Thailand has announced it will halve the maximum visa-free stay for tourists from 93 countries — including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and the 29-nation Schengen area — from 60 days to 30 days, citing concerns over crime, national security, and confusion in the existing immigration framework. The change will take effect 15 days after it is published in the Royal Gazette, Thailand's official register of legal and regulatory notices.

The 60-day visa exemption was introduced in July 2024 as part of a deliberate effort to revive Thailand's tourism sector after visitor numbers collapsed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The country attracted nearly 40 million visitors in 2019, but struggled to regain that momentum in the years that followed. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the policy needed revising "to be more suitable for the current situation, both in terms of the economy and national security." Government spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek acknowledged that tourism brings clear economic benefits, but said the previous scheme "has allowed some people to exploit it."

Authorities have pointed to a series of high-profile incidents involving foreign nationals, including arrests linked to drugs and sex trafficking, foreigners overstaying their visas, and unlicensed businesses operating in tourist hotspots without work permits. In April, Thai police raided an unlicensed international school in Bangkok and arrested 10 foreigners employed without proper documentation. Officials have also flagged concerns about transnational criminal networks abusing immigration rules, though the foreign minister was careful to stress that no specific nationality is being targeted.

Under the revised system, tourists wishing to stay beyond 30 days will need to apply for a visa extension at an immigration office, where an officer will decide on a case-by-case basis. The number of countries eligible for any visa exemption will also be trimmed from 57 to 54, though the final list has not yet been published. Some nations may receive shorter or longer exemption periods based on bilateral reciprocal agreements.

The policy shift comes at a delicate moment for Thailand's tourism industry, which accounts for an estimated 10 to 20 percent of GDP. Foreign arrivals fell 3.45 percent year-on-year in the first four months of 2026, weighed down partly by rising airfares linked to the conflict involving Iran, and the country has already revised its annual tourist target down from 35 million to 32 million. Critics may question whether tightening entry conditions will further dampen visitor numbers, but the government appears to have decided that the security and legal risks of the looser regime outweigh the economic cost of a more restrictive approach.