Thailand officially cancels the 60-day visa-free period.

After a period of easing restrictions to revive the economy after the pandemic, Thailand has decided to end the 60-day visa-free entry for 93 countries and territories due to concerns about security implications.

ZNews•19/05/2026

Vietnamese tourists visiting Thailand in April. Photo: Phuong Lam .

The Thai cabinet has decided to end the 60-day visa-free program for international visitors. Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Phancharoenworakul stated that this decision means entry regulations for all countries subject to the policy will revert to those in effect before the 60-day policy came into force, according to the Bangkok Post .

Vietnam is unaffected as it is part of a group of bilateral agreements that grant a 30-day visa exemption.

For months, Thai authorities have repeatedly warned that the 60-day stay policy – introduced to boost tourism recovery after Covid-19 – has had unintended consequences. Most notably, foreigners have been exploiting the policy to stay and work illegally or engage in criminal activities.

Minister Surasak has not announced a specific effective date, only stating that the Cabinet's decision will be forwarded to all relevant agencies for implementation. International visitors already in Thailand or who entered before the new measures take effect will still be allowed to stay under their current visa conditions until their visas expire.

Vietnamese tourists explore Bangkok and the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, Thailand in April. Photo: Phuong Lam.

According to Mr. Mungkorn Pratoomkaew, Director-General of the Consular Department of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these changes will officially take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. Under the updated regulations, each country or territory will only be eligible for one visa exemption category. Simultaneously, the 60-day visa exemption policy for all 93 countries and territories will be abolished.

The number of countries eligible for a 30-day visa-free entry will be reduced from 57 to 54, with Mr. Mungkorn declining to reveal the names of the three countries removed from the list. In addition, Thailand will also implement a 15-day visa-free entry policy for certain countries, along with a streamlined visa-on-arrival process.

Mr. Mungkorn stated that the policy change aims to address a comprehensive range of factors, including reciprocity in diplomatic relations, security issues, and overlapping policies. Previously, the existence of too many visa waiver programs running concurrently had caused confusion for tourists.

As of May 17th, the number of international visitors to Thailand reached 12.9 million, a decrease of 3.3% compared to the same period last year. In 2025, the number of visitors to the country is also projected to decrease by 7% to 33 million. The National Economic and Social Development Council of Thailand forecasts that this number will continue to decline to 32 million this year.

Below is an unofficial list from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding entry requirements for tourists following the abolition of the 60-day visa-free policy:

Visa exemption policy	Country name
30 days	Europe : Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom. Asia and Oceania: Australia, Bhutan, Brunei, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Türkiye. Middle East: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. Americas: Canada, USA. Africa: South Africa.
15 days	Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius.
Visa issuance at border crossings.	Azerbaijan, Belarus, Serbia, India.
Bilateral Agreement	Visa-free entry for 14 days: Myanmar (applicable only to air travel), Cambodia. Visa-free entry for 30 days: China, Hong Kong, Macau, Laos, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, East Timor, Vietnam. Visa-free entry for 90 days: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, South Korea.