Thailand Ends 60-Day Visa Waiver as Police Warn of Criminals Posing as Tourists

(THAILAND) — Thailand is moving to end its 60-day visa waiver for travelers from 93 countries and cut visa-exempt stays back to 30 days, as officials tighten scrutiny after reports that foreign criminals used the longer entry period to run illegal businesses and crime networks.

The proposal was under expedited review for Cabinet approval as of May 14, 2026. Officials said the shorter stay would better match how most tourists actually travel, while giving authorities less room for abuse by people entering as visitors and operating outside the law.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on May 11, 2026, “Discussions have covered measures to limit tourists entering Thailand following reports involving Chinese tourists and reports of encroachment by influential figures. Setting the visa period at 30 days would adequately cover general tourists.”

Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow pushed the same line a day later. “Sixty days is probably too long for a tourist visa. We are not targeting any specific country. We are looking at behavior that causes problems for Thailand. A tourist’s stay should not exceed 30 days,” he said on May 12, 2026.

Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said on May 13, 2026 that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had ordered a working group to review all visa categories, including tourist, investment and student visas, to “modernize entry rules and reduce misuse.”

The planned rollback would affect the 93 nations that now receive visa-exempt entry for 60 days, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and most European Union states. Thai officials linked the change to a rise in “foreign thugs” and “grey capital” networks that, they said, used the longer window to hide in the country, run illegal short-term rentals and operate online scam centers.

Government data cited in the review pointed in the same direction. More than 90% of tourists stay 30 days or less, the average visit lasts 9.2 days, and Norwegian travelers, the longest-staying group in that study, average 21 days.

That pattern gave officials a simple argument for shortening entry periods without reshaping ordinary leisure travel. A month covers almost all visitors, while longer-stay travelers would be pushed toward visa products designed for residence, remote work or extended stays.

Thailand already tightened one part of the entry process last year. Since May 1, 2025, all foreign travelers have had to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours before arrival, replacing the paper TM6 form.

That requirement remains separate from the visa waiver change, but it fits the same enforcement push. Immigration authorities have also moved toward tighter checks at airports and land borders, with closer attention on repeat visa runs and border bounces used by foreigners trying to live in Thailand on tourist privileges.

For U.S. travelers, the immediate effect would be practical rather than political. Once Thailand formally gazettes the change, Americans would likely receive a 30-day entry stamp on arrival instead of 60 days, while extensions, typically another 30 days for 1,900 THB, are expected to remain subject to immigration officers’ discretion.

People planning to stay longer would face stronger pressure to shift into formal visa channels. Thai authorities have pointed to the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), which allows stays of 180 days and remains valid for five years, as a better fit for digital nomads and other long-stay visitors.

The U.S. government has also changed part of its own visa posture toward Thailand this year, though on a different track. The U.S. State Department announced on January 14, 2026 that it would temporarily suspend immigrant visa processing for Thailand and 74 other countries, effective January 21, 2026, under an “America First” screening policy aimed at countries where migrants were seen as likely to rely on public assistance.

That U.S. measure does not affect non-immigrant visas for tourism or business. In guidance posted in May 2026, the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Thailand still recognized the existing Thai entry rule for Americans and warned travelers to follow local law as enforcement tightened.

The embassy guidance says, “Starting July 15, 2024, U.S. citizens can receive a 60-day visa upon entry. this category can be extended for another period not exceeding 30 days.” That advice remains relevant until Thailand completes the Cabinet and gazette process needed to put the shorter visa-exempt stay into force.

Travelers with flights already booked now face a period of adjustment rather than a sudden overnight cutoff. The government has said the proposal is moving quickly, but the final implementation date will matter for anyone arriving near the changeover, especially visitors planning stays longer than a month, side trips to neighboring countries or repeated entries over one season.

Airlines, hotels and tour operators are also watching how sharply the change is enforced at the border. Thailand depends heavily on tourism, yet the official line from Bangkok has put order ahead of lengthier visa-free access, with ministers arguing that a shorter stay fits actual travel behavior and gives authorities fewer openings for misuse.

People heading to Thailand can still take a few concrete steps before departure. Check for the Cabinet gazette notice and final start date, plan trips around a 30-day stay, prepare extension or long-stay visa options where needed, and complete the TDAC within 72 hours before arrival.

Official updates are available through the [Thai Government Public Relations Department](https://www.prd.go.th), the [U.S. State Department Thailand travel page](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Thailand.html), and the [Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs](https://www.mfa.go.th). Those channels will show when Thailand turns its proposed rollback of the 60-day visa waiver into the shorter entry rule that Surasak Phancharoenworakul and other ministers now say is needed.