Thailand cuts visa-free stays to 30 days

Thailand has moved to shorten how long many foreign tourists can stay without a visa, reversing a looser entry policy introduced less than two years ago. The Thai cabinet approved the change on May 19, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ending the 60-day visa exemption scheme for 93 countries and territories and restoring a shorter 30-day framework. Thai government statements framed the revision around national security, tourism and economic interests, reciprocity and administrative clarity. The move came as foreign and local media, including the Guardian, reported rising official concern about crime and unruly tourist behavior in areas such as Bangkok’s Khaosan Road. ### What exactly changed in Thailand’s visa-free entry rules? Thailand’s cabinet said on May 19 that it had revoked the 60-day visa exemption scheme for all 93 countries and territories covered by that program. In its place, the government said it was revising the 30-day visa exemption scheme for tourism purposes and cutting the number of eligible countries and territories in that category from 57 to 54. It also introduced a new 15-day visa exemption scheme for three countries or territories and reduced visa-on-arrival eligibility from 31 to four. (thailand.prd.go.th) The Thai government has not presented the change as a blanket closure to tourism. Official notices said foreigners already in Thailand under the current exemption schemes, and those traveling before the new rules take effect, may remain until their permitted stay expires. After that, they would need to use the revised schemes, a bilateral exemption agreement or another visa available through Thailand’s e-Visa system. (thailand.prd.go.th) ### When does the new 30-day limit take effect? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the revised measures will take effect 15 days after the relevant Ministry of Interior announcements are published in the Royal Gazette. As of June 2, the Thai government notice available online said those implementation details would appear later, meaning the cabinet approval and the legal effective date are not the same thing. (thailand.go.th) That timing matters for travelers who booked trips under the old 60-day exemption. The government said people entering before the effective date can stay for the period already granted at entry, rather than being cut short mid-trip. ### Why did Thai officials say they were tightening the rules? Thailand’s official explanation listed five considerations: national security, tourism and economic interests, reciprocity, reducing overlapping visa privileges and the convenience of the e-Visa system. (thailand.prd.go.th) The government statements did not, in the text published online, spell out specific criminal cases or tourist districts. (thailand.go.th) The Guardian reported on June 2 that the policy shift came amid concern over crime and badly behaved visitors, and cited Bangkok’s Khaosan Road as an example of the atmosphere officials wanted to address. That report described local frustration with behavior linked to nightlife-heavy tourism areas. ### Who is most affected by the rollback? The 60-day exemption introduced in July 2024 had given travelers from a broad group of countries more time in Thailand without arranging a visa in advance, and the May 19 cabinet decision reverses that approach for those 93 countries and territories, according to reporting aggregated in recent coverage. (thailand.prd.go.th) For short-stay tourists, the practical effect may be limited because many visits are well under 30 days. For longer-stay visitors, including some remote workers and repeat travelers, the change narrows the amount of time available before an extension or different visa becomes necessary. (theguardian.com) ### What should travelers watch next? The Royal Gazette is the next document travelers need to watch. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Ministry of Interior will publish the detailed criteria there, and the revised rules will begin 15 days later. Until that publication appears, travelers already in Thailand under the current exemption scheme can remain until their existing permission expires, according to the government notice. (thailand.prd.go.th)