Sri Lankan passport holders must obtain Thailand e-visas from Sept. 15, 2026

Thailand will end visa-free entry for Sri Lankan passport holders Sept. 15, replacing 60-day stamp privileges with a mandatory pre-departure electronic visa.

New rules replace 60-day entry stamps

Under Notification 128702, published in Thailand's Royal Gazette on Aug. 31, Thai authorities repealed the previous 60-day visa-exemption framework. Sri Lanka is among 21 countries removed from the visa-exempt registry as Thailand tightens border controls across several regional corridors.

The policy shift takes effect 15 days after publication. Travelers entering Thailand on or before Sept. 14 retain their full permitted stay stamped upon arrival, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed. Anyone arriving on or after Sept. 15 must hold an approved visa before boarding.

Recent unauthorized work and illegal activities by visitors using the waiver prompted the revocation, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said.

Mandatory digital filing via the e-visa portal

The Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo confirmed it no longer accepts paper or walk-in applications. All Sri Lankan citizens visiting Thailand for tourism, business, transit or remote work must apply entirely online through Thailand's official e-visa platform.

Remote workers and nomads structuring routes between regional hubs and Sri Lanka's residency rules can no longer rely on spontaneous visa runs into Bangkok. Flight check-in agents will deny boarding without a digital visa approval linked to the traveler's passport.

Applicants must upload standard travel documentation through the portal:

• A valid Sri Lankan passport with at least six months of validity

• A completed online visa application and uploaded passport photograph

• Proof of accommodation alongside confirmed onward or return travel tickets

• Financial evidence demonstrating sufficient funds to cover the intended stay