Thailand is scaling back visa-free travel for 93 countries: what will change for tourists
Thailand is officially changing its entry rules for foreigners and shortening the duration of visa-free stays in order to tighten controls in the tourism sector and combat crime.
This was reported by The Guardian.
The decision was approved by the country’s Cabinet. The new rules apply to citizens of 93 countries, including Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, Schengen Area countries, and Australia.
The 60-day visa-free regime, introduced in July 2024, is effectively being abolished. Now, most tourists will be able to stay in the country for only up to 30 days, and for certain countries, the period may be reduced to 15 days.
Thailand’s Minister of Tourism confirmed that the length of stay will be determined separately for each country.
Thai authorities explain the decision by the need to combat abuse of the visa-free regime. The police are recording an increase in the number of offenses involving foreigners.
Among the violations cited by the authorities are:
- drug trafficking and smuggling;
- sexual exploitation;
- unlicensed businesses;
- violations of employment regulations.
“The plan to scale back visa-free travel is part of a strategy to combat transnational crime,” the Thai government stated.
Importantly, automatic stay extensions will no longer be available. Tourists must now apply to the immigration authorities.
“The decision on extension will be made by an officer, and tourists will have to explain why they are staying longer,” a government spokesperson noted.
Extensions will be granted only once and on a case-by-case basis.
Tourism accounts for about 10% of Thailand’s GDP, but the industry’s recovery from the pandemic remains uneven.
According to official data:
- in the first quarter of 2026, tourist arrivals fell by 3.4%;
- the number of visitors from the Middle East fell by nearly a third;
- the forecast for the year is about 33.5 million tourists.
Despite this, the government hopes that the new rules will not deter law-abiding travelers, but rather improve safety and the quality of tourist traffic.
As a reminder, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina have agreed to launch “transport visa-free travel” for freight transport starting January 1, 2027. This means that carriers will no longer have to obtain special permits for bilateral and transit flights.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga stated that Ukraine maintains a strong position in the war and is gradually transitioning into the role of a state that not only receives support but also influences global security itself. He separately emphasized the importance of Ukrainian defense technologies as a key advantage.
