Thailand rolls back 60 day visa exemption to 30 days for 54 nations

Cabinet cuts the 60-day visa exemption

Thailand's cabinet approved a rollback of the country's expanded visa-free program on May 19, scrapping the 60-day visa exemption that covered 93 countries and territories. The standard visa-free stay reverts to 30 days for 54 countries and a new 15-day category applies to Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius.

Visa on Arrival is also being trimmed sharply, from 31 eligible countries down to four: Belarus, Serbia, India and Azerbaijan.

The rules take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. Until then, the prior 60-day framework remains in force for arrivals, the Public Relations Department said.

Who loses runway

The 93 countries previously granted 60-day stays include most major source markets for Thailand tourism and remote work: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Singapore and much of Europe. Passport holders from those countries will see their visa-free window cut in half once the change lands.

Digital nomads who rotated through Thailand on back-to-back visa-free entries are the most exposed. The old framework allowed a 60-day stay plus a possible 30-day extension at an immigration officer's discretion, giving informal long-stayers up to three months per entry. The new ceiling is 30 days, with stricter scrutiny expected on repeat entries and border runs.

Tourists from Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius drop to the 15-day tier. Travelers from the 27 countries removed from the Visa on Arrival list will need to secure a visa before flying.

What to do before the rules land

Anyone planning a Thailand trip longer than 30 days after the Royal Gazette publication should line up a proper long-stay visa before departure. Options include the 60-day tourist visa (TR), the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for remote workers or an education or business visa where applicable.

• Check the Royal Gazette publication date to confirm when the 15-day countdown begins
• Verify the specific stay length tied to your passport, since some bilateral agreements sit outside the general scheme
• Book entries before the effective date if a 60-day stay is needed
• Budget for a consular visa fee if your passport was on the dropped Visa on Arrival list

Watch the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site for the announcement text, which will spell out final criteria.

Read our full Thailand guide for the complete picture and follow our visa updates as the Gazette publication firms up the timeline.