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Answered7 months ago

Will the 60-day visa-free entry in Thailand be reduced to 30 days without notice?

Alex *********
asked Apr 12, 2026
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Apparently the 60 day visa free entry will be charged to 30 days in the next month or so. Based on previous experiences with this type of change, do you guys think they will make the change with a decent amount of notice (like a 30 day notice) or will it happen practically overnight and disrupt many tourist plans ?? .. My last trip was in Aug-Sept and I stayed 33 days. Next month I plan another trip and stay around 60 days. With the current 60 day visa free I can use the 60 days and possibly get a 30 day extension. But with only 30 days available plus a 30-day extension it might not be enough..
Answer summary
There are concerns that Thailand may revert from a 60-day visa-free entry to a 30-day entry, possibly without sufficient notice for tourists. Historically, such changes have been implemented gradually, with discussions suggesting a grace period prior to enforcement. Travelers are advised to consider applying for a 60-day tourist visa in advance to avoid issues, as the government has a history of abrupt policy announcements impacting tourists.
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Brian *******************
Brian *******************
No one know.. all happen overnight in this country 🤣
Bent *************
Bent *************
Why don’t you just apply for a visa?
Terary **********
Terary **********
Just get the visa?
Nicknam*******
Nicknam*******
If you get a visa then no problems to worry about
Andrew ********
Andrew ********
Can always travel to a more friendly country that will gladly take your money
Jim *******
Jim *******
@Andrew *******
What money? A paltry pension? Accomodate for socila rejects like tattoed football hooligans? Pensioners with pony tails?
Jonathan **********
Jonathan **********
The government makes a lot of threats and moves glacially. They have been talking about this idiotic sales prevention program for a long time, so believe when you see it.
Lance ********
Lance ********
It's all talk at the moment, and FB media rubbish wait till it's heard from the horses mouth, personally they will need to repair tourisms massive decline so it is unlikely to be a quick decsion...the new government appears to be looking at all issues differently than previous puppet governments which is encouraging and I expect it to be deferred, its 22% of their GDP so changes may be put on hold as there will be some big kickback from the tourism industry....who are the experts in this area...
James **********
James **********
Social media spreads Misinformation, just get a 60 day tourist visa and you won't be affected either way.
Jim *******
Jim *******
James Mitchell 60 days stamp is not any kind of visa, it is a visa exemption.
Pe ****
Pe ****
Jim Davis

He’s talking about the 60-day tourist visa that you obtain in your home country before you arrive. (TR visa).
Paul ***********
Paul ***********
Why don't people get a proper visa?
Jim *******
Jim *******
Paul Bengtsson Why would they? Most (99%) of travellers do not any visa.

Those trying to live in Thai on nothing are subjected to that scrutiny. They need a proper visa, if they can attain it.
Markus ********
Markus ********
Im on a non o doesn't bother me 👁️👁️🤣🤣
Malcolm **********
Malcolm **********
Things take time over here, first they have to announce the change, then it needs to be published in the Royal Gazette and even then there is normally a time period for it to be implemented. Keep an eye on the Thai Immigration posts and website and if the change is implemented (it may never happen) then if you are arriving after the change you can still get a 60 day tourist visa before you come. If you arrive before the change then you will get a 60 day stamp in you passport and any changes after that will not effect you as the stamp states when you have to leave. If you are really worried then you can get the tourist visa anyway but it does cost money and just like the entry visa/waiver you can normally extend this for another 30 days.
Stephen ********
Stephen ********
Just apply for a tourist visa. Problem solved 👌
Succ*****
Succ*****
Easy. Get a real visa right now. You can't say you weren't aware.
Robert *********
Robert *********
Apply for, and get a 60 day visa prior if you are concerned.
Jim *******
Jim *******
Robert McBrain That is not a visa, that is visa exemption for up to 60 days . You do nothing, just get stamped 60 days.
Tom ***********
Tom ***********
The visa duration changes are stressful enough, along with the uncertainty, but a possibly new post-COVID medical insurance mandate could be a major turn-off for tourists who can afford it but don’t want the hassle.
Jim *******
Jim *******
Tom Ciccateri Non O 90 days visa that lets you sort out bank account and get 12 months extension, has no mention about health insurance. I am on that extension.
Tom ***********
Tom ***********
Jim Davis thanks. I will check on that again this year, but it appears a moving target.
Taki****
Taki****
Get a 60 day tourist visa, problem solved.
Alex *********
Alex *********
OP
Takiep74. yeah. That would be the safe approach.. So far, I always used the visa exemption
Jim *******
Jim *******
Alex Bugatti When visa exemption was raised from 30 to 60 days, I did not know what to do with those extra 30 days.

Within 30 days, a honest tourist could travel Thailand (as we did since 2001) every year and spend money on hotels, rentacar, attractions.

Sure, 60 days are more than 30 days but for what for a tourist? Those like "Jack the Lad" making problems stay in Thai max 2 weeks.

Long term stay is a visa, not border runs.
Family******
Family******
The first time Royal Gazette announced of visa exemption changes from 30-day to 60-day was around May 2024. But the effect ACTUALLY happened and be implemented around January 2025. It didnt just happen overnight and at that time, the ex-PM Sretha was "desperate" to boost Thai tourism. Yet the official effect still took half a year to be implemented. Know this, it was NOT a proposal but had been given a green light.

Fast forward today, things that you read has always been worded "proposal to revert back". There is yet an official confirmation from Royal Gazette. And, even if tomorrow Royal Gazette issued a decree to cut off 60-day back to 30-day, my best guess is that the ACTUAL effect will and MIGHT happen months later just to give a grace period for those tourists who have scheduled their visit over 30 days.

I remember very well how i was on the verge to re-schedule my roundtrip ticket for the month of June-July 2024 upon hearing the official news about visa exemption 60-day back in May 2024, i kept checking and asking this group if anyone has actually received the 60-day stamp...but the first confirmation about someone actually being stamped a 60-day came in January 2025.

So yes, 6 months of grace period AFTER the Royal Gazette issued a decree. For now, the talks and rumours all came from those ol' senile bureucrats who have no clue the world is on the verge of WW III and that middle-east tourists are decreasing in numbers.

Take this a grain of salt
Colin *********
Colin *********
FamilyPacker this questionis now being asked 2-3 times per week in the past few weeks, from the posts that I've seen. It's getting somewhat annoying that people keep asking a question that cannot be answered by this group or any other Fb group, rather than checking Thai Immigration or MFA websites.

This IS the best answer I've seen.
James **********
James **********
FamilyPacker it went to 45days for a while after covidcon
Alex *********
Alex *********
OP
FamilyPacker .. and yes, implementing a reduction from 60 to 30 while we have a world crisis and oil shortages doesn't make sense.. but stupid politicians are everywhere nowadays..
Alex *********
Alex *********
OP
FamilyPacker Thanks so much for your well documented response ! (Best response so far !)
Sammy ********
Sammy ********
Yea, I'm going next month for 39 days, mmm🤔🤔
Alex *********
Alex *********
OP
Sammy N Pua For a 39 day trip you are still ok. If they reduce it to 30 days you can still get a 30 day extension
Sammy ********
Sammy ********
Alex Bugatti if I can get there on May 7th, do the TDAC ofcourse,and they don't change it by the 7th, I'm good 🙏🤞🤞
Shane ***********
Shane ***********
Sammy N Pua Thailand Digital Arrival Card has nothing to do with Visa or visa exempt. The name is self explanatory
Sammy ********
Sammy ********
Alex Bugatti yea, I researched it, not to worried 😉
Kevin ******
Kevin ******
I’m not so sure it’s going to be next month. The visa-free policy is now squarely in the government’s sights yet there is no official return to 30 visa-free days yet, but the political signal is unmistakable.
David *********
David *********
The thai government does not give a monkeys about tourists plans.
SunnyFla********
SunnyFla********
Apparently it will then be changed to 15 days
LH *******
LH *******
If perchance, it was to revert back to 30 days and you are already IN Thailand, on 60 days....no problem. Your passport will have an EXIT date and thats when you need to leave. The date in your passport is what is relevant
Alex *********
Alex *********
OP
LH Lorac yeah. That works fine. But if they change it to 30 days a few days before I fly over to Bkk.. I would not have time to apply for a visa..
Alex *********
Alex *********
OP
Yeah Jim,.. that would be nice. However, there are opinions out there (and expressed even on this thread) that they don't give a rat's ass about a situation like this !
Jim *******
Jim *******
Alex Bugatti They (Thais) would not do it just like that and catch you mid flight. That would be months ahead if they ever do that.
Hǝınz ***********
Hǝınz ***********
Tourist visa is 60 days plus 30 days extension.
Wodrow ********
Wodrow ********
Thai government is not concerned in the least with your tourist plans
Supportive***********
Supportive***********
Don’t worry they will change their mind again lol. Things in Thailand never stay the same! Lived there for a year and they changed the Alcohol rules and weed laws all the time! And if 60 days aren’t enough, jump over to Laos for a few days and then go back for another 30 days!
ExcitingO*********
ExcitingO*********
You can apply for an extension
Bruce ********
Bruce ********
Nothing has changed ...just apply for a 60 day tourist visa from your embassy before you arrive
Barney ********
Barney ********
Bruce Taylor is that still a thing, before my retirement visa i used to get one in london, go to immigration office after 55 days and extend it for 30 more, then walk into myanmar twice for another 2 x30 days, total of 150 days every winter? Can that still be done?
Bruce ********
Bruce ********
Barney Ontour yes that can still be done
Francesca ******
Francesca ******
Barney Ontour the second time, after Myanmar, did you apply for 30 days + extension?. As far as I know the second entry is 30 days + 7
Barney ********
Barney ********
Francesca Supy i live in a border town, both walk-back -ins from myanmar got 30 more days back then. I did it for a few years with no problems before i moved here full time and changed to retirement visa

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