Thailand to End 60-Day Visa Exemption; New 30-Day Regime Takes Effect 15 September 2026

Thailand's Ministry of Interior has formally repealed the notification that introduced the special 60-day visa exemption, clearing the legal path for a new, shorter visa-free stay framework to take hold. The repeal order was published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 (Volume 143, Special Issue 207 Ngor) and was signed on 26 August 2026 by Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as both Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, following Cabinet approval on 14 July 2026.

What the repeal actually does

The notification revokes, in its entirety, the earlier Ministry of Interior order dated 15 July 2024 (B.E. 2567), which had allowed passport holders from a specified list of countries and territories to enter Thailand temporarily — for tourism, work, or short-term business purposes — without a visa, and to remain for up to 60 days. That underlying authority is issued under Section 17 of the Immigration Act, B.E. 2522 (1979).

Under the terms of the repeal, the change takes effect once 15 days have elapsed from the date of Gazette publication. Since publication fell on 31 August 2026, the repeal becomes operative on 15 September 2026. Until that date, the existing 60-day exemption continues to apply as before.

The broader picture: what replaces it

The repeal is one part of a coordinated package of Ministry of Interior measures reshaping Thailand's entry framework. Alongside it, separate notifications establish three new nationality-based categories to replace the single 60-day scheme:

• A 30-day visa exemption for tourism purposes, covering roughly 60 countries and territories — including major source markets such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, most EU member states, Japan, and India.

• A 15-day visa exemption, applicable specifically to Mauritius and Seychelles.

• A Visa on Arrival category, now narrowed to three nationalities: Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia — a significant reduction from the roughly 31 nationalities currently eligible for Visa on Arrival.

Unlike the outgoing 60-day scheme, the new 30-day exemption is framed around tourism specifically, without the same explicit allowance for short-term work or business engagements.

Separate, pre-existing bilateral visa exemption agreements between Thailand and individual countries — offering periods such as 14, 30, or 90 days depending on the arrangement — sit outside this reform and are not affected by the repeal.

Transitional treatment for travelers already in Thailand

Travelers who enter Thailand under the current 60-day exemption before 15 September 2026 will keep the full stay period granted to them on arrival. The shortened duration will not be applied retroactively to people already admitted under the outgoing scheme.

Other features of the reform

Public reporting on the companion notifications indicates two further features of note:

• Land border entries under the new 30-day and 15-day exemptions will generally be capped at two per calendar year, with an exemption carved out for nationals of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The Minister of Interior retains discretion to extend this carve-out to additional nationalities.

• A one-time extension of up to 30 additional days is expected to remain available to travelers admitted under the 30-day exemption, subject to approval by Thai immigration authorities — though this detail stems from the broader Cabinet-approved framework rather than the repeal notification itself.

Why this matters for travelers and employers

For nationals of countries moving from 60 days to 30 days — a group that includes several major markets — the change effectively halves the initial stay granted on arrival from 15 September 2026 onward. Organizations with employees who travel to Thailand on short-term assignments, or who rely on the current 60-day allowance for business purposes, may want to review upcoming travel scheduled around the transition date and confirm which entry category will apply to affected nationalities once the new rules take hold.

This article is based on information procured from official sources and public portals. It is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Kindly consult the relevant public authority or an immigration advisor at the Legit Migrant for guidance specific to your circumstances.