Siam Legal International, a full-service law firm with more than 22 years of experience assisting foreign nationals in Thailand, is noting a significant change to the country's visa exemption framework following the publication of new Ministry of Interior regulations in the Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026.
The four regulations, published in Volume 143, Special Issue 207 Ngor of the Royal Gazette, repeal the special 60-day visa exemption scheme that has applied to eligible travelers since July 15, 2024. In its place, nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, will be permitted to enter Thailand without a visa for tourism purposes and remain for a maximum of 30 days. The new rules take legal effect 15 days after publication, meaning they apply to entries made on or after September 15, 2026.
Travelers who remain eligible for the current 60-day exemption may still use it for entries made through September 14, 2026, and those already admitted to Thailand under the existing scheme will retain the period of stay granted to them on arrival. Under the previous 60-day arrangement, eligible travelers could also enter for short-term business or urgent work purposes, a provision that has been dropped under the replacement rules, which are limited to tourism.
Travelers using the new 30-day exemption to enter through a land border checkpoint will generally be limited to two such entries per calendar year, with an exception for nationals of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. A one-time extension of up to 30 additional days remains available at a local immigration office, subject to approval by Thai immigration authorities. Separately, nationals of Mauritius and Seychelles will receive their own 15-day tourism exemption under the new framework, and eligibility for Visa on Arrival has been narrowed to three nationalities, namely Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia.
The reform does not affect Thailand's existing bilateral visa exemption agreements, which remain in place and continue to provide 14, 30, or 90 days of visa-free entry depending on the specific agreement. Officials have said the change reflects a broader policy shift toward a single, clearly defined entry scheme for each traveler category, following a Cabinet resolution approved on May 19, 2026, and formal sign-off by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in his capacity as Minister of Interior on August 26, 2026.
"Many travelers who have relied on the 60-day exemption for years will need to reassess their plans well before mid-September," said Rex Baay, Senior Immigration Consultant and Operations Manager at Siam Legal International. "The distinction between tourism and short-term work or business entry is now much sharper under the new rules, and travelers whose nationality has moved between categories should confirm their status before booking a trip."
A recent Siam Legal Thailand visa exemption guide walks through the full list of affected countries and territories, the new 30-day and 15-day categories, the September 15 effective date, and the land border restrictions described above, offering travelers a visual companion to the published regulations.
Immigration authorities have indicated that further clarifications may follow as the new regulations are implemented, particularly regarding designated land border checkpoints and any additional nationalities the Minister of Interior may exempt from the twice-yearly land entry limit. Travelers with questions about their eligibility under the new 30-day, 15-day, or Visa on Arrival categories are encouraged to confirm their status against the published list before finalizing travel arrangements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQrAf0R_vHI
Siam Legal International is a full-service law firm with more than 22 years of experience assisting foreign nationals in Thailand, with offices in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya. The firm provides comprehensive legal and immigration support across residency planning, property transactions, business law, and litigation.
###
For more information about Siam Legal International, contact the company here:
Siam Legal International
Rex Baay
+662 254 8900
info@siam-legal.com
18th Floor, Unit 1806 Two Pacific Place,
142 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei,
Bangkok 10110, Thailand