Thailand's 450-Baht Tourist Fee: Will It Insure You?

Updated: 17 October 2026
Compiled by PrakanThai.com

A relative planning a trip to Thailand early next year asks: "I heard Thailand will charge a THB 450 entry fee and include insurance. Do I still need travel insurance?"

Right now, the THB 450 figure is fairly firm, but the insurance details have not been announced. This guide separates what has been announced from what is still a proposal, and what visitors should do in the meantime.

What is Thailand's THB 450 tourist fee, and when does it start?

Short answer: The government proposes charging foreign tourists THB 450 per person, known in Thai as "kha yiap phaen din". The target is to start collecting in the first quarter of 2027. Part of the revenue may buy insurance for tourists, but as of 17 October 2026 no coverage limits or benefits have been announced. In the meantime, visitors should keep buying their own travel or health insurance as usual.

What has been announced so far?

On 9 October 2026 a Deputy Prime Minister ordered criteria to be drafted and stakeholders consulted before the proposal goes to the Cabinet. Expected revenue is at least THB 8,000 million a year.

Why is insurance part of the plan?

The Ministry of Public Health reported that in fiscal year 2026, public hospitals treated foreigners in about 1.12 million cases worth THB 16,957 million, but collected only THB 9,935 million. The gap of 16,957 − 9,935 = THB 7,022 million falls on the public health system. The proposal aims to use part of the fee to buy insurance and reduce that burden.

The tourism industry sees it differently. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) argues that most unpaid bills come from migrant workers and cross-border patients rather than tourists, and says 80–90% of foreign tourists already have insurance. It suggests making insurance optional, or asking visitors to show proof of a policy instead.

Example, for illustration: if THB 200 went to insurance

During the talks, one example was about THB 200 of the THB 450 going to a 30-day insurance premium. Industry figures put typical travel insurance at about THB 900 per person, and plans with medical cover at up to about THB 3,000. A THB 200 premium is 200 ÷ 900 ≈ 22% of a typical travel insurance premium, so any cover is likely to be lower than a policy you buy yourself. This is only an example from the discussions, not a decision.

Do tourists still need their own insurance?

Yes. The fee hasn't started, and nothing has been announced about what the bundled insurance would cover, how much, or which hospitals would accept it. A stay in a private hospital in Thailand could easily exceed any cover the fee provides.

• Short-stay tourists: buy travel insurance in your home country, with cover for medical treatment abroad, and for riding a motorbike if you plan to rent one
• Longer stays on an STV or long-stay visa: see Bangkok Insurance health insurance for foreigners, which accepts O-A, O-X and STV visa holders and foreigners who entered Thailand legally
• Living in Thailand and want accident cover: see Happy PA for ages 16–60

What should you check in travel insurance for Thailand?

1. Medical limit abroad: is it enough for a stay in a private Thai hospital?
2. Riding a motorbike: is it covered, and what licence do you need?
3. Risky activities: are scuba diving or climbing excluded?
4. Period of cover: does it cover every day you are in Thailand, including the day you fly home?
5. Emergency assistance number: save it in your phone before you travel

This checklist applies whenever the fee starts, because it is cover you can choose yourself today.

Is this related to the 30-day visa-free change?

It's a separate measure, but in the same year. On 19 May 2026 the Cabinet approved cutting visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for many nationalities. Visitors who want to stay longer are moving to other visa types, some of which have their own health insurance requirements, such as the O-A visa. See O-A Visa Health Insurance Thailand: How Much Cover You Need.

Want us to check insurance for a foreigner? What do you need to send?

Just 3 things

1. The passport page showing name, nationality and date of birth
2. Visa type and how long you will stay in Thailand
3. Any ongoing conditions or treatment history (if any)

We tell you which plans can accept you and send a written quote within one working day, in English or Thai.

LINE Official: @prakanthai · Tel. +66 2 459 2223

Frequently asked questions

Do work visa or retirement visa holders pay the THB 450?

No exemptions have been announced yet. The proposal that went to public hearing refers to foreign tourists.

Can the fee replace the health insurance required for my visa?

Nothing like that has been announced. Insurance requirements for each visa type still follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Bureau.

If I enter Thailand several times, do I pay each time?

Not yet announced. The industry has raised the question of how multiple-entry visitors would be covered.

Can I use travel insurance from my home country at Thai hospitals?

It depends on your policy's terms. Read the conditions for treatment abroad, and save your insurer's emergency assistance number before you travel.

Who approves the policy and pays claims?

The insurer decides whether to accept the policy and pays claims. Prakanthai, as a broker, compares plans, coordinates and follows up for you.

Note
This article is compiled from statements by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Ministry of Public Health and tourism industry bodies, as reported in the media from 6 to 17 October 2026. Details may change following Cabinet decisions and publication in the Royal Gazette. It is general information, not part of any insurance contract. Acceptance and claims payment are decided by the insurer. Prakanthai.com is a non-life insurance broker, not an insurer, licence no. 5104000004, serving customers since 2004. Read the policy in full before you decide.