If you are planning a trip to Thailand, you may need to rethink how long you can stay. Thailand’s Cabinet has approved the end of the 60-day visa-free entry scheme for travellers from 93 countries, bringing the permitted stay for most visitors back to 30 days. The decision was finalised by Thailand’s minister of tourism and sports, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, and the core Cabinet.
The change, introduced as part of a wider crackdown on overstays and crimes involving foreign nationals, will affect travellers from major tourism markets including the UK, US, Australia, and India.
Reviewing The Process
The new restrictions will legally take effect exactly 15 days after they are published in Thailand's Royal Gazette. Immigration offices and major airports are currently preparing to transition their systems.
What this means for you will depend on your passport. Thai authorities are set to review visa-free arrangements for each nationality separately, so the rules may vary from country to country. While many travellers are expected to keep a 30-day visa-free stay, others could be limited to just 15 days or asked to apply for a Visa on Arrival before entering the country.
The decision also marks the end of the extended 60-day stay that Thailand introduced in 2024 to encourage tourism and attract longer holidays. But after a string of widely reported cases involving foreign nationals allegedly linked to illegal businesses, visa overstays and other criminal offences, authorities have moved to tighten border checks and increase security screening for incoming travellers.
What Travellers Should Know Next
When will the new rules begin?
The revised visa-free stay limits will only come into force once the directive is officially published in Thailand’s Royal Gazette.Who will be affected?
If your country is among the 93 nationalities covered under the 60-day visa-free scheme, the changes will apply to you. If you are already in Thailand — or enter the country before the new rules are officially published in the Royal Gazette — your existing 60-day stay will still be honoured. Thai immigration authorities are not expected to shorten visa-free entry stamps that have already been issued.Where should you check for updates?
The 60-day visa-free window has now been withdrawn, but the exact rules for different passports are still being clarified. Before booking your trip, keep an eye on announcements from Thailand’s Foreign Ministry to check when the new limits take effect and what conditions will apply to your nationality.
Why The 60-Day Stay Is Being Rolled Back
The 60-day P.60 exemption scheme was launched in July 2024 as a post-pandemic push to revive tourism and support the wider economy. Its withdrawal now reflects internal pressures rather than any broader regional policy shift.
Concerns had been raised by Thai authorities, together with the Association of Thai Travel Agents, over the growth of foreign-linked illegal businesses and loosely regulated “nominee” setups, including informal condo rental arrangements. Alongside this, the ministry of foreign affairs has emphasised a “quality over quantity” approach, suggesting that shorter permitted stays will help curb long-term overstays and encourage higher-spending, more sustainable tourism.
FAQs
Will the 60-day visa-free stay still apply?
No. It has been withdrawn and most travellers will revert to a 30-day visa-free stay.
When do the new rules come into effect?
They will apply once the official directive is published in Thailand’s Royal Gazette.
Will all nationalities be treated the same?
Not necessarily. Thailand’s visa committee may apply different stay limits depending on nationality.
Could some travellers get less than 30 days?
Yes. Some countries may be limited to 15 days or required to use a Visa on Arrival.
If I already entered Thailand on the 60-day rule, am I affected?
No. Existing valid entries are expected to remain unchanged and will not be shortened retroactively.
