Last reviewed: 30 July 2026. Thailand's visa-exemption rules are in the middle of a change. This page states what is in force today and what has been approved but has not yet started. Entry rules are set by the Thai government and can change at short notice — always confirm with an official source before you book or fly.
What applies today
Thailand currently grants 60 days of visa-free stay to tourists from most eligible countries, under the exemption introduced in July 2024. These conditions remain in force until the change described below takes effect.
What has been approved
The Thai Cabinet has approved replacing the single 60-day allowance with a shorter, tiered scheme: a standard 30-day visa exemption for most eligible nationalities, a shorter allowance for a small number of countries, and Visa on Arrival for a few others.
This page deliberately does not list which nationality falls into which tier. The published figures have been revised more than once while the change has been pending, and the only answer safe to act on is the one your nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate gives for your passport.
The change also reduces how many countries are covered, not only how long you may stay. Confirm that your nationality still qualifies at all, rather than assuming you will simply get a shorter stay.
When does it start?
The new rules take effect 15 days after they are published in Thailand's Royal Gazette. As of this page's last review that publication had not yet happened, so the 60-day conditions still apply. Because the start date depends on a publication that is not scheduled in advance, there may be only about two weeks' notice — check again close to your departure.
Reporting at the time of review indicated that travellers already in Thailand on a 60-day entry, and those arriving before the effective date, would keep the stay they were granted. Treat that as helpful context rather than a guarantee, and confirm it with an official source.
What this means if you are island-hopping
Visa length shapes how much of the Andaman coast and the Gulf you can realistically cover. A 30-day stay is comfortable for a Phuket-based trip taking in Phi Phi, Krabi and Koh Lanta, but a longer route adding the Gulf islands or Koh Lipe leaves far less slack. If your plans depend on staying beyond your permitted period, speak to a Thai embassy or consulate about the right visa before you travel rather than relying on an extension once you arrive.
Where to check the official position
This page is a summary for travel planning and is not immigration advice. For the binding position for your nationality, check the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate responsible for your country, or the Thai Immigration Bureau. Airlines apply these rules at check-in, so a document that satisfies the rule on paper still has to satisfy the carrier.
