Thailand has opened its automated immigration eGates at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to travellers from 33 nationalities.
The expansion gives eligible visa-exempt visitors the option of clearing immigration through automated gates rather than joining the traditional immigration queues.
However, holding an eligible passport alone is not enough. Travellers currently need to meet four conditions before they can use the eGates.
Who can use Thailand’s eGates?
The new arrival eGates at Suvarnabhumi Airport are currently available to passport holders from these 33 countries and territories:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
The United States is not currently included in the 33-nationality eGate list, despite US passport holders being eligible for Thailand’s 30-day visa exemption for tourism.
Four conditions apply
Travellers from the 33 eligible nationalities must meet all four conditions.
1. You need an eligible passport
Your passport must be from one of the 33 countries or territories listed above.
Being eligible for visa-free entry does not automatically mean you qualify for the eGates.
2. You must complete the TDAC
Foreign travellers must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or TDAC, before arriving in Thailand.
The TDAC must be submitted within three days before arrival. It is free through the official Thai Immigration system.
3. You must have previously entered Thailand
The current system is designed for travellers whose immigration and biometric information is already held by Thai authorities.
First-time visitors are therefore expected to use a staffed immigration counter.
Travellers using a new passport with no previous Thai entry recorded under that document might also be directed to a staffed counter.
4. You must be entering under the 30-day visa exemption
This is an important point.
The new eGates are currently configured for travellers entering Thailand under the 30-day visa exemption scheme.
If you hold a Thai visa, you still need to report to a staffed immigration counter.
The eGate system asks eligible travellers to confirm they are entering under the 30-day visa-free arrangement.
Thailand’s visa-free rules changed on September 15
The eGate expansion comes shortly after Thailand changed its visa exemption system.
From September 15, 2026, eligible tourists from 60 countries and territories receive up to 30 days of visa-free entry, replacing the previous 60-day exemption.
The 30-day stay remains extendable for up to another 30 days through Thai immigration, subject to approval. The extension is not automatic.
British passport holders are among those eligible for the 30-day visa exemption.
The UK government also states that visa-exempt entry is normally limited to two entries per calendar year for tourism. Travellers entering Thailand for work, study, retirement or other purposes need the appropriate visa.
What about US passport holders?
US travellers remain eligible for Thailand’s 30-day visa exemption for tourism.
However, US citizens are currently excluded from the 33-nationality arrival eGate list at Suvarnabhumi.
This means an American tourist arriving in Bangkok under the visa exemption scheme still needs to use the regular immigration process for now.
More nationalities could follow
Thailand announced plans in August to expand its automated passport control system.
The Thai government said the Immigration Bureau had approved the addition of 31 nationalities to the existing group able to use the automated gates. The rollout depended on system readiness, equipment and biometric data.
The current 33-nationality system therefore represents an initial stage of the wider expansion.
Thai authorities have not yet confirmed when visa holders or additional categories of foreign travellers will gain access to automated arrival clearance.
What travellers should remember
If you are flying into Bangkok and want to use the new eGates, check these points before boarding:
- Your passport is from one of the 33 eligible countries or territories.
- You have completed your TDAC.
- You have previously entered Thailand and your relevant immigration data is available.
- You are entering under the 30-day visa exemption.
- If you hold a Thai visa, use the staffed immigration counters.
- If you are a US passport holder, you are currently not included in the 33-nationality eGate scheme.
- Your visa-exempt entry remains subject to Thailand’s current immigration requirements.
Thailand is continuing to digitise its immigration system, with the TDAC already mandatory for foreign arrivals and automated passport control being expanded at major airports.
For the latest entry requirements, travellers should check the Thai Immigration Bureau or their nearest Thai embassy before travelling, as immigration rules and eGate eligibility can change.
Source information checked against VisasNews, the Thai government, Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassy in London.
