Thailand had adopted a very welcoming approach towards the tourists post pandemic by introducing a 60-day visa free stay for 93 countries. The country has faced serious challenges due to this policy like overstaying, misuse and other security concerns. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a proposal to reduce the duration of visa free stay to 30 days. The proposal has been under review by the Cabinet since March 2026 and it is quite likely that the change will be implemented.
Why Thailand May Roll Back Its 60-Day Entry Rule
Thailand had introduced its 60 days visa free policy to boost tourism after the COVID hit the industry around the world. While it brought a powerful economic shock after the pandemic, it also caused serious problems for the authorities and the locals. In tourist hotspots like Phuket, local operators have reported a rise in unauthorised businesses by the foreign nationals, especially in the sectors legally reserved for Thai locals.
The 60 day stay window gives them enough time to set up temporary operations and move across the borders without requiring a formal visa for travel purposes. The MFA has also noted that a two-month stay is more than enough for a genuine tourist and is used by the foreigners to bypass the more appropriate long term visas like the Destination Thailand Visa, which allows stays of up to 180 days.
Thailand’s New 30+30 Rule: What It Means for Your Stay
According to the proposed 30 day free visa policy, the travellers will get 30 days of free stay initially, which they can extend for another 30 days if needed. Therefore, the maximum stay remains 60 days in total but under the active supervision by the authorities.
- Initial Entry of 30 days
The tourists arrive in Thailand and get 30 days visa free. - The Extension
The travellers can extend their stay period beyond 30 days through an in-person visit to the immigration office at 1,900 Thai Baht. - Digital Tracking
Thailand replaced its old paper arrival cards with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) in 2025. This framework allows the government to track the “back-to-back” entries more closely.
Thailand Is Still Open — Here’s What’s Actually Changing for You
Thailand is not closing its doors for the tourists, instead its proposed changes target the abusers of the system, not the genuine travellers. For short-term holiday travellers, the typical duration of 1-3 weeks remains the same.
However, travellers planning lifestyle stays for longer periods will feel the impact, especially those heading for wellness retreats. Those travellers who need to stretch their stay by 30 more days will have to make an in-person visit to the immigration office.
Thai immigration officers have been stricter with frequent visitors since January 2026. Even if your passport stays under the limit of “two-entry-per-year”, getting 60-day stamps could lead to further questioning.
