Thailand Laws that might affect your vacation in Thailand
July 2025 Update
Stay informed. Thailand takes the following laws very seriously. Here’s what you need to know before
- Vaping: Completely illegal. 10 years in prison and/or 30.000 THB fine
- Cannabis. Law changed in july 2025. Now only medicinal use is legal: Require prescription. Smoking in public illegal. 25.000 THB fine.
- Narcotics. Strictly illegal. Harsh penalties: Lifetime prison or death sentence.
- Drinking alcohol. Legal age is 20. Can be purchased in shops from 11 am – 2 pm + again 5 pm – 12 am. Restaurants and bars can serve all the time.
- Riding motorbikes or cars.
- You must have Thai or International drivers license for the vehicle you use or 1-5000 THB fine.
- On motorbike all passengers must use helmet (1-2000 THB fine, per person).
- There are police roadblock multiple places in Phuket (also in Patong) every day. If you ride a motorbike you will get stopped more or less daily.
- If in accident without proper license, no insurance will cover, and you will by default be the guilty part.
- A shop might rent you a motorbike even if you have no license. They will normally require an original passport as security deposit.
- Defamation laws: Thailand has very strict defamation laws and harsh penalties.
- Anything you say that could defame someone can get you sued both civil suite and criminal suits. It is even worse if you publish it publicly, say in a post on facebook. T
- A bad review can also be considered defamation, even if what you write is true!
- Visa and Overstay. If you’re caught overstaying without voluntarily reporting, expect jail, deportation, blacklisting, and being treated like a criminal.
- Blacklisting: You are banned from entering Thailand for 1, 3, 5 or 10 years.
- Note that multiple visa excempt entries over a relatively short period can get you rejected at the border (because you should have obtained a proper vias for longer term stay in Thailand)
More details below
🚭 Vaping in Thailand
Illegal. No excuses.
- ❌ Import, sale, possession, or use = banned.
- 💸 Up to 30,000 THB fine and/or 10 years in prison.
- 🛃 Enforced at airports and on the street.
- 🧳 Tourists: Just having one can get you arrested.
Bottom line: Leave the vape at home.
🌿 Cannabis in Thailand
Recreational use banned (since June 2025). Now can only be used for medical purposes and require prescription.
| Activity | Legal? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recreational use | ❌ | Banned unless prescribed by a Thai licensed medical doctor (or traditional medicinal doctor). ❗ Recreational possession = criminal charge. |
| Smoking in public | ❌ | If reported to police, fines 25.000 THB per instance. Note that if someone, say neighbours, report it, it is by definition not smoked in private = fine applies. |
| Smoking in shop | ✅ | To smoke in a cannabis shop, the shop must be a clinic with a doctor present. However it is unlikely that you will be prosecuted if police raid the shop = safer for you than smoking elsewhere. |
| Medical use | ✅ | Requires certified prescription from a licensed Thai doctor. |
Bottom line: If it’s not medical, it’s not legal.
🍻 Alcohol in Thailand
Legal with restrictions.
- 🧓 Legal age: 20+
- 🕒 Sales hours (2025): 11AM–2PM & 5PM–Midnight (these windows to protect unsupervised school children from exposure)
- ⛱️ Hotels/resorts/restaurants/bars: 24/7 sales allowed
- 🚫 Banned near schools, temples, hospitals, gas stations.
- 🚌 Drinking on public transport? Also banned.
Bottom line: You can drink—but know the rules.
💊 Narcotics in Thailand
Hard NO. Extreme penalties.
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Possession (small) | 👮 Often treated as intent to sell |
| Trafficking | ⚖️ Life sentence or death penalty |
| Party drugs (MDMA, etc.) | ❌ 100% illegal |
| Prescription narcotics | ✅ Only with valid documentation |
- 🚓 Police can conduct urine tests on suspicion.
- ✈️ Declare prescription meds with narcotics at customs.
Bottom line: Don’t even think about it.
🛵 Thailand Traffic & Driving Laws
Tourists often get this wrong. Don’t be one of them. It can be very very expensive.
✅ License Requirements
- 🚗 Car: Must have either Thai license or both international driving permit (IDP) + your home license.
- 🛵 Motorbike: Must have motorbike endorsement on your Thai license or both IDP and local license.
- No endorsement = no insurance = you pay everything if something goes wrong. And you are at fault per default, as you had no license.
🚨 Enforcement & Fines
- 👮 Random roadblocks and license checks are common. In Phuket there are police roadblocks multiple places every day. If you have no license you will be fined more or less on a daily basis.
- No license = 1,000–5,000 THB fine.
- Driving without helmet = 500–1,000 THB
- No insurance = you’re liable for all damages.
🪖 Helmets & Safety
- 🛵 Helmets are mandatory. Both rider and pillion Police enforce this regularly.
- 👥 Passengers too—both rider and pillion must wear helmets.
- 🩹 Medical care is not free—no insurance? You’re on your own.
🍻 Drinking & Driving
- ❌ 0.05% BAC limit (lower if under 20 or on probation = zero).
- Caught drunk driving? Prepare for:
- 🚔 Arrest
- 🏥 Mandatory blood test
- ⚖️ Court date, fine, or jail
🛂 Age Requirements for Driver’s License in Thailand (2025)
| Vehicle Type | Minimum Age | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🛵 Motorcycle (<110cc) | 15 years | For mopeds or scooters under 110cc (non-geared). |
| 🛵 Motorcycle (110cc+) | 18 years | For standard motorbikes, scooters, or big bikes. |
| 🚗 Car/Light Vehicle | 18 years | Applies to cars, pickups, and small vans. |
| 🚛 Truck/Commercial | 20 years | Must also hold a standard license for at least 1 year. |
🔧 Motorbike Rentals
- Many shops rent bikes illegally to unlicensed tourists. they normally require an original passport as security deposit.
- ⚠️ You’re still liable. Saying “they gave me the bike” won’t help in court.
🚫 Parking Restrictions (Red/White Marking)
In Thailand, curbs painted with
- Red and white stripes on curb indicate a no-parking zone — at any time, for any reason. These markings are often found near corners, bus stops, or entrances where visibility and traffic flow are critical. When in doubt: if it’s red and white, don’t park.
- Black/white on curb: Parking is normally legal. UNLESS there are signs saying otherwise. Most one-way streets have parking allowed in one side – and the side changes every day (for fairness of shops??)!
- Illegal Parking can result in fines, clamping, or even towing. If clamped, you need to go to police station, pay fine, go back to vehicle, wait for police officer that clamped your vehicle to get it unclamped. Clamping is happening every day in Patong.
ห้ามจอดรถวันที่คี่
No Parking on Odd Dates
🗣️ Defamation Laws (Including Online Reviews)
Thailand = criminal defamation is a thing.
| Type | Punishable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal/slander | ✅ Yes | Even spoken words can lead to charges. |
| Written/libel | ✅ Yes | Includes online reviews, Facebook posts, Google Maps, etc. |
| True statements | ✅ Still yes | Truth is not always a defense—if it damages reputation, it’s still defamation. |
🧨 Penalties:
- 🧾 Fines up to 200,000 THB
- 🚔 Up to 2 years in prison
- 💼 Civil lawsuits may also follow (with damages)
Important: A 1-star review about bad service? That could get you sued and arrested if the owner feels insulted.
Bottom line: Be careful what you post. Complain privately or through official channels—not on Google or Facebook.
🛂 Visas & Overstay Rules
Thailand takes overstays very seriously.
| Overstay Duration | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 1 day (accidental) | ⚠️ Usually allowed to pay 500 THB/day fine at airport |
| Overstay ≤ 90 days | ❌ Fined 500 THB/day, max 20,000 THB |
| Overstay > 90 days | 🚫 Banned for 1 year from re-entry |
| Overstay > 1 year | ⛔ 3–10 year re-entry ban, possible jail if caught before surrendering |
🎯 General Visa Reminders:
- 👮 Always carry passport or valid ID (or copy. Phone photo is ok); random checks are legal.
- 📝 Most tourist visas allow 30 or 60 days depending on nationality.
- ✈️ Extensions can be done at immigration (usually +30 days for 1,900 THB)
- 🚨 Don’t overstay on purpose—immigration now scans exit history and flags reentries.
If you’re caught overstaying without voluntarily reporting, expect jail, deportation, blacklisting, and being treated like a criminal.
Bottom line: Count your days. Set a reminder. Overstaying is not a “cheap fine”—it’s a fast track to a travel ban.
📌 Need visa help or defamation advice? Ask our team or contact an immigration lawyer before it’s too late.
⚠️ Final Reminder
- Thai laws are strict, especially for foreigners.
- Saying “I didn’t know” will not save you.
- Want a fun trip? Stay informed, stay legal.
🛡️ Respect the rules. Enjoy your stay. Avoid the jail.
📌 Need clarification? Ask our staff or check with official Thai authorities.