Thailand plans to halve the length of visa-free stays for tourists from dozens of nations, including the United States, its government announced on Tuesday.
Visitors from 54 countries will now be able to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa, instead of 60, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Visitors from more than 90 nations had enjoyed longer visa-free stays in Thailand since 2024, when the country loosened requirements in an effort to attract more tourists after the pandemic. About 33 million foreign tourists visited Thailand in 2025, according to the Bank of Thailand, down from a peak of nearly 40 million in 2019.
The new policy affects citizens of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore and other countries.
The Thai Embassy in Washington confirmed the plan but declined to explain the reasoning behind it. The Bangkok Post reported that the government was concerned about foreigners running unauthorized businesses and committing crimes.
The policy will take effect 15 days after it is published in The Royal Gazette, the Thai government’s public journal. It was not immediately clear when the policy would appear in the journal.
Visitors already in Thailand under the current visa rules will be allowed to remain in the country “until the expiry of their permitted period of stay,” according to the embassy.
Citizens of countries not covered by the new 30-day program will face a hodgepodge of rules, including a 15-day visa exemption for three Indian Ocean island nations and visas on arrival for citizens of four countries, including India.
Travelers who must obtain a visa can do so via the Thai government’s online visa portal.
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Gabe Castro-Root is a travel reporter and a member of the 2025-26 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers.
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