Thailand’s National Tourism Policy Committee agreed in principle to refer a proposal for visa exemptions for tourists from Mexico and Colombia, allowing stays of up to 30 days, to the Visa Policy Review Committee.
The proposal is not in effect. The committee sent it onward for further consideration, and the current entry rules remain unchanged.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun chaired the tourism committee’s second meeting of 2026. Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool also worked on marketing measures intended to generate revenue.
The agency framed the review as a way to develop long-haul markets. It considers visitors from the two countries a high-potential group, citing longer stays and above-average spending per trip.
The proposed addition would not change current entry rights
Visitors from the two markets are not covered by the current exemption list. The rules now in effect provide separate routes for travelers, including exemptions and Visa on Arrival.
| Group or route | Current position |
|---|---|
| Visitors covered by the proposal | No new exemption; the committee referred the proposal for review |
| Current 30-day exemption list | Covers 60 countries and territories, including the newly added Kyrgyz Republic |
| Shorter exemption and Visa on Arrival | The 15-day exemption covers Seychelles and Mauritius; Visa on Arrival covers Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia |
The revised rules took effect on 15 September 2026. They removed 34 countries and territories from the former 30-day list. In addition to the two markets under review, the removed group includes Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Korea (ROK), Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Albania, Andorra, Kosovo, Monaco, Russia, San Marino, Mauritius, Morocco, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Some nationals in those groups may still qualify under separate arrangements.
Land-border entry under an exemption generally allows no more than two entries per calendar year. The stated exceptions are nationals of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore, as well as other nationalities a minister may designate. The restriction applies at land checkpoints, not generally at international airports. Authorities have used such limits to deter “border runs,” in which a visitor briefly exits and re-enters to obtain a fresh permitted stay.
Thailand reset its exemption lists before opening this review
The Cabinet approved a broad revision of exemption and Visa on Arrival schemes on 19 May 2026. It called for one exemption scheme per country or territory, the end of the previous 60-day scheme, changes to the 30-day category, a new 15-day category and a narrower Visa on Arrival list.
The Cabinet-stage plan proposed reducing the 30-day list from 57 to 54 countries and territories, setting the shorter exemption for three and cutting Visa on Arrival eligibility from 31 to four. The final gazetted lists instead contain 60 places in the 30-day category, two in the 15-day category and three for Visa on Arrival.
The Ministry of Interior signed the notifications on 26 August 2026. They appeared in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026, with the new rules taking effect 15 days after publication. The earlier notification, dated 15 July 2024, covered 93 countries and territories and allowed tourism, work or short-term business stays of up to 60 days.
Travelers already in Thailand under the old rules, and those arriving before midnight on 14 September 2026, could remain through the final date stamped in their passports. Visitors seeking a longer stay can apply for a standard 60-day tourist visa through the ministry’s global e-Visa system before travel; local immigration checkpoints can also grant in-country extensions. The review concerns tourism exemptions and Visa on Arrival, not other visa categories at this stage.
Bilateral agreements operate separately. Ordinary-passport holders from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and the Republic of Korea can stay without a visa for up to 90 days under their respective agreements. Chinese ordinary-passport holders retain stays of up to 30 days per entry under the Thailand-China agreement. Other bilateral arrangements provide 30-day or 14-day stays.
Tourism spending and security shape the policy debate
Mungkorn Pratoomkaew, director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs, said immigration statistics put the average foreign tourist stay below 15 days. He said the earlier blanket allowance exceeded what regular holidaymakers generally needed.
The government’s stated review criteria include national security, tourism and economic interests, reciprocity, reducing overlapping privileges that could confuse visitors, and the convenience of the e-Visa system. Mungkorn also cited efforts to curb transnational crime, economic benefits and diplomatic reciprocity in explaining the policy recalibration.
Earlier in the review, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said most genuine tourists stay within 30 days, while only a small number use the full 60-day allowance. He said longer stays could create openings for illegal employment, nominee businesses operating under Thai names and activity unrelated to tourism.
At the same meeting, the committee approved in principle a draft framework for the Fourth National Tourism Development Plan (2028–2032). Its vision is “Thailand as a World-Class Quality Tourism Destination,” shifting attention from visitor totals toward higher-value travel.
The framework sets five priorities: international-standard experiences for higher-spending visitors; sustainable management of natural and cultural resources; stronger workforce, infrastructure and service innovation; readiness for economic crises and external pressures; and links between public- and private-sector data to guide policy.
TAT pairs the proposal with tourism campaigns and a new plan
The agency also drew up measures for the final months of 2026. Thailand’s hosting of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group is an opportunity to build business tourism through meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
Domestic promotions include “Fly Across Thailand, Heal Your Heart on Every Trip” and “SINGLE JOURNEY 2026,” which aim to spread tourism income to local communities. TAT plans to work with airlines and tour operators on packages intended to increase flights and passenger load factors.
The year-end events in the campaign include Vijit Chao Phraya, Maha Loi Krathong, Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2026 and Amazing Thailand Countdown. The Royal Barge Procession, part of the royal journey to present Kathin robes, is also being promoted to international visitors.
