Thailand Updates Visa Rules With Country-Specific Categories
Thailand has restructured its visa system with country-specific categories, extending 30-day visa exemptions to 59 nations including India and all EU members, while assigning others to 15-day exemptions or Visa on Arrival. The new rules tak
Bangkok, 16 July 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) advises foreign visitors that the Thai Cabinet has approved updated details for visa exemption and Visa on Arrival measures. The five related Ministry of Interior announcements remain pending publication in the Royal Gazette and will take effect 15 days after publication.
Following the Cabinet’s earlier approval in May to replace the 60-day visa exemption measure introduced in July 2024, this latest update is intended to align entry facilitation with current conditions, improve screening, reduce overlapping entry categories, and ensure that visa privileges are used for their intended purpose.
The approach is based on the principle of one country or territory, one entry category, with eligibility considered according to economic factors, security assessments, international relations, and reciprocity. Each country or territory will be assigned to one category: 30-day visa exemption, 15-day visa exemption, or Visa on Arrival.
In total, 65 countries and territories will be covered under the updated measures. Of these, 59 countries and territories will be eligible for a 30-day visa exemption, including India, Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, and the Maldives. This aligns visa exemption treatment across all 27 European Union member states, supporting international relations, discussions on Schengen visa exemption for Thai nationals, and related economic agreements.
India’s eligibility will also shift from Visa on Arrival to 30-day visa exemption, reflecting its importance in terms of its economy, trade, investment, and international relations, as well as the longer average length of stay by Indian visitors, at around 7.17 days per trip.
The 15-day visa exemption will apply to Mauritius and Seychelles. Visa on Arrival will apply to nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia.
Until the new measures take effect, current entry conditions remain in place. Foreign nationals who enter Thailand before the new measures take effect will be permitted to remain for the duration of their existing permitted stay.
Separate bilateral and related entry arrangements will continue to apply where relevant, providing visa exemption periods of 90, 30, or 14 days, depending on the applicable agreement or arrangement. Travellers should check the entry conditions that apply to their nationality before travelling.
The update also states that relevant security agencies will enhance the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system to support traveller screening and verification of foreign nationals’ entry and exit records. Efforts will continue to connect relevant agency databases, enabling risk assessment at the point of departure and helping ensure that entry privileges are used for their intended purpose. Foreign visitors should continue completing TDAC as required by the Immigration Bureau, using approved digital channels where available.
Visitors are advised to monitor official announcements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate in their country of residence for updates on entry requirements applicable to their nationality. TAT will provide further updates once the measures are officially published in the Royal Gazette.
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