Thai Holidays and the Errand Calendar: Public Holidays, Alcohol Bans and Immigration Closures

Three Rules That Explain the Thai Holiday System

• Weekend substitution: holidays falling on Saturday or Sunday are compensated the following Monday, so each year's long-weekend map is different — check the official announcement for the current year before planning errands
• Alcohol bans on Buddhist days: on Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asanha Bucha and Khao Phansa, alcohol sales stop nationwide — shops, restaurants and convenience stores alike — and most bars simply close
• Government and bank holidays don't fully overlap: banks follow their own holiday table (Royal Ploughing Day, for instance, closes government but not always banks). Check the government calendar before Immigration or DLT trips, the central bank calendar before branch visits — always against the current year's official announcements

The Year at a Glance

• January 1 New Year's Day; December 31 New Year's Eve — the year-end stretch runs on skeleton staff everywhere
• February–March Makha Bucha (lunar date, moves each year) — alcohol ban
• April 6 Chakri Day; April 13–15 Songkran — the Thai New Year, with the country effectively pausing for up to a week
• May 1 Labour Day (private sector only — government works); May 4 Coronation Day; May Visakha Bucha — alcohol ban
• July Asanha Bucha + Khao Phansa back-to-back — alcohol ban; July 28 the King's Birthday
• August 12 the Queen Mother's Birthday (Mother's Day); October 13 King Rama IX Memorial Day; October 23 Chulalongkorn Day
• December 5 King Rama IX's Birthday (Father's Day); December 10 Constitution Day

All told, roughly 16–19 days including substitutions and any specially declared holidays. The cabinet publishes the next year's table each December — plan the year off that.

What Holidays Do to Your Errands

• Immigration: closed on holidays, with crowds surging either side — schedule 90-day reports and extensions away from the week before Songkran and the first day after any long break; online reporting saves the trip entirely (see our 90-day report guide)
• DLT (Department of Land Transport): license tests and vehicle transfers follow the same avoid-the-edges rule — see our driver's license guide
• Banks: branches close but mobile banking runs; counter business — remittance documents, account opening — needs a working day (see our account guide)
• The Chinese embassy: closed for both Chinese and Thai holidays — legalizations and travel documents run on a double calendar, so check embassy notices
• Logistics: parcels and consolidation effectively stop over Songkran — wrap up shipments a week ahead

What About Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year is not a national Thai public holiday (a few provinces have local arrangements) — government, banks and schools run normally, though Chinatown and the malls celebrate hard and Chinese-owned businesses commonly take one to three days off. Flying home for it? Fares climb from December, and holders of long-stay visas must arrange a re-entry permit before leaving — exiting without one voids the visa.

When Your Visa Expiry Lands on a Holiday

The most-asked practical question. The prevailing practice is that an expiry falling on a holiday rolls to the next working day without counting as overstay — but that rests on window-level discretion, so the safe play is always early: extensions can be filed weeks ahead, and 90-day reports have a window either side (earlier still online). If you do overstay, fines accrue per day and voluntary declaration is treated far more lightly than being caught. Verify current Immigration practice for your case.

FAQ

Is Immigration open during Songkran?

Closed April 13–15, often with substitution days chained on. If your visa or report window lands in early-to-mid April, clear it in the first week of the month; the first working day after Songkran is one of the most crowded of the year — avoid it if you can.

Can you really not buy alcohol on Buddhist holy days?

Really. The ban is statutory: convenience stores, supermarkets and restaurants stop selling for the day, violating vendors face penalties, and most bars close. Practically it means stocking up a day early. Note the everyday rules too: alcohol sells only in legal windows (11:00–14:00 and 17:00–24:00).

Is Chinese New Year a day off in Thailand?

Not nationally — government and banks work, and international schools follow their own calendars (some do take a CNY break). Chinese companies arrange their own one to three days. It's actually a good moment for government errands: no Thai holiday crowds stacked on top.

Where do I find the accurate holiday table for the year?

Cross-check three sources: the cabinet's announced government holiday table (published each December), the Bank of Thailand's bank holiday table, and your own bank's in-app notices. Old articles and printed calendars miss specially declared days — for anything important, confirm the target office is open the day before you go.

Need Help?

TaiHuBang supports visas and errands: extension and 90-day report scheduling reminders, accompanied Immigration visits with interpretation, and urgent assistance during holiday periods. See our visa services, or submit an inquiry — a consultant will reply within 24 hours.