Thailand Visa-Free Stay Is Now 30 Days: The September 2026 Rules

The position is no longer an announcement waiting for an effective date. Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the relevant Ministry of Interior measures were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 and took effect on 15 September 2026. They revoked the 60-day visa-exemption scheme introduced in 2024 and replaced it with revised 30-day and 15-day schemes, alongside a much smaller Visa on Arrival list.

The practical point is simple: do not assume that an old article, airline summary or a friend's 2025 entry stamp still describes your entitlement. The current rule is passport-specific, and visa exemption describes permission to seek entry for an eligible short visit, not a guarantee of admission.

What changed

The 2024 scheme gave ordinary passport holders from 93 countries and territories up to 60 days. Under the measures effective from 15 September 2026, that scheme ended. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes a revised 30-day tourism exemption covering 60 countries and territories, a 15-day exemption for two, and a revised Visa on Arrival scheme for three.

Travellers already admitted under the former rules, or who arrived before 15 September 2026, may remain until the date stamped in their passport. The change did not cancel time already granted by immigration.

Who gets 30 days

Eligibility follows the current official country and territory lists, not where you live or which airport you use. Some passport holders may also have separate bilateral arrangements. Check the latest list published by a Royal Thai Embassy or the Department of Consular Affairs, and confirm that the travel document you hold is covered.

The 30-day exemption is for tourism. Embassy guidance says eligible travellers should be ready to show the usual entry evidence, including an onward plan and sufficient funds, if asked. The immigration officer at the border makes the final admission decision and stamps the permitted-until date.

Can you still extend it?

Current Royal Thai Embassy guidance says the 30-day tourism exemption can be extended once for a period not exceeding 30 days. An extension is discretionary: it is an application to immigration, not another 30 days automatically attached to every entry.

If your plans depend on more than 30 days, price and prepare the appropriate visa as the primary route. Treat an in-country extension as a process you may apply for, not as guaranteed time.

Longer stays and remote work

Visa exemption is not a remote-work permission. If Thailand will be a workcation or longer base, compare the Destination Thailand Visa and the other routes in our Thailand visa guide. Match the visa to what you will actually do, not just the number of days you hope to stay.

The revised exemption rules do not change other visa categories. A DTV, tourist visa, retirement route, family route or work-authorised category has its own eligibility and evidence.

What to do before you fly

• Check your exact passport against the current official exemption, bilateral and Visa on Arrival lists.
• Use the official Thai e-Visa portal if your trip needs a visa.
• Complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card within the three-day window before arrival. The TDAC is an arrival form, not a visa.
• Keep your accommodation, onward travel and financial evidence available in case immigration asks for it.
• Read the permitted-until date in your passport before leaving immigration.

For a short holiday, the revised exemption remains straightforward for eligible passports. For a move or a longer trial run, the safest plan is now even clearer: choose the correct visa before the flight and use the official sources again immediately before travel.