On 31 August 2026, the Royal Gazette published Ministry of Interior notifications restructuring Thailand’s visa exemption and visa on arrival schemes. From 15 September 2026, the 60-day visa exemption for nationals of 93 countries and territories will be replaced by a 30-day exemption for nationals of 60 countries and territories. The permitted purpose of entry will also be limited to tourism, rather than tourism, work and short-term business activities. Travelers admitted before 15 September 2026 will retain the period of stay granted on entry, and visa exemptions under bilateral agreements will remain unchanged.
Background
The four notifications, each dated 26 August 2026 and signed by the Minister of Interior, appear in the Royal Gazette of 31 August 2026 (Volume 143, Special Issue 207 Ngor). Each takes effect upon the lapse of fifteen days from the date of publication, on 15 September 2026.
In all, the notifications repeal the special scheme introduced on 15 July 2024, under which passport holders of 93 countries and territories could enter Thailand without a visa for tourism, work or short-term business engagement for up to 60 days, and re-establish Thailand’s short-stay entry framework around three schemes: a 30-day visa exemption, a 15-day visa exemption and a visa on arrival limited to three nationalities.
Reduced period of stay and change in purpose of entry
The principal notification grants passport holders of 60 countries and territories visa-exempt entry for a temporary stay for tourism, with a permitted period of stay not exceeding 30 days. Two key changes to note:
Shorter permitted stay
From 15 September 2026, the permitted stay on entry will decrease from 60 to 30 days. Travelers using the 30-day exemption are expected to remain eligible for a one-time extension of up to 30 days at a local immigration office, at the immigration officer’s discretion.
Purpose of entry narrowed to tourism
The now repealed 2024 notification expressly covered entry for tourism, work or short-term business engagement. The new notification refers to entry for tourism only. Travelers intending to undertake work or business activities in Thailand should therefore be assessed case by case and hold the appropriate visa category and, where applicable, work authorization, subject to the urgent work permit clarification below.
| Countries and territories eligible for the 30-day visa exemption | ||
| Australia | Iceland | Oman |
| Austria | India | Philippines |
| Bahrain | Indonesia | Poland |
| Belgium | Ireland | Portugal |
| Bhutan | Israel | Qatar |
| Brunei Darussalam | Italy | Romania |
| Bulgaria | Japan | Saudi Arabia |
| Canada | Jordan | Singapore |
| Croatia | Kuwait | Slovakia |
| Cyprus | Kyrgyzstan | Slovenia |
| Czech Republic | Latvia | South Africa |
| Denmark | Liechtenstein | Spain |
| Estonia | Lithuania | Sweden |
| Fiji | Luxembourg | Switzerland |
| Finland | Malaysia | Taiwan |
| France | Maldives | Turkey |
| Georgia | Malta | Ukraine |
| Germany | Netherlands | United Arab Emirates |
| Greece | New Zealand | United Kingdom |
| Hungary | Norway | United States |
Other short-term entry changes
A separate 15-day visa exemption will apply to nationals of Mauritius and Seychelles travelling for tourism. Visa on arrival eligibility will also be reduced from 31 countries and territories to three: Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. Nationals who are no longer eligible for visa on arrival and are not covered by a visa exemption or bilateral agreement must obtain a visa before travelling, including through Thailand’s e-Visa platform.
Entries limited to two per calendar year
Under both the 30-day and the 15-day notifications, travelers using the visa exemption may enter Thailand no more than twice per calendar year. The limit does not apply to nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and the Minister of Interior may designate further exempt nationalities.
Bilateral visa exemption agreements remain in force
The notifications do not change visa exemptions available under bilateral agreements between Thailand and other countries, as these operate under separate legal arrangements. This means nationals of countries removed from the general exemption list may still enter Thailand under an applicable bilateral agreement.
For example, although China is not included in the revised 60-country list, Chinese nationals remain eligible under the Thailand–China mutual visa exemption agreement, which has applied since 1 March 2024. The agreement permits stays of up to 30 days per entry, subject to a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.
| Visa exemptions under bilateral agreements | |
| Permitted stay | Nationalities |
| 14 days | Cambodia and Myanmar (Myanmar — arrivals through international airports only) |
| 30 days | China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Russia, Timor-Leste and Vietnam |
| 90 days | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and South Korea |
Transitional arrangements
The current rules will continue to apply to travellers who enter Thailand by 14 September 2026. They may remain for the full period granted on arrival, including any 60-day stay under the existing scheme.
Urgent work permit applications
For assignees undertaking urgent and essential work, the urgent work permit (UWP) pathway remains available. The Ministry of Labour has confirmed that a Non-Immigrant B visa is not required. Eligible travellers may enter Thailand under the visa exemption scheme and then apply for a UWP. However, travellers entering with a visa on arrival cannot use the UWP pathway.
With Thailand’s short-term entry rules changing from 15 September 2026, employers and travellers should review upcoming plans to confirm entry eligibility, permitted activities and the appropriate length of stay. This is particularly important for longer stays, business travel, frequent travellers and anyone who may no longer qualify for visa-free entry or a visa on arrival.
Vialto can help assess how the changes may affect planned travel, identify the appropriate visa or work authorisation pathway, and support any required applications.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Jiraporn Chongkamanont
Partner
Pimpair Pienpattara
Senior Immigration Manager
Simply follow our Vialto Alerts page on LinkedIn and posts will be displayed on your feed. To ensure you don’t miss one, once you’re on our LinkedIn page, click on the bell icon under the banner image to manage your notifications.
Further information on Vialto can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com
Vialto Partners (“Vialto”) refers to wholly owned subsidiaries of CD&R Galaxy UK OpCo Limited as well as the other members of the Vialto Partners global network. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Vialto is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Vialto, its related entities, or the agents or employees thereof be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this document or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
© 2026 Vialto Partners. All rights reserved.