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Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay from 60 to 30 Days: What Changes on September 15
Thailand's 60-day visa-free scheme is coming to an end, with new rules taking effect on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The change was published in the Royal Gazette by the Ministry of Interior on August 31, 2026, and confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, covering both visa exemptions and Visa on Arrival. Most nationalities that previously got 60 days visa-free will now only get 30, though the exact impact depends on your passport, and travellers already in the country or arriving before September 15 are not affected.
What's Changing
The 60-day visa-free exemption, originally introduced in July, is being replaced. Under the new framework, ordinary passport holders from 60 countries and territories get visa-free tourist entry for up to 30 days, down from 60. This is also a narrower list than before: the previous scheme covered 93 countries and territories.
A few nationalities see other changes:
- India moves from Visa on Arrival to the new 30-day visa exemption.
- Seychelles and Mauritius get a new 15-day visa exemption category.
- Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia now need Visa on Arrival instead of standard visa exemption.
Which Countries Get 30 Days Visa-Free
From September 15, 2026, these 60 countries and territories are eligible for 30-day visa-free entry:
<table> <tr><td>Australia</td><td>Austria</td><td>Bahrain</td><td>Belgium</td><td>Bulgaria</td></tr> <tr><td>Bhutan</td><td>Brunei Darussalam</td><td>Canada</td><td>Croatia</td><td>Cyprus</td></tr> <tr><td>Czech Republic</td><td>Denmark</td><td>Estonia</td><td>Fiji</td><td>Finland</td></tr> <tr><td>France</td><td>Georgia</td><td>Germany</td><td>Greece</td><td>Hungary</td></tr> <tr><td>Iceland</td><td>Indonesia</td><td>India</td><td>Ireland</td><td>Israel</td></tr> <tr><td>Italy</td><td>Japan</td><td>Jordan</td><td>Kuwait</td><td>Kyrgyzstan</td></tr> <tr><td>Latvia</td><td>Liechtenstein</td><td>Lithuania</td><td>Luxembourg</td><td>Malta</td></tr> <tr><td>Malaysia</td><td>Maldives</td><td>Netherlands</td><td>New Zealand</td><td>Norway</td></tr> <tr><td>Oman</td><td>Philippines</td><td>Poland</td><td>Portugal</td><td>Qatar</td></tr> <tr><td>Romania</td><td>Saudi Arabia</td><td>Singapore</td><td>Slovakia</td><td>Slovenia</td></tr> <tr><td>South Africa</td><td>Spain</td><td>Sweden</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>Taiwan</td></tr> <tr><td>Türkiye</td><td>Ukraine</td><td>United Arab Emirates</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>United States</td></tr> </table>
Bilateral Arrangements Are Separate
Some nationalities are covered by their own bilateral agreements with Thailand rather than the 30-day exemption above, so they don't automatically get 30 days:
- 30-day bilateral arrangements: China, Kazakhstan, Macao, Russia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Laos, Mongolia, Timor-Leste.
- 14-day bilateral arrangements: Cambodia and Myanmar, subject to applicable entry conditions.
Bilateral stays are generally 14, 30, or 90 days depending on nationality, so travellers from these countries should check their specific arrangement rather than assume the new 30-day rule applies to them.
If You're Already Travelling
If you enter Thailand before September 15 under the existing rules, you keep the stay length granted on your entry stamp. It won't be shortened retroactively.
If you enter under the new 30-day exemption from September 15 onward, you can request an extension of up to another 30 days, though this is at the discretion of immigration officers and isn't guaranteed.
Why the Change
The government cites national security, tourism and economic interests, reciprocity between countries, and a desire to reduce overlapping and confusing visa privileges. The growth of Thailand's e-Visa system was also cited as part of the review. Foreigners entering for purposes other than tourism are advised to use the visa category that matches their intended activity, rather than relying on visa-free entry.
What This Means for Tourists
Most travellers on the 30-day list, including those from Australia, Canada, the UK, the US, and most of Europe, now get half the visa-free duration they had before, so it's worth planning shorter trips or budgeting for an extension if needed. Indian travellers benefit from the change, since they no longer need to arrange Visa on Arrival and instead get the 30-day exemption automatically. Anyone already in Thailand, or entering before September 15, is unaffected and keeps their current stamped duration.
Travellers from China, Vietnam, Russia, Hong Kong, and other bilateral-agreement countries should check their specific rules rather than assume the new 30-day exemption applies, since they're governed separately. Cambodian and Myanmar nationals remain capped at 14 days under their bilateral deal, while Seychelles and Mauritius travellers now fall into the new 15-day category. Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia nationals will need to apply for Visa on Arrival rather than entering visa-free.
Information sourced from The Thaiger.