Russian Federation → Thailand

From 15 September 2026 the 60-day visa-free stay for most countries is gone. Ordinary Russian passports fall under a bilateral deal: up to 30 days without a visa.

Fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before you fly. Officers more often ask for about six months left on the passport, a housing booking and a return ticket. A 30-day extension is at an immigration office, a fee of about 1,900 baht, and the officer decides.

Thirty days are stamped on arrival. Some visa-free nationalities also face a cap of about 90 days in any 180 — officers count previous entries. Frequent visa runs to Cambodia or Malaysia can end in a refused entry.

Anyone who entered by 14 September 2026 with a 60-day stamp keeps that stamp. New entries are already on 30 days.

There is no separate “foreigner registration” as in the CIS for a short tourist stay: the hotel sends data to immigration (TM30). The hotel does this, not the guest.

If you rent a flat, the landlord must file TM30. Without it, an immigration office may refuse an extension. TDAC does not replace TM30.

Thai baht (THB). ATMs charge about 220 baht per withdrawal — take out larger sums less often. Russian cards often fail: bring cash USD/EUR and change it at SuperRich or banks, not at the airport.

Locals pay by PromptPay QR. Cards are more widely accepted in tourist areas; markets still want cash.

Direct flights from Moscow and other Russian cities go to Bangkok (BKK), Phuket (HKT), sometimes Koh Samui with a connection. About nine hours without a stop.

Domestic AirAsia, Nok Air and Thai Vietjet cover the islands. Border officers check a return ticket within the allowed stay.

Bangkok: Sukhumvit is convenient the first time, but noisy. Phuket: Patong is nightlife, Kata and Karon are calmer for families. Check that the housing files TM30.

A monthly condo is cheaper than a hotel, but without TM30 you are “invisible” to immigration. In high season (November–March) book early.

Pad thai, som tam, tom yum — say how spicy you want it. Street food is safer where there is a queue and they fry in front of you. Ice in chain venues is usually potable.

Do not drink tap water. With children, be more careful with seafood in the heat. Restaurant tips are about 10% if there is no service charge.

Gentle-entry beaches include Karon, Kata and Hua Hin. The sun is harsher than it looks: a swim shirt and a hat. Watch current flags on Phuket and Koh Samui.

Bangkok and Phuket have international hospitals. A motorbike with a child and no helmet is a common cause of injury — skip it.