What happened
Thailand announced on 31 August 2026 that visa-free entry will fall from 60 days for 93 nationalities to 30 days for 60 nationalities on 15 September 2026. Arrivals before midnight on 14 September still receive a 60-day stamp. The shorter waiver restores the pre-May 2024 length.
Some other nationalities will get only 15 days visa-free. Visa-on-arrival will remain only for three countries. Land-border entries are capped at two except for Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore, while air entries are uncapped. Stays longer than 30 days need a tourist eVisa or an extension of the waiver stamp at immigration. Passports dropped from the 60-country list go back to older bilateral or pre-2024 rules, including ASEAN arrangements.
Thailand is a top destination for frequent flyers, so many visitors will get 30 days instead of 60 and some passports will lose waiver access entirely. Immigration rules there also change frequently.
Check the 60-country list before any arrival on or after 15 September 2026, and treat the stamp as 30 days unless an eVisa is in hand.
- Announced
- Aug 31, 2026
- Starts
- Sep 15, 2026
- Numbers
- 30 days: new visa-free stay length
- 60 countries: nationalities eligible for the new visa-free waiver
- 60 days: current visa-free stay length being reversed
- 93 countries: nationalities currently eligible for 60-day visa-free entry
- 15 days: visa-free stay for a second group of nationalities
- Where
- Thailand
- Who qualifies
- Nationals of 60 listed countries get 30-day visa-free entry; another group gets 15 days visa-free; visa-on-arrival is limited to three countries
- Takeaway
- If you arrive on or after 15 September 2026, plan for a 30-day stamp or obtain an eVisa, and confirm whether your nationality is still on the 60-country list.