Thailand Revises Visa Exemption Scheme: 30-Day Stay and Revised List of Eligible Countries

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Thailand Revises Visa Exemption Scheme: 30-Day Stay and Revised List of Eligible Countries

1. Introduction

The Ministry of Interior has issued notification revising Thailand’s visa exemption arrangements for foreign nationals. The revised measures repeal the special 60-day visa exemption scheme introduced in July 2024 and establish an updated list of countries and territories whose passport or travel-document holders may enter the Kingdom without a visa for tourism purposes, for a period not exceeding 30 days.

The notifications were signed on 26 August 2026 and published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026, and will take effect on 15 September 2026, being 15 days after publication.

2. Background: The Previous 60-Day Visa Exemption Scheme

Under the Ministry of Interior notification dated 15 July 2024, nationals of 93 countries and territories entering Thailand for tourism, work, or short-term business purposes were exempt from visa requirements and permitted to stay for up to 60 days.

3. The Revised 30-Day Visa Exemption Scheme

3.1 Scope

  • The revised notification sets out an updated list of countries and territories eligible for visa-free entry for tourism purposes with the permitted period of stay reduced from 60 days to 30 days.
  • The revised scheme covers 60 countries and territories in total: 59 retained from the previous list, plus the Kyrgyz Republic, which has been newly added.

3.2 Retained Countries and Territories (59)

  • Asia: Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.
  • Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
  • Africa: South Africa.
  • North America: Canada and the United States.
  • Oceania: Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand.

3.3 Amended Countries and Territories Covered by the Revised 15-Day Scheme (2)

  • Africa: Seychelles and Mauritius 

Seychelles is not counted as retained Country and Territory as it never been in the Scheme while the Mauritius was in 30 – Day Scheme.

In addition, the Kyrgyz Republic has been newly added to the revised list as well as Seychelles on the Revised 15 – Day Scheme. 

3.4 Countries and Territories No Longer Covered by the Revised 30-Day Scheme (34)

  • Asia: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Korea (ROK), Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
  • Europe: Albania, Andorra, Kosovo, Monaco, Russia, and San Marino.
  • Africa:  Mauritius and Morocco.
  • North, Central America and the Caribbean: Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama,Trinidad and Tobago.
  • South America: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay.
  • Oceania: Papua New Guinea and Tonga.

These countries and territories are no longer covered by the revised 30-day visa exemption scheme. Certain nationals among them are eligible for visa-free entry under separate arrangements.

4. Key Operational Requirements Under the Revised Scheme

4.1 Purpose of Entry

Whereas the previous notification permitted eligible nationals from a broader list of countries to enter Thailand for tourism purposes for up to 60 days, the revised notification limits the privilege to a reduced number of eligible countries and shortens the permitted stay to 30 days.

4.2 Land-Border Entry Limitations

  • Visa-exempt entry through land-border immigration checkpoints for the nationals listed in Item 3.2 is limited to no more than two entries per calendar year, except for nationals of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Singapore, and any other countries as may be further designated by the Ministry of Interior.

5. Effect on Nationals Removed From the Previous Scheme

Once the revised measures take effect, nationals of countries and territories removed from the previous list will no longer be entitled to the former 60-day exemption and also this 30-day exemption. However, some may nonetheless remain eligible for visa-free entry under separate bilateral arrangements. The applicable entry requirements and permitted period of stay therefore depend on the specific legal basis applicable to each foreign national.

  • Required to obtain a visa prior to entry (21 from 34 countries): Albania, Andorra, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kosovo, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Panama, Papua New Guinea, San Marino, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan.
  • Covered under separate bilateral arrangements (11 countries and territories): Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Korea (ROK), Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia, Vietnam, and Mauritius continue to be governed by their respective bilateral frameworks. For example, Chinese nationals continue to be eligible for visa-exempt entry under the agreement between Thailand and the People’s Republic of China on mutual visa exemption, allowing a stay of up to 30 days per entry, subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement.

6. Key Takeaways

  • The permitted period of visa-exempt stay under the general scheme has been reduced from 60 days to 30 days.
  • The number of countries and territories eligible under the general visa exemption has decreased from 93 to 60.
  • Nationals of countries removed from the list will no longer benefit from the former 60-day exemption, however, subject to any separate bilateral or country-specific arrangements.
  • The revised measures take effect on 15 September 2026. Travellers admitted before that date retain the period of stay granted under the rules in force on their date of arrival.

Author: Panisa Suwanmatajarn, Managing Partner.

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