Thailand visa-free stays will be capped at 30 days from Sept 15 for travellers from 60 countries, following a formal Royal Gazette announcement signed by Anutin Charnvirakul.
Thailand will reduce visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days for eligible visitors from 60 countries starting Sept 15, after the change was published in the Royal Gazette.
New 30-day limit takes effect after Royal Gazette notice
Thailand’s revised visa-exemption rules have been formally announced, setting a 30-day maximum stay for eligible visitors from 60 countries beginning Sept 15. The notice appeared in the Royal Gazette on Monday and was signed by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Under the announcement, the measure takes effect 15 days after publication.
The cabinet had decided earlier this year to roll back the 60-day visa-free stay period for many nationalities, citing concerns that the longer exemption was being misused. Authorities said longer permitted stays had been linked to increased illegal activity by some foreigners taking advantage of the system.
Sixty nationalities covered by the change
The new 30-day visa-free limit applies to visitors from the following 60 countries and territories:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Bhutan
- Brunei
- Canada
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- India
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Malaysia
- The Maldives
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- The Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
Land arrivals face additional limits
Travellers from the listed countries who enter Thailand by land will be limited to two such visits per year. The restriction is intended to curb repeated border crossings used to extend stays in the country without obtaining a longer-term visa.
The land-entry cap will not apply in the same way to visitors from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore, as well as any other countries specified by the interior minister.
Separate rules for Seychelles, Mauritius and visa-on-arrival travellers
The Royal Gazette announcement also sets a separate visa-free allowance of up to 15 days for nationals of Seychelles and Mauritius.
In addition, nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia will be eligible to obtain visas on arrival at immigration checkpoints.
Thailand reverses last year’s expansion
For many years, Thailand allowed nationals of 56 countries to enter without a visa for up to 30 days. In July 2024, the government expanded the programme to 93 countries and increased the permitted stay to 60 days.
The Sept 15 change narrows that policy again for a large group of travellers. Visitors planning longer stays in Thailand will need to check whether they require a different visa category, while travel businesses may see shorter visa-exempt trips become the default for many international arrivals.
Sources
