Thailand's cabinet has approved cutting the visa exemption from 60 days back to 30 - here's what that means if you're not there yet
In short
Thailand's cabinet has approved cutting the visa-exemption period for Australians and dozens of other nationalities from 60 days back to 30, reversing the temporary extension introduced in 2024. The change is not yet in force - it takes effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, and, as of 10 August 2026 (per the Tourism Authority of Thailand and KPMG's GMS Flash Alert), that publication had not happened, so the 60-day exemption still applies for now. If your plans depend on the longer window, that is worth watching closely rather than assuming it will still be there when you land.
What's changing
The Thai cabinet approved the change on 19 May 2026, reversing the temporary 60-day visa-exemption extension that has applied since 2024. The reversion applies broadly - reporting on the decision lists dozens of countries, including Australia, the UK and the US - and brings the exemption back to the 30-day period that applied before the extension. It is not yet in force. Thai regulatory changes of this kind take effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, and, as of 10 August 2026 (per the Tourism Authority of Thailand and KPMG's GMS Flash Alert), that publication had not happened. The government has also flagged a cap on visa-free land-border entries and possible country-by-country variation in the exemption period, though the detail of both is still being finalised. Until the Gazette notice is published, the current 60-day exemption remains the operative rule.
Who is affected
This affects anyone planning to enter Thailand visa-exempt for tourism rather than on a proper visa - including Australians using the exemption as a starting point while they sort out a longer-term route, or making a border run to reset their stay. It does not affect anyone already holding a DTV, retirement visa, marriage visa, LTR or other proper long-stay visa - those categories have their own separate rules and are not part of this change. If your plan currently assumes 60 days of visa-free time in Thailand - for a house-hunting trip, an extended assessment period before committing to a visa, or simply a longer holiday - that assumption may not hold much longer, even though it still does today.
What you should do
If your trip depends on the 60-day window, book with the 30-day figure as your working assumption rather than the current rule, since the Gazette publication could land with little public notice. If you are using visa-exempt entry as a bridge into a longer-stay plan, this is a good moment to check whether a proper visa - filed before you travel - gets you a cleaner outcome than relying on an exemption that is actively being narrowed. Speak with a Visa Centre specialist if you want that checked against your specific dates.
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