Thailand Introduces New 30-Day and 15-Day Visa Exemption Rules
Current rules
From 15 September 2026, the 60-day visa exemption ends. Nationals of the following 60 countries and territories will be able to enter Thailand visa-free for tourism for up to 30 days: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, 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, Maldives, 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 and United States. The new 15-day visa exemption applies to: Seychelles Mauritius Thailand's revised Visa on Arrival arrangement applies to: Azerbaijan Belarus Serbia Additionally, the new framework introduces an important additional restriction. Travellers using the 30-day visa exemption may generally enter Thailand through a land-border immigration checkpoint no more than twice per calendar year. There are specific exceptions for nationals of: Malaysia Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Singapore The Minister may also designate additional nationalities that are exempt from the limit. The 15-day exemption for Seychelles and Mauritius also carries a general twice-per-calendar-year limit for land-border entries, subject to ministerial designations. This is particularly relevant to travellers who previously relied on repeated land-border crossings to extend or maintain short-term stays in Thailand.
Overview
Thailand has introduced new 30-day and 15-day visa exemption categories and updated Visa on Arrival eligibility, effective from 15 September 2026. This framework replaces the prior 60-day visa exemption. The changes, confirmed by Ministry of Interior announcements published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026, alter the permitted length of stay for visitors from 60 countries and territories.
Who is affected by the latest change
- Foreign nationals from eligible countries seeking to enter Thailand for tourism without a visa
What changed in the latest version
Before
Thailand had been operating a broad 60-day visa exemption for eligible nationals. Under that framework, eligible travellers could enter Thailand without obtaining a visa and receive permission to stay for up to 60 days, subject to the conditions applicable to the visa-exemption scheme. The 60-day system was introduced in 2024 and subsequently covered a large group of nationalities. Thailand has now decided to discontinue that framework and replace it with nationality-specific categories.
After
From 15 September 2026, the 60-day visa exemption ends. Nationals of the following 60 countries and territories will be able to enter Thailand visa-free for tourism for up to 30 days: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, 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, Maldives, 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 and United States. The new 15-day visa exemption applies to: Seychelles Mauritius Thailand's revised Visa on Arrival arrangement applies to: Azerbaijan Belarus Serbia Additionally, the new framework introduces an important additional restriction. Travellers using the 30-day visa exemption may generally enter Thailand through a land-border immigration checkpoint no more than twice per calendar year. There are specific exceptions for nationals of: Malaysia Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Singapore The Minister may also designate additional nationalities that are exempt from the limit. The 15-day exemption for Seychelles and Mauritius also carries a general twice-per-calendar-year limit for land-border entries, subject to ministerial designations. This is particularly relevant to travellers who previously relied on repeated land-border crossings to extend or maintain short-term stays in Thailand.
This policy update matters for foreign nationals planning short-term trips to Thailand, as it directly impacts the duration of their stay without needing to apply for a visa. Individuals from countries newly designated for a 30-day or 15-day exemption will experience simplified entry, potentially reducing administrative burden and cost associated with visa applications. Conversely, those whose prior exemption period may have been longer, if any, will need to be aware of the new maximum durations. For those considering a holiday, this change provides clarity on the length of stay permitted under visa exemption, influencing travel planning and itineraries. Failure to adhere to these new exemption periods could result in overstay penalties.
Explained simply
Imagine Thailand is now letting some people visit without needing a special permission stamp (a visa) for either 15 or 30 days. It's like a free pass for a short holiday. You just need to check if your country is on the list for this quick entry.
Frequently asked
Version history
- v1Effective 15 Sept 2026EffectiveHigh impactThailand Introduces New 30-Day and 15-Day Visa Exemption Rules
Thailand has introduced new visa exemption rules, effective from 15 September, allowing foreign nationals from eligible countries to enter without a visa for either 30 days or 15 days. These changes facilitate short-term tourism, although the specific list of eligible countries for each exemption period has not been detailed in the provided source. This policy update aims to streamline entry for tourists.