Thai Cabinet approves revision of 60-day visa exemption

The Thai Cabinet has approved the revision of the 60-day visa exemption scheme, which has been in place since July 2024. The revised entry conditions will apply 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. Until the revised measures take effect, current entry conditions remain in place. Once implemented, countries and territories previously covered by the 60-day scheme will revert to the entry conditions applicable before the programme was introduced. The revised framework assigns each country or territory to a single visa exemption category. Nationals of 54 countries and territories will be eligible for a 30-day visa exemption, while nationals of three countries or territories will be eligible for a 15-day visa exemption. Separate bilateral agreements will continue to provide visa exemptions of 14, 30, or 90 days, depending on the applicable arrangement. Visa on Arrival will remain available to nationals of four countries or territories. The Visa Policy Committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will review visa arrangements on a country-by-country basis, taking into account security and economic considerations. Foreign nationals currently in Thailand, or those entering before the revised measures take effect, will be permitted to remain for the duration of their existing permitted stay. 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 revised measures are officially published in the Royal Gazette.

What happened

The Thai Cabinet has approved the revision of the 60-day visa exemption scheme, which has been in place since July 2024. The revised entry conditions will apply 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. Until the revised measures take effect, current entry conditions remain in place. Once implemented, countries and territories previously covered by the 60-day scheme will revert to the entry conditions applicable before the programme was introduced. The revised framework assigns each country or territory to a single visa exemption category. Nationals of 54 countries and territories will be eligible for a 30-day visa exemption, while nationals of three countries or territories will be eligible for a 15-day visa exemption. Separate bilateral agreements will continue to provide visa exemptions of 14, 30, or 90 days, depending on the applicable arrangement. Visa on Arrival will remain available to nationals of four countries or territories. The Visa Policy Committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will review visa arrangements on a country-by-country basis, taking into account security and economic considerations. Foreign nationals currently in Thailand, or those entering before the revised measures take effect, will be permitted to remain for the duration of their existing permitted stay. 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 revised measures are officially published in the Royal Gazette.

Background and context

The development matters for buyers comparing Phuket districts, rental demand, and exit liquidity against Thailand’s broader 2026 market backdrop.

Why it matters for Phuket buyers

For Phuket property buyers, headlines like this shape foreign demand, short-stay rental flow, and how quickly investors move from research to a viewing or offer.

Source: TAT News

Related reading

For Phuket investors following these signals, see the Phuket rental yield guide and best areas in Phuket to buy property.