TL;DR:Use visa‑exempt for short, simple visits if your nationality qualifies; get a Tourist Visa if you need a longer, guaranteed stay or multiple entries. Avoid border visa runs now—apply at an embassy if you need extra time.
Choose visa-exempt entry when you meet the short-stay conditions and want the simplest option: passport from a visa‑exempt country, entry stamp for 15–30 days (depending on country), onward ticket, and proof of funds. Use a single-entry Tourist Visa when you need a longer initial stay (60 days extendable to 90 days), want the certainty of a longer-term stay on arrival, or plan multiple short trips where a multiple-entry Tourist Visa (valid 6 months) saves repeated visa applications. Opt for a visa rather than visa‑exempt entry if you need predictable time in Thailand, will apply for a long-term extension, or lack a reliable onward flight/ticket at arrival. Do not plan visa runs to Cambodia right now because of current border tensions; instead apply at a Thai embassy/consulate if you need a longer stay. Check the Royal Thai Embassy or Thailand Immigration Bureau websites for up-to-date entry periods, allowed nationalities, and required documents before you travel.
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