Thailand to cut visa-free stays to 30 days for 60 countries from 15 September

What changes on 15 September

Four Ministry of Interior announcements, signed by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August after Cabinet approval on 14 July. They repeal the 60-day exemption introduced on 15 July 2024 for 93 countries and territories and replace it with a 30-day exemption for 60. The list includes the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and India, among others. The repealed scheme had covered tourism, short-term work and business contact. The new exemption covers tourism only, so short-term business and work visitors from affected markets will need a visa. The announcements also repeal earlier Interior Ministry notices from 2019 and 2022 on the 30-day tourist scheme. Nationals of countries on the old 93-country list that are not on the new 60-country list, the 15-day list or a bilateral agreement will need a visa for tourism.

The notices take effect 15 days after publication, which puts the start on 15 September 2026.

The tourism arithmetic

Tourism accounts for 13% of Thailand's GDP and supports 12% of its jobs, and the sector was worth 1.54 trillion baht, about 40 billion euros, according to Travel Tomorrow. Thailand recorded 32.97 million international visitors in 2025, and the government expects around 33.5 million in 2026. A typical holiday of one or two weeks is unlikely to be much affected by the 30-day cap, Business Standard noted.

Arrivals had already weakened. Foreign arrivals fell about 3.4% in the first quarter from the same period in 2025, according to tourism ministry data cited by ABC News. Official figures cited by AFP put the year-to-date total at 20.9 million visitors, 3% fewer than a year earlier.

Land borders, visa on arrival and the list

Visa-exempt travellers entering through land border checkpoints are generally limited to two entries per calendar year. Nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are exempt from that cap. Air arrivals face no equivalent limit. The cap is meant to stop repeated visa runs. Thailand cut its visa-on-arrival list to three countries, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia, from 31 countries in 2024. Seychelles and Mauritius move to a 15-day exemption. Separate bilateral visa exemption agreements with China, Russia and Vietnam are unaffected.

Why Bangkok did it

The government statement cited national security, tourism and economic interests, reciprocity and overlapping visa privileges that "could create confusion for foreign visitors". Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said in May that the shorter stay was part of a crackdown on abuse, not a move against any nationality. The government also cited Schengen talks, saying the change should support negotiations for visa exemptions for Thai nationals.

What happens next

Travellers admitted under the 60-day scheme keep the stay granted at entry. Entries through 14 September still get 60 days. One extension of up to 30 days should remain available, subject to immigration approval. A government spokeswoman told AFP the renewal would be decided by an immigration officer rather than granted automatically. The Thai Embassy advised Indian travellers wanting more than 30 days to apply for an e-Visa before travel.

Longer stays require another route. The Destination Thailand Visa offers five-year multiple entry, 180 days per entry and one extension, with a bank balance of at least 500,000 baht, about 13,000 euros.