Thailand’s Cabinet has approved plans to cancel the current 60-day visa-free entry scheme for travelers from more than 90 countries, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul. The move signals a major shift in Thailand’s tourism and immigration policy, with authorities citing security concerns and a need to improve oversight of foreign visitors.
The government said countries affected by the change will return to their previous visa arrangements, which in most cases allowed visa-free stays of around 30 days.
Government Plans New Visa Review Process
Speaking on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Surasak said the Cabinet had agreed to revoke the expanded 60-day visa-free policy introduced earlier to support tourism and economic recovery.
The next step will involve notifying government agencies and reviewing visa rules on a country-by-country basis through Thailand’s Visa Policy Committee. The committee will examine which visa category is appropriate for each nation, taking both economic and security factors into account.
Thai authorities said the review will not focus only on increasing tourist numbers. Instead, officials want to attract what they describe as “quality tourists,” a term commonly used in Thailand to refer to visitors who contribute more to the economy through longer spending and lower legal or security risks.
Prime Ministerial instructions reportedly emphasized stricter screening procedures to improve safety and strengthen the overall tourism system.
Security Concerns Behind the Policy Shift
According to officials, the 60-day visa-free scheme had come under increasing scrutiny from security agencies.
Authorities claimed some foreign nationals had used the extended stay period to operate illegal businesses through Thai nominees, work without permits, or engage in transnational criminal activity. Officials specifically mentioned concerns linked to “grey capital” groups, a term often used in Thailand to describe criminal or semi-legal foreign business networks.
The government also referred to concerns over international scam operations, including so-called “call-centre gangs,” which are organized fraud groups that target victims by phone or online.
Most Tourists Stay Less Than Two Weeks
Government data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports showed that the average foreign tourist stays in Thailand for about nine days.
Officials believe reducing visa-free stays from 60 days back to 30 days will have limited impact on most short-term visitors, including holidaymakers and regional travelers.
The Visa Policy Committee is also expected to consider a new system that may divide countries into different visa-free categories. Under the proposed structure, some nationalities may receive only 15 days of visa-free entry, while others retain 30 days.
The final list of affected countries has not yet been announced.
Possible Tourist Entry Fee Also Under Review
At the same time, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports is continuing plans to introduce a THB300 entry fee for foreign visitors arriving by air. The charge is widely referred to locally as a “landing fee.”
Officials said revenue from the fee would support the Tourism Promotion Fund and improve visitor screening systems.
The entry fee proposal has been discussed by Thai governments for several years but has not yet been fully implemented.
What Travelers Should Expect
If approved and enforced as outlined:
- Travelers from the current group of 93 visa-free countries and territories would no longer receive automatic 60-day stays.
- Most visitors would return to earlier visa-free arrangements, typically allowing stays of around 30 days.
- Some countries may receive shorter 15-day visa-free access after the government completes its review.
- Thai authorities are expected to apply stricter security screening measures for incoming travelers.
Officials have not yet confirmed when the changes will take effect. Travelers planning trips to Thailand are advised to monitor announcements from Thai embassies, airlines, and immigration authorities for updated entry requirements.
