Thailand Scraps 60 Day Visa-Free Stay to 30 Days
In a significant policy overhaul aimed at curbing visa misuse and transnational crime, the Thai Cabinet has approved a proposal submitted by the Foreign Ministry to scrap the 60-Day Visa-Free stay scheme otherwise known as the P.60. Originally introduced to stimulate the post-pandemic economy, 60-Day stay visa privilege, which applied to nationals from 93 countries is being officially scrapped because authorities found it was being heavily exploited by foreigners to engage in illegal labor, operate unregulated nominee-owned businesses, and conduct illicit activities, as reported by both The Nation and The Bangkok Post.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul stated that the visa policy framework was thoroughly reviewed to reflect the current security context and transition the national focus toward attracting high-quality tourists. Because data indicates that the average foreign tourist stays in the kingdom for fewer than 10 Days, officials believe the reduction will have an incredibly minimal impact on genuine holiday-makers. According to The Bangkok Post, the new regulations will officially take effect 15 Days after the related Ministry announcements are published in the Royal Gazette, through foreign visitors already inside the country or arriving before the enforcement date will be permitted to remain until their existing entry stamps expire.
Under the newly approved draft guidelines detailed in The Nation, Thailand will purposefully pivot to a strict “One country, one privilege” principal to eliminate overlapping rules and reduce traveler confusion., effectively reverting to a structured combination of 30-Day and 15-Day privileges. The revised 30-Day-Visa-Free category, or P.30, will grant entry to nationals of 60 Countries and territories strictly for tourism purposes only. Major target markets for Thai tourism including China, The United States, Japan, Russia, Israel, most European nations, as well as most Southeast Asian countries will still retain their 30-Day-Visa-Free privileges. These stays can be extended once for an additional 30-Days for a fee of 1,900 THB over at the nearest local Thai Immigration Office.
To systematically eliminate the practice of frequent visa runs, The Bangkok Post reports that the use of this 30-Day entitlement will be strictly capped at a maximum of 2 entries per calendar year for land and sea entries. Whereas, this particular 2 entries per calendar year restriction does not apply for air entries, although Thai Immigration can still scrutinize frequent visa exempt air entries and may refuse entry if they believe that you’re effectively residing in Thailand as a tourist.
Any individual attempting to enter Thailand for a 3rd-time within the same calendar year using visa-exempt status will face immediate denial of entry at the border. The only travelers automatically exempt from this calendar limit are nationals from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Singapore, alongside any other specific nationalities later designated by the minister.
Additionally, as outlined by The Nation, the government is introducing a brand-new-15 Day-visa-free list, designated as the P.15, which applies exclusively to nationals of 2 specific territories: Mauritius and Seychelles. Similar to the P.30 scheme, these entries are restricted solely for tourism purposes only, permit a single 15-Day extension, and are strictly limited to 2-entries per calendar year for land and sea entries. Furthermore, the number of nations eligible for a Visa-on-Arrival is being heavily streamlined down to just 3 countries and territories: Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia.
Local tourism operators and industry bodies have welcomed this legislative crackdown as a necessary first step towards cleaning up the tourism sector and restoring public confidence in national safety. However, representatives like Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, the vice-president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, has urged the government in interviews w/ The Bangkok Post to balance tighter security measures w/ clear, supportive infrastructure which is perfectly understandable and reasonable. Industry leaders are advising frequent visa-runners to transition themselves into legal, alternative long-stay options such as the 5-Year Destination Thailand Visa, which allows stays of up to 180-Days per entry. Furthermore, operators are calling on the government to establish one-stop visa service centers and provide, clear, precise, un-bureaucratic guidelines for legitimate foreign investors who genuinely want to establish legal businesses here in Thailand., thus ensuring the country does not lose vital economic opportunities to neighboring regional competitors such as Malaysia and Vietnam.
To help travelers navigate around these latest visa policy changes which officially come into effect on September 15, 2026, we recommend that you click on our easy to use Interactive Visa Guide, which provides handy personalized visa information, along w/ the latest travel requirements in just a few simple clicks. Simply select your nationality from the drop down menu to receive customized guidance tailored to your specific circumstances and nationality.
Last Updated September 07, 2026.
