Thailand Has Cut Its Visa-Free Stay From 60 Days to 30, Effective 15 September 2026

Thailand has officially repealed the extended 60-day visa exemption it introduced in July 2024, reverting to a standard 30-day visa-free stay for nationals of around 60 countries and territories from 15 September 2026, according to regulations published in the Royal Gazette. The change affects a broad group of visa-exempt travellers, including several nationalities that previously qualified for the longer 60-day allowance introduced two years earlier.

What changed

The new regulation repeals the special July 2024 measure that had granted a 60-day visa exemption to 93 countries and territories, restoring the 30-day allowance that applied before that expansion. A small number of nationalities have been shifted to a 15-day exemption instead, and three others remain eligible for visa-on-arrival rather than a visa waiver at all.

View on Google Maps →

Where Indian travellers stand

India has held visa-exempt entry to Thailand as a standalone arrangement, and reporting on the September 2026 change describes it specifically taking Indian travellers from a 60-day to a 30-day visa-free stay, aligning India with the broader group of nationalities losing the extended allowance. Indian visitors intending to stay longer than 30 days, whether for an extended holiday or a slower multi-city trip, now need to apply for a visa in advance rather than relying on the exemption.

Why it matters for a Thailand trip

Thailand remains one of the most popular long-haul destinations for Indian travellers, and many itineraries, particularly those combining multiple islands or a longer work-from-Thailand style stay, had been built around the 60-day window opened in 2024. Anyone currently in Thailand or arriving in the days around the 15 September changeover should check which allowance applies to their specific entry date, since the older 60-day rule continued to apply up to 14 September.

Traveller tips

• Confirm your exact visa-exempt allowance at the immigration counter or with the Thai embassy before travelling, since the changeover affects entries specifically from 15 September 2026.
• If your planned stay exceeds 30 days, apply for an appropriate visa in advance rather than assuming the exemption will cover it.
• Overstaying a visa-exempt period in Thailand carries a fine calculated per day, plus potential entry bans for longer overstays, so track your entry stamp date carefully.
• This article reflects the regulation as published in Thailand's Royal Gazette for the September 2026 changeover; confirm current rules with the Thai embassy or immigration authority before booking.