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Thailand's Revenue Department has drafted a Departure Tax Act that would charge 1,000 baht per trip on anyone leaving the country by air, Thai or foreign. It is only a proposal. It is unclear whether the tax will be introduced, and no start date has been given. An online public hearing is open until 29 October 2026.
What is being proposed
The draft would charge 1,000 baht per trip on people departing Thailand by air, with a cap of 5,000 baht per trip. It applies to everyone, Thai and foreign alike. Departures by land and by water would not be taxed.
How it would be collected
Airlines or ticket agents would collect the tax together with the fare, before departure. That means it would be added when you buy your ticket, not paid at the airport.
How it adds to current charges
The tax would come on top of the existing 1,120 baht airport passenger service charge, which is already built into international ticket prices. If the proposal passed, flying out would cost about 2,120 baht in departure charges (1,120 existing plus 1,000 new).
| Charge | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Airport passenger service charge | 1,120 baht | Existing, already included in international ticket prices |
| Proposed departure tax | 1,000 baht per trip (capped at 5,000 baht per trip) | Draft only |
| Total if passed | About 2,120 baht | Not confirmed |
Penalties
Anyone who evades the tax or breaks the rules would face a fine of up to twice the tax owed, plus a 1.5% monthly surcharge.
Why the government says it wants it
The stated reasons are to manage existing resources for maximum benefit, to maintain fiscal discipline, and to give the government more flexibility in emergencies.
Not the first time
Thailand taxed departing Thai nationals and resident foreigners in 1983, to stop foreign currency leaving the country. That tax was abolished in July 1991.
What it could mean for travellers
- Flying out would cost 1,000 baht more per trip if the draft became law.
- Overland exits (for example to Malaysia or Laos) and exits by boat would avoid the tax. That could shift some border-region travel.
- The headline calls it an "air departure tax", but the draft as reported covers "per trip", with a cap of 5,000 baht. The article does not explain how multi-leg trips would be counted.
- Nothing is confirmed. Treat this as a proposal, not as law.
Have your say
The online public hearing runs until 29 October 2026. Comments go through law.go.th.
Information sourced from Bangkok Post.