Siam Legal International, a full-service law firm with more than 22 years of experience assisting foreign nationals in Thailand, is noting that enforcement of tourist entry and conduct rules has become notably stricter through 2026, following a series of government actions covering arrival documentation, e-cigarette possession, and vehicle rentals nationwide.

Since May 1, 2025, all non-Thai nationals arriving by air, land, or sea have been required to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, an online form that replaced the paper TM6 disembarkation card. The digital card is free to complete through the official immigration portal and asks travelers to submit passport details, accommodation information, and travel dates before arrival. Authorities have separately warned that fraudulent websites imitating the service have charged travelers processing fees of roughly ten US dollars for a form that is free of charge, prompting repeated reminders that the official portal should be accessed directly rather than through a search result or third-party link.

Enforcement has also intensified around Thailand's ban on electronic cigarettes, which remains illegal for residents and visitors alike to possess or use. Travelers have increasingly been caught off guard by the strictness of the law, with some facing questioning, fines, or the threat of jail time after being found with vaping devices in tourist areas. Separately, individuals claiming to act on behalf of authorities have pressed foreign visitors for immediate cash payments on the street, a pattern that has led tourist police to encourage travelers to request identification and insist on proceeding to a station rather than settling informally.

Rex Baay, Senior Immigration Consultant and Operations Manager at Siam Legal International, said the pattern across these changes is that visitors are increasingly expected to arrive informed rather than improvise once they land. "Most of the difficulties travelers describe to the firm did not come from bad luck, but from a requirement that changed after their itinerary was already booked," Baay said. He added that travelers who confirm current entry, driving, and conduct rules before departure, rather than relying on word of mouth or unofficial vendors, are considerably less likely to encounter fines, detention, or lost time during their trip.

Overstaying a Thai visa carries a fine of THB 500 per day under existing immigration regulations, with longer overstays risking detention, deportation, and re-entry bans. Visitors intending to drive in Thailand are separately required to obtain an international driving permit before departure, since the document cannot be issued locally and driving without one can affect both traffic fines and travel insurance claims following an accident.

The firm has released a guide, Siam Legal's tourist compliance guide, covering entry procedures, common scams, and legal obligations that first-time visitors often encounter. The video walks through transparent ride-hailing fares as an alternative to negotiated taxi rates, documentation practices to avoid disputes over rental vehicle damage, and conduct expectations at temples and other cultural sites, along with steps to take if a passport is lost or a visa is close to expiring.

Visitors are also being reminded to follow basic etiquette at temples and religious sites, including covering shoulders and knees, removing footwear, and avoiding contact between monks and women, since Thai authorities have placed tourist conduct under tighter scrutiny with penalties that can include visa revocation. Travelers who lose a passport are advised to file a police report immediately, since the document is required both by their embassy and by any related travel insurance claim.

Siam Legal International said it continues to field inquiries from foreign nationals seeking clarity on entry requirements, visa extensions, and compliance matters as Thailand's regulatory environment shifts. The firm noted that most of these issues can be resolved with early preparation rather than after a problem has already occurred at the airport or on the street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un6zm-f540I

Siam Legal International is a full-service law firm with more than 22 years of experience assisting foreign nationals in Thailand, with offices in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. The firm provides comprehensive legal and immigration support across visa planning, property transactions, business law, and litigation.

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For more information about Siam Legal International, contact the company here:

Siam Legal International
Rex Baay
+662 254 8900
info@siam-legal.com
18th Floor, Unit 1806 Two Pacific Place,
142 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei,
Bangkok 10110, Thailand