ع
The Interior Ministry published an announcement in the Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026, that formally sets a 30-day limit on visa-free stays for visitors from 60 countries and territories. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, serving concurrently as interior minister, signed the document which takes effect 15 days after its appearance. The cabinet had approved the reduction earlier in the year after determining that the extended exemption period was open to abuse through repeated visa runs, according to multiple reports including coverage by the Bangkok Post.
The new framework replaces the 60-day visa exemption that the government had expanded in 2024 to stimulate tourism following the COVID-19 downturn, the Tourism Authority of Thailand stated in its advisory issued on September 1. Travelers entering from September 15 onward will receive the shorter stay upon arrival at airports or other ports while retaining the ability to apply for one 30-day extension at an immigration office. The regulation maintains the visa-free entry process itself but narrows the permitted duration in response to national security considerations and economic factors outlined by the cabinet.
Land-border arrivals under the 30-day exemption face an additional restriction of no more than two entries per calendar year for most nationalities, the Royal Gazette announcement specified. This measure targets the practice of frequent border crossings that had allowed some visitors to remain in the country for extended periods without proper visas. Nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore remain exempt from the twice-yearly land-entry cap, along with any other countries that the interior minister may later designate.
A separate provision grants a 15-day visa-free stay to nationals of Seychelles and Mauritius, according to the published list that replaces earlier interior ministry notices from 2019 and 2022. The full roster of 60 countries eligible for the 30-day exemption includes the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, India, the United Arab Emirates and most other European Union members along with several Gulf and Asian states, the Bangkok Post reported after reviewing the official document. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has recommended that prospective visitors confirm which category applies to their nationality before travel to avoid entry complications.
Thailand’s tourism sector continues to navigate fluctuating arrival numbers that have remained below expectations in 2026, Gulf News reported in its analysis of the policy change. The adjustment follows recent high-profile incidents involving foreign nationals in popular destinations such as Phuket that contributed to the government’s decision to tighten oversight. The Phuket News reported on the forthcoming 30-day visa-free stays taking effect on Sept 15, underscoring the practical implications for travelers planning trips after the mid-month deadline.
Visitors already inside Thailand with stamps issued before September 15 will retain their full authorized periods even if those extend beyond the implementation date, the Ministry of Interior clarified in accompanying guidance. The updated rules do not apply retroactively and affect only new entries on or after the effective date. Officials at the Tourism Authority of Thailand have emphasized that the revised exemption list reflects an effort to update procedures while still facilitating legitimate short-term tourism.
