Rethinking long stays in Thailand
Planning a long stint in Thailand? You’ll need to rethink the timeline. As of September 15, 2026, Thailand has officially rolled back its visa-free stay for tourists from 60 days to 30 — reversing a pandemic-recovery policy that had been in place since July 2024.
The change affects travelers from 60 countries and territories, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Two nationalities will be limited to a 15-day exemption, and three will remain eligible for visa-on-arrival instead.
The rollback follows growing concern from Thai authorities that the longer window was being used for more than tourism — reports of foreigners running informal businesses, illegally subletting condos, and in some cases operating scam networks all fed into the decision. Thailand’s tourism and hotel associations had also flagged the long exemption as part of the problem.
What this means if you’re planning a trip:
- Anyone already in the country under the 60-day exemption keeps that original stay length.
- Travelers can still extend a visa-free stay by 30 days at an immigration office (roughly 1,900 baht).
- For longer stays, a 60-day Tourist Visa can be arranged in advance, or the five-year Destination Thailand Visa allows up to 180 days per entry.
For most short getaways, this changes nothing. But if you’d been planning an extended Thailand stay under the old 60-day window, it’s worth adjusting your plans — or your visa paperwork — before you book.
