Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay to 30 Days for UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain

Thailand will reduce its visa-free stay period from 60 days to 30 days for travellers from 60 countries and territories, effective September 15, 2026. The change affects passport holders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, alongside countries such as India, the UK, the US, Australia, Canada and major European nations.

According to Thailand’s Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the revised entry rules replace the special 60-day visa-exemption scheme that previously covered 93 countries and territories with a more limited 30-day exemption. GCC passport holders will still be able to enter Thailand without a visa arranged in advance, but their permitted stay will now be capped at 30 days instead of 60.

Thailand is also tightening rules around repeated visa-exempt entries at land-border checkpoints, aiming to prevent travellers from continuously renewing their stay through border runs.

Note: The final list of affected countries differs slightly from earlier drafts of the policy, so travellers should confirm their status via official Thai immigration channels before planning a trip.