What happened
- Scope: The 60-day exemption is revoked for all 93 countries previously covered. Eligibility for the 30-day exemption is reduced from 57 to 54 countries.
- Effective Date: The policy will come into effect 15 days after an official announcement is published in the Royal Gazette. No specific calendar date has been set yet.
- Impact: Foreign visitors already in Thailand or arriving before the new measures take effect will remain under their existing visa conditions until their permitted stay expires.
- Context: The 60-day stay was introduced in July 2024 to spur post-pandemic tourism recovery but was cited as having unintended consequences regarding longer-term stays for business or criminal activity.
- Future: The Visa Policy Committee will consider future eased measures based on security and economic impacts. Authorities are also examining the overall visa framework for potential mergers
The Thai Government has officially decided to end the 60-day visa-free program for foreign visitors, reverting to the original 30-day exemption for most waiver-eligible countries. Additionally, three countries (currently unnamed) will have their visa waiver privileges removed entirely. Key details: