16/05/2026
Thailand to Scrap 60-Day Visa-Free Entry for 93 Countries. Cabinet Vote Expected Next Week
Thailand is ending its 60-day visa-free policy that launched in mid-2024. The government says the scheme has been widely abused, with foreigners using it to work illegally, overstay, and commit crimes. Both the Tourism Ministry and the Foreign Ministry confirmed the change on 11–12 May 2026. A Cabinet vote is expected within days.
The 60-day exemption was introduced in July 2024 to help revive Thailand's economy after the pandemic, covering nationals from 93 countries. But it quickly became clear that not everyone arriving under the scheme was actually here to travel.
Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakun shared a key figure: over 90% of foreign visitors to Thailand stay 30 days or less. Only 10% ever use the full 60 days. That means the extra time mostly benefits people who are not here as tourists.
Officials say some of those long-stay visitors have been taking jobs from Thai workers, running businesses illegally using Thai nationals as fronts, or using Thailand as a base for criminal activity.
Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkaew said it plainly "Sixty days is probably too long for a tourist visa. We are not targeting any specific country — we are looking at behaviour that causes problems for Thailand. A tourist stay should not exceed 30 days."
The plan is to go back to the old 30-day visa-free policy, which already covers nationals from 57 countries. Countries not on that original list will be reviewed one by one, based on Thailand's current tourism priorities.
On top of that, countries with a high track record of visa violations may be cut further to just 15 days. Anyone from those countries wanting a longer stay would need to apply for a proper visa, which involves background checks and financial verification.
The Tourism Minister stressed that the change will apply fairly across the board: "We will look at each country individually to find the right arrangement. The goal is to attract quality tourists not to single out any one nation."
Still Want to Stay Longer? There Is an Option
Travellers who genuinely need more time including remote workers and long-stay tourists are being pointed toward the Destination Thailand Visa, or DTV. Unlike the free entry scheme, the DTV requires proof of income, which helps filter out those who do not meet the requirements.
What This Means for Tourists
if you are coming to Thailand for a regular holiday, 30 days is more than enough and nothing much changes for you. If you were planning to stay longer under the old 60-day allowance without a proper visa, that option is going away.
The Cabinet decision is expected next week, after which an official start date will be announced.
Credit : Internet
