Thailand visa options for Netherlands passport holders
Tourist / short stay
Visa-free · up to 60 days
Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Thailand
Written for visa-exempt nationalities (most EU incl. Germany, the UK and US). Visa-exempt entry is currently 60 days, but the Cabinet approved a cut to 30 days in May 2026 (not yet in force). The long-stay routes (DTV, LTR, retirement, Privilege) are open to most nationalities.
- Tourist
Visa Exemption (tourist)
60 days, extendable once +30 (90 total) — a cut to 30 days was approved May 2026 but is not yet in force
- Insurance
- RecommendedNot required, but recommended
- Good for
- Short visits; tourists from ~93 visa-exempt countries
- Requirement
- Passport valid 6+ months, onward ticket, Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
- Tourist
Tourist Visa (TR / METV)
60 days per entry, extendable +30; multiple-entry METV valid 6 months
- Insurance
- RecommendedNot required, recommended
- Good for
- Tourists not on the exemption list, or wanting a consulate visa
- Requirement
- Apply via Thai e-Visa (thaievisa.go.th); proof of funds
- Business
Non-Immigrant B (Business / Work)
90 days initially, extendable to 1 year with a work permit
- Insurance
- OptionalNot mandated for the visa; social security (SSF) once employed
- Good for
- Employees of a Thai company; business owners
- Requirement
- Thai employer sponsorship + work permit — one of the few routes that allows local employment
- Study
Education Visa (Non-ED)
Up to ~1 year, tied to the course; renewable
- Insurance
- RecommendedNot required, recommended
- Good for
- Language, Muay Thai or degree students
- Requirement
- Enrolment at an approved school; 90-day reporting; extra scrutiny since 2023
- Most nomadsDigital nomad
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
180 days per entry (extend once +180); 5-year multiple-entry
- Insurance
- RecommendedNot legally required, strongly recommended
- Good for
- Remote workers & freelancers, or 'soft-power' activities (Muay Thai, Thai cooking, medical treatment)
- Requirement
- 500,000 THB in savings + proof of remote employment/clients or activity enrolment
- Residence
Retirement Visa (Non-O / O-A)
1 year, renewable
- Insurance
- Optionalfor O-A: OPD 40,000 / IPD 400,000 THB incl. COVID (many embassies ~3M THB). Standard Non-O: not required
- Good for
- Retirees aged 50+
- Requirement
- 800,000 THB deposit, or 65,000 THB/month pension
- Residence
Long-Term Resident (LTR)
10 years (5 + 5)
- Insurance
- Requiredhealth cover ≥ USD 50,000, or USD 100,000 in savings
- Good for
- Wealthy citizens, wealthy pensioners, highly-skilled & work-from-Thailand professionals
- Requirement
- Category-specific income/assets; BOI-administered
- Residence
Thailand Privilege (Elite)
5–20 years (Bronze → Reserve tiers)
- Insurance
- OptionalNot required
- Good for
- Long-stay visitors wanting a hassle-free membership visa
- Requirement
- Paid membership fee; tourist classification, no work rights
Visa rules change often and depend on your nationality. The 60-day visa-exemption period faces a pending cut to 30 days (approved May 2026) — confirm the current rule before booking. Last checked: 2026-06. Always confirm with the Thai e-Visa portal (thaievisa.go.th) or your nearest Royal Thai Embassy before you apply.
Last verified June 2026
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Thailand, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
Netherlands → Thailand: frequently asked
- Do Netherlands passport holders need a visa to visit Thailand?
- Visa-free · up to 60 days. Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a Netherlands passport holder live or work long-term in Thailand?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. Thailand has 8 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for Thailand?
- Entry to Thailand never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Thailand visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.