Thailand Officially Cuts Visa-Free Stay to 30 Days for 60 Countries from September 15
- Editorial Team
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 9 hours ago
BANGKOK, September 1, 2026 — Thailand has formally ended its 60-day visa exemption scheme, reducing the visa-free stay for nationals of 60 countries and territories to a maximum of 30 days, effective September 15, 2026 .
The changes were published in Thailand's Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026, triggering the mandatory 15-day implementation period . The outgoing 60-day policy, introduced in July 2024 to stimulate post-pandemic tourism, remains in effect through September 14. Travelers who enter Thailand before the change takes effect will retain the period of stay granted upon arrival and will not have it automatically reduced to 30 days .
Published: September 1, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team
Why the 60-Day Scheme Was Cancelled
The Thai Cabinet approved the cancellation of the 60-day visa-free scheme on May 19, 2026, following concerns over security, illegal work, nominee businesses, and transnational crime . Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan stated that the extended permitted stay could be used as a route to enter the country to commit illegal acts or carry out activities inconsistent with tourism purposes .
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul confirmed that the shift reflected a move from focusing on visitor numbers alone to prioritizing "quality tourists" . Thai officials noted that the average length of stay for foreign visitors is only around 9 days, making a 60-day visa limit unnecessary for purely tourism purposes .
Countries Eligible for 30-Day Visa-Free Entry
The new 30-day tourist exemption will cover 60 countries and territories, including major markets such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, and India — which was added following strong protests from the travel industry . India was not included in the initial 54-country list approved by the Cabinet in May .
Examples of Eligible Countries :
Region | Countries |
Europe | Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom |
Asia & Oceania | Australia, Bhutan, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates |
Americas | Canada, United States |
15-Day Visa Exemption for Mauritius and Seychelles
Citizens of Mauritius and Seychelles will receive a 15-day visa exemption, down from the previous 30-day arrangement .
Visa on Arrival Reduced to 3 Countries
Thailand has significantly reduced its Visa on Arrival (VOA) program from 31 countries to just 3 nationalities :
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Serbia
Options for Longer Stays
Travellers eligible for the 30-day exemption can request a one-time extension of up to an additional 30 days, subject to approval by Thai immigration authorities . In practice, this means travelers could remain in Thailand for up to 60 days even after the reform takes effect.
Land-Border Entry Restriction
Thailand has reinstated a restriction on land-border arrivals. Visa-exempt travelers will generally be limited to two land-border entries per calendar year. However, this restriction does not apply to nationals of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore . The restriction applies only to land crossings and does not impose a two-entry limit on travelers arriving by air .
Exceptions: Bilateral Visa Agreements
The changes do not override Thailand's separate bilateral visa agreements :
Category | Countries | Stay Duration |
30-Day Bilateral | China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Russia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam | 30 days |
90-Day Bilateral | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Korea, Peru | 90 days |
14-Day Bilateral | Cambodia, Myanmar | 14 days |
Read Also
Quick Reference Summary
Aspect | Details |
New Visa-Free Stay | 30 days |
Effective Date | September 15, 2026 |
Countries Covered | 60 countries and territories |
Previous Stay | 60 days (July 2024 – September 14, 2026) |
15-Day Visa-Free | Mauritius and Seychelles |
Visa on Arrival | Azerbaijan, Belarus, Serbia |
Extension Option | One-time 30-day extension |
Land-Border Entry Limit | 2 entries per year (exemptions for Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore) |
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