Thailand Adjusts Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival Rules
Thailand's Ministry of Interior has announced significant revisions to its entry visa policies. Effective 15 September 2026, the current 60-day visa-free stay will be revoked. A new 30-day exemption for tourism purposes will replace it for most eligible nationalities. Business travellers will require a Non-Immigrant "B" Visa prior to arrival.
Visa Policy Changes Implemented
The Royal Thai Government Gazette published four announcements from the Ministry of Interior on 31 August 2026. These documents detail revisions to Thailand's Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival (VOA) measures. The primary change involves revoking the existing 60-day visa exemption scheme. This scheme has been in effect since 15 July 2024.
It permitted eligible foreign nationals to enter Thailand without a visa for up to 60 days. Permitted activities included tourism, short-term business engagements, and urgent work. The new measures are scheduled to commence on 15 September 2026. Foreign nationals who enter Thailand before this date will retain their originally granted stay period.
New Exemption Durations and Conditions
Under the updated policy, nationals from 60 specified countries and territories will receive a 30-day visa exemption. This exemption is strictly for tourism purposes. Travellers entering under this provision cannot undertake business or work-related activities. Individuals visiting Thailand solely for business must secure a Non-Immigrant "B" Visa before their travel.
Countries like Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom are among those eligible for the 30-day exemption. For entry via land border checkpoints, this visa exemption is generally limited to two uses per calendar year. This restriction does not apply to nationals of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Furthermore, nationals of Seychelles and Mauritius will receive a 15-day visa exemption for tourism. This 15-day exemption also carries a twice-per-calendar-year limit for land border entries.
Visa on Arrival and Business Travel Clarifications
The Ministry of Interior announcements also detail Visa on Arrival eligibility for three countries. Nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia may apply for a Visa on Arrival at designated Immigration checkpoints. A significant point of clarification relates to urgent or ad hoc work activities. The new 30-day visa exemption does not explicitly cover these.
The Department of Employment must provide further guidance on whether foreign nationals can submit an Urgent Work Permit (UWP) notification. This applies to those entering under the new 30-day visa exemption. This issue remains under review pending official confirmation.
Until such clarification emerges, individuals travelling for urgent work should obtain a Non-Immigrant "B" Visa beforehand. This approach helps ensure compliance with entry regulations.
Implications for Upcoming Travel
Travellers planning visits to Thailand before 15 September 2026 can still use the current 60-day visa exemption scheme. This scheme permits tourism, short-term business, and urgent work. Eligible foreign nationals entering before this date can also proceed with the UWP notification process as usual.
Individuals with urgent work scheduled for the coming weeks should consider arranging their travel before 15 September 2026, if feasible. After this date, the new 30-day visa exemption applies only to tourism. Business travellers must secure a Non-Immigrant "B" Visa prior to arrival. This ensures adherence to the revised entry requirements.
Bilateral visa exemption agreements between Thailand and other nations may still apply, offering alternative entry pathways.
Get The Post.
The global travel stories that matter, three mornings a week. Free.
