Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stays to 30 Days from 15 September 2026

On 15 September 2026 Thailand ended the 60-day visa-free stay introduced in 2024. Visitors from 60 countries and territories now get 30 days on arrival, and the exemption covers tourism only. The new rules were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026.

If you entered before 15 September, you keep the stay stamped in your passport.

What changed

• 30 days instead of 60 for the 60 countries listed below.
• One 30-day extension at an immigration office, for about 1,900 baht.
• Tourism only. Business meetings and short work trips now need a Non-Immigrant B visa.
• Land borders: no more than two visa-free entries by land per calendar year. This does not apply to arrivals by air or to citizens of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
• Visa on arrival is now available only to citizens of Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.
• 15 days for Mauritius and Seychelles.

The 60 countries with 30 days visa-free

Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.

Countries with separate agreements

Bilateral agreements were not affected by the change:

• 30 days: Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Laos, Mongolia, Vietnam and Timor-Leste;
• 90 days: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and South Korea;
• 14 days: Cambodia and Myanmar (arrivals by air).

Citizens of countries not listed need a visa, applied for online through the Thai e-Visa system.

Before you fly

Every foreign visitor must fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within three days before arrival. It is free on the official site; ignore paid copies.

How to stay longer

Tourist visa (TR)

60 days, plus one 30-day extension in Thailand, so 90 days in total. Applied for online before you travel.

Multiple-entry tourist visa (METV)

Valid for 6 months, with up to 60 days per entry. Suits people who leave and come back several times.

Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

5 years, up to 180 days per entry, for remote workers and people on courses. Requires 500,000 baht in savings and, since 31 August 2026, a police clearance certificate.

Retirement visa

From age 50, with 800,000 baht in a Thai bank or a monthly income of 65,000 baht.

Thailand Privilege and LTR

Long-term options for owners and investors, compared in which visas suit property buyers.

What it means if you are buying property

Thirty days is enough for a viewing trip, especially if you see a shortlist by video first. The purchase itself does not depend on your visa: you can buy on a tourist entry stamp or without coming at all (remote purchase).

Visa rules change often. Check the latest requirements with the Thai embassy or on the Thai e-Visa site before you travel.