Short answer
Since 15 September 2026, passport holders from 60 countries and territories, including the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, India and most of Europe, can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days, for tourism only. The 60-day exemption ended on that date. Most nationalities may use the exemption at land borders no more than twice a calendar year. Mauritius and Seychelles get 15 days, and Visa on Arrival now covers only Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. The Royal Gazette published the rules on 31 August 2026.
What changed on 15 September 2026
The 60-day visa exemption that had covered 93 countries and territories since July 2024 ended on 15 September 2026, according to The Thaiger and The Nation. The Ministry of Interior published the replacement notifications in the Royal Gazette on 31 August, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) told visitors on 1 September that the new framework would start on the 15th. Instead of one blanket rule, each nationality now sits in one category.
Passport holders from 60 countries and territories can enter without a visa for tourism for up to 30 days. TAT's list includes Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States. Mauritius and Seychelles get a 15-day exemption. Visa on Arrival now applies only to Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.
What is different for a visitor
The stay is shorter and the purpose is narrower. The Thaiger reported that the earlier wording that also allowed short-term business has been dropped, so anyone travelling mainly to work or do business should check which visa fits. For a holiday of one or two weeks, the new limit changes nothing.
At land-border checkpoints, TAT says most nationalities may use the exemption no more than twice per calendar year. Four ASEAN neighbours, among them Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore, are not subject to that limit. The Thaiger noted that the cap does not apply to air arrivals. People who entered Thailand before 15 September keep the stay they were given: The Nation reported in July that anyone already inside under the old measure could stay for the rest of the original period.
If your passport is not on the list
The Thaiger counted about thirty nationalities that had the 60-day exemption but are missing from the new list, among them China and Russia. That does not automatically mean a visa is needed. TAT says separate bilateral arrangements still apply, with exemption periods of 90, 30 or 14 days depending on the agreement.
Because the answer depends on your passport, check your own country on the official pages of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Immigration Bureau, or ask your embassy, before you book flights. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is still required for every non-Thai traveller, to be submitted within 3 days before arrival, according to the Immigration Bureau's FAQ. The immigration officer sets your permitted stay at the counter, so keep your onward ticket and hotel details ready, as The Thaiger advises.
What it means for a day tour
For a trip of a week or two, 30 days is plenty, and our day tours do not depend on how long you stay. The one entry-related item we ask for is a passport copy on tours that need it.
On our Similan Islands speedboat day trip, from $105 per person, a passport copy for every guest must be emailed no later than the day before, or the park will not let you land. Keep photos of your passport pages ready when you book. For the arrival card and the wider rules, read our guides to the digital arrival card and visa exemption.
Practical checklist
- Check your passport country against the 30-day list on the TAT or Ministry of Foreign Affairs page before you book flights.
- Plan for a stay of up to 30 days, and count land-border entries if you cross by road: most nationalities get two a year.
- Submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before you arrive; the official portal is the Immigration Bureau's.
- Keep your onward ticket and hotel address ready for the immigration officer.
- Send passport copies the day before any tour that asks for them.
Questions and answers
Is Thailand still visa-free for 60 days?
No. The 60-day exemption ended on 15 September 2026. Visitors from 60 countries and territories now get up to 30 days, for tourism, and a few nationalities get 15 days or Visa on Arrival.
Does the new rule apply if I arrived before 15 September?
No. Anyone who entered Thailand before the new rules took effect keeps the stay granted at the border, according to The Nation and The Thaiger. Your date of arrival decides which rules apply.
Can I still do a border run?
Only twice a calendar year by land for most nationalities, according to TAT. Four ASEAN neighbours, among them Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore, are exempt from the cap, and flying in is not counted.
Do I still need the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
Yes. The Immigration Bureau's FAQ says all non-Thai nationals must submit it, within 3 days before arrival, whatever their entry category. It does not show your permitted stay.