Thailand's visa exemption rules changed on September 15, 2026 — the details below apply to entries from that date onward.
🛂 Visa — the most important change
French passport holders: visa-free entry for tourism, but the duration dropped from 60 to 30 days, extendable by 30 more days at a local immigration office (1,900 THB, roughly €51) — 60 days maximum in total. Passport must be valid 6 months beyond the entry date. A Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) must be completed online before arrival.
Moroccan passport holders: the situation changed more sharply — Morocco was removed entirely from Thailand's visa-exemption list, along with 20 other countries. Travelers with a Moroccan passport now need to apply for a visa before departure (an e-Visa option is available), where previously they had 60 days visa-free. This is not a minor adjustment — it means booking a Thailand trip with a Moroccan passport now requires visa processing time built into the planning.
🕐 Time difference
Thailand runs on UTC+7 year-round, with no daylight saving changes. That's roughly +6 hours from France in winter and +5 hours in summer (France shifts with DST, Thailand doesn't) — and +6 hours from Morocco most of the year, since Morocco stays on GMT+1 outside Ramadan.
💰 Currency
The Thai baht (THB). Cards are widely accepted in hotels, malls, and most restaurants in tourist areas; cash is still useful for markets, street food, and smaller islands.
🔌 Plugs
Thailand uses types A, B, C, and O sockets, 220V. French and Moroccan two-pin plugs generally fit directly — an adapter usually isn't necessary, but a universal one is a safe backup for older sockets.
🚭 Smoking — and vaping — on beaches
Smoking is banned on 24 of Thailand's most visited beaches, including spots in Phuket, Koh Samui, and Pattaya — fines run up to 100,000 THB (about €2,700) or up to a year in prison. E-cigarettes and vapes go further: they're illegal in Thailand altogether, not just on beaches, with fines and prison time both on the table. This catches out more travelers than the smoking ban itself — worth flagging even to non-smokers, since vapes are sometimes carried by companions or confiscated at customs.
None of this is complicated once you know it — but the visa change in particular is easy to miss if you're working from an old blog post or a friend's trip from last year.
Not ready to book with us yet? No problem. Use this as your starting checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tap water safe to drink in Thailand?
No — stick to bottled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth. Ice in tourist restaurants and hotels is generally made from filtered water and safe.Do you need travel insurance for Thailand?
It's not legally required for tourist entry, but strongly recommended — Thai hospitals often require proof of ability to pay before treatment, especially in private clinics used by tourists.What vaccinations are recommended for Thailand?
No vaccines are mandatory for entry from France or Morocco, but routine vaccinations plus Hepatitis A are commonly recommended; check with a travel clinic based on the specific region and season.Is it customary to tip in Thailand?
Not obligatory, but appreciated — rounding up or leaving 10% in restaurants is common practice in tourist areas; it's not expected at street food stalls.What should you avoid wearing at temples in Thailand?
Shoulders and knees should be covered for both men and women; shoes are removed before entering most temple buildings.
Séquence — Travel Design House
Member of the Collectif My Way · Licensed travel operator (Atout France)
