Thailand Implements Major Visa Changes Effective September 15, 2026
The Thai Ministry of Interior has officially published a sweeping restructuring of its immigration policy in the Royal Gazette. Effective September 15, 2026, Thailand is ending its temporary 93-country framework to enforce strict national security measures and diplomatic reciprocity.
If you are planning to travel to Thailand, please review the critical updates below to see how your entry requirements have changed.
1. The 60-Day Visa Exemption Has Ended
The broad 60-day visa-free stay has been abolished. It is replaced by a standardized 30-day tourist visa exemptionlimited to just 60 eligible countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and EU member states).
2. 35 Countries Completely Removed from Visa-Free Scheme
A total of 35 nations have lost their visa-free entry privileges entirely. Travelers holding passports from the following countries must now apply for a formal Tourist E-Visa online prior to departure or use a restricted Visa on Arrival (VoA), depending on their nationality:
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The Americas: Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago.
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Europe & Central Asia: Albania, Andorra, Belarus*, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Romania, Serbia*, Uzbekistan. (Note: Belarus and Serbia are restricted to paid VoA only).
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Middle East & Africa: Azerbaijan*, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritius**, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles**. (Note: Azerbaijan is VoA only; Mauritius and Seychelles are downgraded to a strict 15-day exemption).
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Asia-Pacific: Armenia*, Bhutan, Brunei, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan*, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Tonga. (Note: Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are VoA only).
3. Mandatory Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
All foreign nationals entering Thailand by air, land, or sea must now complete the online Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 72 hours before arrival. Airlines will deny boarding to passengers who fail to present their QR confirmation code.
4. Strict Enforcement on Border Runs
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the arrival date. Furthermore, immigration authorities are strictly monitoring land border crossings; back-to-back "border runs" to reset tourist stays without a proper long-term visa will face immediate denial of entry.
5. See if you are eligible for Thai e-Visa
Thai e-visa is a simplified process of getting the visa online. You need to fill out the application which will ask you for plenty of information. You must ensure the information is accurate, have a passport picture and a passport data picture available to upload. The e-visa cost is of 40 USD.
NOTE: There are many portals offering the Thai e-Visa but this is the official government e-visa portal: https://www.thaievisa.go.th/
MUST KNOW
1. The visa and the arrival card are unrelated. DO NOT think that one will give you the other. Thai e-visa must be applied maximum 3 months prior to trip and minimum 2 weeks. Each consulate/embassy may take shorter or longer depending on workload.
2. It is crucial you understand that embassies/consulates of Thailand do not work on weekends, Thai holidays or local holidays.
3. Make sure all the documents are correct when uploading. A single mistake or anything that may be considered unclear (for example your accommodation) will reset the processing time.
4. You MUST pay the visa once you submit. If you don't pay it, it will not be processed.
5. Visas are given for a maximum of 60 days. You may extend by 30 days in a local immigration bureau while in Thailand for an extra 30 days (60 USD).
6. If you arrive to Thailand with a visa, you will be given the time to stay until your next flight out, which you already need to have when applying to the visa. Important to note that if you wish you return to Thailand you need to issue a new e-visa with all due process. You may only apply for an e-visa OUTSIDE of Thailand. A multiple entry visa is not recommended unless you will be coming in more than twice to Thailand.
