Thailand cuts visa-free stays to 30 days: what changed on 15 September 2026

Thailand’s 60-day visa-exemption measure ended on 15 September 2026. Under the new framework, passport holders from 60 countries and territories can enter for tourism without a visa for up to 30 days. Mauritius and Seychelles receive a 15-day visa exemption, while Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia use Visa on Arrival. Separate bilateral agreements can still provide different stay periods for some nationalities.

The change matters for frequent visitors, digital nomads, retirees and anyone planning a longer stay around Thailand. It does not cancel Thailand’s other visa categories. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says this revision concerns the 30-day and 15-day visa-exemption schemes and Visa on Arrival, not other visa routes.

What changed in Thailand on 15 September 2026?

The Tourism Authority of Thailand says Ministry of Interior announcements published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 ended the 60-day visa-exemption measure and replaced it with a nationality-based framework from 15 September.

Travellers who entered Thailand before 15 September under the previous rules can remain until the last date shown on their immigration stamp. The new system applies to entries from 15 September 2026.

Which countries now receive Thailand’s 30-day visa exemption?

The 30-day tourism exemption covers Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Malaysia, Maldives, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.

That means travellers using ordinary passports from Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and most EU countries who previously relied on the 60-day exemption should now plan around a 30-day stay unless another applicable bilateral arrangement gives them a different entitlement.

Are land-border entries limited?

Yes. Under the new 30-day exemption, entry through land-border immigration checkpoints is generally limited to two times per calendar year. TAT says this limit does not apply to nationals of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore, or to other nationalities that may be designated by the responsible minister.

The same general twice-per-calendar-year land-border limit applies to the new 15-day exemption, subject to any ministerial exceptions.

Do digital nomad, retirement or long-stay visas change?

No change to those other visa categories was announced as part of this measure. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the September revision covers the 30-day and 15-day visa exemptions and Visa on Arrival only. Travellers entering for work, residence, study or another purpose should continue to use the visa category that matches that purpose.

This distinction is important for people who had been using visa-free entry as part of a longer stay strategy. A shorter visa-free period does not itself change the rules of Thailand’s Destination Thailand Visa, retirement visas, Long-Term Resident visa or other non-immigrant routes, but it may change how practical repeated short visits are.

Can bilateral agreements give a longer stay?

Yes. Thailand says separate bilateral and related entry arrangements remain in force where applicable and can provide visa-free periods of 90, 30 or 14 days. The rule that applies depends on the traveller’s nationality and the relevant agreement.

For that reason, travellers should not rely only on a general country list. Check the current Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate responsible for your country before booking a long stay.

What should travellers do before flying to Thailand?

• Check the current entry category for the passport you will use.
• Confirm whether a bilateral visa-waiver arrangement changes the standard period.
• Make sure your travel plans fit the permitted stay shown by immigration on arrival.
• Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card where required.
• Keep onward-travel, accommodation and financial evidence available in case immigration officers request it.

Thailand’s immigration authorities can assess entry eligibility at the border, so the permitted stay stamped into the passport remains the practical record travellers should follow.

Why this matters for longer stays

The return from 60 days to 30 days is a material change for people who spend extended periods in Thailand without holding a long-stay visa. A one-month visa-free window gives less flexibility for remote workers, retirees testing a move, families spending a season in Thailand and frequent regional travellers.

Anyone intending to live in Thailand rather than make a short tourism visit should compare the appropriate long-stay route instead of assuming repeated visa-exempt entries will provide the same flexibility as before.

Official sources

The change is confirmed by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which says the regulations were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and took effect on 15 September, and by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which publishes the updated country categories and land-border rules.

Last verified: 21 September 2026. Entry rules can change, so check the Thai authorities again before travel.

Planning a longer move abroad?

If Thailand is one option among several countries, Babylon’s step-by-step guide to moving abroad in 2026 can help you compare the practical decisions involved before relocating.