End of Thailand's 60-Day Visa Exemption: What Changes in 2026

This article will be updated as soon as the official effective date and the definitive country list are published. Last verified: 8 June 2026.

In short: Thailand has voted to end the 60-day visa exemption and revert to 30 days — but it is not yet enforced. The measure will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Thai Royal Gazette, whose date is not yet confirmed. Until that publication occurs, 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 54 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 three countries (Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius).
• 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 54 countries retaining a 30-day exemption — alongside Belgium and Switzerland, according to consistent announcements from the Thai government. 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 final list will be published in the Royal Gazette; as a precaution, reconfirm your case with the Royal Thai Embassy in your country before booking.

An important point: the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs still displays, as of today, the 60-day exemption. You must therefore distinguish the political decision announced from its actual enforcement at the border, which will only begin after publication in the Royal Gazette. Beware of articles already presenting the return to 30 days as "effective": as of this page's last update, it is not — the measure is approved, not enforced.

The real timeline

1. 19 May 2026 — Cabinet approval.
2. Royal Gazette publication — date unconfirmed (estimates range from early June to Q3 2026).
3. + 15 days after publication — new rules take effect.

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.

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 to follow for updates: Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Royal Thai Embassy. This article reflects the known state as of 8 June 2026 and will be updated upon publication of the implementing texts.