Thailand's Cabinet approved a major overhaul of the country's visa-exemption framework on May 19, 2026. The decision rolls back the standard visa-free stay from 60 days to 30 days for most eligible nationalities and reshapes both the exemption list and the Visa on Arrival scheme. The government cited the misuse of longer stays for illegal work and business, as well as transnational crime, as the reason for the change.
What the Cabinet approved
- •30-day visa exemption for 54 countries and territories: Eligible tourists from 54 countries and territories will receive a 30-day stay on arrival instead of the current 60 days.
- •New 15-day visa exemption for 3 countries: The Maldives, Seychelles, and Mauritius are added with a shorter 15-day visa-free stay.
- •Visa on Arrival cut to 4 countries: The Visa on Arrival list shrinks from 31 countries to just 4 — India, Serbia, Belarus, and Azerbaijan.
When does it take effect?
The new rules take effect 15 days after they are published in the Royal Gazette. As of June 10, 2026, the measure has not yet been published in the Royal Gazette, so it is not in force. Until publication and the subsequent 15-day countdown, the current visa-exemption rules — which cover 93 countries and grant a 60-day stay — remain legally valid. Travellers entering Thailand today are still processed under the existing 60-day framework.
What travellers should do now
- •Trips booked under the 60-day assumption: If your trip is already booked and you were counting on a 60-day stay, monitor the Royal Gazette status closely. The current 60-day rules still apply until the new measure is published and the 15-day countdown completes.
- •If you need more than 30 days later: Once the change is in force, travellers wanting to stay beyond 30 days can apply for a 30-day extension at a local immigration office for 1,900 THB.
- •Check the current rules for your nationality: See our up-to-date Thailand visa requirements page for the eligibility list as it stands today.
- •Read the full background: Our explainer on the end of Thailand's 60-day visa exemption covers the history, the affected nationalities, and what each option means for your itinerary.
This policy change does not affect your TDAC requirement: every traveller entering Thailand must still complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card regardless of how long they stay. We will update this article as soon as the measure is published in the Royal Gazette and a firm start date is confirmed.