Thailand has published its rollback from 60 to 30 visa-free days in the Royal Gazette. From 15 September 2026 travellers from 60 countries including the US, UK and Australia get 30 days visa-free, ending the July 2024 experiment.
Cover image: The Grand Palace in Bangkok reflected in water after rain, with a monk walking by — photo by Nawit science, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Thailand will cut its visa-free stay from 60 days to 30 days on 15 September 2026, ending the two-year experiment that began in July 2024. The new rules were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and apply to nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Two nationalities will receive a 15-day exemption and three remain eligible for Visa on Arrival under the revised order.
If you hold a British, American or Indian passport and were counting on a two-month visa-free stay, the answer is now 30 days maximum without a visa from mid-September, with a 30-day extension still possible inside Thailand for a fee. You will need to plan onward travel, accommodation proof and re-entry strategy differently for long winter stays or remote-work trips.
What exactly changes on 15 September 2026?
The July 2024 order that expanded visa exemption to 60 days for 93 countries and territories has been replaced. According to VisasNews, which reviewed the Royal Gazette publication, the new regulation restores 30 days as the standard visa-free permission for the core list of 60 countries, while keeping a separate 15-day channel for two nationalities and a Visa on Arrival (VoA) channel for three others.
The publication date matters because Thai immigration enforces the rule that is in force on your date of entry. Arrive on 14 September and you can still be stamped for 60 days; arrive on 15 September and the stamp is 30 days, even on the same nationality and same border. Airlines will update Timatic and check-in systems over the next two weeks, so expect reminders at departure airports from 15 September onward.
- Effective date: 15 September 2026 (Royal Gazette 31 August 2026)
- Standard exemption: 30 days for 60 countries/territories including US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and most ASEAN and Gulf nationals
- Other tracks: 15 days for two nationalities, VoA for three nationalities (details in the Gazette annex)
- 60-day era: 15 July 2024 to 14 September 2026
Who is affected and does it include Indian travellers?
The 60-country list overlaps closely with the 2024 expansion, which explicitly included Indian nationals after Thailand made visa-free travel for Indians permanent. Indian travellers have been among the largest users of the 60-day window for long holidays and workations from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. From 15 September, Indian passport holders also revert to 30 days visa-free, with the same extension option as other nationalities.
If you need longer, the formal options do not change: apply for a 60-day Tourist Visa (TR) before travel at a Thai embassy or consulate, or enter visa-free for 30 days and apply for a 30-day extension at an immigration office inside Thailand for 1,900 baht. That extension remains discretionary and requires a TM.30 accommodation report and proof of onward stay. For stays beyond 60 days, visa runs are not a reliable strategy; Thai border officers have become stricter on frequent re-entries, and airlines may deny boarding without a visa if your intended stay exceeds the exemption.
For background on entry paperwork, see our guide to Do I Need a Visa for Thailand from India? and our broader explainer on Do I Need a Visa for Bali? Indonesia Entry Rules for 2026, which shows how neighbours structure short-stay exemptions differently.
Why is Thailand rolling back the 60-day scheme?
Officials framed the 60-day exemption as a post-pandemic stimulus. It was introduced on 15 July 2024 to lift arrivals after 2023-24, and it did. Thailand recorded about 35 million foreign visitors in 2024 and started 2026 with 7.49 million visitors in the first two months alone, according to TAT-released data we covered in Thailand's Tourism Boom: 7.49 Million Visitors Power a Record Start to 2026.
The rollback reflects familiar trade-offs. Hotel associations and some immigration officials argued the longer exemption made it harder to track overstays and informal work, while tour operators in Phuket and Chiang Mai said long-stay visitors spent less per day than short-stay high-spend tourists. The government stressed the new order was not a new visa but a return to the historic 30-day norm, with proper tourist visas still available for those who need 60 days. Khaosod English reported the same effective date and noted the move follows months of consultation with the Ministry of Interior and Tourism Authority of Thailand.
What should travellers do now?
If you land before 15 September 2026, the 60-day stamp still applies. If you land on or after that date, assume 30 days and plan accordingly.
| Situation | What you get | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Entry on 14 September or earlier | Up to 60 days visa-free | No action; keep proof of onward travel within 60 days |
| Entry on 15 September or later (60-country list) | Up to 30 days visa-free | Book onward travel within 30 days or hold a 60-day Tourist Visa |
| Need 31-60 days from mid-September | 30 days + extension | Apply for 1,900-baht extension at immigration before day 30 |
| Need more than 60 days | Visa required | Apply for Tourist Visa or Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) before travel |
Three practical checks for Indian families and remote workers: keep your passport valid for at least six months beyond entry, carry printed proof of onward travel within 30 days from 15 September, and keep a copy of your accommodation address for the TM.30. If you are combining Thailand with Cambodia or Vietnam, remember Thailand counts calendar days, not nights, and the day of entry is day one.
Unsure about regional alternatives? Our Is Thailand Safe to Visit? 2026 Guide for Tourists covers entry, safety and health rules that sit alongside visa policy.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Thailand after 15 September 2026 if I stay under 30 days?
No. If your nationality is on the 60-country visa-exemption list, which includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia and India, you can still enter without a visa for up to 30 days. You must have a passport valid for at least six months and proof of onward travel within 30 days.
Can I still get 60 days as a tourist?
Yes, but not visa-free. Apply for a 60-day Tourist Visa before you fly, or enter visa-free for 30 days and apply for a 30-day extension inside Thailand for 1,900 baht at an immigration office. Both require supporting documents and are not guaranteed.
Does the change affect the Thailand Digital Arrival Card?
No. The TDAC requirement introduced in 2025 remains separate from the duration of stay. You still submit the TDAC within 72 hours before arrival. The 30-day stamp is what the immigration officer writes after the TDAC and document check.
What happens if I overstay the 30 days?
Overstay is fined at 500 baht per day up to 20,000 baht and can lead to detention, deportation and a re-entry ban for longer overstays. From mid-September, the 30-day limit will be enforced strictly at land and air borders.
Sources
- VisasNews — Thailand to officially cut visa-free stay to 30 days on September 15, 2026 (31 Aug 2026)
- Khaosod English — Thailand reduces visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days (29 Aug 2026)
- The Times of Israel — Thailand shortens visa-free stay for Israelis and other tourists from 60 to 30 days (Aug 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand — visitor statistics and visa updates
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