Thailand cuts visa-free entry from 60 to 30 days for dozens of nationalities starting September 15

Thailand is officially rolling back its standard visa-free entry allowance from 60 days to 30 days for citizens of dozens of countries, effective September 15, 2026. The 60-day exemption, originally introduced as a tourism stimulus, lasted 22 months before the Thai Cabinet voted to end the scheme, according to Siam Legal and Thai Visa Services.

The rollback affects passport holders from major expat and tourist demographics, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Indian citizens, who recently saw a sharp drop in tourism arrivals due to policy confusion, have also been confirmed for a 30-day visa limit, according to the Thai Examiner.

In a more drastic move, Thailand is entirely removing 21 countries from its visa-free entry list. For example, citizens of Uzbekistan will lose their visa-free privileges on September 15 and must now travel to Moscow to process their Thai visa applications, according to Qazinform. Meanwhile, travellers from the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can maintain their current visa-free stay benefits provided they arrive in Thailand before the September 15 deadline, Arabian Business reports.

What this means for you

If you rely on visa exemptions to stay in Thailand, your runway just got cut in half. Here is how the September 15 changes impact your immediate plans:

• Shorter stays: Arrivals from September 15 onward will receive a 30-day stamp. If you need longer, you will need to apply for a formal tourist visa in advance or look into long-term options.
• Border run complications: Immigration authorities are actively ending the practice of back-to-back border runs for long-term stays. The era of hopping across a border and returning the same day is "quietly collapsing," according to Thai Visa Services.
• DTV route restrictions: The new visa squeeze also restricts popular regional routes for securing the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), shutting some remote workers out of the easy Laos application route, the Thai Examiner notes.

Tighter rules across the board

The visa rollback coincides with a broader tightening of immigration and labor enforcement. A new deportation regulation took effect on August 28, 2026, allowing the Interior Minister to deport foreign nationals who violate Thai laws or are deemed threats to public order, according to the Thai Enquirer.

Simultaneously, the government is strictly enforcing the 2017 alien employment decree. Employers face fines ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 baht per illegal foreign worker for a first offence, according to The Thaiger. For expats living and working in Thailand, the message is clear: ensure your visas, work permits, and tax declarations are strictly by the book.