Thailand Visa Changes in 2026: What Changed and When
From 15 September 2026 Thailand's special 60-day visa exemption is cancelled for all 93 countries and territories. A tourist exemption of up to 30 days applies to the 60 countries and territories on a new Gazette list. Visa on Arrival is limited to three countries.
On this page
Thailand’s tourist entry rules changed in September 2026. The Cabinet decided the revision on 19 May 2026, and the revised measures take effect from 15 September 2026. This page lists each change with its date and the official text behind it.
The changes at a glance
Each row below rests on a Gazette announcement or a Foreign Ministry note.
| Scheme | From 15 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Special 60-day exemption | Cancelled for all 93 countries and territories |
| 30-day tourist exemption | List of 60 entries |
| 15-day tourist exemption | Seychelles and Mauritius |
| Visa on Arrival | Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia |
| Land-border entries | Not more than twice per calendar year |
To see whether your own passport moved, find it in the visa exemption guide, which prints all 60 names and the bilateral lists.
From Cabinet to Gazette to effect
The Cabinet approved the revision on 19 May 2026. The announcements were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026, and the revised measures take effect from 15 September 2026. Each announcement takes effect fifteen days after its publication.
The 60-day exemption is gone
The Ministry of Interior repeals its announcement of 15 July B.E. 2567. That announcement had let listed countries enter temporarily for tourism, work or short-term business with visa exemption and stay not more than sixty days as a special case. The same change cancels the 60-day exemption for all 93 countries and territories.
Each country or territory now sits on one list only, so a passport gets one stay length and cannot add the days of another scheme.
If you entered before the change
Foreigners already in Thailand under the earlier schemes, or planning to travel before the effective date, may stay until their permitted period expires. If you leave and come back after 15 September 2026, the new rules apply to that entry. Then you may enter under the new schemes, bilateral agreements or an appropriate visa.
The new 30-day list
The announcement lists the countries and territories whose holders enter temporarily for tourism and may stay not more than thirty days. The list numbers 60 entries. The names and the entry conditions are in the visa exemption guide.
The conditions travellers face at the border are the same documents and funds checks described by the embassies:
- Proof of accommodation and of onward travel scheduled within 30 days of arrival.
- Officers may request additional documents at their discretion, such as proof of funds of THB 20,000 per person.
- Adequate cash of THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family.
The exemption is for tourism purposes only.
Entering by land
Where entering via land-border checkpoints, entry is allowed not more than twice per calendar year. The exception covers nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore.
Short-stay exemption and Visa on Arrival
A separate announcement sets the shorter tourist exemption: the listed holders may stay in the Kingdom not more than fifteen days. Two countries qualify, Seychelles and Mauritius.
Visa on Arrival now covers Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. It allows a stay of up to 15 days for tourism. The fee is THB 2,000, cash only and non-refundable. Visa on Arrival visitors generally cannot file for an extension, except in special cases of illness that prevent travel.
Two examples from an embassy page show the effect. From 15 September 2026, holders of ordinary Uzbek passports must obtain an appropriate visa before travelling.
The tourist visa (TR) lets holders stay up to 60 days; fee examples are in the visa types guide. For Armenian passport holders the earlier Visa on Arrival privilege ends. Holders of ordinary Russian passports may stay up to 30 days under a bilateral agreement.
The arrival card and the extension
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is not a 2026 change. Starting from 1 May 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering by air, land or sea are required to complete it online within 3 days prior to arrival. It replaces the TM.6 form.
Travellers entering under the exemption or Visa on Arrival file it too, for every entry. The arrival card guide has the steps.
A visa-exempt traveller who wishes to stay longer may request an extension of up to 30 days. The fee is THB 1,900. The tourist extension guide covers the office visit, and the visa types guide compares the longer-stay routes.
A tourist entry fee is planned, not charged
A separate plan would charge foreign tourists an entry fee. A press report of 7 October 2026 describes a THB 450 charge from early 2027 under a plan heading towards Cabinet. The meeting that week did not authorise collection.
Officials target the first quarter of 2027, which is a target and not a confirmed date. Under the current draft, air arrivals would pay first. Cabinet approval and a Royal Gazette notice must still follow, so nothing extra is collected at entry today.
Not confirmed: When the planned tourist entry charge becomes law. Nothing is collected at entry today; see the fee section and check before you book.
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Common questions
What changed in Thailand's visa rules in 2026?
The Cabinet approved a revision on 19 May 2026. The 60-day exemption is cancelled for all 93 countries and territories. A 30-day tourist exemption applies to the countries on a new list, and Visa on Arrival is limited to three countries.
When did the new rules start?
The Ministry of Interior announcements were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026, and the revised measures take effect from 15 September 2026.
Is the 60-day visa exemption still available?
The Ministry of Interior announcement that gave a special 60-day exemption, dated 15 July B.E. 2567, is repealed. The 60-day exemption is cancelled for all 93 countries and territories.
Which countries get the new visa-free stay?
The list in the Gazette runs to 60 entries, ending with the United States of America.
I entered before the new rules started. Do I lose days?
Foreigners already in Thailand under the earlier schemes may stay until the expiry of their permitted period of stay. The revised measures take effect from 15 September 2026.
Does Visa on Arrival still exist?
Nationals of 3 countries and territories may apply for a Visa-On-Arrival at immigration checkpoints, for a stay of up to 15 days for tourism. The fee is THB 2,000, cash only and non-refundable.
How many visa-free entries by land do I get in a year?
Where entering via land-border checkpoints, entry is allowed not more than twice per calendar year. Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are excepted.
My passport is no longer on a list. What are my options?
Travellers may enter under the new visa schemes, under bilateral visa exemption agreements, or with an appropriate visa applied for through the Thailand e-Visa system.
Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card new in 2026?
Starting from 1 May 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering by air, land or sea complete the TDAC online.
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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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