Thailand weighs THB1,000 departure tax for travellers of all nationalities

Thailand’s Revenue Department is consulting on a draft law that would charge all air travellers THB1,000 when leaving the country, with exemptions.
Thailand’s Finance Ministry is considering a new departure tax that would initially charge THB1,000 each time a traveller leaves the country by air, regardless of nationality, under draft legislation now open for public consultation.

The Revenue Department has published the principles of the proposed Departure Tax Act, which would replace the approach under Thailand’s existing 1983 legislation. Public consultation runs from September 30 to October 29, 2026.

Under the proposal, the tax would apply to people of all nationalities departing Thailand, with a statutory ceiling of THB5,000 per departure. The initial rate would be set at THB1,000 for air travel, while departures by land and sea would initially be exempt.

The Finance Ministry said the proposal was intended to make more effective use of state resources within the fiscal-discipline framework and provide greater flexibility in responding to potential future emergencies.