Thailand is overhauling its visa-free entry scheme, cutting the number of eligible nationalities from 93 to 60 and ending visa-free access altogether for 21 countries. The changes take effect on September 15, 2026.
What’s Changing
The current framework, introduced in July 2024, allows nationals of 93 countries and territories to enter Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days, extendable once by 30 days. That scheme was always temporary, and the Ministry of Interior published four regulations in the Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026, confirming its replacement.
Under the new rules:
•60 nationalities retain visa-free entry, but the permitted stay reverts from 60 days to 30 days
•21 nationalities lose visa-free access entirely and must now apply for a visa before travel
•Bilateral agreements remain unaffected — China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam keep their existing arrangements outside the main scheme
•Land-border entries under the new 30-day exemption are capped at two visits per calendar year for most nationalities (Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are exempt from this limit)
The 21 Countries Losing Visa-Free Access
Travellers from the following nationalities will need a visa to enter Thailand from September 15, 2026: Albania, Andorra, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kosovo, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Panama, Papua New Guinea, San Marino, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan.
What Affected Travellers Can Do
Nationals from the removed list aren’t locked out — they simply need to plan ahead. Options include:
•e-Visa: Available online via Thailand’s official portal since January 2025, requiring an account, documents and a fee
•TR Tourist Visa: Single-entry, allows up to 60 days per stay, valid for three months from issuance
•Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa (METV): Valid for six months, permitting up to 60 days per entry, ideal for frequent travellers
Anyone who enters Thailand on or before September 14, 2026 will still be granted the current 60-day exemption in full, even after the new rules take effect. The TDAC Still Applies
Regardless of visa status, every non-Thai national must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) before entry — a requirement that hasn’t changed under the reform.
Why It Matters
The rollback signals a more selective approach to Thailand’s visa-free policy after two years of broad access aimed at reviving post-pandemic tourism. For travel professionals, the message is clear: clients from the 21 affected countries need to build visa lead time into their planning, while everyone else should expect shorter, not longer, visa-free stays going forward.