Thailand Publishes Offical Notice Ending 60-Day Visa-Free Stays; New 30-Day Rule for 60 Countries Takes Effect On September 15th, 2026
BANGKOK: Thailand’s official Royal Gazette published a set of Ministry of Interior announcements late on the night of August 31st, 2026, formally ending the special 60-day visa exemption that had applied to 93 countries and territories since mid-2024. The new rules take effect on September 15th, 2026.
The notices appear in Volume 143, Special Issue 207, dated August 31st, 2026. They take legal force 15 days after publication, meaning travelers arriving through September 14 will still receive the current 60-day stamp. Those already in the country keep the stay granted on entry.
The reform implements a “one country, one entitlement” principle. Officials said the previous overlapping schemes created confusion and were exploited for short-term work or business under the guise of tourism. The government framed the change as a balance between security screening and convenience for quality tourists.
From September 15th, passport holders from the following 60 countries and territories may enter Thailand visa-free for tourism and stay up to 30 days:
Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The published list contains 60 entries, one more than some July government briefings that cited 59. India, Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, and the Maldives were added to the 30-day category so that all 27 EU member states receive the same treatment. The exemption is now limited to tourism; the earlier language covering short-term work or business has been dropped.
Land-border entries under the 30-day exemption are generally limited to twice per calendar year, except for nationals of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. A one-time 30-day extension inside Thailand remains available, subject to immigration approval.
Mauritius and Seychelles receive a separate 15-day visa-free tourism exemption, also with a two-land-entry-per-year cap unless the Interior Minister grants an exception.
Visa on Arrival is reduced to three nationalities: Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia. India was moved off the VoA list after being added to the 30-day exemption.
Existing bilateral visa-exemption treaties are not repealed. These include 14 days for Cambodia and Myanmar (the latter limited to international airports), 30 days for China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, and 90 days for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and South Korea. Nationals not covered by the new lists or a bilateral deal will need a visa, available through Thailand’s worldwide e-Visa system.
The 60-day special measure introduced on July 15th, 2024, is now being officially repealed. Travelers should confirm their nationality’s exact status with a Thai embassy or the Department of Consular Affairs before travel, as immigration officers will apply the new stamps from September 15 onward.
BANGKOK: Thailand’s official Royal Gazette published a set of Ministry of Interior announcements late on the night of August 31st, 2026, formally ending the special 60-day visa exemption that had applied to 93 countries and territories since mid-2024. The new rules take effect on September 15th...
thepattayanews.com
