Thailand cuts visa free entry from 60 to 30 days for 93 nations

Thailand approved plans to cut visa-free entry from 60 days back to 30 days, but border officials continue issuing 60-day stamps until the cabinet decree appears in print.

The rollback of the 60-day entry scheme

The Thai Cabinet approved revisions on May 19 to dismantle the blanket 60-day visa exemption introduced in July 2024. Under the incoming framework, the broad 60-day allowance for 93 countries ends, replaced by a tiered entry model tailored by nationality.

Nationals from 54 to 59 countries will receive 30 days of visa-free access, three nations will drop to 15 days and several others will shift to visa-on-arrival status. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs restricted the revised entry categories strictly to tourism, barring remote work and business activities.

Royal Gazette timing keeps 60-day stays active

The revised entry policy will take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, the Tourism Authority of Thailand confirmed. Because the Ministry of Interior draft regulations remain unpublished as of late Aug. 2026, immigration officers continue stamping qualifying arrivals for 60 days.

Travelers planning upcoming trips can check current entry conditions through our rundown of Thailand entry regulations before departure.

What the cut means for nomad stays

Remote workers using back-to-back exemptions face tighter enforcement once the gazette notice drops. While travelers on 30-day stamps can still purchase a single 30-day extension at local immigration offices for up to 60 days in the country, border authorities plan increased screening for repeated entries. Digital nomads spending consecutive months in Thailand will need to transition to formal long-stay permits to avoid denied boarding or refused entry at land crossings.