Thailand tightens visa-free stays: New rules hit India, UAE, Philippines and 90+ countries

Thailand has introduced sweeping changes to its visa exemption and visa-on-arrival system, ending the 60-day visa-free stay introduced in 2024 and replacing it with shorter, country-based limits.

The reform affects travellers from more than 90 countries, including India, the UAE, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, the United States and several Gulf and Asian nations.

Officials say the move is aimed at improving national security, reducing overlapping visa schemes and streamlining entry rules through the expansion of Thailand’s e-Visa system.

The current 60-day visa-free regime, which covered 93 countries and territories, will be fully scrapped.

In its place, Thailand is restructuring entry categories into a more segmented system based on nationality, purpose and bilateral agreements.

Authorities said the change is designed to reduce misuse of long-stay tourism privileges and improve immigration clarity.

Under the new framework, Thailand will introduce a 30-day visa exemption for 54 countries and territories, covering major tourism markets across Europe, North America, Asia and the Gulf region.

This group includes:

Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.

Travellers from these countries will still be able to enter Thailand visa-free for tourism, but for 30 days instead of 60, with extensions subject to immigration approval.

A new 15-day visa-free category will apply to:

Officials said this reflects a more tailored system based on tourism patterns, security considerations and bilateral reciprocity.

Visa-on-arrival reduced to four countries

Thailand is also significantly scaling back its visa-on-arrival (VoA) programme.

Only four countries will remain eligible:

Azerbaijan, Belarus, India and Serbia.

This marks a major reduction from previous arrangements, with authorities signalling a shift towards pre-arrival screening via the e-Visa system.

Separate from the general visa exemption list, Thailand will maintain specific bilateral arrangements:

Officials clarified that these agreements remain valid and operate independently from the revised visa-free system.

Thailand is also tightening entry procedures and introducing new compliance steps:

Authorities also noted that policy updates are being rolled out alongside expansion of Thailand’s electronic visa system.

For Indian travellers, Thailand’s visa-on-arrival eligibility continues under the revised framework, alongside short-term visa-free access depending on classification.

Travellers from affected countries will now fall under either:

Officials emphasised that no retrospective changes will affect travellers already inside Thailand.

Travellers from the UAE are also included in Thailand’s revised visa exemption overhaul affecting more than 90 countries. The updated system replaces the earlier 60-day stay with shorter entry durations, typically set at either 30 days or 15 days depending on nationality classification.

UAE travellers are advised to check updated entry rules before travel, as final country-specific allocations will be confirmed once official regulations are published.

The Philippines is among the Asian markets affected by Thailand’s visa policy revision. Under the new framework, Filipino travellers will also move from the previous extended visa-free stay to shorter permitted durations under a structured country-by-country system.

Depending on classification, stays may be limited to 30 days or 15 days, with extensions subject to immigration approval. Travellers are advised to verify requirements before booking as final rules are still being finalised.

Thai authorities said the overhaul is intended to:

The new rules will take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette.

Thailand is moving from a broad, extended visa-free system to a structured entry model with shorter stays and stricter categories.

Travellers are strongly advised to verify requirements before booking, as final implementation details will be confirmed once the Royal Gazette publishes the official regulations.

Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand (policy context only), Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland

Morocco, South Africa

Canada, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, United States

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay

Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga