Thailand will terminate its 60-day visa exemption for selected travelers starting September 15, 2026, replacing it with new visa-free periods of 30 days and 15 days as well as updated visa-on-arrival regulations. This change follows official announcements published on August 31, 2026, by Thailand’s Interior Ministry in the Royal Thai Government Gazette.
Countries Affected by the Visa Policy Shift
The Tourism Authority of Thailand identified 60 countries and territories whose citizens will remain eligible for visa-free entry for up to 30 days under the new rules. These countries include several Gulf nations such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, along with
nations from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. However, Moroccan passport holders will no longer qualify for this 30-day visa exemption from the implementation date, losing the previous allowance of 60 days without a visa.
Seychelles and Mauritius citizens are now granted 15-day visa-free stays. Meanwhile, nationals from Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia are designated for visa-on-arrival eligibility under the updated scheme.
New Entry Limits and Visa Duration Rules
Under the revised visa exemption, travelers entitled to 30-day visa-free stays are restricted to a maximum of two entries per calendar year via land border crossings. This limitation excludes citizens of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore, who remain exempt from
the entry frequency cap. The visa-free period for these eligible travelers has thus been cut in half, down from the previous 60-day allowance.
Policy Review and Traveler Guidance
The Tourism Authority of Thailand carried out a review of its visa exemption policies earlier in 2026, announcing consideration of restructuring the 60-day visa-free system in May. Further details were published in July, culminating in the formal enactment of new visa regulations via Interior Ministry announcements in August.
The Authority emphasized that preexisting bilateral agreements allowing visa-free stays of 90, 30, or 14 days for certain nationalities will continue to be honored. It urged travelers to verify
the specific entry requirements applicable to their country of citizenship ahead of travel after September 15, 2026.
