Thailand to Replace 60-Day Visa-Free Entry with Country-Specific Rules

Thailand’s government has confirmed plans to cancel the 60-day visa-free entry program introduced in 2024 for citizens of 93 countries and territories. However, authorities also made clear that the country will not simply return to the previous system that existed before the reform.

The announcement followed a cabinet meeting held on May 19 and was officially published by Thailand’s Public Relations Department (PRD Thailand) on May 20.

Despite the confirmation, the government has not yet released any formal documents explaining exactly what was approved by the cabinet. As of May 20, no official regulations or ministerial orders had been published.

According to PRD Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the cabinet about revisions to Thailand’s visa-free entry and visa-on-arrival schemes.

A separate statement published on PRD’s Facebook page used stronger wording, saying that the cabinet had “voted to cancel” the 60-day visa exemption previously granted to citizens of more than 90 countries.

At the same time, official cabinet meeting records published by the government did not list the visa issue among the formally discussed agenda items, leaving uncertainty about the precise legal mechanism behind the decision.

Still, the government outlined several key directions for the upcoming visa policy overhaul.

The proposed changes include:

• Allowing each country or territory to receive only one tourism entry scheme — either unilateral visa exemption, bilateral visa exemption agreement, or visa on arrival.

• Ending the universal 60-day visa-free policy currently applied to 93 countries and territories.

• Revising the 30-day visa-free program and reducing the eligible list from 57 countries to 54.

• Introducing a new 15-day visa-free scheme for tourists from three specific countries or territories.

• Narrowing the visa-on-arrival program from 31 participating countries to just four.

Thai authorities stated that full details and eligibility criteria will later be published through Ministry of Interior regulations in the Royal Gazette. The rules are expected to come into force 15 days after official publication, although no timeline has yet been announced.

In an additional statement on Facebook, PRD explained that Thailand intends to return to individualized bilateral arrangements negotiated separately with each country. As a result, entry conditions will vary depending on the traveler’s nationality and passport.

Officials added that the Visa Policy Committee will continue evaluating tourism data and travel patterns from different countries before finalizing the new rules.

Travelers planning trips to Thailand are being advised to check updated visa requirements before booking flights and accommodation, as the final country lists and conditions have not yet been completed.

Thailand first announced plans to review its visa-free policies in February 2026. Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa later reaffirmed the intention during a visit to Phuket and again during a March press conference with international media in Bangkok.