Thailand to Halve Visa-Free Tourist Stays to 30 Days From September 2026

Thailand will halve tourist visa-free stays from over 60 countries to 30 days starting September 15, 2026. The Thai foreign ministry cites efforts to curb crime by foreign nationals, while separate rules reduce visa-on-arrival lists and limit land border entries to two per calendar year.

Ministry Announcements and the September 15 Effective Date

Thailand’s revised visa exemption framework formally reduces standard visa-free tourist stays to 30 days from September 15, 2026. The policy changes were published in the Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026, via four Ministry of Interior announcements which take effect 15 days after their published date, coming into effect on September 15, 2026. The announcements were signed by Anutin Charnvirakul in his capacities as prime minister and minister of interior. The Cabinet approved the revised framework on July 14, 2026.

The updated rules include a clause repealing the special 60-day visa exemption introduced on July 15, 2024, which previously covered 93 countries and territories and allowed entry for tourism, short-term work, and business contact. Under the incoming rules, the 30-day exemption applies to tourism only, meaning short-term business and work visitors from affected markets will require a visa from September 15, 2026. The current 60-day scheme remains valid for entries through September 14, 2026.

Security Crackdown and Affected Nationalities

Tourism is vital to the South-East Asian nation’s economy, but officials state the move is part of an effort to curb crime involving foreign nationals. A string of recent arrests has included foreigners accused of drug offences, sex trafficking and operating businesses such as hotels and schools without proper permits. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated back in May that the plan to trim visa-free visits was part of a crackdown on individuals abusing the visa system by committing crimes in the country.

An official statement from the Thai government’s public relations department said the update reflected concern for national security, promotion of tourism and economic interests along with reciprocity and the reduction of overlapping visa exemption privileges – which could create confusion for foreign visitors – as well as convenience currently being provided by the e-Visa system.

Thailand to Halve Visa-Free Tourist Stays to 30 Days From September 2026

The reduction to 30 days applies to over 60 countries and territories, including China, the US, and 27 EU countries, according to the Thai foreign ministry’s consular affairs department on Sept 1. India will fall under the new 30-day tourist exemption, having been added after the travel industry pushed back over its absence from the original 54-country list the Cabinet approved in May. Meanwhile, visitors from Peru, Brazil and South Korea will be granted 90-day visa-free stays, up from 60 previously. The visa-free status for around 20 other countries was unclear, with a foreign ministry official declining to comment. Tourists will be able to extend their stays once, although at the discretion of an immigration officer, a government spokeswoman said in May when the cabinet approved the measure.

Border Caps and Visa-on-Arrival Reductions

Alongside shorter stays, Thailand is tightening entry controls at land borders and streamlining its visa-on-arrival lists. A new restriction limits visa-exempt travellers entering through land border checkpoints to two entries per calendar year. Nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are exempt from the cap, as are other nationalities the minister may designate.

Furthermore, Thailand has cut the visa-on-arrival list down to only three countries, covering Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia, while Seychelles and Mauritius move to a 15-day exemption. Previously, 31 countries had been placed on the visa-on-arrival list in 2024. Separate bilateral visa exemption agreements are unaffected, including 30-day arrangements with China, Russia and Vietnam. Travellers entering Thailand from markets that do not appear on any of the new lists will need to obtain a Thai visa to enter from September 15, 2026, and travellers should check the entry conditions that apply to their nationality before travelling. Thailand has attracted 20.9 million tourists since the beginning of the year, down 3% on the same period in 2025, according to official figures.