Thailand’s 60-to-30-Day Visa-Free Cut Takes Effect from September

Last updated: 1st September 2026. The 60-day visa-free stay has now officially been cut with effect from 15th September.

The story keeps resurfacing that Thailand is "ending" its 60-day visa-free stay. Here is the important part as things stand: nothing has actually changed. As of August 2026, eligible nationalities still get up to 60 days visa-free on arrival, extendable by a further 30 days at immigration’s discretion. The cut to 30 days has been approved by the cabinet, but it still has to be published in the Royal Gazette before it takes effect, and that has not happened yet.

So if you are planning a trip in the coming weeks, you are still on the current 60-day rule. Anyone admitted before the new rules go live keeps the length of stay they were granted on arrival. It is a plan that is coming, not a rule that is already here, and the timeline has slipped more than once already.

From the Founder, Josh:

Over the past 3 years dipping and out of Asia, my wife and I have made the most out of the visa free entry into Thailand. In fact, it's been the biggest saviours! Samar being Brazilian, brings a wave visa issues is most places in the worls, but not Thailand. They actually seem to favour the Brazilian passport more than the British which may surprise you, but it's true. However just like all good things don't last, we've been told we cannot reenter again without a visa.

Am I mad about it? No, I actually respect it. 7 months of 2025 we've spent in Thailand on visa-free visits. Some may say it's abusing the system, I'd say we're using a legal loopholes. Let's face it, border runs is what 80%+ of backpackers are doing and for the most part, it's not an issue bur things could be changing.

In May 2025 all foreign arrivals entering Thailand. by air, land or sea must complete a new digital form called the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), this replaces the old paper version, TM6. Backpackers cannot just enter Thailand anymore with no plan, they need to have hotels booked, have proof of a flight out of Thailand and in some cases, proof of funds. People thought not much would change but all backpackers have said they've felt the new, stricter rules. You can read more on the official Thai Consulate website.

I've just published a blog on Thailand to Introduce Tourist Tax, worth a read if you're locked in on the rollback of the 60-day visa-free stay!

Where the 60-to-30-day cut actually stands (August 2026)

This has been moving slowly through the Thai system all year. The rough timeline:

• February 2026: the government announced it would review the 60-day scheme.
• 20 March 2026: the Foreign Minister floated cutting the visa exemption to 30 days.
• 19 May 2026: the cabinet formally approved the revision.
• 14 July 2026: the cabinet signed off a revised framework with some tweaks.

Under the framework being discussed (still not active), 59 countries would keep a visa exemption but at 30 days instead of 60, two (Mauritius and Seychelles) would drop to 15 days, and three (Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia) would move to visa-on-arrival. Until it is published in the Royal Gazette, though, none of that applies. The 60-day exemption is still what you get at the border.

One thing worth clearing up, because it gets muddled with the visa story: the only mandatory step for arrivals is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which every foreign visitor has had to file since May 2025. Thailand’s newer THIM immigration app is optional. It is still in a pilot and simply gives you an app-based way to file the same TDAC. It is not mandatory and it does not replace the TDAC portal. We cover it in full in our guide to Thailand’s THIM app.

What’s Changing and Why

Thailand’s immigration department put the 60-day visa-free scheme under review after concerns it was being used for more than tourism. Officials say the policy was meant to attract visitors who stay longer, book local hotels and spend more, but in practice many use it to work remotely almost permanently or do repeat border runs. The proposed rollback would take the exemption back to the pre-2024 limit of 30 days. For now it remains a proposal that has cleared cabinet but not yet become law.

The Potential Downfall of this Idea

If Thailand decides to cut back the 60-day visa-free stay back to 30 days, it could easily backfire and with tourist levels already down year on year, this might be a bad move. Long stay travellers, especially digital nomads and backpackers are the ones who pump money into local economies over time. Renting rooms, eating local and exploring beyond the main tourist traps. A shorter stay limit could and will push these travellers to set up base in neighbouring countries like Vietnam, Malaysia or Cambodia, where entry rule remain the same.

For Thailand, the risk isnt just losing visitors but losing the type of visitor who actually stays longer and spends smarter. Businesses that rely on these types of people will feel the hit within weeks of the new visa rules being implemented. It could also dent Thailand reputation's image as one of the easiest, most welcoming travel bases in Asia.

The irony is, that this moves comes just as the region I talking about introducing a shared "ASEAN Visa" similar to Europes Schengen model, that would allow tourists to move freely between countries on one single visa. Is this a strategical stance in preparation, or do Thailand have over ideas?

What's the Answer for Long Term Nomads?

It's an easy answer, one you'd be expecting too. Visa. My wife and I will be applying for a longterm visa in December, you can get tourist visa which is up to 6 months for around $200 or you can get a DTV visa which is valid for 5 years and costs around $300. The only difference being wit the DT visa you need to prove you have 500,000BHT in cash each. However don't be scared off, I read on the government website you can use other families back accounts, assuming you can prove your relationship.

Thailand is reviewing its 60 day visa-free stay.

What are your thoughts on this? For more on the wider cost of a Thailand trip, see our guide on whether you need to pay a tourist tax in Thailand.