Royal Gazette confirms 30-day visa-free limit for 60 countries starting September 15
Thailand has officially published the new visa rules, giving tourists and expats a hard deadline before the 60-day exemption reverts to 30 days.
VMVisa Manager Desk29 Aug 2026✓ Verified 1 Sept 20262 min read4 sources
The short version
The Royal Gazette officially published the rule reducing visa-free entry from 60 to 30 days.
The change takes effect on September 15, 2026, and applies to 60 countries including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Travelers arriving on or after this date will need to secure a Tourist Visa in advance if they plan to stay longer than 30 days without extending locally.
The Thai government has officially published the rollback of its 60-day visa exemption scheme in the Royal Gazette. Starting September 15, 2026, passport holders from 60 countries will only receive a 30-day stamp upon entering Thailand.
This formalizes the Cabinet's recent vote to tighten entry rules, ending the temporary 60-day stamp that was previously available to 93 nations.
What changes on September 15
IllustrationAI illustration (gemini-3-pro-image)
According to the Royal Gazette announcement published on August 31, the revised rules apply to 60 countries and territories. This includes major expat and tourist demographics such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and all five Nordic countries, according to reports from VisasNews and Scandasia.
Here is exactly what is shifting:
Before September 15: Eligible arrivals receive a 60-day visa exemption stamp at immigration.
From September 15 onwards: Arrivals from the 60 listed countries will receive a 30-day stamp.
Affected nationalities: The list is capped at 60 countries, officially canceling the broader 93-country list that previously enjoyed the 60-day perk.
What this means for your travel plans
If you are planning a border run or flying into Thailand, the date you pass through immigration dictates your stamp. Arriving on or after September 15 means you must plan for a 30-day stay.
If you need more time in the country, you will need to adjust your strategy. You can either apply for a standard 60-day Tourist Visa at a Thai embassy or consulate before you travel, or visit a local immigration office once you arrive to pay for a standard 30-day extension.
Why it matters
Expats relying on border runs and tourists planning long winter stays must adjust their arrival dates or apply for a formal visa before September 15 to avoid overstaying the new 30-day limit.
How we cover this: we monitor official Thai government sources and Thai & English press, cross-check every claim, and link the originals. Updated as it happens.
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#Visa Exemption#Royal Gazette#Immigration#Tourist Visa
Sources
Every claim above traces to these. We link the originals so you can verify.
Thailand to officially cut visa-free stay to 30 days on September 15, 2026 - VisasNews · 31 Aug 2026
Thailand has officially published the regulations ending its 60-day visa exemption scheme. Starting September 15, 2026, nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Aust
Thailand has officially announced the cancellation of the 60-day visa-free entry for 93 countries, reducing the stay period to 30 days for 60 countries and territories.
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