Thailand has shortened the maximum visa-free stay available to visitors from 60 days to 30 days, with the revised entry rules taking effect on September 1, 2026.
The change was confirmed in an Interior Ministry notification published in the Royal Gazette on Monday, August 31.
Under the new arrangement, holders of passports or approved travel documents from 60 countries and territories may enter Thailand for tourism without securing a visa in advance, but their stay will be limited to 30 days.
The notification states that the regulations become effective one day after publication, bringing an end to the expanded visa-exemption programme introduced on July 15, 2024.
That policy allowed eligible foreign nationals travelling for tourism, short-term business or work purposes to remain in Thailand without a visa for as long as 60 days.
The latest notification was issued on August 26 following Cabinet approval on July 14, 2026. It was signed by Anutin Charnvirakul in his roles as prime minister and interior minister.
According to the Interior Ministry, the revised list and conditions were introduced in response to current circumstances. Officials considered national security and economic factors alongside efforts to support Thailand’s tourism industry.
The notification also revokes previous ministry announcements issued on March 4, 2019, and June 21, 2022, which governed the earlier 30-day visa-exemption programme.
Countries and Territories Eligible for 30-Day Visa-Free Entry
Passport holders and travellers with eligible documents from the following 60 countries and territories may enter Thailand without a visa for stays of up to 30 days:
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Australia
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Austria
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Bahrain
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Belgium
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Bulgaria
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Bhutan
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Brunei Darussalam
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Canada
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Croatia
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Cyprus
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Czech Republic
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Denmark
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Estonia
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Fiji
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Finland
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France
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Georgia
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Germany
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Greece
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Hungary
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Iceland
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Indonesia
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India
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Ireland
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Israel
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Italy
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Japan
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Jordan
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Kuwait
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Kyrgyz Republic
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Latvia
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Liechtenstein
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Lithuania
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Luxembourg
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Malta
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Malaysia
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Maldives
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Netherlands
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New Zealand
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Norway
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Oman
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Philippines
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Poland
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Portugal
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Qatar
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Romania
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Saudi Arabia
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Singapore
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Slovakia
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Slovenia
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South Africa
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Spain
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Sweden
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Switzerland
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Taiwan
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Türkiye
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Ukraine
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United Arab Emirates
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United Kingdom
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United States
Land-Border Entries Restricted to Twice Annually
Separate limits will apply to visa-exempt visitors arriving through Thailand’s land-border immigration checkpoints.
Travellers using the scheme at a land crossing will generally be permitted to enter no more than twice during a calendar year.
Nationals of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore are exempt from the twice-yearly restriction.
The notification also gives the interior minister authority to designate nationals of additional countries who may cross Thailand’s land borders more than twice per year under the visa-exemption scheme.
