Thailand Visa Exemption 2026: 30 Days from 15 September

The regulations were published in the Thai Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026 (volume 143, special issue 207 Ngor). The reform takes effect on 15 September 2026. Last verified: 7 September 2026.

In short: Thailand is ending its 60-day visa exemption and reverting to 30 days from 15 September 2026. The regulations were published in the Thai Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026, with entry into force 15 days later. Until 14 September inclusive, current rules (60 days) remain valid at the border. Here is what changes concretely, and above all what it means if you live — or plan to live — in Thailand.

What has been decided

The Thai Cabinet approved, on 19 May 2026, the removal of the 60-day visa exemption scheme introduced in July 2024. That scheme covered 93 countries and territories, including France, Belgium, and Switzerland. It is replaced by a tiered system where each nationality is assigned a single exemption category:

• 30 days of tourist exemption for 60 countries and territories (including France, Belgium, and Switzerland), extendable once by 30 days at an immigration office for 1,900 THB (~EUR 52) — meaning 60 days maximum without a visa under the new rules.
• 15 days for two countries only, the Seychelles and Mauritius — the Maldives drop out of the scheme.
• Separate bilateral agreements maintaining 14-, 30-, or 90-day exemptions depending on the country.

The 30-day exemption is strictly for tourism. Authorities cite the fight against misuse of the long exemption: illegal work, undeclared rentals, and fraudulent activities.

What does this mean for French nationals?

France is among the 60 countries and territories retaining a 30-day exemption — all 27 EU member states are on the list, alongside Australia, Canada, India, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In practice: 30 days on arrival, extendable once by 30 days (1,900 THB), for a maximum of 60 days without a visa, down from 90 today. The official list was published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026.

An important point: until 14 September inclusive, the 60-day exemption still applies at the border. The distinction between the published decision and its actual enforcement therefore still matters — except that the date is now known. Enter Thailand before 15 September and you leave the counter with a 60-day stamp; from the 15th, it will be 30 days.

The real timeline

1. 19 May 2026 — Cabinet approval.
2. 31 August 2026 — publication in the Thai Royal Gazette, volume 143, special issue 207 Ngor.
3. 15 September 2026 — entry into force, fifteen days after publication. Current rules apply until 14 September inclusive.

People already in Thailand, or who enter before the effective date, keep the stay duration authorised by their current entry stamp. In other words: if you are already there, nothing changes retroactively.

What it really changes if you live in Thailand

This is where most articles miss the point. The reform targets tourism. Yet the tourist exemption — whether 60 or 30 days — was never a legitimate tool for settling in Thailand. Stacking exemption entries ("visa runs") is precisely the practice this reform seeks to discourage, and controls have already tightened: the 30-day extension is no longer automatic, a reason is required at the counter.

The published text goes further. Under the 30-day exemption, entry through a land border checkpoint is capped at twice per calendar year — only nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore are exempt. Arrivals by air are not affected. In practice, the overland visa run to Laos or Cambodia, the most common way to stretch a stay, becomes unworkable beyond twice a year.

If your plan is to live in Thailand — retired, with a Thai spouse, or working remotely — the right answer is not to juggle a shortened exemption, but to move to a proper long-stay visa:

• Retirement: the O-A visa (one year, renewable) or the O-X visa (up to ten years), depending on your profile and insurance budget.
• Remote work / digital nomads: the DTV visa, designed for long stays without visa runs.
• Overview: our 2026 retirement visa comparison compares options based on your situation.

The reform is therefore not bad news for those who want to settle permanently: it simply confirms that you need to do so with the right status, from the start.

What you should do now

• Short trip (30 days or less): no change of plans needed once the reform is in force.
• Stay longer than 30 days: plan a tourist visa obtained at the embassy before departure, or anticipate the on-site extension.
• Planning to settle: don't wait — choose and prepare the right long-stay visa in advance.

Need clarity on your situation? Visa runs are no longer a viable strategy for staying in Thailand. We help French speakers choose and prepare the right long-stay visa, from start to finish. Discover our visa assistance or contact us directly (email, WhatsApp, LINE) for a personalised consultation.

Official sources: Thai Royal Gazette of 31 August 2026, volume 143, special issue 207 Ngor; Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); Royal Thai Embassy. This article reflects the known state as of 7 September 2026.