Thailand Scraps Its 60-Day Visa-Free Scheme for 93 Countries

Thailand's Cabinet voted on May 19, 2026 to end the 60-day visa-free entry scheme that had been in place since July 2024. The decision affects nationals of 93 countries and territories, who will revert to the entry conditions that applied to them before the 60-day exemption was introduced. For most, that means a return to 30 days. A smaller group of nationalities will be subject to 15-day limits under existing bilateral arrangements.

The changes take effect 15 days after the Cabinet resolution is published in the Royal Gazette. No publication date has been confirmed as of the time of writing.

Background

Thailand introduced the 60-day visa-free scheme in July 2024 as a post-pandemic stimulus measure. At the time, the government also expanded the list of eligible nationalities from 56 to 93 countries, bringing in markets including the United States, Israel, several South American nations, and the full Schengen zone. The policy was credited with driving a recovery in tourist arrivals, which reached nearly 33 million in 2025.

The reversal comes as tourist arrivals have begun to slip. As of May 17, 2026, foreign arrivals stood at 12.9 million for the year, down 3.3 percent compared to the same period in 2025.

What the New Framework Looks Like

The Cabinet resolution does not introduce a single uniform replacement. Instead, it reverts each country to the entry conditions it held before July 2024 and tasks a Visa Policy Committee, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with reviewing individual country arrangements going forward based on security, economic, and tourism considerations.

Under the framework outlined at the Ministry's May 19 press briefing, 54 countries and territories will receive a 30-day visa exemption. Three countries, Seychelles, Maldives, and Mauritius, are placed in a 15-day exemption category. Visa on arrival, which permits stays of up to 15 days, will be available to four countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Serbia, and India.

Travelers already in Thailand, or those arriving before the Royal Gazette publication triggers the new rules, will be permitted to complete their stay under the conditions granted at entry.

The Stated Reasons

Thai authorities have pointed to two primary concerns. The first is visa misuse: officials contend that the 60-day window was being used by foreign nationals to work illegally, establish informal businesses, or engage in other activities inconsistent with tourist status. The second is broader national security. The Thai Foreign Ministry cited security considerations explicitly in its post-Cabinet communications, and CNN reported that authorities had made multiple arrests of foreign nationals for drug and human trafficking offences in recent years.

Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul acknowledged at the May 19 briefing that the policy had served its original purpose in supporting the post-pandemic recovery, but said the 60-day duration was no longer appropriate given the pattern of misuse that had emerged.

The policy shift also follows a separate enforcement crackdown introduced in November 2025, when the Immigration Bureau moved to deny entry to individuals using visa exemption entries more than twice without a justifiable reason, a practice commonly referred to as visa running.

Longer-Term Visa Review

Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkaeow indicated that the Cabinet decision is part of a broader review of Thailand's visa framework, not limited to tourist entry conditions. He said authorities would be examining whether the current number of visa categories remains necessary and whether some could be consolidated. No timeline or specific proposals have been published.

The Visa Policy Committee is expected to use its review to determine whether any countries currently placed in shorter-stay categories could be upgraded based on bilateral assessments.