access at the immigration counter.

For more application pitfalls, see our top visa mistakes guide.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers for Chinese passport holders flying from China. Rules change independently of MFA China advisory updates, so verify against official sources within two weeks of departure if your trip is weeks away.

Q:Is visa-free entry active for Chinese tourists in 2026?

A:Check the live exemption list. Mutual waivers have been extended before but always verify dates before you fly.

Q:Can Chinese citizens use VOA?

A:Yes at eligible checkpoints: 15 days, 2,000 THB cash, full documentation, and TDAC confirmation required.

Q:Is TDAC required for exemption travellers?

A:Yes. All foreign nationals need TDAC regardless of visa type or exemption status.

Q:Do I need tourist e-Visa if exemption ends?

A:If bilateral exemption is not active for your travel dates, apply tourist e-Visa via thaievisa.go.th before flying or use VOA if eligible.

Q:Can I work remotely in Thailand on visa exemption?

A:Visa exemption is for tourism. Remote work while physically in Thailand may violate immigration rules. Consider the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) before travel.

Q:Do Chinese children need their own TDAC?

A:Yes. Each foreign passport holder needs a separate TDAC submission, including infants traveling on a Chinese passport.

Q:Which Thai embassy should Chinese residents use?

A:Royal Thai Embassy Beijing for most cases. Consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, and Chengdu handle regional applications.

Q:Is Thailand Pass still required?

A:No. Thailand Pass ended in 2022. Complete TDAC instead at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours of arrival.

Official references

Official sources verified June 2026. Use these primary government links to confirm eligibility for your passport and entry method. Third-party blogs are useful for context, but immigration officers follow published policy on thaievisa.go.th and tdac.immigration.go.th, not forum summaries.