You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

June 4, 2026

Thailand Tightens Visa Policies for Visitors

Subscribe to Updates

On May 19, 2026, the Cabinet of the Royal Thai Government approved, in principle, revisions to Thailand’s visa exemption scheme and visa on arrival (VOA) program, as proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The revisions represent a tightening of Thailand’s immigration framework and will affect a broad range of short-term visitors.

Background

On July 15, 2024, Thailand expanded its visa exemption scheme by increasing the permitted period of visa-exempt stay from 30 days to 60 days in order to promote tourism, support the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery, and facilitate international travel.

Under this revised scheme, passport holders from 93 countries and territories (an increase from the previous 57 countries and territories) have been permitted to enter Thailand without a visa and remain in the country for up to 60 days per entry for purposes including tourism, business engagements, urgent work, and ad hoc assignments. In addition, eligible visitors may apply at the Thai Immigration Bureau for a further 30-day extension of stay.

Key Changes

The proposed revisions would revoke the current 60-day exemption and reinstate the previous stay period, thereby reducing the maximum permitted stay for eligible travelers to 30 days per entry. In addition, the number of countries and territories eligible under the 30-day visa-exemption scheme is expected to be reduced to 54.

The scope of the VOA scheme would likewise be significantly narrowed, with the number of eligible countries reduced from 31 countries to just four (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Serbia, and India).

Further, Thailand is expected to introduce a new 15-day visa exemption category for nationals of Seychelles, the Maldives, and Mauritius.

The revised framework would also limit each country or territory to a single visa exemption privilege in order to simplify Thailand’s immigration framework and reduce overlapping immigration privileges.

Overstay Penalties

Foreign nationals are reminded that remaining in Thailand beyond their permitted period of stay constitutes an offense under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). Overstay penalties may include imprisonment for up to two years, a fine of up to THB 20,000, or both. In practice, a fine of THB 500 per day, capped at THB 20,000, is generally imposed.

The duration of a re-entry ban can range from one to 10 years, depending on the length of the overstay and whether the individual leaves Thailand voluntarily or is arrested by the authorities. More severe consequences may apply where a foreign national is arrested while overstaying, including deportation and a prohibition on re-entering Thailand for five years when the overstay is one year or less, or 10 years when the overstay is more than one year.

Next Steps and Timeline

Although the Cabinet has approved the proposed revisions in principle, the new measures are not yet in effect. The detailed implementation framework is expected to be set out in Ministry of Interior notifications, which will become effective 15 days after publication in the Government Gazette.

Foreign nationals who enter Thailand before the new measures take effect may continue to remain in Thailand until the expiry of their existing permitted period of stay. Thereafter, foreign nationals entering Thailand will need to rely on (i) the revised visa exemption and VOA schemes, (ii) applicable bilateral visa exemption agreements, or (iii) an appropriate visa obtained through Thailand’s e-visa system.

Implications for Businesses and Foreign Nationals

The revisions to the visa exemption scheme and VOA scheme signal a significant shift in Thailand’s immigration policy toward stricter oversight of foreign nationals entering and staying in the country. The changes are expected to materially affect foreign nationals who currently rely on visa exemption privileges for business travel, project-related activities, or extended stays in Thailand.

In particular, foreign nationals who currently rely on the 60-day visa exemption may face shorter permitted periods of stay. Nationals of countries no longer eligible for visa exemption may be required to obtain a visa prior to travel, while nationals of countries removed from the VOA scheme may no longer be able to obtain entry permission upon arrival in Thailand.

Accordingly, it is suggested that businesses and foreign nationals should review their existing immigration arrangements, assess whether alternative visa categories may be more appropriate, and closely monitor the relevant notifications in the Government Gazette for implementation updates.

Foreign nationals intending to remain in Thailand for longer periods or engage in work-related activities should consider obtaining an appropriate visa category from the outset, such as a non-immigrant “B” visa, SMART visa, Destination Thailand visa, or long-term resident visa.

Related Professionals

Practices

Corporate/M&A

Employment

Location

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

May 19, 2023
On May 15, 2023, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Decision No. 500 of the Prime Minister approving the National Power Development Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (“PDP VIII”), following extensive public consultations and multiple rounds of review since the first draft version was circulated in 2021. The plan was approved in the context that in the past few years, a number of large power projects have been behind schedule for operation, while new projects have not been able to be implemented due to waiting for additional planning. PDP VIII is the master plan for the development of the power source and transmission grid at 220kV or higher; services in renewable energy and new energy in Vietnam; and works connecting the power grids of Vietnam and neighboring countries. We set out below some quick updates regarding PDP VIII. 1. Development Targets Key development targets are summarized in the table below: Investors in coal, domestic gas, and LNG projects may need to have a conversion plan ready given the 2050 targets to convert to other sources of energy. 2. Solar Projects A list of 27 solar power projects that were planned for the period of 2021-2030 but which have not been assigned to investors are not allowed to be deployed but can be considered after 2030, except in the case of deployment in the form of self-production and self-consumption (Appendix IV). These projects represent 4,136.25 MW of capacity that will be left on the sidelines until 2030. 3. Hydropower Projects A list of 14 potential hydropower projects can be considered if economic and technical conditions allow for more hydropower development (Appendix III). These projects represent 1,244 MW of capacity that can be added to the hydropower targets for 2030. 4. Projects Prioritized for
Read More
May 18, 2023
Thailand’s Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC Office”) has revamped various rules relating to private placements by listed companies with a view to streamlining the offering process and reducing the documentation required for submission to the SEC Office. Most of these rules were revised by the Capital Market Supervisory Board on December 28, 2022, and will come into effect on July 1, 2023. The key amendments in the new rules are summarized below. Elimination of Application Requirement Issuers are no longer required to apply to the SEC Office prior to offering their shares via private placement, according to new rules laid out in the Notification of the Capital Market Supervisory Board No. TorChor 28/2565 Re: Permission for Listed Companies to Offer Newly Issued Ordinary Shares via Private Placement (the “TorChor 28/2565 Notification”). The rules detailed in this notification will replace the current private placement rules under the Notification of the Capital Market Supervisory Board No. TorChor 72/2558 Re: Permission for Listed Companies to Offer Newly Issued Ordinary Shares via Private Placement. Under the TorChor 28/2565 Notification, issuers may offer their shares via private placements that are share offerings to no more than 50 high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth investors within 12 months, share offerings valued at no more than THB 20 million within 12 months, or share offerings to institutional investors (excluding share offerings to the issuer’s directors or employees), so long as the issuer complies with its information disclosure and corporate approval requirements, which remain mostly unchanged under the new notification. To fulfill these requirements, notice of a shareholders’ meeting must be submitted to all shareholders at least 14 days in advance, and the offering must be approved by a supermajority vote of the shareholders, which means approval by at least three-fourths of the shareholders present and
Read More
May 16, 2023
On April 25, 2023, Myanmar’s Ministry of Planning and Finance issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) requiring entities and individuals remitting foreign currency equivalent to more than USD 10,000 out of Myanmar to clear their tax payments prior to the remittance. The SOP took effect on May 1, 2023. This is the latest development since Myanmar began imposing restrictions in April 2022 on the remittance of foreign currency out of the country, implemented by the Central Bank of Myanmar and the Foreign Currency Supervisory Committee. The SOP requires the remitters described above to obtain certain documents evidencing payment of all requisite taxes and duties, and to submit them to their licensed authorized dealer (AD) bank as part of the remittance process. The documents required as evidence differ depending on the purpose of the remittance. The SOP details three main categories, as summarized below. Payments for Interest, Royalties, Trademarks, Copyrights, or Services A remitter of foreign currency for payment of interest, royalties, trademarks, copyrights, or services, must first apply to the Internal Revenue Department (IRD) for evidence that all applicable withholding tax has been paid. In addition, if the country to which the payments are being remitted is party to an avoidance of double taxation agreement with Myanmar, evidence of the recipient’s tax residency must also be submitted to the AD bank. Payments for Goods A remitter of foreign currency to pay for goods must submit the necessary IRD forms along with evidence that corporate income tax and other applicable taxes have been paid. Evidence may include a tax clearance certificate for the fiscal year, the company name, the taxpayer name, and the taxpayer identification number (TIN). Salary Payments A person remitting, in foreign currency, salary earned in Myanmar must submit the required form showing that they paid income tax
Read More
April 28, 2023
Instead of the typical dystopian scene of flames, wastelands of shattered buildings, and robotic overlords policing the remaining humans, our actual dystopian future may be a workplace filled only with men named Jared who once played lacrosse in high school. This may sound far-fetched, but one resume-screening tool was found to be using an algorithm that concluded two factors were most determinative of job performance: the name Jared and a history of playing lacrosse in high school. The frailties of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in recruitment and hiring could transform our workforces in unpredictable ways. If employers blindly follow AI outcomes without a deeper examination of how the algorithmic decision is reached, hiring outcomes may be not only ridiculous but also discriminatory. Risks of AI-Reliant Hiring Some employers have enthusiastically embraced AI as a way to reduce costs and replace human bias in the recruitment process. Human recruiters do not have a great track record; for example, in France, discrimination in recruitment has posed such a serious problem that the government submits false work biographies with ethnic names to identify and punish employers that unreasonably reject qualified ethnic applicants. Unfortunately, AI is modeled on human thinking, so it may amplify our own prejudices and errant conclusions while giving the appearance of providing a fair and clean process. AI typically learns inductively by training on examples and historical data. Factors such as exclusion of certain groups from educational or career opportunities has often shaped this data, so AI’s decisions may amplify this past prejudice. For instance, Amazon experimented with mechanized recruitment in 2014, but abandoned these efforts prior to implementation after the AI tool selected a predominantly male workforce. The AI learned by analyzing patterns in resumes submitted to the company over the last 10 years. Since over this period
Read More