Thailand sorts its visa plan into three tiers — and still has not published it

2026-07-16 — Thursday — Bangkok

Still not law. Like May's decision, this takes effect only 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. As of late August 2026, entry conditions at the border were unchanged.

What the cabinet approved

On 16 July 2026 Thailand's cabinet approved updated visa measures that turn May's blanket decision into something more graded. Instead of moving every exempt nationality to 30 days, each country or territory is placed in one of three categories: a 30-day exemption, a 15-day exemption, or visa on arrival.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, 59 countries and territories sit in the 30-day tier, including all 27 European Union members, Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta and the Maldives. Mauritius and the Seychelles go to 15 days. Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia move to visa on arrival.

Figures have been reported inconsistently across outlets, with some citing 54 countries in the 30-day tier and three at 15 days. The numbers given here are those published by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Any list should be treated as provisional until Royal Gazette publication.

The stated aim

The government's explanation is that the framework matches entry rules to current conditions, improves screening, and reduces overlapping entry categories so each privilege is used as intended.

Under the framework, the length of stay is assessed by country rather than applied uniformly to all exempt nationalities.

Why the start date keeps not arriving

Thai entry rules change by Ministry of Interior announcement published in the Royal Gazette. The cabinet decides; the Gazette makes it law. Five separate notices are needed, and the new conditions then begin 15 days after publication.

That has not happened. Two cabinet decisions, in May and July, have both passed without changing anything at immigration. Travellers arriving today are still admitted under the 2024 conditions.

The gap between announcement and effect

Two cabinet decisions, in May and July 2026, have been announced without either changing conditions at immigration. Both require Royal Gazette publication, and then a further 15 days, before taking effect.

The framework is approved and awaiting an administrative step that can be completed at any time, giving 15 days of notice.

For travellers planning stays longer than 30 days, the practical consequence is that the 60-day entitlement cannot be relied on for trips booked well in advance.

What a tiered system means in practice

Under one blanket rule you only had to remember a single number. Under tiers, the answer genuinely depends on your passport — and two people travelling together on different passports can be admitted for different lengths on the same flight.

Guidance written for one nationality will not necessarily apply to another. The Royal Thai Embassy page for a traveller's own country is the authoritative source.

If you are a PacificAir reader, what to do today

Look up which tier your nationality falls into now, so that whenever publication comes you already know your number.

Plan long stays as though 30 days is the limit.

Remember the single 30-day extension at a Thai immigration office. It survives under every version of this framework and it is the simplest way to bridge a longer trip.

References

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