Thailand’s Cabinet approved a sweeping revision of the country’s visa-exemption framework on July 14, 2026, replacing a blanket 60-day exemption for 93 countries with a tiered “one country, one entitlement” system covering 65 countries and territories. The decision reverses an earlier May 2026 proposal to eliminate India from the visa-free list entirely, instead granting Indian passport holders a 30-day exemption after the initial plan triggered a measurable drop in arrivals.
Key Facts At A Glance
- Thailand’s Cabinet approved the revised visa-exemption framework on Tuesday, July 14, 2026
- The 60-day exemption introduced in July 2024 for 93 countries and territories is being withdrawn
- 59 countries and territories, including all 27 European Union member states and India, will receive 30-day visa-free entry
- Mauritius and Seychelles will receive 15-day visa-free entry, subject to periodic review
- Visa on Arrival will be limited to three countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia
- India’s existing Visa on Arrival entitlement is withdrawn and replaced with the new 30-day exemption
- Changes take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette
- The revised Thailand Digital Arrival Card system will support enhanced screening of foreign nationals
Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a further review of the country’s visa-exemption and Visa on Arrival programmes, moving away from a uniform 60-day allowance toward a tiered structure built on a single-entitlement principle. Deputy government spokesperson Ploytalay Laksameesangchan confirmed the decision on Tuesday, describing it as an effort to close security loopholes and curb the use of extended tourist stays for non-tourism activity.
A Narrower, Tiered Framework
Under the revised rules, the 60-day visa exemption that had applied to 93 countries and territories since July 2024 will be withdrawn entirely. In its place, 59 countries and territories, spanning all 27 European Union member states along with India, will be granted 30-day visa-free entry for tourism purposes. Mauritius and Seychelles will receive a more limited 15-day visa-free allowance, with continuation contingent on future review of tourist volume and spending. Visa on Arrival eligibility, once available more broadly, will now be restricted to Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.
The reform does not affect Thailand’s separate bilateral visa arrangements. Cambodia and Myanmar retain a 14-day exemption limited to arrivals through international airports, while China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia, Timor-Leste and Vietnam continue to hold 30-day bilateral exemptions. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and South Korea retain a 90-day bilateral allowance. Officials said the restructuring is intended to eliminate overlapping entitlements, assigning each nationality to a single, clearly defined category.
India’s Reversal
The most closely watched element of the announcement concerns India. An initial Cabinet decision in May 2026 had proposed cutting the visa-exempt list from 93 to 54 countries and removing India from visa-free access altogether, a move that caused confusion among Indian travellers and a subsequent decline in arrivals. Following that reaction, the Cabinet reversed course, approving a 30-day visa-free entry for Indian passport holders that better reflects their typical travel patterns, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul. India’s previous Visa on Arrival entitlement has been withdrawn as part of the change, since it would otherwise have overlapped with the new exemption. Indian tourists stay in Thailand for an average of roughly 7.17 days per trip, a factor cited in the decision to preserve broader access for the market.
Implementation And Screening
The revised measures will not take effect immediately. Under the Cabinet resolution, the new rules require publication in the Royal Gazette and will apply only 15 days after that notice. Until then, existing 60-day entry conditions remain in force for travellers from the affected countries. Authorities also plan to strengthen the Thailand Digital Arrival Card system to improve screening of incoming travellers and better track how visa privileges are being used once the new framework takes hold.