Thailand's visa-free stay is now 30 days, not 60
The 60-day scheme for 93 countries ended on 14 September, and short-term business visitors from those markets now need a visa.
Thailand's 60-day visa-free stay for visitors from 93 countries and territories ended after 14 September 2026. Since 15 September the standard exemption is 30 days, it covers tourism only, and the list has been cut to 60 countries and territories, according to a Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) notice.
Travellers admitted before 15 September keep the stay they were given on entry, Vialto Partners reported. Everyone arriving after that date falls under the new rules.
What the new rules say
Four Ministry of Interior announcements were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August and took effect 15 days later, TTG Asia reported. Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the announcement after a Cabinet decision on 14 July. They repeal the 60-day scheme that began on 15 July 2024.
The main points, from TAT and TTG Asia:
- 30 days, tourism only. Nationals of 60 countries and territories are covered, among them the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia.
- Business visitors need a visa. Short-term business and work visitors from affected markets can no longer enter on the exemption.
- 15 days for Seychelles and Mauritius.
- Visa on arrival for three nationalities only: Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. TTG Asia says 31 countries were on that list in 2024.
- Land borders. Entries by land under the 30-day exemption are generally capped at two per calendar year. Nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are exempt from the cap, as are other nationalities the minister may designate.
- Bilateral deals stay. Agreements that give 90, 30 or 14 days are unchanged, including the 30-day arrangements with China, Russia and Vietnam, TTG Asia said.
Travellers from markets on none of the lists need a Thai visa from 15 September, per TTG Asia.
How the list was set
The Cabinet first agreed on 19 May to scrap the 60-day scheme. Surasak Phancharoenworakul, the tourism and sports minister, said at the time that the Visa Policy Committee would review visa rules country by country, weighing security and economic considerations, Khaosod English reported. The report gave no effective date.
India was not on the original 54-country list approved in May and was added after pushback from the travel industry, TTG Asia reported. India is the third-largest source market in 2026, with 1,751,485 arrivals to 3 October on ministry data.
The government's public relations department gave reasons including national security, tourism promotion and economic interests, reciprocity, and removing overlapping exemption privileges. It also said the overlap could confuse foreign visitors, according to TTG Asia.
What it means for a Thai travel business
Three practical points follow from the text of the rules.
First, check the passport. A group booked as one block may now split into visa-exempt and visa-required travellers. The exemption list and the bilateral list are separate, and a Chinese or Russian visitor is covered by a bilateral deal rather than the 30-day list.
Second, business trips. A buyer flying in for a trade fair or a site visit from a covered market is no longer a visa-exempt tourist. Event organisers and hotels hosting delegates should ask for visa status when registering them.
Third, land-border and longer visits. The two-entry cap on land crossings and the shorter stay apply to anyone who relied on the old 60 days.
No traffic figures under the new rules have been published yet. The ministry's weekly arrivals update is the first place to look, and the effect on any single market will take several weeks of data to separate from holiday swings. The Visa Policy Committee's country-by-country review is the other thing to watch, since the lists can change.
FAQ
How long can tourists stay in Thailand without a visa now?
Nationals of the 60 listed countries and territories can stay 30 days for tourism since 15 September 2026. Seychelles and Mauritius get 15 days, and three nationalities can get a visa on arrival.
Do business travellers still qualify for the exemption?
No. The 30-day exemption is limited to tourism, so short-term business and work visitors from affected markets need a visa.
Did travellers already in Thailand lose days?
No. Visitors admitted before 15 September 2026 keep the period of stay they were granted on entry.
Sources
- Tourism Authority of Thailand: Thailand introduces new 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules from 15 September
- TTG Asia: Thailand cuts visa-free stay to 30 days for 60 countries
- Khaosod English: It's official, Thailand ends 60-day visa-free stays for 90 countries
- The Nation: Thailand's foreign visitor numbers up 8.24% in week to Oct 3
- Vialto Partners: Thailand immigration, changes to visa exemption scheme effective 15 September 2026
