Thailand: Reduction in Visa-Exempt Stay Duration Forthcoming

Update September 18, 2026: Following the reduction of Thailand’s visa-exempt stay from 60 to 30 days, effective September 15, 2026, the existing work authorization framework for urgent business travel remains unchanged. Although the Ministry of Interior’s notification primarily provides visa-exempt entry for tourism and does not expressly refer to short-term business activities, the Department of Employment (DOE) has confirmed that eligible foreign nationals entering Thailand under visa-exempt status may continue to submit an Urgent Work Notification (UWP) and undertake qualifying urgent and necessary work for up to 15 days, subject to the applicable DOE requirements. 

The appropriate immigration and work authorization pathway will continue to depend primarily on the nature of the activities to be performed rather than the duration of the traveler’s stay.  

• Travelers undertaking business activities (e.g., internal meetings, attending conference or seminars and other similar simple business activities) that do not require work authorization must obtain a Non-Immigrant B visa for a business visit before entering Thailand, unless they can use an eligible APEC Business Travel Card.  

• Activities falling within the recognized urgent and necessary work categories may be performed through the UWP framework, including following visa-exempt entry. Example of these activities include (but are not limited to):  

• • Technical and industrial activities, including installing, repairing, inspecting, testing or demonstrating machinery and equipment; production and product-quality inspections; technical troubleshooting; and rail, power-generation and aviation-related work.  

• • Business, recruitment and professional activities, including recruiting or testing workers for overseas employment, organizing conferences and trade events, conducting occasional internal audits, providing technical consultations and delivering special academic lectures.  

• • Creative and government-supported activities, including film production, still photography, and participation in government-supported mega-events, international festivals, concerts or music festivals. 

• Other activities considered work under Thai law will generally require a Non-Immigrant B employment visa and a work permit before commencement.  

Employers and travelers should therefore carefully assess the proposed activities in advance to determine the appropriate immigration and work authorization strategy.

September 1, 2026: Thailand’s Ministry of Interior has announced revisions of the country’s visa exemption and visa-on-arrival schemes. Effective September 15, 2026, the existing 60-day visa exemption for nationals of 93 countries and territories will be revoked and replaced with shorter visa-exempt periods for a reduced number of nationalities. Foreign nationals who enter Thailand under the existing 60-day visa exemption before September 15, 2026 may remain for the full period granted upon entry. The revised rules will apply only to travelers entering Thailand on or after that date. 

Under the revised rules:  

• • Nationals of the following 60 countries and territories will be eligible for visa-exempt entry for tourism purposes for up to 30 days: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. 
  • Nationals of Mauritius and Seychelles will be eligible for visa-exempt stays of up to 15 days.  
  • Nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia will become eligible to obtain a visa-on-arrival at an authorized immigration checkpoint. 

The activities permitted under the visa exemption scheme will remain unchanged. Travelers may continue to undertake non-work activities, such as attending an exhibition as a visitor or participating in an internal meet-and-greet with colleagues. Activities considered work will continue to require appropriate work authorization, such as an Urgent Work Permit. Visa-on-arrival holders cannot obtain an Urgent Work Permit and will therefore be limited to non-work activities. 

Visa-exempt entries through land-border checkpoints will generally be limited to two per calendar year, subject to nationality-specific exceptions. Entries by air will not be subject to a specified annual limit; however, admission will remain at the discretion of immigration officers. Travelers who make frequent visa-exempt visits may be questioned about the purpose and frequency of their travel and should be prepared to provide supporting information. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.