Thailand’s new 30-day visa-free limit took effect on 15 September 2026, reducing the permitted stay from the previous 60 days.
The revised scheme applies to holders of ordinary passports travelling for tourism. Citizens of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland remain eligible for visa-free entry, but travellers entering Thailand from 15 September will generally receive permission to stay for up to 30 days.
Travellers who entered Thailand before the change took effect are not affected retroactively. They may remain until the final date stated on the immigration stamp in their passport, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry confirmed that the revised regulations were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August. The changes revoke the former 60-day exemption and establish a 30-day visa-free scheme covering 60 countries and territories.
The revision also introduces a separate 15-day exemption for two countries and reduces the number of nationalities eligible for Visa on Arrival. Thai authorities said the changes were based on factors including national security, economic interests, reciprocity and the availability of the country’s electronic visa system.
The visa-exemption schemes apply only to tourism. Travellers planning to work, study, undertake training or visit Thailand for another purpose must use the appropriate visa category.
ScandAsia previously reported that the regulations had been signed and published, although the implementation date had not yet been officially confirmed.
The change restores Thailand’s standard visa-free stay to 30 days after the country introduced a 60-day allowance in 2024.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Department of Consular Affairs and previous ScandAsia coverage.
