On 19 May 2026, Thailand's Cabinet approved replacing the 60-day visa-exemption framework (the "P.60" scheme) with a tiered structure: 30 days for most eligible nationalities and 15 days for a smaller group. The change takes effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. As of 22 June 2026 no Gazette publication date has been announced, and current 60-day rules remain in force until then. Long-stay visa categories — Thailand Privilege, LTR, DTV, retirement, work, student, and marriage — are unaffected.
Quick facts
- Decided: 19 May 2026, by the Royal Thai Cabinet.
- Effective: 15 days after Royal Gazette publication (date pending).
- Affected: ~54 nationalities move from 60-day → 30-day; ~3 move to 15-day.
- Not affected: Holders of the Thailand Privilege Visa, LTR, DTV, retirement, work, student, and marriage visas.
- Stated rationale: National security, visa-exemption abuse, reciprocity, and the official Thai e-visa expansion.
What the Cabinet decided
The Cabinet approved the revision on 19 May 2026, on the joint recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The decision sunsets the P.60 scheme — the 60-day visa exemption introduced in July 2024 — and replaces it with a tighter, tiered framework: 30-day visa-free entry for nationals of approximately 54 countries and territories, and 15-day visa-free entry for approximately three. The definitive country lists will appear in the Royal Gazette text; secondary sources have cited slightly different counts, so the Gazette is the authoritative reference.
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When do the new visa-free rules take effect?
Cabinet orders on visa matters typically take legal effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. As of 22 June 2026 the publication date has not been announced; current 60-day rules remain in force until it does. Stay length is determined by the date of physical arrival at Thai Immigration — arrivals before the effective date receive the 60-day stamp, arrivals on or after receive the new 30-day (or 15-day) stamp. Booking and check-in dates do not matter.
Why is Thailand cutting visa-free stay to 30 days?
Cabinet press materials cite three reasons:
- National security and visa-exemption abuse. The 60-day window plus a 30-day in-country extension allowed up to 90 days of stay with no pre-screening. Some foreigners had converted back-to-back visa-exemptions into a de facto long-stay vehicle — outside the framework's intended use.
- Reciprocity. Many countries on Thailand's 60-day list do not extend the same visa-free duration to Thai nationals.
- E-visa expansion. Travellers who genuinely need 30 to 60 days now have a digital path via the official Thai e-visa portal — a pre-issued Tourist Visa (TR), with online application and longer permitted stay.
Which Thai visa categories are NOT affected?
This revision applies only to the visa-exemption framework — the no-pre-application, stamp-on-arrival route. Every other visa category is unchanged:
| Visa Category | Status |
|---|---|
| Thailand Privilege Visa (Bronze · Gold · Platinum · Diamond · Reserve) | Unaffected — 5 to 20 years, multi-entry |
| Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa | Unaffected — 10 years (5+5) |
| Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | Unaffected — 5 years, 180-day stays |
| Non-Immigrant O-A (Retirement) | Unaffected — age 50+, annually renewable |
| Non-Immigrant B (Work), ED (Student), O (Marriage) | Unaffected — see our 2026 ED-visa enforcement guide for the separate student-visa update |
| Tourist Visa (TR) via e-visa portal | Unaffected — pre-issued, 60-day stay |
Who is affected by Thailand's 30-day visa-free change?
Holiday tourists — the majority of inbound visitors stay one to three weeks. 30 days is sufficient; no action needed.
Long-stay travellers using back-to-back exemptions — the de facto long-stay loop now compresses from ~90 days per cycle to 30 (plus an extension if retained). Repeated visa-exemption resets attract increasing scrutiny.
Remote workers and digital nomads — the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), introduced in July 2024, is the intended path: 5 years, 180-day stays per entry, with a 500,000 baht savings or remote-work proof. See our Privilege vs DTV comparison.
Foreigners considering open-ended residency — the Thailand Privilege Visa covers 5 to 20 years with no income test, age floor, or activity requirement. From ฿650,000 (Bronze) to ฿5,000,000 (Reserve), paid only after Thai authorities approve. Compare with the LTR, retirement, and DTV in our long-stay options guide.
Sources
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Newsroom — "Thai Cabinet approves revision of 60-day visa exemption scheme pending Royal Gazette publication"
- Bangkok Post — "Thailand ends 60-day visa-free stay"
- Siam Legal — "Thailand Approves End of 60-Day Visa-Free Stay"
- Thailand NOW — "Thailand reverts back to 30-day visa-free scheme for safer tourism"
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Thailand's 30-day visa-free rule take effect?
The Cabinet approved the change on 19 May 2026. It takes legal effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. As of late June 2026 the publication date has not been announced; current 60-day rules remain in force until it does.
Does the change affect Thailand Privilege Visa holders?
No. Thailand Privilege is a long-stay multi-entry visa (5 to 20 years depending on tier) and is not part of the visa-exemption framework. The Cabinet decision exclusively revises visa-exemption rules. The Privilege Visa, LTR, DTV, retirement, work, student, and marriage visas are all unaffected.
If I arrive in Thailand before the rule changes, will I still get 60 days?
Yes. Current 60-day rules remain in force until the new framework formally takes effect 15 days after Royal Gazette publication. Stay length is determined by the date of physical arrival, not the booking or check-in date.
Can I still extend a 30-day visa exemption at Thai Immigration?
The 30-day extension at Thai Immigration (1,900 baht fee, officer discretion) has been part of the framework for years but was not directly addressed in the Cabinet press materials. The Royal Gazette text should clarify whether it survives. Until then, travellers needing more than 30 days should plan to apply for a Tourist Visa (TR) via the official Thai e-visa portal, or use a long-stay visa.
Thailand's May 2026 Cabinet decision replaces the 60-day visa-exemption (P.60) framework with a 30-day stay for most eligible nationalities and 15-day for a smaller group. It takes effect 15 days after Royal Gazette publication. Long-stay visa categories — Thailand Privilege, LTR, DTV, retirement, work, student, and marriage — are unaffected. Holiday tourists are functionally unaffected; back-to-back exemption users face a tighter cycle and higher audit risk; remote workers should consider the DTV; foreigners wanting open-ended residency without income or age tests can compare the Thailand Privilege Visa with the LTR, retirement, and DTV options before committing.
If you'd like a candid read on whether Thailand Privilege fits your situation, or whether one of the other long-stay categories is a better match, contact our team. We respond within one business day. No sales pressure, no upfront payment — Privilege Visa fees are collected only after Thai authorities approve the application.