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The Interior Ministry notification published in the Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026, establishes a revised list of countries whose citizens may enter Thailand for tourism without a visa for a maximum of 30 days. Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the document following Cabinet approval on July 14, 2026, ending the 60-day exemption scheme that had been introduced in July 2024. The ministry stated that the update reflects current national security considerations, economic factors and the need to promote sustainable tourism while repealing prior notifications from 2019 and 2022.
Passport holders from 60 countries and territories including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Japan and most European Union members will qualify for the 30-day visa-free stay for tourism under the new rules, according to the published list. Nationals of Seychelles and Mauritius will be permitted a maximum stay of 15 days, the Interior Ministry notification specifies. Most visitors will also face a limit of two entries per calendar year via land borders, although exemptions apply to citizens of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore.
Thailand expanded the visa-free period to 60 days for 93 countries and territories in 2024 as part of post-pandemic recovery efforts that saw the kingdom welcome around 35 million foreign visitors that year, government figures show. The extended stay had been subject to misuse by some business travelers and others avoiding proper visa requirements, a determination that contributed to the policy reversal, according to Interior Ministry statements. Travel Tomorrow reported on the authorities’ earlier plans to shorten stays as a means of targeting such abuse.
The change will apply to new entries starting September 15, 2026, while travelers already in Thailand or arriving before that date remain under the prior rules for their specific entry, the notification clarifies. Visitors seeking additional time may apply for a 30-day extension at immigration offices for a fee of 1,900 baht, a standard procedure that continues under the updated framework. Long-stay visa categories such as retirement, work, student and Thailand Privilege visas are unaffected by the revision.
The announcement also revises the visa-on-arrival eligibility to cover only nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia, according to details in the Royal Gazette publication. This adjustment forms part of a broader recalibration of entry policies that the Cabinet had approved in principle during May 2026 before finalizing provisions in July. The Interior Ministry has emphasized that the list was updated to align with prevailing conditions across security, economic and tourism domains.
Government data from 2025 indicated a decline in tourist arrivals against an initial target of 39 million to 40 million despite promotional campaigns, an assessment reported by Travel Tomorrow in June of that year. The Tourism and Sports Ministry has since implemented digital arrival registration and enhanced safety protocols in coordination with police and military authorities to maintain Thailand’s appeal as a destination. The latest visa measure arrives as regional peers continue to refine similar policies to manage visitor flows and prevent overstays.
