Is Thailand 30 or 60 Days Visa-Free Now? (2026 Rule Change Explained)

If you’ve been researching a trip to Thailand recently, you’ve probably hit a wall of conflicting advice:

“You get 60 days visa-free.” “No, it’s back to 30 days now.” “Wait — has it actually changed yet?”

It’s confusing for a simple reason: the rule is mid-change. The Thai cabinet has voted to cut the visa-free stay from 60 days back to 30 — but at the time of writing that decision isn’t law yet.

In this guide you’ll learn exactly where things stand right now, who’s affected, when the change actually kicks in, and how to work out which stay you’ll get on the day you land.

Last updated: 28 June 2026. This is a fast-moving rule. You can check the official status yourself in seconds — see How to Check the Rule Yourself below.

Table of Contents

The Short Answer

As things stand, the 60-day visa exemption is still legally in force at the border — but it’s living on borrowed time.

On 19 May 2026 the Thai cabinet approved a return to a 30-day visa-free stay for most nationalities. That change only becomes law once it’s published in Thailand’s Royal Gazette, and as of late June 2026 that publication hadn’t happened.

So the honest answer is: it depends on the date you actually arrive. Land before the new rule takes effect and you should still get 60 days. Land after, and most travellers will get 30.

What Actually Changed in May 2026?

A bit of background, because the back-and-forth is what’s causing the confusion.

Back in mid-2024, Thailand extended its visa-free stay from 30 days to a generous 60 days for around 90 countries. It was one of the most relaxed tourist entry policies in the region, and it’s why so much advice online still says “60 days”.

Then, on 19 May 2026, the cabinet reversed course. Tourism officials framed it as a shift towards “quality tourism” and a response to people abusing the long visa-free window for semi-permanent stays and undeclared work.

The decision rolls most countries back to 30 days, with a small group dropping to 15.

So Is It 30 or 60 Days Right Now?

This is the part nearly every outdated article gets wrong.

A cabinet decision is not the same as a law you can be refused entry under. In Thailand, a visa change like this only takes effect after it’s published in the Royal Gazette — and the new stay length applies 15 days after that publication.

At the time of writing, the notification had not yet been gazetted. That means:

  • The 60-day visa exemption is, technically, still valid at the border today.
  • Immigration officers can only grant what the current law allows — and right now that’s still 60 days for eligible nationalities.

But this could change with very little notice. Treat “60 days” as true until confirmed otherwise, not as a guarantee for a trip months away.

When Does the 30-Day Rule Actually Start?

There’s a clear sequence to watch for:

  1. The change is published in the Royal Gazette (this is the trigger — and the bit that hadn’t happened yet).
  2. The new 30-day rule then takes effect 15 days later.

So the moment you see credible reports that it’s been gazetted, count 15 days forward. That’s your cut-off. Arrive before it under the old rule and you keep your 60 days; arrive on or after it and you’re on 30.

No firm date had been announced as of late June 2026, which is exactly why checking close to departure matters so much this year.

Which Countries Get What?

Under the revised scheme:

  • 30-day visa-free: the large majority of previously eligible nationalities, including the UK, the US, Canada, all EU countries, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
  • 15-day visa-free: a small group — reported to be the Seychelles, the Maldives and Mauritius.

For most readers of this site — UK, European, North American, Aussie travellers — the practical upshot is simple: once the change lands, you go from 60 days down to 30.

Who’s Been Hit Hardest?

Not everyone loses the same amount. A few nationalities come off far worse than the 60-to-30 majority:

  • India — the biggest loser. Indian passport holders drop off the visa-free list entirely. Instead of 60 days free, they now face a paid 15-day visa on arrival (around 2,000 baht) — a move from generous free entry to a shorter, paid one.
  • Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia — removed from the visa-exemption list altogether. The eligible list shrinks from 57 countries to 54.
  • The Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles — keep visa-free status, but slashed from 60 days all the way down to just 15.
  • Visa-on-arrival travellers in general — the visa-on-arrival list is cut dramatically, from 31 countries and territories down to just 4.

For everyone else — the UK, US, EU, Australia, Japan and most of the previous list — it’s the cleaner 60-to-30 cut.

What If I’m Already in Thailand When It Changes?

Good news here: you keep whatever stay you were granted on arrival.

The change isn’t retroactive. If you enter under the 60-day exemption — or arrive before the new rules take effect — the stamp in your passport stands. You won’t be cut short or asked to leave early because the law shifted while you were in the country.

The new limit only applies to people entering after it takes effect.

Can I Still Extend My Stay?

Yes. The 30-day visa exemption can still be extended once, by a further 30 days, at a Thai immigration office inside the country.

So even under the stricter rule, the realistic maximum for a visa-free tourist becomes 30 + 30 = 60 days — you just have to apply and pay for the extension rather than getting the full stretch stamped in for free on arrival.

The extension typically involves a fee (commonly 1,900 baht), a form, a photo and a trip to immigration. Worth factoring in if you’re planning a longer stay.

What This Means for Your Trip

A few practical takeaways depending on when you’re going:

  • Travelling soon? You’ll most likely still get 60 days — but don’t bank on it for bookings; leave yourself a buffer.
  • Planning a longer trip (6–8 weeks)? If the 30-day rule is in force by the time you go, plan around a 30-day stay plus an extension, or look at a proper tourist visa (the 60-day single-entry tourist visa) before you fly.
  • Booking non-refundable flights months out? Build in flexibility. Don’t lock in a 50-day itinerary assuming 60 visa-free days will still exist.

The single most important habit this year: check your stay length within a week of departure, not when you book.

How to Check the Rule Yourself

Because this is changing, don’t take any article’s word for it — including ours. Here’s how to confirm the current position from the source, in order of authority:

  • The Royal Thai Government Gazette (ราชกิจจานุเบกษา) — the primary source. The change only becomes law when the visa-exemption notification appears here. It’s an official Thai-language site, so use your browser’s translate function: ratchakitcha.soc.go.th
  • The Thai e-Visa portal (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — the most reader-friendly check. It lists the current visa-exemption countries and stay lengths, and is updated when the rule changes: thaievisa.go.th
  • Your nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate — search “Royal Thai Embassy [your country]”. Their website carries the entry rules that apply to your nationality.

If the e-Visa portal still shows 60 days for your country, the old rule is still in force. The day it switches to 30 days — or you see the notification appear in the Gazette — the change is live (remember: it then takes effect 15 days later).

Don’t Forget the TDAC (It Hasn’t Changed)

Whatever happens with the 30-vs-60 question, one requirement is unaffected: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC).

It’s now mandatory for everyone, replaces the old paper TM6 card, and must be completed online (free) before you arrive. Plenty of copycat sites charge a “fee” for it — don’t pay one. Use the official immigration portal only.

It’s also worth having your proof of funds and onward ticket ready, since those checks apply regardless of how many days you’re granted. See our guide: Do I Really Need to Take 20,000 Baht to Enter Thailand?

Quick Checklist: Working Out Your Stay

Before you fly, run through this:

  • Check whether the 30-day rule has been gazetted yet (search for recent news in the week before you travel).
  • If gazetted, work out the effective date (publication + 15 days) and compare it to your arrival date.
  • Confirm your nationality’s category — 30 days for most, 15 days for a small group.
  • If you need longer, plan for a 30-day extension or apply for a tourist visa in advance.
  • Complete your TDAC online before arrival (free, official site only).
  • Have your onward ticket and proof of funds accessible at immigration.

FAQ: Thailand 30 vs 60 Day Visa-Free

Is Thailand still 60 days visa-free?

For now, yes — at the time of writing the 60-day exemption was still legally in force because the change hadn’t been published in the Royal Gazette. But it’s set to drop to 30 days for most nationalities once that happens.

When does Thailand change to 30 days visa-free?

The rule takes effect 15 days after it’s published in the Royal Gazette. As of late June 2026 no publication date had been confirmed, so there was no firm start date yet.

Does the UK get 30 or 60 days in Thailand?

UK passport holders are on the 30-day list under the new rules — though, like most nationalities, they can still get 60 days until the change actually takes effect.

Which countries are hit hardest by the change?

India is the biggest loser, dropping off the visa-free list to a paid 15-day visa on arrival. Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia lose visa-free entry entirely, while the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles fall from 60 days to 15.

Can I extend a 30-day visa exemption?

Yes. You can extend it once by a further 30 days at a Thai immigration office, usually for a fee of around 1,900 baht.

Will the change affect me if I’m already in Thailand?

No. You keep whatever stay you were granted on entry. The new limit only applies to people arriving after it takes effect.

What if I need to stay longer than 30 days?

Either extend your stay once inside Thailand (+30 days), or apply for a 60-day single-entry tourist visa at a Thai embassy or consulate before you travel.

Final Verdict

So, is Thailand 30 or 60 days visa-free right now?

Today, the 60-day exemption is still technically valid — but it’s on its way out. The cabinet has approved a return to 30 days for most nationalities, and the moment it’s published in the Royal Gazette, the clock starts: 15 days later, most travellers go from 60 days down to 30.

If you’re going soon, you’ll probably still get 60. If you’re planning further ahead, assume 30 and plan around an extension or a tourist visa — and check the current status within a week of flying.

The rules are changing, but the entry essentials aren’t: complete your TDAC, carry your proof of funds, and keep an onward ticket handy.

When in doubt, check before you fly — not when you book.

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