Visa-free stay reduced, work rules tightened
Effective September 15, Thailand has reduced the visa-free stay for most nationalities from 60 to 30 days, with Seychelles and Mauritius limited to 15 days. Additionally, visa exemptions will no longer permit any work, requiring a Non-Immigrant B visa for business trips or short work.
How this developed
Visa exemption no longer permits any work from Sept 15
From September 15, Thailand's visa exemption covers tourism only, ending the previous allowance for business trips or short work. Anyone arriving to work after that date needs a Non-Immigrant B visa obtained before travel; the Destination Thailand Visa is available for remote workers.
Thailand slashes tourist stays to 30 days, tightens DTV access
Thailand has halved visa-free tourist stays to 30 days and closed the Laos DTV loophole for Western nomads, with stricter police checks now required. Expats and long-stay visitors must review their visa plans immediately.
Thailand introduces new 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules from 15 September
Thailand has reduced the visa-free stay for tourists from 60 to 30 days, effective 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026. The change applies to passport holders from 57 countries and territories, with Seychelles and Mauritius limited to 15 days.
Thai minister: 60-day visa-free policy revised, no details
A parliamentary question called for canceling or reducing the 60-day visa-free policy for 93 countries. The tourism minister responded that the cabinet has already approved revisions to the visa exemption measures, but provided no specific changes. The government is also developing the TDAC digital arrival card and a tourism fee for foreign visitors.
Thai Cabinet approves visa changes, effective 15 days after gazette
Thai Cabinet has approved updated visa exemption and Visa on Arrival measures, set to take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. Key changes include shifting India from VoA to 30-day visa exemption and consolidating countries into three categories: 30-day exemption, 15-day exemption, or VoA. Current entry conditions remain in place until the new rules are officially published.
Visa-free period halved; many countries dropped from scheme
Thailand's cabinet halved the tourist visa-free period to 30 days and removed many countries from the scheme, effective immediately. The change also grants new visa privileges to Indian and several other nationalities.
Thailand cuts visa-free stay to 30 days for most nationalities
The Thai cabinet halved the visa-free period from 60 to 30 days for 59 countries, dropping many countries from the scheme. Indian tourists gain visa-free entry (30 days) instead of visa-on-arrival. Changes take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette.