Thailand is set to revert to its previous visa-free entry policy, reducing the number of eligible countries and territories from 93 to 57. This decision by the Tourism and Sports Ministry aims to improve visitor screening and promote high-value tourism. The new measures replace the 60-day visa exemption introduced in July 2024, a move initiated by the former government to boost tourism.

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Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul announced that the change intends to refine the immigration process and ensure tourism is aligned with sustainable practices. The list of eligible countries will be reinstated to its prior state, and any new additions will be evaluated individually. The shift is designed to address the issues stemming from the easier access previously provided to foreign visitors, which reportedly allowed some to misuse their stay for non-tourism purposes.

The minister emphasized that the focus will be on attracting tourists who contribute to long-term sustainable tourism instead of simply increasing visitor numbers. Coordination with the Foreign Ministry is underway, and a proposal will soon be presented to the Cabinet for approval. Authorities believe this policy will also maintain safety and confidence in the tourism sector.

Officials have expressed that most tourists already prefer to stay for less than 30 days. For those requiring extended stays, there are existing visa categories, such as business, education, or long-term residence. This approach intends to align the visa policies more closely with actual travel patterns, minimizing administrative challenges and security concerns linked to extended stays.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Khaosod · 27 Apr 2026

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Nor here nor khaosod gives a list of the 57 countries .

It claims it is the same as the previous 57 countries. However, the old list appears to be the following.

Americas: USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru.

Europe: UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Austria, etc.

Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam.

Others: Turkey, South Africa, Mauritius.

Edited April 27Apr 27 by NanLaew

Just make your minds up what you want to do and stick to it .

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Just make your minds up what you want to do and stick to it .

They never do. In 2 years they will change it! Politicians are so silly.

Wait until it's in the Royal Gazette.

10 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

It claims it is the same as the previous 57 countries. However, the old list appears to be the following.

Americas: USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru.

Europe: UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Austria, etc.

Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam.

Others: Turkey, South Africa, Mauritius.

If your list is correct I wonder if Australians will get 60 days without applying to the embassy as they had to before 2024.

2 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

If your list is correct I wonder if Australians will get 60 days without applying to the embassy as they had to before 2024.

No guarantee on the accuracy of that list from AI assisted searches heavily tainted by this 'breaking news' story.

22 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Officials have expressed that most tourists already prefer to stay for less than 30 days. For those requiring extended stays, there are existing visa categories, such as business, education, or long-term residence.

Or a "Non O" that I used for years as a longer term tourist before residing full time. 90 day border hops or visits to nearby countries were good for a tourist. But I was over 50 yo.

It was known long before the introduction of the 60 day VE that most people stayed for less than 30 days.

Extraordinarily ill judged when they decided to throw VE open, and extended to 60 days, to those countries that are now, with good reason, going to get VE privileges withdrawn.

Edited April 27Apr 27 by Enoon

The Thais have never been able to find a way of getting our tourist's money without getting us!

3 hours ago, NanLaew said:

It claims it is the same as the previous 57 countries. However, the old list appears to be the following.

Americas: USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru.

Europe: UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Austria, etc.

Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam.

Others: Turkey, South Africa, Mauritius.

What happened to India?

As long as the USA is on the list and the Russians, Chinese and Indians left off Im good, and I dont even care about the latter much.

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

As long as the USA is on the list and the Russians, Chinese and Indians left off Im good, and I dont even care about the latter much.

Even better if the USA is left off as well......

7 minutes ago, whatsupdoc said:

Even better if the USA is left off as well......

Well sucks to be you, it isnt going to happen LOL. Its OK, Americans usually avoid folks like you, not quite our crowd, ducky....

Americans tend to be very loud and often rather arrogant. They are not that well liked outside of the USA, especially now with the current POTUS.

By the way, I am European and am perfectly happy if you avoid me. Also, I do not quack.

Short sighted stupidity. We know that the problems were associated with certain countries.There are references to "30 day preferences", but the data to support the conclusion and the profitability of the impacted groups has ot been released, assuming it even exists.

Common sense would have seen the visa change apply to the problem countries and left at 60 days for the quality countries like Japan, Denmark etc. They never think things through. The change coincides with the increased costs to travel to Thailand. The Thailand winter stay value proposition is now in the palliative care zone, and Thailand has literally pushed its better quality, profitable older winter visitors to consider other options.

I cant quite work out from all the articles I've read today exactly what they are attempting to do.

One article stayed that 60 days would remain but the amount of countries entitled reduced right back and amongst other things Rissians and Indians not entitled to any visa exempt entry of any length of time

As stated already wait until its in the Gazette

Edited April 27Apr 27 by Chivas

3 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

What happened to India?

Can only hope and pray they don't make the list.

They will still be eligible for a visa on arrival like before for 15 days. But that visa brings in revenue, and weeds out the cheap and nasty indians who don't have any funds.

The real issue is the DTV.

2 hours ago, whatsupdoc said:

Americans tend to be very loud and often rather arrogant. They are not that well liked outside of the USA, especially now with the current POTUS.

By the way, I am European and am perfectly happy if you avoid me. Also, I do not quack.

You can make a stereotype for most countries, but people that travel tend to be better tan the stereotypes. Not all, but most. Should we restrict the UK because of the football hooligans?

5 hours ago, whatsupdoc said:

Americans tend to be very loud and often rather arrogant. They are not that well liked outside of the USA, especially now with the current POTUS.

By the way, I am European and am perfectly happy if you avoid me. Also, I do not quack.

Europeans tend to be elitist unwashed know it alls with bad teeth and poor manners. They are usually rude, especially to the locals.

I hope you avoid me.

41 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Europeans tend to be elitist unwashed know it alls with bad teeth and poor manners. They are usually rude, especially to the locals.

I hope you avoid me.

To be fair, Europeans do get loud when animatedly grousing about how the stupid gun-ridden, Trump-electing USA should be funding their socialist utopias.

Regardless of how irritating that loud grousing is, I've never seen any Americans wishing that Europeans would not get visa-exempt access to Thailand.

Sadly for the person you replied to, Americans being excluded from visa-exempt entry will not happen. Certainly not this time, and quite probably not any time in our lifetimes.

Edited April 27Apr 27 by tai4de2

8 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

What happened to India?

Wasn't on the old 57 countries list.... they got a Visa on Arrival IIRC.

8 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

What happened to India?

I believe that India, like China, Russia and Ukraine, were never on the original, pre- 2025 list of nations qualifying for VE entry to Thailand. They were all added bit-by-bit in 2024 under Thavisin's maladministration. There's no clarity on these latest changes beyond an undefined 57 countries, but I would guess that China will remain visa-exempt due to the mutual agreement that currently allows Thais to enter China visa-exempt.

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

I believe that India, like China, Russia and Ukraine, were never on the original, pre- 2025 list

Your believes are wrong.

China visa exempt from 2024

Russia visa exempt from 2007

Ukraine visa exempt from 2019

3 hours ago, tai4de2 said:

To be fair, Europeans do get loud when animatedly grousing about how the stupid gun-ridden, Trump-electing USA should be funding their socialist utopias.

Regardless of how irritating that loud grousing is, I've never seen any Americans wishing that Europeans would not get visa-exempt access to Thailand.

Sadly for the person you replied to, Americans being excluded from visa-exempt entry will not happen. Certainly not this time, and quite probably not any time in our lifetimes.

Don't get upset about yagoda. This is just a small, insignificant, albeit loud, dwarf.

This country is its own worst enemy. They keep doing stupid things to dampen tourism, then in the next breath they complain they don't have enough tourists.

Tourists will go to places that make it easy for them to travel there. Thailand isn't very easy anymore.

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Europeans tend to be elitist unwashed know it alls with bad teeth and poor manners. They are usually rude, especially to the locals.

I hope you avoid me.

Coments like that are the main reason why many people don't like Americans. More than 50% of Americans voted for Donald Trump. So what does that say about the majority of God loving weirdos.

Edited April 28Apr 28 by NONG CHOK

3 minutes ago, NONG CHOK said:

Coments like that are the main reason why many people don't like Americans. More than 50% of Americans voted for Donald Trump. So what does that say about the majority of God loving weirdos.

Morons...

11 minutes ago, NONG CHOK said:

More than 50% of Americans voted for Donald Trump.

49.8% of votes cast, equal to about 23% of the total population.